"Yeah... No. I'm confused. I'll see her later," Kayda said-and then she grabbed my bird throat.
"Caw?!!!! Caw-what are you doing, caw!?"
"Teaching her another lesson." Her voice was deadpan as flames surged.
Then everything went black.
[Kitsu POV]
"Ugh, what the fuck!" I choked, grabbing my neck as pain lanced through me like a branding iron.
"She actually burned my soul link... I didn't think she could do that," I wheezed, trying to steady my breathing.
"Ugh. I think Kayda can even burn souls now... What a terrifying woman," I muttered, but then I smiled.
'I wonder how far mine can go.'
And just like that, my grin sharpened, determination settling in again like a blade sliding into its sheath.
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Chapter 158
[1 week later]
[Kitsu POV]
"Sigh, it's bigger and stronger. I can also hold its shape way easier now," I said, wiping a bit of sweat from my brow as I looked down at the half-sliced adamite brick lying on the training floor, its surface glowing faintly from the residual energy. The clean cut shimmered with barely restrained heat, steam still curling from its exposed core.
"Hmm, you're really improving fast," Kayda said, crouching beside the adamite brick and tapping it with her knuckle, producing a metallic thud. She raised an eyebrow, then gave me a sidelong glance, lips curling in a soft smile. "You weren't even able to dent this last week."
"Well, I only have that much time left before the deadline," I said with a proud grin, twirling a small orb of golden fire between my fingers before letting it dissipate. "No time to slack off."
"That you do, that you do." She nodded thoughtfully, then turned her golden eyes back to me with a mischievous glint. "Hmm, do you think you'll be able to take my full-power scorch ball now?"
"Huh!" I blinked and stared at her, dumbfounded. "Have you gone crazy after I haven't seen you in a few days?" My eyes narrowed. "Because that's what that sounds like. Actual insanity."
"Pfft." Kayda burst out laughing, her voice echoing slightly in the stone training room. "I guess you can," she added with a wink, clearly not taking my terror seriously.
"Sigh, whatever." I flopped down onto the floor, my long tails twitching with a mix of exhaustion and exasperation. "Do you want to go on a date?"
"..."
Her laughter stopped. She blinked. Then he just looked at me. Silent. Serious.
"I'm serious, Kayda. Do you want to enjoy the day today or not?" I asked, turning my head to look up at her. Her expression remained unreadable. "We both have the day off, after all."
"Are you taking a break from training?" she asked, but there was uncertainty in her tone now, like she wasn't quite sure if I meant it.
"Yeah, I got far enough for the week." I rolled onto my back, arms spread. The cold floor felt oddly comfortable against my skin. "I think I'll only need two more days before I can manage it well enough."
"Huh. Are you getting arrogant now?" she teased, her smirk making a comeback as she poked me in the side with her tail.
"If someone is stating facts, it is not called arrogance," I said, nodding wisely at her like some ancient monk.
"Oh sure, sure. Whatever the old lady says."
"You are older than me."
"No, I'm not."
"Yeah, you are. "You are older than me by two years," I said, laughing as I sat up and grinned at her smugly.
"Nooo," Kayda whined, turning her head away dramatically, pretending to be offended. Her tail flicked behind her like a pouty cat's.
"Kayda, just accept it, okay? Wisdom comes with age."
"Tsk." She crossed her arms. "So, what do you want to do on our date?"
"There are a few places I know you'd like to go," I said, grinning as I stood up and dusted off my clothes.
"Oh? So you're actually planning this, huh?"
"No, I just thought there might be places you'd like to go. You know me-I wing things like this." I shrugged.
"Sigh. As expected," Kayda said, her voice laced with playful disappointment.
"Heh. Get used to that feeling."
"..."
"Okay, okay, I was joking, alright?" I said, chuckling. "I do actually have a plan for everything we're doing today."
"You say that, but..." she said, trailing off suspiciously.
"Haha, don't worry. I'm confident everything will go halfway in my plan."
"Ah, so I should expect 50% of everything to go right."
"Pretty much," I confirmed, flashing her a sharp-toothed smile as I opened the front door for her with a dramatic bow.
"Haha. Thank you, milady," Kayda said with an exaggerated curtsy as she stepped out, climbing into the car parked in the driveway.
"You know where to go already, right?" I asked the driver as I slid into the other side.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, and the car purred into motion smoothly, rolling down the polished path toward the estate gates.
"Good. Then let's go," I said, settling back into my seat and letting the moment stretch.
"So... do you have any hints about what we're doing?" Kayda asked, turning to me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"Well, it's almost lunchtime. First, we're going to this lovely little shop I found the first time I went to the city alone."
"Okay, so it's a meat place."
"Of course it's a meat place. What do you think of me? That I'd go to a vegetarian restaurant?" I gave her a scandalized look.
"Sigh. It would be the world's end if we saw you in a vegetarian restaurant, Kitsu."
"Pfft. Only the world?"
"Haha. Okay, okay. I get it."
"Well, anyway, we're here."
"Kitsu, we haven't even driven that far," Kayda said, glancing out the window. The mansion was still visible behind us, only a few blocks away.
"Yeah, so? Look, we're at a steakhouse." I pointed proudly at the large sign above the elegant building.
"Right... I never realized this was here," she muttered, eyeing the place with interest.
"Mother said the same thing the first time I brought her here." I pushed open the restaurant doors, letting the rich scent of seared meat roll over us.
"Huh. Then what was the point of the car?" Kayda asked, throwing a thumb behind her.
"Oh, the next stop is going to be some distance away."
"And the next stop is...?"
"Hehe, it's a secret," I said, grinning mischievously.
"Sigh."
"Good afternoon, ladies. Your table is on the second floor," the waiter said, bowing deeply with a smile.
"Thanks, Sebastian. I knew I could trust you." I clapped his shoulder as we stepped in.
"Well, knowing a moneybag is coming in, we need to prepare properly," Sebastian replied, straightening with a knowing smirk.
"Money bag?" Kayda asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah, it's a name and badge they give to people who spend a lot of money here," I said, puffing my chest out proudly.
"How much?"
"Uuh, what's the minimum, Sebastian?" I asked.
"Three hundred gold, ma'am," he replied smoothly, pulling out a chair for Kayda with a waiter's grace.
"There. Three hundred. That's the minimum," I said, plopping down in my seat.
"And how much did you spend?"
"Hmm... about nine hundred, I think?" I said casually.
"Great. Just great," Kayda muttered, resting her head in one hand.
"Yeah, and I'm not even the top spender," I added, smirking.
"What?" Kayda looked truly baffled now.
"Hehe. That's why this place is so great. Their target market is basically people like me-who eat a lot and aren't concerned about price."
"Huh... that's... strangely smart."
"I thought so too. Anyway-Sebastian, no budget today."
"I will do that, ma'am," he said before walking away.
"Hey, it's only lunch. No need to go overboard," Kayda warned.
"Well, our next activity will be quite physical." I wiggled my eyebrows.
"What are we doing after this?" she asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"It's a secret," I said again, smirking like a fox with a fresh rabbit.
"You-sigh-whatever."
[45 minutes later]
"You can't be serious, Kitsu," Kayda said, staring at the looming forest in front of us. The trees bent inward, shadowing the entrance like a giant mouth. The air carried a strange, sharp scent-something between burnt wood and wild animal.
"I am." I adjusted the straps of my gear and stretched my neck. "I asked Rebecca about the issues concerning the Dead Forest and everything related to it. After talking to her, I worked out a route for us to take care of the monsters while circling."
"You call that a date?"
"Well, it's not just that." I wagged a finger. "Afterward, we'll head to the night market in the lower district. They have an event going on tonight. Come on, let's get a move on. We don't have all day."
"You let everyone know we're coming today?" Kayda asked as we stepped into the gloom.
"Yup. Rebecca and Lily said they'd handle that part. I've never worked with Black Ops before, so I figured it was best to let the veterans handle the internal stuff."
"I see..." Kayda looked around the dark forest. "You really were planning this."
"I only planned it for a few days. That's not a long time, Kayda. It's just a few sketches and ideas, not a whole operation."
"True. Still, when did you even decide to do something like this? And don't say this is your idea of a romantic battle date."
"Ugh. I'd never call it that. I'd call it a... couples battle." I said, cheeks flushing a bit.
"Kitsu..."
"Fine, fine." I waved my hand. "The moment I learned about the Dead Forest. It's a wonderful place with strong monsters and a high chance of dying horribly. However, it has become more stable due to the efforts of Rebecca and her squads. So, it's the perfect place to test my invisible mana and level up."
"Sigh. So you want me to stand on the sidelines while you punch things?"
"Nooo. I'm a sage in training. You'll be my guide."
"Sigh. That night market better be amazing."
"Hehe. Thank you. And don't worry, you won't regret it."
"Well then, lead the way."
"Yes, darling," I said with a dramatic kiss to her cheek.
"Hmm. Do you have a map for this route?"
"Of course I do." I pulled it from my storage and handed it over. "Whether we follow it is another thing."
"Why... oh. We go up the mountain a bit?" Kayda frowned, studying it.
"Only halfway. We are just two people, after all. If we push too far and something goes wrong, we might actually die."
"At least you know that. Still, halfway up is already a bit of a push."
"It is?"
"Yeah. We'll survive, but if one of the kings comes down from the summit..." she trailed off.
"We get caught up in something we really shouldn't."
"Huh... yeah. Let's not take the risk."
"I agree."
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Chapter 159: Zoo Keepers
"Are you ready to move?" Kayda asked, standing tall beside me, her arms crossed as she watched me squatting in the dirt with a dozen small components scattered around me. I was surrounded by fragments of adamite shavings, loose vials of compressed mana, and a soft humming glow from half-formed projectiles. I glanced up briefly, noting the expectant look in her golden eyes.
"Almost. I am just making the last few bullets," I said, nodding as I slipped the next core into its casing and sealed it shut with a flick of heat magic. The bullet clicked, hardened, and glowed faintly with energy. I held it up to inspect the runework before placing it in a small slot on my belt.
Kayda shifted her stance, turning to face the thick curtain of trees behind her. "Now that I think of it... how long can you hold your invisible mana?" she asked, her tone drifting with idle curiosity but laced with subtle intent.
I stopped mid-assembly, pausing to tap my finger against my cheek as I thought it over. "Depends on what I make with it. If I create a sword, thirty seconds tops-maybe thirty-five if I keep it light and balanced. A small dagger, though? That'll last long enough to throw and kill something five meters away, maybe a second or two longer if I angle it right."
I shifted to the side, reaching for another casing as I continued, "Wires are different. I can hold them for four minutes, give or take. Depends on the length and number, though. If I go crazy with them, they start to break down quicker. But the time difference is small-just a few seconds or so."
"Hmm. Not bad," Kayda said, her voice calm yet carrying that familiar teacher's edge. "But you can do better than that, Kitsu."
I frowned slightly, my tail twitching. Her tone stung more than I wanted to admit. "I know I can," I muttered, not looking at her. "I just run out of mana rapidly."
"We need to work on your mana recovery," she said again, like a mantra she'd chanted too many times.
"I know we do. I just don't know how." I snapped back a little sharper than I meant. I sealed another bullet and set it aside, brushing metal shavings from my gloves.
"Meditate, for starters."
"That's not going to work," I said immediately, narrowing my eyes. "You know how my brain works."
She hesitated, lips pressing into a thin line. "...Sigh. You at least need to try and figure something out," Kayda said, softening her tone in an attempt to sound sincere.
"Kayda," I said as I stood, brushing the dust from my legs and stretching my back with a low grunt. "I've been thinking about how to fix it for ages. Nothing works. Meditation, breathing techniques, sleeping potions. None of it matters if my brain's still a mess. The only thing that's worked so far is forcing my control to improve and expanding my mana pool the hard way."
"So you're forcing it," she said with a slow nod, as if mentally filing away the words for later.
"Yeah. If you want to look at it like that," I replied, shrugging. "It works, doesn't it?"
Kayda didn't respond right away. Instead, she crossed her arms and tilted her head up slightly to meet my gaze. "Kitsu, do you remember the reason we're on this trip? The main reason?"
"For me to learn more things," I said, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.
"Yes," she said firmly. "It's for you to learn and grow. That includes your mind."
"There's nothing wrong with my mind," I grumbled, glaring at her as a sharp gust blew dust across the clearing.
"Right," she said with a knowing look, and then, without warning, she pulled something from her pouch and tossed it at me.
Instinctively, I reacted-before it even hit the ground, I flared my magic, and the object burst into white flames the moment it touched the dirt. In seconds, it turned to ash.
"See?" Kayda said, folding her arms again and pointing at the smoldering pile. "You didn't even look at what it was. Just torched it because it was white."
"No, I didn't do that," I said quickly, turning away, but even I didn't believe myself.
