It's so hard being a hero!

"Slow down."

Sofia stumbled as she was pulled along.

"What's the rush? Changing clothes isn't like going to the execution ground."

Leila pushed open the door, pulled Sophia inside, and locked the door behind her.

Sophia heard the latch click and her eyelids twitched.

Why did you lock the door?

"Of course you should lock the door when changing clothes. What if someone breaks in?"

Leila said matter-of-factly, carrying the exquisite gift box to the center of the bed.

"Come on, take off your coat first."

Sofia stood still, motionless.

Leila waited two seconds before looking up.

"What are you standing there for? Take it off, or do you want me to help you?"

"Excuse me, could you please go out first?"

Sophia took half a step back.

"Who will help you get dressed when I go out?"

Leila rolled her eyes.

"Can you reach the buttons at the back of this skirt?"

Sophia opened her mouth, but couldn't refute it.

"Alright, stop dawdling."

Leila stepped forward and reached out to unbutton her coat.

"I'll do it myself."

Sofia jumped away like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Turn around."

Leila stared at her for two seconds, sighed, and raised her hands above her head.

"Fine, fine, do it yourself, I don't want to watch."

She turned around, but her ears were perked up.

Sophia hesitated for a moment, then unbuttoned her coat and draped the dark blue belted coat over the back of the chair.

Then came the shirt, which was unbuttoned one button at a time, the movements so slow it was as if they were stalling for time.

"No peeking."

Sophia shouted quickly.

Leila pouted and turned her head back.

"I know, what's there to be afraid of people looking at a twelve-year-old girl?"

Just as Sofia was about to take off her shirt completely, Leila suddenly turned around.

"Wait a minute, why are you taking so long to take off your clothes? Are you trying to fool me?"

"Didn't you say you weren't going to watch it?"

Sofia instinctively covered her chest and curled up into a ball.

"I've changed my mind."

Leila stepped forward, grabbed both sides of the shirt, and pulled it outwards.

The button popped off, bounced a few times on the floor, and rolled under the bed.

Sophia froze.

Leila froze.

The shirt was torn open, revealing layers of white fabric wrapped tightly from the chest down to the upper abdomen, leaving shallow marks on the girl's slender body.

The air was silent for a full five seconds.

Leila stared at the strips of cloth, her expression shifting from confusion to disbelief.

"what is this?"

Sophia opened her mouth, but her throat felt blocked.

"I'm asking you, what is this?"

Leila raised her voice.

Sophia lowered her head, not daring to look her in the eye.

Leila didn't ask any more questions, but reached out, grabbed one end of the cloth strip, and pulled hard.

The cloth strip slipped off in circles, like a white snake shedding itself from its prey.

Sofia's chest was already heaving, not much, but it was the normal developmental stage for a twelve-year-old girl.

The skin appeared pale from being bound for a long time, and the marks from the bindings were clearly visible.

Leila stared for several seconds, then looked up, her blue eyes filled with heartache, anger, and disappointment.

"Sofia."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Tell your sister, how long have you been wearing this?"

"It must have been more than a year ago."

Leila took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and opened them again a few seconds later.

Why are you tied up?

Sofia remained silent.

"I asked you why you tied it up?"

Leila's voice rose.

"You're only twelve years old, your body is still developing. Aren't you afraid it won't grow properly if you tie it so tightly?"

Sophia bit her lip and remained silent.

Looking at her expression, her tightly pursed lips, and her evasive gaze, Leila suddenly seemed to understand something.

She sighed, plopped down on the edge of the bed, and patted the spot next to her.

"Come, sit down."

Sophia hesitated for a moment, then sat on the side, an arm's length away.

Lai stretched out his hand and pulled her over, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Little girl, tell your sister the truth."

Leila's voice softened.

"Are you disgusted by the fact that you're a girl?"

Sophia's body stiffened.

He didn't speak, but that moment of stiffness was the best answer.

Leila remained silent for a long time.

"I have something to tell you."

Leila suddenly spoke up.

"Ok?"

"When I was a child, I also disliked being a girl."

She smiled and looked out the window.

"I was about six or seven years old at that time. The children from noble families in the Imperial Academy all said that I was born with a mother but raised without a father."

Sophia's fingers trembled slightly.

"At that time, I thought, I wish I were a boy."

Leila continued.

"If it's a boy, there will be far fewer rumors and gossip."

Sophia felt a lump in her throat when she heard this.

"and after?"

"Later, when I grew up, I realized something."

Leila turned her head and looked straight at Sofia, her blue eyes shining with a firm and bright light.

"What's wrong with women? Can't women be strong? Can't women protect others?"

She reached out and pinched Sophia's cheek.

“Look at me. I am a woman, and I am now a Silver-level Holy Swordsman. Being a woman does not mean that I am weaker than a man. It took me many years to truly accept this truth.”

Sofia remained silent.

She knew Lyra was right, every single word of it was true.

But the obstacle in her heart cannot be overcome by reason alone.

Even now, she still pauses for a moment when she looks in the mirror; the silver-haired girl in the mirror always feels unfamiliar to her.

"Little girl."

Leila's voice brought her back to reality.

"I'm telling you this not to force you to accept anything, but just to tell you that there's nothing wrong with being a girl."