Bricarian Rok-Tahk, a towering figure with a skin like polished stone, watched over the training exercises. Her eyes, a deep azure, followed the young cadets as they navigated the course. Suddenly, a young human cadet stumbles, his foot twisting awkwardly on a loose patch of grass. He falls, a grimace of pain crossing his face.
"Does it hurt much?" Rok-Tahk asked as she approached, her voice warm with concern.
Cadet James, a lanky youth with a shock of brown hair, nodded, biting his lip to suppress a groan. "I think I've sprained my ankle," he admitted, his voice strained.
Without hesitation, Rok-Tahk scooped James up, effortlessly lifting him onto her shoulder. The other cadets murmured among themselves, impressed by her strength and kindness. "Hold on, I'll get you to the course rooms," she assured him, her steps steady and sure.
"Thank you, Rok-Tahk," James said, his voice filled with gratitude and relief.
Rok-Tahk stood by, watching as the medic wrapped James' ankle in a bandage. Her presence was a reassuring one, like a guardian watching over her charge. "You'll be back on your feet in no time," she encouraged.
"I hope so," James replied, trying to smile despite the pain.
As the break began, Rok-Tahk once again lifted James onto her shoulder, carrying him to the dining room. The room buzzed with chatter and laughter, but many paused to nod their thanks to Rok-Tahk as she passed.
"I feel like a celebrity," James joked, his spirits lifted by the camaraderie.
"You deserve it," Rok-Tahk replied with a gentle smile.
James sat with Rok-Tahk under a large oak tree, the day's events playing through his mind. "I can't thank you enough, Rok-Tahk. You've been amazing," he said, his voice earnest.
"It's what we do here," Rok-Tahk replied, her eyes softening. "We look out for each other."
The two sat in companionable silence, watching the stars begin to twinkle in the darkening sky, a testament to the bonds forged in the academy's challenging yet unifying environment.
