The partnership between the Tower of Magic, the Creighton family, and Ouroboros regarding aetherite mining had reached its final planning stages. We had collectively decided to send a specialized team to the lunar research station in December to begin extraction operations. For now, the focus was on developing the required equipnt—specialized mining tools that could function in the moon's unique magical environnt, transport containers that could preserve aetherite's properties during the journey back to Earth, and safety protocols for working with a substance whose full capabilities we were still discovering.
Mythos Academy was preparing to reopen for the new term as well, which ant I was trying to wrap up as much of my administrative work as possible before returning to my final year. The irony wasn't lost on that I was rushing to complete guild business so I could attend classes that had already beco largely irrelevant to my actual responsibilities.
Jin was currently in the West, handling so delicate negotiations with the regional powers there, but he was performing exactly as I had expected—efficiently, diplomatically, and with the kind of strategic thinking that made him invaluable. Elias had proven remarkably helpful in managing the endless stream of paperwork that ca with operating a Gold-rank guild, his organizational skills and attention to detail allowing to focus on the larger strategic decisions.
I had chosen to give Kali a well-deserved break from her usual intelligence-gathering duties. After months of constant work coordinating information networks and managing our contacts across multiple continents, my assist—my helper needed so ti to rest and recharge.
Overall, things were progressing smoothly. The aetherite project was on schedule, guild operations were running efficiently, and the various political alliances I had been cultivating were proving their worth.
But of course, my life couldn't remain straightforward for long.
'Thank god you finally agree,' Luna's voice echoed in my mind with obvious relief.
'Did you think I wouldn't?' I asked, genuinely curious about her apparent surprise.
'Then why are you doing it?' she urged, her tone carrying a mixture of exasperation and amusent.
'I can't say no to her,' I protested weakly, knowing even as I said it how inadequate the explanation sounded.
Why was Luna being so insistent about this? The answer was currently sitting on the floor beside my desk, her violet hair catching the afternoon light streaming through my office windows. Reika had positioned herself with her head resting in my lap, and I found myself gently stroking her hair in what had sohow beco a familiar gesture over the past few weeks.
And no, despite how it might appear to an outside observer, this was not what it looked like.
'Oh please,' Luna snorted in my mind, her disbelief practically radiating through our ntal connection.
The situation had developed gradually, so naturally that I hadn't really noticed when it beca routine. It had started innocently enough—Reika would co to my office to deliver reports or discuss training schedules, and she would sit on the floor beside my chair rather than taking one of the available seats. Initially, I had assud it was simply her way of showing respect, a holdover from her previous circumstances that would fade as she beca more comfortable with her position in the guild.
But instead of evolving toward more conventional interactions, our dynamic had sohow moved in the opposite direction. The floor-sitting had progressed to her occasionally resting her head against my leg while we talked, and from there to the current arrangent where she would curl up beside my desk like a content cat while I worked.
The strangest part was how natural it felt. Reika radiated a sense of peace and happiness during these monts that was impossible to ignore. Her violet eyes, with their distinctive flower-shaped patterns, would practically glow with contentnt, and she would hum softly to herself as I absently ran my fingers through her hair.
"Master," she said softly, her voice carrying that particular tone of satisfaction that had beco so familiar, "are you sure you don't need anything else? I'm happy to serve you in any way you might require."
The way she said 'any way' carried implications that made heat rise to my cheeks, though her expression remained perfectly innocent. This was another aspect of our evolving dynamic that I wasn't entirely sure how to handle. Reika's devotion had taken on qualities that went well beyond simple loyalty or gratitude.
"I'm fine, Reika," I replied gently, though I didn't stop the gentle stroking motion that seed to bring her such comfort. "Just finishing up these logistics reports for the aetherite project."
"The lunar mining operation," she said with obvious interest. "Will you be leading the expedition personally?"
"Probably not the initial survey mission," I admitted. "Though I'll definitely be involved in the larger extraction operations once we've established proper procedures."
She smiled at that non-answer, seeming satisfied simply to have raised the possibility. "Of course, Master. I trust your judgnt completely."
The title still made slightly uncomfortable, though I had to admit that Reika's happiness when using it made it difficult to discourage. She had insisted on the formal address from the mont she had officially entered my service, claiming it helped her maintain the proper mindset for her role. Who was I to argue with sothing that clearly brought her such satisfaction?
'You could start by not enabling whatever this is,' Luna suggested dryly.
'She's not hurting anyone,' I replied defensively. 'And she seems genuinely happy.'
'That's exactly the problem,' Luna shot back. 'She's too happy. This isn't normal, Arthur.'
I had to concede that Luna had a point. Reika's contentnt during these monts was almost transcendent, as if the simple act of serving in this capacity fulfilled so deep psychological need. It was flattering, certainly, but also sowhat concerning in its intensity.
"Master," Reika said suddenly, her voice taking on a more serious tone, "may I ask you sothing personal?"
"Of course," I replied, though Luna's imdiate surge of alarm through our ntal link made wonder if I should have been more cautious.
"Do you ever regret taking in? Accepting my service?" Her violet eyes searched my face with an intensity that suggested this question had been weighing on her mind for so ti.
The vulnerability in her voice made my chest tighten with protective instincts. "Never," I said firmly. "You've been invaluable to the guild, Reika. More than that, you've beco..." I paused, searching for the right words. "You've beco soone I care about deeply. Your happiness matters to ."
The smile that spread across her face was radiant enough to rival the sun. "Thank you, Master. Knowing that makes everything worthwhile."
She settled back into her previous position, humming that soft, contented tune as I returned to my paperwork. The sound was oddly soothing, and I found myself falling back into the rhythm of gentle stroking that seed to bring her such peace.
We remained like that for perhaps twenty minutes, the afternoon light gradually shifting as the sun moved across the sky. I was making good progress on the logistics reports when the office door suddenly opened without warning.
Kali stepped through the doorway, clearly intending to discuss sothing important, but stopped dead when she took in the scene before her. Her eyes widened as she processed the sight of Reika curled up beside my chair with her head in my lap, my hand tangled in her violet hair, both of us looking perfectly comfortable with the arrangent.
For a mont, absolute silence filled the room. Kali's expression cycled through surprise, understanding, and what might have been amusent before settling on carefully neutral professionalism.
"Oh," she said quietly, raising one hand to cover her mouth. "I... apologize for disturbing you both. I should have knocked."
"Kali, wait—" I started to say, but she was already backing toward the door.
"It's not urgent," she said quickly, though her eyes held a gleam that suggested she was filing this information away for future reference. "We can discuss it later. Much later. When you're... less occupied."
She disappeared through the doorway with remarkable speed, leaving Reika and alone once again. I could hear her footsteps retreating down the corridor, and I had the distinct impression that this little scene would be the subject of considerable speculation among the guild's staff.
"That was embarrassing," I muttered, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.
Reika, however, seed entirely unbothered by the interruption. "Why?" she asked innocently. "We weren't doing anything inappropriate. I was simply resting while you worked."
'Define inappropriate,' Luna comnted sarcastically.
"It's just..." I struggled to articulate why the situation felt complicated. "People might get the wrong impression."
"What impression would that be?" Reika asked, tilting her head to look at again. "That I serve you faithfully? That you treat with kindness? That we're comfortable with each other?"
When she put it like that, it did sound fairly innocent. But sothing about the way she said 'serve you faithfully' carried undertones that definitely weren't innocent, and the contentnt in her violet eyes suggested depths of devotion that went well beyond professional loyalty.
"Never mind," I said finally, returning to my paperwork. "You're probably right."
She smiled at that, settling back into her position with obvious satisfaction. "I usually am, Master."
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