The little girl's eyes were filled with tears, and Alaric gently wiped them away. His voice was soft but carried a hint of determination. "So, what are you saying?"

"If you had to choose between me and this girl, who would you pick?"

Emerald's heart skipped a beat. She knew it wasn't right to argue with a child, but was Jamilah really that hostile towards her?

"Jamilah, in the adult world, there’s no such thing as a simple choice. I want both you and Teacher Greene, but if you continue to clash with her, it will make her unhappy. So, without a doubt, I’d choose her."

After Alaric spoke, Emerald...