I am Just an Average Tamer

The room was dimly lit, soft morning light filtering through the old curtains.

Kai's eyes twitched slightly, head still resting on the edge of the small wooden table beside the bed.

He stirred awake, and blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes.

"Urgh!"

He groaned as his neck ached from sleeping hunched over the chair.

Yawn!

He stretched his arms over his head and slowly stood up, glancing around the room.

Vex still curled over the bed, while Elina slept soundly, her chest rising and falling beneath the blanket.

Then he made his way to the bathroom.

Taking the water in a large wooden mug, he splashed over his face.

The cold water did its job of waking him up.

And soon, he began his morning routine—cleaning his body, changing into new set of clothes, basic stretches, and few minutes of mediation.

"Phew..."

Exhaling deeply, he opened his eyes.

But, before he could stand up, a familiar blue panel hovered before him.

[<Ding!>]

[<Daily Task: Incomplete>]

[<Penalty Active>]

[<All stats are reduced to 50% for 10 hours!>]

Kai stared at it for a moment, his eyes wide opened.

"...Right. That."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Forgot about it, due to what happened yesterday."

"Guess there's no escaping now, gotta face the consequences."

The panel stayed for a second longer before dissolving into particles of light.

He glanced around at the sleeping figure of Elina, then at Vex.

He walked over and stroked her head gently. "Watch over her for a bit more, alright?"

The little Lynx gave a lazy blink.

Then, yawning, she gave a nod and closed her eyes again.

Kai sighed, shaking his head.

Grabbing his cloak, he slipped outside.

'I know the penalty will be hard but, don't you think 50% reduction of stats... is a bit much?' Kai thought, while descending the stairs.

[<No, It's perfect.>]

'Tch. Figures.'

Kai walked to the counter and ordered his usual, a piece of bread and boiled egg.

The innkeeper gave a nod and started boiling the egg.

Then taking his food, he sat around a table.

Eating alone, listening to the banter of the people that were eating beside his table.

Finding nothing serious, he stood up and stepped outside.

Tucking his hands in his pockets, he strolled through the narrow alley toward the main street.

It was, much calm and peaceful around the Inn, than the marketplace.

While strolling, his gaze flickered around.

Elderly were sitting on the table, some reading newspapers, some drinking tea.

Few kids darted past him, one chasing the other with a wooden stick, pretending it was a sword.

Kai stepped aside, watching them fade around the corner.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

For a moment, he almost felt… normal.

Then—

"Finally awake?" A familiar voice echoed in his ears.

With a deep sigh, Kai turned around.

Dante stood a few steps behind him, with his usual smile tugged around his lips.

"You're late."

Kai rolled his eyes. "I didn't know I was on a strict schedule now."

"You weren't. But I've got something if you're not busy acting mysterious."

Kai raised a brow.

"What?"

He then gestured Kai to follow him.

After walking for a few minutes, he took him to an unfamiliar Inn.

He gave the innkeeper a nod and led Kai to a room at the corner of the top floor.

After sliding inside it, he motioned Kai to sit on the wooden chair and took his seat across him, behind the wooden table.

"There's been some strange residue found near the old quarter—northwest edge of town. Might be leftover from a minor rift or something else. I want you to check them out."

Kai turned his head around.

"Any danger?"

Dante shook his head, "Probably not. But take notes. And try not to piss off any local guards again."

Kai narrowed his eyes, "That was once. And I was right."

"I didn't say you weren't. Just—don't."

"Alright, alright," Kai sighed and slowly stood up, "Just scouting, right?"

Dante gave a nod and added, "I would be pleased if you could find some clues too."

Kai said nothing and turned towards the door.

Dante let out a small chuckle, "Good luck, don't disappoint me this time."

Kai nodded and left the Inn.

He pulled over his cloak and then—

Whoosh!

He vanished.

His blurry figure moved past the streets before reaching the northwest quarter of the town.

The place was a complete mess, guards, clad in leather armor were patrolling around the placing, questioning the civilians, doing their best to look for clues.

[<Stealth activated!>]

Kai slowly and cautiously slipped past the few patrolling guards.

Heading deeper near the cracked stone and discolored walls.

Where a few shops had closed down—signs faded, dust gathering on sills.

After walking for few minutes, stealthily avoiding the guards.

Kai crouched near a half-collapsed fountain, noticing faint discoloration on the bricks.

He scraped at it with his dagger's tip.

"Hmm?" Kai narrowed his eyes.

The residue flaked like dry ash.

[<Interesting, something sure is fishy about it.>]

Kai nodded in response and pocketed a sample.

Then—

A soft murmur of conversation drifted from behind.

Kai quickly stood up and turned around, to the corner.

Leaning against the broken walls, he saw some guards walking towards the fountain, chatting animatedly.

'There are too many people around here...'

Whoosh!

He vanished and reappeared at the southern end of the town.

Just as he was about to move something caught his attention.

A figure talking to other, both clad in black cloaks.

Seeing them—

His blood boiled, veins throbbed around his forehead, as he saw it—

A familiar symbol, etched on their clothes, something he was very familiar with.

He clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white.

As if sensing his bloodlust, the figures turned around and then vanished.

'COME BACK!'

Without skipping a beat, Kai rushed after them.

The figures slowly picked up their pace, putting a distance between them.

But Kai wasn't the one who back down.

[<Essence Coating activated!>]

His blurry figure engulfed in ethereal white energy, and he began to close the distance, slowly but surely.

(A/N: Essence Coating is invisible. We can't see it. I'm writing it just for the purpose of distinguishing between normal speed and the speed with essence coating.)

Kai kept chasing after them, for who-knows-how long before they slipped into a town ahead.

Unfortunately.

He lost track of them, upon entering the town.

'Shit!'

He cursed internally but quickly composed himself.

Taking a deep breath, he walked towards a corner and removed his cloak, to avoid suspicion.

He walked out of the corner and began glancing around.

"I shouldn't have gone after them blindly. What a waste of time," he sighed, then began wandering the streets.

The town was, surprisingly, a complete replica of Ashenford—the town where he used to live.

As he walked along the cobblestone streets, his gaze fell upon a tea stall.

"Least grab a cup before heading back."

He slowly started walking toward the stall, hands tucked into his pockets.

But then, suddenly—

"...Kai?" a familiar voice called from behind, stopping him in his tracks.

Quickly, he turned around.

And—

There she stood, wearing a black floral dress, her silver-platinum hair tied in a ponytail.

She looked... a little older. A little taller.

Her shimmering emerald eyes gleamed at him.

He blinked.

"Lira?"

"…It's really you." Her eyes widened as her lips curved into a sweet smile.

"I never thought I'd see you here," she said, stepping closer.

"Neither did I," Kai replied, a smile spreading across his face.

"Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"Um... it's complicated. Let's just say I'm here for work."

Lira shook her head, smiling.

"Alright, fine, don't tell me."

"What about you?" Kai shot back.

"Oh, me? My uncle runs a vineyard here, so I've been staying for a few days to help out."

"...I see." Kai nodded.

"You free now?"

"Probably, yeah."

"Wanna walk together? I can show you around."

"Fine by me."

"Okay! Follow me," she said cheerfully, leading the way.

As they walked, they passed a group of kids gathered around a man performing tricks.

"Do you remember that guy who used to juggle in the middle of the plaza?" Lira asked. "He'd drop everything whenever a kid asked to try."

Kai smirked. "He let you juggle once. And you hit me in the face with an apple."

She laughed. "You always say that like I did it on purpose."

"It was."

"I was ten!"

Kai shrugged. "Doesn't change the fact that you aimed."

Lira shook her head, still smiling. "I miss those days."

Kai paused for a few moments.

"…Me too."

He glanced sideways. "Still remember how you used to cry over the dumbest things?"

Lira puffed her cheeks. "Excuse me?"

"You bawled when that bread vendor yelled at us."

"That guy threw a broom at me!"

Kai chuckled. "You were such a crybaby."

Lira pouted but didn't said anything.

Soon, they reached a small bridge that stretched across the lake.

Lira leaned her elbows on the railing, gazing at the still water.

"Sometimes I think about those days," she said. "They felt... simple."

"... They were."

"You were always dragging me out to see things."

"And you were always trying to convince me to stop stealing."

She snorted. "We made a good team."

Kai looked at her. "... We did."

Then, they resumed walking.

After crossing the lake, they entered the market square.

The air humed with the activities of market square.

But to them, it doesn't matter.

Everything faded in the background as they enjoyed their moment together.

Lira then pointed at a stall selling roasted nuts.

"Wanna eat?"

"No," Kai shot back without missing a beat.

"You still hate those, don't you?" she teased.

Kai made a grim face. "Tastes like charcoal."

She laughed. "You used to pretend to like them just so I wouldn't eat alone."

He shrugged. "And you believed it."

They both began laughing.

Moments passed in peaceful silence.

Then—it happened.

A voice called out from behind them.

"Lira!"

They turned around.

A man was approaching, dressed in sleek noble attire. A blue-gold crest shimmered on his chest.

His composure was relaxed—almost smug.

Before Kai could process anything more, the man stopped beside Lira and slipped an arm around her waist, gently pulling her closer.

But Lira—

She didn't flinch.

She didn't resist.

She just... smiled.

Genuinely.

"Oh, I didn't know we had company," the man said, glancing at Kai with a smirk. "Friend of yours, darling?"

Kai's chest tightened. It felt like a punch to the gut, watching her lean into the man's touch.

"Yeah," she replied with a sweet smile, "Kai's an old friend."

"Ah!" The man extended his hand. "Lucien Ardent. Her betrothed."

Kai just stood there, frozen.

Silent.

Staring.

His smile had long faded.

Something twisted inside him.

He wanted to laugh—pretend it didn't matter.

But it did.

More than it should have.