THE REAL PROTEGE

Solaris's First Move: The Masked Intrusion

Inside Lily's dressing room, the lights flickered.

The mirror fogged over — though the room was dry.

On the vanity lay a single white lotus, its petals tinged with black at the edges. Beneath it, a note written in calligraphy that mimicked Ling Li's own hand:

"Purity is a flame. It must be extinguished before it burns the wrong soul."

Lily hadn't seen it yet. She was still changing, laughing with Shi Min in the hallway.

Ling Li entered the room alone.

She touched the lotus. It hissed — a spiritual trap, designed to siphon energy from the one who touched it. Ling Li's fingers glowed with protective fire, neutralizing the spell.

Then she saw it.

In the mirror — her own reflection.

But it blinked first.

And smiled.

Solaris.

He had taken her face.

Ling Li's Response: The Shield and the Warning

Ling Li calmed as she was, snorted.

She whispered a prayer in Old Tongue, sealing the room with a protective ward. The mirror cracked — not from force, but from rejection. Solaris had been repelled, but not defeated.

She turned to Four Eyes, who had sensed the shift and was already at her side.

"He's here," Ling Li said.

"He's watching. He's wearing me."

Four Eyes clenched his fists.

"Then we'll make sure no one trusts your face but me."

Ling Li nodded.

"We must protect Lily. He wants her purity. He wants to sacrifice her to become young again."

"He'll try to charm her," Four Eyes said.

"Or confuse her. Or make her doubt herself."

"Then we'll remind her who she is," Ling Li replied.

"And we'll make sure he never gets close enough to touch her soul."

Nightfall Vigil: Shi Min's Quiet Inquiry

The moon hung low over Lake Geneva, casting silver ripples across the water. The dancers had returned to their hotel, exhausted but buzzing with anticipation. In the suite shared by the Philippine delegation, Lily was already asleep, curled beneath a weighted blanket, her breathing steady.

Shi Min sat by the window, eyes scanning the city lights.

He hadn't told Lily what he felt that afternoon — the sudden chill in the air, the flicker of something ancient brushing against his aura. It had passed quickly, like a shadow slipping between mirrors. But it had left a mark.

He had stayed close to her all day, not just as a brother, nor a dance partner, but as a shield.

Now, with the hallway quiet and the others winding down, he stepped out and knocked gently on Ling Li's door.

The Conversation: Truth in the Quiet

Ling Li opened the door, already dressed in a soft robe, her hair unbound. Four Eyes was seated at the desk, scribbling notes in a thick ledger.

"Mom, Paps. Forgive the hour. I need to ask something."

Ling Li gestured him in.

"You felt it."

Shi Min nodded.

"During the afternoon. Near the practice floor. It was faint, but… wrong. Like something was watching Lily through me."

Four Eyes looked up and gave him a nod.

"You're more attuned than most. That's rare for someone without formal training." Ling Li said.

Shi Min's voice was low.

"I didn't tell Lily. I didn't want her to worry. But I stayed close. I didn't leave her side."

Ling Li's expression softened.

"You did well. Solaris was there. In disguise. He's testing her boundaries — spiritual and emotional."

Shi Min's jaw tightened.

"He touched her shoulder."

Ling Li's eyes flashed.

"Then he's begun the tether."

The Briefing: Preparing for Tomorrow

Ling Li lit a stick of sandalwood incense and placed it between them.

"Tomorrow, he'll escalate. He's already tried fear. Now he's using charm. If Lily accepts anything from him — even kindness — he'll deepen the link."

Four Eyes added,

"He may shift again. Another disguise. Another approach. He's unpredictable, but his goal is constant: spiritual possession through emotional consent." This is what Shinsei had explained to him about Solaris.

Shi Min's voice was firm. "Do we have a plan for tomorrow?"

Ling Li handed him a small pouch of crushed obsidian and salt.

"Keep this on you. It will dampen his aura if he gets close. And if you feel the air shift again — if your skin prickles or your breath shortens — signal me."

Shi Min took the pouch, nodding.

"I'll protect my sister. On and off the floor."

Ling Li smiled faintly.

"She's lucky to have you as her big brother. But remember — Solaris doesn't just want her power. He wants her will. That's what makes her dangerous to him."

As Shi Min turned to leave, Ling Li called softly after him.

"Tomorrow, he'll be restless. Desperate. He's losing control of the narrative. That's when he's most dangerous."

Shi Min paused at the door.

"Then we make sure he loses everything."

Solaris Returns: The Coach with No Past

Early the next morning, in the dressing room. Shi Min helped fasten the final clasp at Lily's shoulder, his touch gentle, his eyes watchful.

"You slept well?" he asked.

Lily nodded, though her voice was quiet.

"I dreamed of mirrors. And someone walking behind me."

Shi Min's jaw tightened.

"Stay close to me today. No matter what."

She looked up at him, sensing the weight in his tone.

"Is something wrong?"

He hesitated.

"Nothing we can't handle."

"Solaris is here, right?" Lily asked.

Shi Min nodded. "Don't worry too much, we can handle it."

"I understand, I'll be careful." Lily said and tried to stay calm.

The morning of the final round dawned crisp and clear, with sunlight spilling across the Arena Geneva like a blessing. Dancers stretched and rehearsed in side halls, coaches whispered last-minute advice, and the energy buzzed with nerves and excitement.

Among the bustle, a new figure appeared.

He was tall, lean, with tousled chestnut hair and eyes the color of storm-washed silver. His suit was tailored but casual, his smile warm but never too wide. He introduced himself as Coach Lucien, a last-minute replacement for a flu-stricken mentor from the French delegation.

No one questioned it.

His credentials were "verified." His badge was "official." His charm was effortless.

But Ling Li felt it immediately.

She watched from the balcony as Lucien moved through the crowd — shaking hands, complimenting footwork, offering advice with the ease of someone who had studied every dancer's weakness.

Then he approached Lily.

The Encounter: Solaris Meets Lily

Lily was adjusting her shoes near the practice floor when Lucien knelt beside her, offering a small vial of herbal oil.

"For your ankles," he said, voice smooth. "It's a blend I use with my top students. Helps with balance and tension."

Lily blinked, surprised.

"Oh… thank you. That's kind."