Leah's Visit

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" " (talking)

' ' (thinking)

{} (talking telepathically)

[ ] (Scene change) 

PING (Texting)

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[Dormitory] 

3rd Person's Pov:

The next morning, Kartein was humming happily to a tune as he was deep in thought. "Hmmm. Who shall I pick to become my beloved Kayden's significant half...? This requires utmost consideration for the sake of junior Kayden to come..." 

"Pffft."  Kayden trembles in anger as the Seo siblings continue to laugh as quietly as they could. "Grrrrr."

"Kekekeke." Kartein giggles as he picks up another photo while Jiwoo holds Kayden's soft furry body back. "Let go! Let me go, just for a sec, yeah?" 

*Ding- Dong*

"Uh?" Jiwoo looked to the door as he puts down the furious cat to open the door. "Gahh!" 

Once the cubby striped cat was put down, he immediately jumped the crackling skinny cat as he observes the next female kitty photo. "Gimme that!" 

Jiwoo opens the door greeting a familiar white head with blue ends that he met a couple days ago. "Could I have a word with you?" She asked. 

"Uh, sure." 

"I heard you put in a request for another match." Leah said. 

"I did. Is that why you came?" He asked. 

"And you also said you'd fight against any one of the top ten that's available?" 

"Ah... I didn't mean to offend anyone. I only said that because I don't know who's who or anyone's available. Plus, I thought some of them might not wanna do it, for that matter." Jiwoo explained. "Did I... Make a mistake?" 

"..." 

Her silence made Jiwoo sweat dropped as the other Seo siblings peak out to the side of the door frame.

"Oh... That's Leah?" Chelsea questioned. 

"Hm." 

"Why she here?" She whispered, but they heard it. 

"Probably something to do with hyung." Yuna replied. 

"Does it have to do with him challenging another top ten?" 

"Most likely. Why?" 

"..."

"Leah! Can I request a match against a top ten?" Chelsea asked, appearing behind her which caught her off guard. 

'She was right in front of me, how did she appear behind me? If she had any ill intention, I would've been-... ' Leah thought tensely.

"So, can I?" Chelsea asked happily, titling her head side to side cutely like a dog. 

"Yes, you can." She replied. 

"Chelsea. It's rude to appear behind someone's back." Yuna said appearing just like her sister as she picks the golden retriever by her collar and drags her back to Jiwoo's side. 

"Hey! You did the same thing though." She whined. 

"To retrieve you. That's all."

Leah stands there stunned at how easily another person appeared behind her. 'These siblings are really... What do you call it...? Unique...?' 

"And you?" Leah asked Yuna. 

"Huh? What about me?" 

"Do you want to request a spar?" She asked. 

"Nah not really. That sounds like a drag." 

"I see, and Jiwoo." She called out, grabbing his attention. "I see now and it's honestly hard to say that your behavior was a mistake. But it's true that we do feel belittled by you. We're not used to this kind of situation, after all." 

"Ah... But that wasn't my intention..." He sweated as she continued. "And the fact that you said anytime is fine despite the injures you sustained yesterday has us quite confused." 

"Ah! His/My injuries are all recovered." The siblings stated, shocking her. "Pardon?"

"His/My injuries are all recovered." They repeated. 

"How's that possible? Even our academy's healers said you'd need at least several days to heal..." She concluded. 

Jiwoo absentmindedly pointed at Kartein as he spoke. "Ah, that's cuz I was treated."

Leah stares at the skinny cat picking up the crumbles of photos left around. 

"That cat... Treated you?" She asked, stunned. 

"Eh...?" 

"..."

"I know that cat is one of the animals that you commune with, but... Are you saying it possesses healing powers?" She asked the sweating Jiwoo as he looked to his sisters for help. "Ah, Uh... Ummm." 

{Should we help him?} Yuna asked. 

{He has plot armor. He'll be fine.} Chelsea replied.

They glared back shaking their heads translating, 'You're on your own.' 

"Yeah... Uh..." He mumbled as his brain begins to shut down.

{See look, plot armor saves the day.} Chelsea hinting to the Subin and Jisuk approaching. 

"That's---" She began before being interrupted by Jisuk.  "What's this?" 

"What are you doing here?" Subin asked as Wooin, Gangseok, and Sucheon arrives too. 

"We were just having a talk." Leah replied. 

"Oh yeah?" Jisuk said glaring at her before turning to Jiwoo. "Yo, what's gotten into you? You're gonna go again? And are you two also participating?" He said, asking the twins. 

"Nope, just those two." Yuna pointed.

"Mhm." 

"Yep." 

"What are you thinking?" Subin asked. 

Jiwoo scratches the back of his head as he replied innocently. "I really enjoyed it." 

"What?" 

"It was the same when I sparred with you guys, but... To do the same here with the same age kids... Was really enjoyable." He explained. 

"..."

Subin, Wooin, Jisuk, and Gangseok sighed while Sucheon grits his teeth in anger. 

{Sucheon looks like a villain right now!} Chelsea thought. 

{Hm, but doesn't he always look like a villain.} Yuna replied. 

{Who knows. But he is the perfect description of an antagonist.} 

"Jiwoo, are you by any chance... Planning to challenge all of the top ten?" Gangseok asked. 

"Yup!" His response stunned everyone there as they turned to Leah unexpectedly. 

__________________________ 

"I really didn't expect all the other kids to jump to a challenge like you did. The opponents must be feeling pretty speechless." Kayden chuckled. 

"Hm." 

"Yep." 

"Yeah." 

"Too bad that I can't get the chance to fight every one of them, though." Jiwoo thought. 

"Of course, you should feel like you're losing out. Huhuhu." Kayden licked his paws as Jiwoo giggles along. "Hehe..." 

Kartein sighs as he observes the duo. "Look at this greedy pair... Anyway, I got you, so don't worry about getting hurt and fight all you want. That includes you as well, even though you might not need it, Chelsea." 

"Got it!"

"Yes sir!" 

*Knock, Knock, Knock* 

"Huh? Who's out this late?" Jiwoo wonders as he opens the door. "Mr. Principal?" 

"I heard everything." H0e spoke. (It was a typo, but I thought it was funny, so I kept it.) 

"About...? Ah, do you mean about the upcoming match--" Jiwoo stated. 

"About how one of the cats you commune with has healing abilities?" He claimed looking greedily. 

"Ah..."

"When I first heard that, I couldn't believe my ears. Of course, it's extraordinary for an animal to awaken itself and acquire a strong physical combat ability. But... Healing is something else." Garrith grinned, scaring the siblings a bit. 

{His smile is something else.} Yuna thought. 

{You said it, sis.} 

  "That's on another level than awakening combat abilities from winner's instincts. For an animal to awaken healing abilities is..." He said flashing his eyes towards Yuna, Chelsea and Jiwoo as he stares at them intently. "I have another proposal to you. We want to get that cat's lineage as well!" 

"?!" 

'Mine?' Kartein thought pointing his paw at himself. 

"If we can get offspring of those two cats you commune with, the Luterain family will sponsor you at the best level with the utmost conditions." He shimmers brightly as Kayden tries to hold in his giggles from erupting. "Grrr."

"Just tell me anything you want. If nothing comes to your mind now, you can tell me later." He said as he was about to leave when he noticed the skinny cat's ear. "Um?" 

"!!!!!" The principal trembles as he points at Kartein's ear. "Th-that marking... Has it been neutered?!" 

"Yeah... So, he can't make any kittens." Jiwoo replied causing the principal to pale. "Ah..." 

He cried dizzily. "How can this be... The lineage of the cat with awaken healing abilities has been broken... The entire humanity has suffered a great loss."

__________________________ 

"You all are hilarious. Huhuhu." Arthur laughed. 

"What's so funny?" Sucheon asked.

"The truth is the academy professors were contemplating ways to convince you guys to get on the area and fight with our students. But to their surprise, Jiwoo all of a sudden jumped to challenge one of our top ten, and now all of you." He explained. "You don't think we get the picture? You all came forward hastily because you felt like you might not get the chance to fight at all, no?" 

"..." 

Arthur claps his hands happily. "And the funniest part is... Thanks to you guys, our top ten peeps came together in an agreement for the first time. Until now, we've all been keeping each other in check one way or the other. Not to mention avoiding any clash or sparring among us. We rather kept our opposing stance using those students that follow each of us. But now, they're faced with a bunch of kids eager to challenge all of them as a group. He cheered. "They're all grumbling about how mortified they are. It's chaotic over there. Kekekeke." 

"But you said you were gonna make us fight you anyway." Subin said. 

"True, but the top ten weren't part of the picture. They were thinking more like the next tier down. Naturally me, Duke, or Cain won't be joining, since we've already gone against you once, but since Chelsea is participating, Duke wants a go against her. Glant will most likely stay out of it this time. That makes a perfect lineup of seven versus seven on each side." He explained leaving them all deep in thought. 

"..." 

Arthur got up, noticing the odd atmosphere. "Well, good luck. You know I'm rooting for you guys." He said leaving. 

*Bee-Beep* 

"Did I end up stirring trouble?" Jiwoo asked nervously. 

Subin sighed. "Didn't you hear him? We would've had to go through this match whether we liked it or not." 

"And if we can't avoid it, then sooner is better." Jisuk commented.

"Hm." 

*Bee-Beep Clack* 

Realizing who's entering immediately made Subin and Jisuk pale as they look away, sweating. Inhyuk and Mr. Park walks in with menacing glares directed towards the troublesome children. 

"The match will be in two days. Everyone will be fighting on the same day. Just what were you all thinking doing this?" Inhyuk spoke as they all sweat dropped. "What's done is done. Now, you must win." He sighed, surprising the others as he continues. "Show the world... That the best-awakened rookies from South Korea aren't any less than the World Academy student."

"Yes sir!" 

"Also, a word with us before you do stuff would be appreciated." Mr. Park added. 

"Yes sir!" 

...

..

End of Chapter 48 

Word Count: 1760