Visit

The door creaks open, revealing a scene I hadn't realized I missed so much. Ash, sporting a smug grin, effortlessly dodges a blade swung his way. Des, with fire in her eyes and an exasperated expression, chases him around the store, yelling, "Get back here, you lazy idiot!"

My lips stretch into an involuntary smile. "Well, looks like not much has changed."

The clatter of metal reverberates through the room as Des and Ash spar. "That's for eating the last cookie!" Des huffs, taking another swing at him.

Ash chuckles, hopping over a stool with ease. "You snooze, you lose!"

The store, despite being a base, still holds remnants of its original purpose. Shelves line the walls, stocked with various items and toys. Yet, right now, it looks more like a playground with two kids having the time of their lives. From an outsider's perspective, it might look reckless and dangerous. But I know better. Both have been under my care long enough for me to gauge their skills, and despite their childlike bickering, they have a good sense of control. Although I'm not here; I constantly call Eira to make sure she checks on their training. Still, it's impossible to ignore the scattered papers, the overturned vases, and the random items scattered across the floor.

My entrance, however, goes unnoticed. They're too engrossed in their little spar, their shouts and laughter echoing around the room.

Ash's thoughts are an open book. With every move, I can almost hear his internal monologue. Why work hard when you can work smart? Ah, that swing was close! I can't believe she still falls for the same feints. Maybe if I run over there, I can hide behind that shelf. She'll never find me! There's an undercurrent of mischief in his every move.

Des, on the other hand, is the epitome of focus. But her thoughts betray her irritation. Ash, you infuriating boy! Stop running away and fight me properly! He always does this, the lazy bum. Wait, is he trying to hide? As if I can't see those shoes sticking out from behind the shelf. Sneaky, but not sneaky enough.

Their playful banter continues, and I can't help but get lost in their antics. "I'm going to get you!" Des shouts, charging forward with all her might.

Ash, always one step ahead, ducks and dashes toward the entrance, almost colliding with me. His eyes widen in surprise as he registers my presence. "Oh, hey, boss!" he says, a hint of sheepishness in his voice.

Des, too focused on the chase, doesn't notice me until she almost trips over Kaleidos. Stopping in her tracks, her cheeks turn a shade of crimson. "Oh! Kael! When did you... I mean, I wasn't... We were just... training!" she stammers, hastily sheathing her sword.

Hiding my grin, I turn to Des with a mock stern expression. "Oh, just training? Here in the store? How can you do that so openly?" I say, my voice dripping with feigned disappointment. I glance around at the scattered papers and overturned items, tsking under my breath.

Des's face, which was already a shade of crimson, deepens further. Her eyes dart around, searching for an excuse or a way out. She looks like a deer caught in the headlights.

I shift my attention to Kaleidos, who stands nearby, looking slightly bemused by the situation. Taking advantage of the moment, I level him with a cold glare, ensuring only he can feel the intent behind it. "You should be ashamed of yourself, Des," I continue, motioning to Kaleidos. "Look, you even managed to hurt this customer."

Kaleidos, ever the actor, clutches his arm dramatically, wincing as if in pain. It takes every ounce of my control to not burst into laughter at the absurdity of the situation.

Des's eyes widen in horror. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to— I mean, we were just messing around and—"

Ash, sensing an opportunity to tease her further, jumps in, "Yeah, Des! Look what you've done now. You've injured an innocent customer!" He shoots me a sly wink, clearly in on the joke.

I can't believe how gullible she can be sometimes. But it's one of the things that make her interesting. Still, it's hard to keep a straight face as she goes into full panic mode. She rushes over to Kaleidos, fussing over his supposed injury. "I am so, so sorry! Please, let me know if there's anything I can do!"

Kaleidos, playing along, manages to keep a pained expression on his face, though I can see the twinkle in his eyes. "Oh, it's... it's quite painful," he says, struggling to suppress his grin.

I can't help but smile as I see a shimmer of tears forming in Des's eyes. She really is a good kid, even with all her fiery temper and flair for the dramatic. Without hesitation, I reach out and pat her head, running my fingers through her hair in a reassuring manner. "I'm just messing with you," I say softly, my voice filled with warmth. "There's no need to cry, this guy is just fine. I was only teasing."

She looks up at me, a mix of confusion and relief evident in her eyes. And then, as if a switch is flipped, her expression morphs into one of pure indignation. Puffing her cheeks out in a comical display of anger, she starts slamming her hands non-stop against my chest. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" she cries out, each exclamation punctuated by another smack.

The entire display is so childish, so genuine, that I can't bring myself to stop her. There's something strangely weird in her outburst. I just let her get it out of her system, chuckling softly to myself. She might have the makings of a skilled fighter, but at moments like this, she's just a kid.

Suddenly, her barrage of hits stops, and she pulls away slightly, staring up at me with those big, expressive eyes of hers. "Why haven't you visited me?" she demands, her voice taking on a slightly whiny tone. "Eira said you would visit me a long time ago!" Her cheeks puff out even more, like an angry parent. 

I make eye contact with Des, attempting to appease the fiery girl. "Listen, Des," I begin, hoping to redirect her energy, "I promise to take you out to the festival. Just let me work a bit, alright?"

Des stops in her tracks, tilting her head to the side as if she's contemplating the very fabric of the universe. The air grows tense as she rubs her chin, taking a seat on a nearby stool, her eyes distant and thoughtful. The room falls silent, the weight of the suspense heavy in the air.

After what feels like an eternity, she finally speaks, her tone carrying a hint of mischief. "Fine. But Ash can't come," she declares, throwing a pointed glare his way.

I hide a smile. "Sure, no problem." Turning to Ash, who's already back to rummaging through a nearby shelf, I approach him with a book in hand. "Here, I need you to practice this," I instruct, handing it to him. "If you don't understand it, ask Des for help." I cast a glance back at her, adding, "Des, please don't try to learn it yourself. This is something only Ash should use."

Ash looks intrigued by the book, flipping it open to scan a few pages. "Got it, boss."

My thoughts wander to the meeting I had with Ilka. It had taken a lot of negotiations(negotiating the amount of time she's allowed to stay out) and patience, but eventually, we worked out a deal to develop a unique footwork technique for Ash. One that would hopefully amplify his skills.

Motioning to Kaleidos, I nod in the direction of the stairs. "Follow me," I say succinctly. Leading him up, we arrive at a cozy seating area by the landing. "Sit here. I'll be back. Just need to talk to someone."

Kaleidos nods, taking a seat as I move further down the hallway. I draw in a deep sigh, preparing myself for the upcoming conversation. I can already feel the pressure Eira must be under. Given everything that's been happening lately, it's essential to approach her with caution. And maybe a little bribery.

A smirk crosses my face as I pat the small bag of gold in my pocket. Eira might be a force to be reckoned with, but everyone has their weaknesses. And if this bag of gold can buy me a few moments of peace with her, it's worth every coin.

I sigh and look around. The atmosphere in the hallway seems heavier, or maybe that's just my anxiety kicking in. "Hmmm... it looks like Zeke is busy, he must be training or killing someone, regardless of his crazy ass."

The creaking staircase before me taunts my hesitation, each step looming like a mountain peak. I need to stop procrastinating and climb this set of stairs. Taking a steadying breath, I place one foot on the first step, then another, my heart thudding loudly in my chest. With each rise, I silently chant, "Please don't be mad, please don't be mad."

I'm almost at the top, hand raised to knock on the door, when it suddenly swings open on its own, revealing the room beyond. "Come in, Kael," a voice drawls, every word dripping with a mixture of fatigue and irritation.

The sight that meets my eyes is almost comical in its contrast. Eira, with her petite frame, sits regally on her large ornate chair. The baggy, oversized sweater she wears swallows her, making her look even smaller, like a child playing dress-up. But her face tells a different story. Those dark circles under her eyes speak volumes. How long has it been since she had a proper rest?

She tilts her head, her glare piercing right through me. "Oh, looks like you're scared," she comments, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why is that? Am I that scary?"

I gulp audibly, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. "Not at all," I manage to stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just worried you need some sleep."

Each word, each thought that dances in my mind is laid bare for the reader, like notes on a page, echoing my fears and uncertainties. Eira's eyes seem to penetrate deeper, scanning me as if she's reading those very thoughts.

A smirk plays on her lips, but her eyes don't lose their cold edge. "Worrying about my sleep now, are we? How thoughtful."

Eira abruptly stands, the sudden motion startling me. With a few quick steps, she's at my side, and before I can react, she has yanked the bag of gold coins from my grasp. She doesn't even give the coins a second glance as she carries them to her desk, casually dumping them into a drawer.

Sighing heavily, I rub my temples, trying to quell the headache building at the base of my skull. "Eira, how's it coming along? It's almost time, you know."

She casts a fleeting glance my way, rolling her eyes dramatically. "You know how much I've done for you-"

I interrupt her, the urgency of the situation leaving me little room for patience. "Eira, stop making yourself look like the victim. I promised you, you'd become incredibly wealthy. So, stop trying to extort more gold out of me and take a breather." I think about the looming auction for the Dragon's Eye Sniper, the mere thought of it amplifying my headache. There's so much to do, and so little time. I need to see Darius about the artifacts I had asked him to retrieve.

She's silent for a moment, then moves to a table at the side of the room. My gaze follows her, and I'm met with the sight of an intricately designed object. Even in its incomplete state, its beauty and sophistication are undeniable. It's the Dragon's Eye Sniper – or at least half of it. I feel a mixture of awe and anticipation bubbling up inside me. "Damn... this is incredible. And it's not even completed yet. Eira, I know I've said this countless times, but you truly are a genius."

Instead of responding with words, she surprises me with a swift punch to my stomach. Pain explodes, making me double over. I hit the floor, struggling to catch my breath. Why the hell...? I think, struggling to pull myself together. Despite all my training, Eira's strikes still leave me utterly incapacitated. I need to remember never to let my guard down around her.

Eira crouches beside me, her face inches from mine. She's not smiling. "You moron! You should've visited earlier. I need your blood for some of the runes. What took you so long?"