Second Female Leads' Playbook

"Wow, now I truly believe that Arina is a member of the Ivory Manor," Joanne said in awe as she gazed at the girl who was dancing gracefully with a sword in the backyard. She was as agile as a bird, her movement as graceful as waterfall. She was dancing among the wind.

Arina was confused. As soon as her hand got hold of the wooden practice sword Carlisle lent her, her body knew how to hold the sword. She could twirl the sword with her wrist as easily as a flip of a coin. She could perform sequences with the sword like it was second nature to her. She should be a bird, but why did she know how to use a sword? Why did she think the sword belong in her hand? She stopped and gazed at the sword in her hand.

"You might be able to fool Joanne, but you slacked off during class, didn't you?" Carlisle stood in front of her, twirling his sword in a complicated manner.

At his words, indignant grew inside her. Arina shook her head and glared at him. No, she chirped.

"Just what was Master Fu teaching apprentices these days?"

Why did this seem familiar? Arina thought. A scene seemed to appear in her mind. She shook her head in confusion.

"Let me spar with you. I will let you attack me first. Don't say I am being unfair." Carlisle smirked.

Arina hated that smile on his face. She attacked immediately. But no matter how she attacked him, Carlisle still had this annoying smile on his face. How she wished to pull that smile from his face. They were fighting near a tree when Arina noticed a bird egg in her way. She immediately changed direction and crashed into the arms of Carlisle.

"Arina, are you planning to cheat since you know you can't win?" Carlisle drawled sarcastically while he hugged her closer to prevent her from losing balance.

"No!" Arina refuted on instinct. She was not planning to crash into him. It's just that there was an egg in front of him. If only she could fly.

"You talked," Carlisle said, clearly surprised.

Arina was surprised as well. She tried to struggle out of his embrace. She places her hand on her throat and furrowed her brows. Why did she know human words? Wasn't she a bird?

"Arina?" Carlisle asked carefully.

She wanted to tell him about the egg, so he wouldn't misunderstand her. She obviously wasn't cheating! Could she really say human language? She opened her mouth and words just flew out of it. "There is a bird egg. I was not cheating!"

Carlisle smiled sweetly and stroked her on her hair to calm her down. "Is that an excuse?"

"Definitely not!"

"Uh-huh."

"I told you it's just an accident! If I could fly, I wouldn't have crashed into you!"

"Then shouldn't I found myself lucky that you couldn't fly?" Carlisle smiled.

Arina didn't understand why her face seemed hot.. She also didn't understand the bitter and sweet taste that filled her heart at that instant.