Silver Rose

Chapter XV - The Purest Bloom

The first three months came and went. Team APEX was still at the top of the first-year pack, even competing with upperclassmen for top spot academy-wide. Xanthus maintained his perfect academic record while the rest of his team scored more than well enough to pass, including Echo, who was now managing a 3.0 average. Lilly was the only one of the gang to score below a 3.0, holding steady at 2.9, though she was planning to change that with today's exam, which was weighted much more heavily than any other that preceded.

"Lilly," Qrow said, setting her graded test face-down. "You should be proud of yourself."

Her eyes opened wide as she flipped the packet over.

100%

She began to cry, putting a finger to her mouth and softly biting it.

"Nice work," Ingrid said, leaning past her shoulder.

Just then, that old feeling came over Lilly and she closed her eyes, smiling as the sensation passed.

"What's up?" Ingrid asked.

"I don't think I've ever told you the story," she said. "Ever since I was a kid, there's always been this...thing."

"Thing?"

"Yeah. It was strongest back when I was a little girl. It always felt like something was at my side, watching me, I guess."

"What, like a guardian angel?"

"Not really. It never really did anything to actually keep me safe, you know? It never fought off bullies or monsters or anything like that. It just...made me warm inside. Kinda like that feeling when you come home and see your mom after a long time away."

"Weird. So, a ghost, then."

She giggled. "My mom used to call it that all the time. It's been a long while since the last time I felt its presence, though. Until I was ten years old, it was always strong, and always there, almost daily, even. As I grew older, it slowly faded away. After my fifth birthday, it would only show up during important milestones of my life. At ten, it became less and less frequent and less intense. When I turned fifteen, that was the last time I would feel its regular presence. After my birthday, it would only show up during the most important events, like graduation, my birthday, stuff like that."

"Sounds like you grew up."

"Huh?"

"My little sister used to have an imaginary friend, too."

Lilly reddened. "I-It's more than just an imaginary friend!"

Ingrid embraced her tightly from behind.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Lilly! You're not allowed to grow up, okay?"

"What?"

"Yeah!" Leon joined in. "You're our baby!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Our little Lilly!" Athena said, adding herself to the group embrace.

"Little?"

"Yeah!" Perseus said as he also joined. "Never change!"

Before long, all of her friends were piled around her, all except Echo, who chuckled upon seeing Lilly's not-so-amused face.

"Echo, why aren't you joining in?" Xanthus asked, fixing his eyeglasses, which were pushed off-center by the giant group hug.

"Because I don't think she appreciates the implication," she said.