“We were just about to explain—ugh!” Synthia started to explain, but the low table flew into her stomach, forcing her to double over it.
The culprit? i, who flew so fast up to that I could barely track her.
“You…”
She poked my chest and paused, eyes widening.
Then again.
It was suddenly really easy to see why her and Synthia got along so well.
She went in for a third strike, but I caught her hand, looking down with a small smirk. “I told you I was a King. I wasn’t just chosen for my great looks, you know?”
She pretended to pull her hand away, but it was weak, ignoring my truthful comnt. Her other hand instead moved to split the robe at the hems, exposing my chest.
“I?!” Rojin shouted, stunned at her forward gesture. To be fair, he wasn’t aware of the reason for her curiosity. Doubt this guy was inford of the forr hole in my chest.
“It’s gone,” she gasped, ignoring the pitiful guard. Removing her hand, she lifted her head to et my gaze. “I—I thought you—”
Letting go of her hand, I interrupted her gently. “I’m fine. There’s no reason to let your mind dwell on that situation, okay?”
She shook her head fiercely, turning, then taking a seat.
“Too much research could be done on this. Maybe you have your own bloodline? A power to co back from… It could be revolutionary.”
Her tone was snarky, but there was light to it. A happiness that touched .
“What?” Rojin mumbled behind .
I turned back, patting him on the shoulder, and without missing a beat—using as flat a voice, as straight a face as possible, I coldly said: “I am the master of life and death. Every death is rely an upgrade in my strength. A chance to learn. To… take—”
“Just take a seat idiot,” Synthia so ruthlessly cut down.
It didn’t bother . Honestly, considering the face currently sneering at —though, again, this guy maybe just has a bad resting expression—he wasn’t buying it in the least.
So, I turned, taking a seat next to i, enjoying the comfort of the plush, red cushion. She tensed up, so I bumped her shoulder playfully, causing a jolt to run through her.
“What? You think I’m so sort of monster? An undead?”
She didn’t answer my question imdiately, but after a beat—”You’re the one who brought up ghosts being real earlier… I’m just trying to form a theory. Monster fits too.”
I fell back, laying on the soft-straw like panels that made up the floor. “Such a cruel child. I thought you of all people would understand. After all, you can actually look like a cute little cat-beast.”
Synthia blinked, ignoring my theatrics as Rojin took a seat next to her.
“Wait, i, you can transform into a cat?” There was a request sowhere within the question. A desire that was masked under inquiry.
But also, it ant that i had never shown her the true effect of Animora that she had.
And the more my mind keeps shifting to it, to training in general, the more I really want to get back to mine.
Griffith, who was quietly sitting on the opposite end of Synthia from Rojin, though much further back—his large legs couldn’t quite fit neatly under the low table—leaned forward. With a creak from the table from his hands landing on them and sparkling eyes, he asked: “You can transform like a beast? How—There has been no such blessing that I’ve heard of. What kind of beast? Is it limited to just one? Can you do more than that?”
i shrunk down slightly at his brief interrogation, causing him to pause and lean back after realizing.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Um… I’m not a master. So, it’s just one for now.”
That piqued my interest, but I didn’t push further. For now, the basics were enough for to focus on later, instead, I shifted the conversation to sothing else that could help her.
“You know how you ntioned the Inner World? The theoretical limitless power of the Word Seed?”
“Yeah,” she responded with a sideways glance.
“Well, I think I already have access to it.”
Her head whipped around, but I continued before she could say anything.
“Of course, I need to confirm it during a training session later, but the way that you described it—It is sothing that is accessed through the formation of the Harmonic Foundation.”
“I’m going with you,” she stated with determination.
That… was not my intention. It was ant to be a conversation starter, but if Rojin already had so strange suspicions about , this was certainly not helping.
“Going where?” he imdiately demanded. “You can’t just go with so person you just t. That’s insane i.”
She shook her head. “Synthia knows him well.”
“I actually don’t, but—”
i ignored her, continuing her explanation. “And, you should co to. Since Synthia will.”
He froze, no longer offering another word. Rojin seed stunned, but i was already pretty observant, and it’s not like you really had to be to notice his feelings. Though, with that reaction, I guess he wasn’t aware of how obvious they were.
And either fortunately, or unfortunately, other than shifting a bit in her spot, Synthia didn’t react much. Sooo, she probably knew. Anyway, not my business.
“We could all get much stronger. The Ancestor didn’t even access that realm until she reached an evolution, I’m sure dad won’t mind,” i finished.
“You’re getting a bit ahead of yourself,” I interjected, chuckling. “We don’t even know how we’re supposed to get to each other.”
Before more could be said on the topic a shout ca from sowhere in the ho.
“I’m ho!” It was a man's voice, deep but clear. A tinge of exhaustion and trepidation laced into it. “Rojin? Where are you?!”
“Damn,” Rojin whispered, standing up. Nervousness building on him. “Thought it would take a bit longer.”
“Don’t worry,” Synthia reassured him softly. “He’s just looking for you. Not like you ever get into trouble with him. Besides, there’s a good reason you left your post.”
i decided to add her support of Synthia’s reasoning.
“Daaaad! I’m in here!”
BANG!
In a mont, the sliding doors flew open so quickly that I’m pretty sure whatever chanism controlled the automatic functions was certainly broken.
That small detail was the only thing that could distract from the fierce reality of my heart beating incredibly fast. An instinct screaming at to run. Screaming danger. Monster. Beast. An impossible mountain.
This was a bit ho. That shout was far. A distance that even at my full speed could take several seconds to cross.
But the rave-haired man with identical violet eyes to his daughter that stood in the doorway—veins rippling across his arms, he arrived in an instant. A speed so fast that only the supernatural abilities of Kazriel, before he beca what he did—according to Janus, or Kris could explain.
However, sothing told from deep within: This wasn’t that.
This man, wearing a robe equivalent in style to mine, verdant green accented by a li color draping over, was sothing else. He only moved.
“i!”
With another blink, i was gone from my side, and the hairs on my arm stood on edge. It didn’t matter that no threat was offered. This felt like I was next to a disinterested bear. Well, before I ca to this world. It was dangerous. And any mont that it decided to, I would be made into dinner.
Despite all that running through my body and mind, i’s father swung her around at a more reasonable speed, wrapping her up in his arms.
Her giggle lit up the room, as she softly pushed against his chest. “Okay. Okay. Put down. We have guests.”
Though, to his credit, he refused, continuing one more spin before holding her out, staring at her deeply, with obvious love.
And again, I was struck with confusion. How could a man like this? One who cared so much for his child to ignore any environnt just to get a good look at her. How could he have allowed her presence in the competition?
“A good look at you after days has filled my heart,” he sighed, content.
i squird, turning red, finally let free after a few monts.
She gestured to with her hand after briefly straightening her crumpled clothes.
“This is Peter. He was my opponent today.”
I stood up, and to so admitted sha, I felt a distinct wobble in my legs before fully straightening.
“It’s nice to et you, sir.”
He looked up and down before responding.
“So you won?”
I hesitated before nodding.
He then glanced at his daughter again, then back at .
“Thank you.”
It was a simple statent, but the gratitude in just those two words sent a wave over . Removing the threat that lood over my throat like a blade. An indication that it may have even been intentional before, but I didn’t let that way over .
“Uh… Yeah, sure.”
He bent his head just slightly.
“I’m Sei. Forr Champion for the Engineers."
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