"No," I said, smirking, before turning away. "Come, let's go meet Trinity."
"Why her?" Apricot asked, her expression skeptical but her steps still falling in line behind mine.
"She's going to teach us how to use wires properly-or more like, I'll be asking her to do that," I explained as we moved toward the forest paths.
"I understand for me, but why you?" Apricot pressed.
"It's for my mastery of weapons," I said eagerly, my voice carrying a note of determination.
"Ooh, so you want to use string weapons or make them?" Apricot asked.
"Both. I also want to learn how to make traps," I admitted, slightly surprised she figured it out so quickly.
"Not a bad idea," Apricot said, nodding, her tail curling thoughtfully.
"Yup, and the best part-it works with my fox nature."
"Fox nature?" she echoed, tilting her head.
"Don't worry about it," I said with a sly smile.
[30 minutes later]
"You want me to do what?" Trinity asked, looking genuinely confused as she sat behind her desk, half-buried under mountains of paperwork.
"I want you to teach Apricot how to use wires properly. You don't have to worry, I'll be there the entire time to keep her under control," I said, putting on my most innocent expression.
'Why are you using the roundabout way to ask her to teach you!?' Apricot thought, glaring at me silently.
"Yeah, I heard that," Trinity said, skeptical eyes flicking between the two of us. "But why should you be there as well?"
"Because I'm her master, and as her master, I must keep her under control," I explained with the utmost seriousness, chin tilted high.
"That isn't needed. Remember, I'm a higher level than her-and by a lot," Trinity said, her tone mildly irritated.
"But she can catch you off guard," I said flatly.
"The more you talk, the more it sounds like you don't trust me at all," Apricot muttered, annoyed from behind me.
"Doggie, shhh," I said, dismissing her.
Trinity smirked, finally catching on. "Ah, I see. You also want to learn how to use wires, right? Why didn't you say that from the beginning? It makes everything so much easier. But in exchange, you'll show me how to preserve a corpse for puppeteering." Her smile widened, sharp.
"Of course," I said with a nod.
She stood abruptly, shouting, "Brad, get in here!?"
"Trinity, this is a warning for the future," I groaned, covering my ears. "Please don't shout like that-or at least warn me. My ears are really sensitive."
"Noted," she said smoothly. "Now, Brad, you're taking up my duties until I'm done, okay?"
"But Commanding Major, what are you going to do?" Brad asked, frowning.
"I was asked to do something for the house. So you have no say in this. Do the work, understood," Trinity said, walking out without another glance.
Left behind, Brad stared at the pile of paperwork, looking as though the world had ended.
"Good luck, Brad," I said cheerfully as I followed after her. Apricot clasped her hands together in mock prayer before trailing behind me.
"So, am I only going to teach you two?" Trinity asked once we were outside.
"Yes. Before we go, can I get more restrainers?" I asked, causing her to glance back, puzzled.
"Why?"
"I'm going to use them tomorrow for my squad. Do you have ones that can block only people's levels?"
"I do. But since when do you even have a squad? Didn't you just arrive here like two days ago?" she asked, baffled.
"Since this morning. And can I have ten of those restrainers?" I asked, smiling innocently.
"You work fast," Trinity said, shaking her head.
"Meh, if you think so. About your request, though-I'll have to find the materials first before I can show you," I admitted.
"That's fine. Just remember you owe me one," she said, winking.
"Of course," I said with a wry smile.
[4 hours later]
"Thank you, Trinity. I'll be sending Apricot every day to you for a couple of hours," I said, waving as she stepped back toward the offices.
"Huh? You're not joining the next training session?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes. Stacy is my master, so there are rules about me training with other people," I said, rubbing the back of my head.
"Stacy is your master? That must be hard," Trinity said, a flicker of pity on her face.
"Nah, I like training with her," I said brightly.
"You monster," Trinity muttered, staring at me like I was insane.
"Thanks for the compliment," I replied, tilting my head.
"That wasn't a compliment. Whatever. But what do you mean by rules?"
"I'm only allowed to be trained by another person in my free time, and their sessions can't be more than an hour. Before you say it-yes, today was four hours, but I'm taking a week off her training to get used to the capital. After this week, I'll be using my free time on my own squad."
"I see. Okay then. I'll see you tomorrow, Apricot," Trinity said, leaving us at the training grounds.
"So what are we going to do for the rest of the day?" Apricot asked, standing next to me.
"I need to find Kayda and ask her how to learn proper mana control," I said, walking toward the gates.
"Should I join you?"
"You don't have to. You can go back to your room or do anything you want," I said, shrugging.
"I think I'll go try to get some shut-eye. Ah, damn, I forgot to ask your father where our squad's barracks are," Apricot said, facepalming.
"I'll just call Mom and ask. Oh, and don't call him my father. Just call him Commander Draig," I said, pulling out my scroll.
After sorting Apricot out and showing her the barracks, I spent the next three hours wandering the mansion grounds in search of Kayda. My path crisscrossed the same spots-gardens, the main gate, shaded courtyards. I must have looked ridiculous, circling like a lost fox. I even tried sniffing her out, but... I'd forgotten her scent.
One upside, though-I learned the entire mansion layout, right down to the hidden paths in the forest. The only place I hadn't checked was the black ops barracks. Surely she wouldn't be there teaching Amari.
As I walked back toward the garden once more, wings sliced the air above me. A shadow blotted the light, descending fast.
I looked up.
A humanoid bird plummeted toward me, its wings spread wide, talons glinting.
"What the fuck!?" I yelped, stumbling back.
avataravatar
Chapter 58:
Before I realized who it was, the shadow was already beside me. My body tensed instinctively, a bead of cold sweat slipping down the curve of my back. The hall's lanterns burned low, their light smearing across the stone like faint bruises. Turning, I caught the familiar outline of Kayda. Even as I recognized her, I didn't relax. My pulse still hammered, a reminder of habits too deeply carved to fade.
"Where have you been? I've been searching for you for hours," she said, her tone clipped with annoyance, but her eyes carried something softer. A flicker I couldn't quite name.
"That's my line," I answered flatly, though my shoulders eased a fraction. "I've been walking around this mansion looking for you for three hours."
Her brows shot up, disbelief flashing across her face. "Don't tell me-"
"I think we've just been circling each other. Both of us searched, never meeting." My words fell deadpan, but the absurdity almost dragged a twitch from my lips. I held back a smirk that almost escaped.
Kayda stared for a moment, then a breath escaped her, breaking into a laugh. "Ha... that's ridiculous. And kind of intriguing. Imagine us chasing shadows of each other this whole time."
Her laugh carried a lightness I hadn't expected. Her laugh caused the corners of her eyes to crease in a way that almost felt... dangerous. I fought not to stare too long. "Glad you seem amused," I said, though my expression stayed blank, my tone flat. Inside, it wasn't flat. Inside, I felt a little hurt that she could laugh so easily while my chest was still a battlefield of broken glass.
Her eyes softened. "So? Why were you searching for me?"
The question sank into me, heavier than it should. I swallowed, searching for words. "I... just wanted to talk to you, I guess. But why were you looking for me?"
Her smile was effortless, and it stung more than I cared to admit. That smile-it was too natural, too open, like the world hadn't carved lines into her the way it had with me. I looked away, fighting the tug in my chest. I still need to get used to that smile-it's dangerous. Dangerous because it made me want to believe in things I had no right to.
"I told you before. I'd help you with magic whenever I had the time," she reminded me, voice steady.
"Right. If that's the case, then you won't mind me asking for advice."
"Of course not," Kayda said. Her gaze flicked toward a bench nearby, half-hidden under the shadows of an overhanging roof. "But let's sit somewhere more comfortable first."
"That's fine," I muttered, already moving, pretending not to notice that I'd quickened my steps just slightly to stay ahead of her. I pretended not to notice that her presence alone seemed to create a warmth along my spine.
"You sit. I'll grab drinks." She disappeared into the mansion's side hall before I could protest, her crimson wings trailing the air behind her like silent flames.
Left alone, I sank onto the bench, the wood cool against my back. I draped one arm across the backrest, forcing my body into a lazy posture, as if pretending to be comfortable could make me forget the strange tightness in my chest. My eyes drifted upward. The sky above was a sheet of gray clouds pressing down on the horizon, heavy and restless. Always moving. Never still. Just like me-always dragged along, never given space to stop.
She returned swiftly, two glasses in hand. She held one out, her fingers brushing mine. "You look comfortable," she said lightly.
"I didn't realize how tired my legs were until I sat down," I admitted while taking the glass in my left hand. The cool rim of the glass provided some grounding, but it wasn't sufficient.
Kayda settled next to me. The bench was long, but she didn't keep her distance. Her dragon wings brushed against my arm, the scales warmer than I expected, almost alive. She could have chosen space-she didn't. My gaze slid to her side profile, the way the lantern glow kissed her cheekbones, softening the sharpness of her features. For a second, I forgot to breathe. She doesn't even try. And yet... she pulls me in. Damn it.
Kayda fidgeted with her glass, eyes lowered. Her fingers tapped the rim as though she were trying to steady herself.
"You look nervous," I said, setting my drink down, leaning just slightly closer.
"O-oh, it's nothing." She tried to dismiss it with a small laugh, but her shoulders betrayed her, stiff and tense.
"So," I said, tilting my head toward her wings, "how are the new additions? Already figured out flying."
Her crimson wings shifted in response to my mention of the new additions. They weren't extravagant, just raw and natural-red scales and curved horns at the top, looking almost ordinary if such things could be. But on her? They suited her too well. They were like pieces of her soul finally made visible.
"They're... comfortable. They don't feel like a burden at all. I just need to duck through smaller doors. Other than that, they don't get in the way."
"I see. So my arm isn't in the way either?" I teased, letting the words slip softer than I meant them to.
She gave me a sidelong glance, lips quirking. "Not really. I can't feel much through the scales."
"If you say so." My gaze lingered too long. "What about horns? Going to grow them out too?"
"Yes," she said, brushing her hair back to reveal two small stubs barely peeking through. "They'll grow with age."
I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped me. "Cute."
Her lips twitched in annoyance and embarrassment. "They're not meant to be cute. The older you get, the larger they grow."
"Huh. So you'll need to become an old hag to get proper horns?" I spoke impulsively, my words escaping before I could think.
Her fist drove into my stomach before I could regret it. Pain lanced through me, sharp and unyielding, blood rising in my throat. I doubled over, coughing. "Don't. Say. Hag," she warned, her eyes blazing.
Wheezing and hunched, I managed, "I understand, ma'am." The word came out half-choked, half-laughing despite the pain.
Satisfied, she sat back down, sipping her drink as if she hadn't just tried to kill me. I straightened slowly, clutching my stomach, biting back the groan. "Is there anything else you would like to share about your life?"
"Not really." She tilted her head at me, studying. "But I heard you've got three girls in your personal guard now?"
"Yeah. Lovely ladies," I said with mock grandeur, flashing a smirk that didn't quite reach my eyes.
Her eyes narrowed. "Why'd you say it like that?"
"Well... two of them are sisters. Into each other, at that. And the other-my little doggie slave-has finally grown a backbone and talks back to me." I leaned back, smug.
"You complaining?" Kayda's eyebrow arched, her tone daring me.
"Not really. Apart from the incest issue, I don't mind. I'm glad Apricot's more confident. Though... she's still carrying too much. That frustration has to go somewhere eventually. I wonder what she looks like when the bloodlust hits." I muttered, half to myself, the words heavier than I'd meant them to be.
Kayda's brows furrowed. "Bloodlust? Venting? Not everyone lets it out violently. Some break. Others internalize their pain, which can lead to depression, self-destruction, or projecting it onto others.
Her words were steady and calm, but the undercurrent of lived pain bled through. I frowned, catching it. "Maybe. But for me... it was always easier to kill. Damn, I sound like I enjoy it."
She studied me carefully, her eyes sharper now, as if peeling back layers I didn't want revealed. "It's fine... as long as you know the line. Innocent versus guilty."
"You think nightmares count as outlets?" I asked suddenly, my voice quieter.
"More than you realize. Alone, they can be the cruelest of all." Her voice softened, almost breaking at the edges.
Alone... yeah. That was me. My lips twisted bitterly. "I suppose it makes sense that I never had a strong negative reaction to it. I got used to it. Outside of... killing."
Kayda's gaze sharpened. "It does make sense. You were tortured by your only family. You never knew real love."
Her words cut like glass. My eyes narrowed. "Mom told you?"
Kayda paled, waving her hands quickly. "I... forced Stacy to tell me. Blackmail. And... we've been friends for twenty years. Don't blame her."
I sighed heavily, the weight pressing into my chest. "Figures. Guess I'll prank her later. Anyway-that brings me to why I needed your help. Did you know wirework needs elementless mana?"
