Back in the lab, Claus’s gaze lingered on the corridor where Kira had disappeared. He crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.
“Master Claus,” one of the senior alchemists called out. “We’ve isolated a new energy signature. It doesn’t match any recorded data.”
Claus turned back to the crystal, his visible eye narrowing. “Keep monitoring it. And prepare for contingencies. If it reacts violently, I want containment ready in under ten seconds.”
As the alchemists went back to their duties, Claus’s thoughts drifted back to Kira.
Whatever was happening, he had a sinking feeling it was just the beginning.
—
In the White Comet’s cafeteria.
The hum of conversation in the guild’s café was interrupted by the sudden, sharp sound of Alister sneezing mid-bite.
“Are you alright, my lord?” Mar’Garet, sitting beside him, asked softly as she reached for a napkin.
“I’m fine,” Alister said, wiping his nose with a casual shrug.
“Just felt like someone was talking about me somewhere.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you’re famous.” Axel said from across the table.
His gaze flicked between Alister and his towers of endless plates around him. A look of mild surprise crossed his face.
“Your appetite continues to surprise me. Where does it all go?”
Alister raised an eyebrow as he reached for another plate of steak, setting the empty one aside.
“My stomach? Where else?” he said calmly, raising his hand as he signaled a waitress. “Another one.”
The waitress, flustered by his request, stuttered. “I—I’m coming right now!” she said, her face a shade redder than her apron.
“Geez,” Axel muttered, leaning back in his chair with a small shake of his head. “It’s like you have a black hole in there.”
Blitz, sitting beside Axel, leaned forward, cutting into their conversation with an amused smile.
“They should put that on the side menu,” she said teasingly.
“Maybe ’Alister’s Black Hole Steak Challenge.’” She tapped her finger against her chin thoughtfully, but her expression was playful. “It could be legendary.”
Alister shook his head with a soft chuckle, but before he could respond, Blitz continued, her tone shifting into something more serious.
“Well, let’s put that thought aside for now.”
“Boss…” she said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she addressed him directly.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
Alister glanced at her, wiping his mouth with a cloth napkin.
“What is it, Blitz?”
Blitz’s lips curved into a sly grin as she leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
“Do you like… have a thing for silver-haired women with huge chests, red eyes, and horns?”
Alister froze mid-chew, his fork slipping from his fingers as his eyes widened in shock.
Cough cough
“What kind of question is that!?” he asked, almost choking on his food.
Blitz giggled, her pink eyes sparkling.
“What else am I supposed to think? Look at Mar’Garet…”
She said, pointing toward the dragon general who was giggling softly beside him.
“…and Cinder over there.” She pointed right of him where Cinder was leisurely enjoying a cup of chocolate ice cream, her expression one of pure bliss.
“Left and right. You’ve got one on each side!”
Alister furrowed his brows, looking both amused and confused as he set his fork down.
“You can’t be serious…”
Alister said, his voice dropping to a disbelieving whisper, shaking his head slightly as he watched Cinder blush as she looked away.
Blitz leaned back, satisfied with her tease, her eyes glinting with amusement.
“Serious? Of course, I’m serious. Someone’s got a type!”
She smirked wider, enjoying the awkward atmosphere she had stirred.
Blitz settled back into her seat, a mischievous smirk still on her lips. She crossed her arms and leaned forward slightly as she spoke.
“But shouldn’t there be laws set against starting a family with a summon?”
Axel grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he leaned back in his chair.
“There’s no law against starting a family with a summon, Blitz,” he said casually. “Not like summons before now had humanoid forms. No one really thought about it.”
Blitz chuckled softly and gave a slow nod.
“True, you made a very good point Axel.”
She said, her expression thoughtful as she nodded her head. “If that’s the case, then who knows what goes down in that massive living quarters of Mr Summoner every night.”
Axel burst into laughter, a low chuckle that echoed softly in the café.
“It’s massive and totally far away from the other buildings,” he said with a wink. “No one would ever hear anything.”
“Well, except maybe Miyu.”
Blitz nodded again, her playful demeanor never fading.
“Exactly,” she said. “Maybe he uses all his energy each night to… Train his summons… so that’s why he eats like a glutton every morning.”
“He’s exhausted…”
Alister raised a brow, his expression, now of confusion, disappointment, and exasperation.
“Both of you do know I’m still here, right?” he said flatly, setting down his fork and leaning back with a sigh.
Blitz and Axel exchanged amused glances, their smiles widening.
“Yeah,” Axel said with a shrug, “but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining.”
Blitz giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “True. Can’t resist a good tease.”
Alister gave a long, exaggerated sigh, shaking his head slightly as he returned to his meal.
“Remind me why I put up with you two…”
Blitz then winked as she placed both elbows atop the table, fingers interlocked below her chin as she smiled mischievously saying,
“But we guessed right… Right?”
Alister sighed, then said,
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“Enough…”
“Allow me to finish my food in peace.”
“We’re not discussing this,” he said, a vain twitching at the side of his temple as he had to fight back the urge to punch her.
Blitz just giggled again, tapping her fingers lightly on the table as she picked up her drink, watching Alister with a smug smile.
Axel, meanwhile, sat back, his gaze flicking between the two of them with a bemused expression.
Across the bustling café, a loud…
BAM!
Broke the calm atmosphere. Alister, Axel, and Blitz turned their heads simultaneously toward the source.
Their eyes landed on a group of tables at the far end of the room.
There, seated with a smug, almost cat-like smile, was Miyu. Eyes closed as she practically gleamed with pride as she tilted her head upward, savoring her victory in an arm wrestling match.