NOVEL NEXT Chapter 64: Bond [2]
The sun hung at its peak, the lush green trees casting long shadows on the ground.
Kai stood near the clearing, crossing his arms against his chest.
Ethan stood against him, holding a wooden stick, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
While Elina stood few steps behind him, smiling.
Sigh!
Kai rubbed his temples, groaning.
'How the fuck did I get into this mess.'
----
Kai was sitting silently in the corner, drinking his morning tea.
Sip!
"Haah!"
"Big brother!" Ethan waved towards him, smiling.
"Can you train me, Big bro?" He asked coming near him.
Kai raised a brow, "Why would I?"
"Because you are strong and cool, I want to be just like you."
"There are many others like that, and I'm not your personal teacher."
"But you promised—"
"I was sleep derived at that time, and you weren't going anywhere, so i lied."
"Hey, that's mean. You promised, now keep your promise."
"I didn't pro—"
Before he could finish, he felt a pair of warm, soft hands over his free hand, squeezing it gently.
"Please, big brother. " Elina requested, with puppy eyes.
He narrowed his then—
'Tch.'
Sigh!
"Alright fine, but don't expect much from me."
"Yeeee!"
Both Elina and Ethan beamed in joy, jumping on toes.
----
Kai sighed again.
Then—
"But, what are you doing here?"
He snapped his head to his side, where a caramel haired girl, wearing a faded linen blouse and woollen skirt.
"Me?" Lina asked, turning her head towards him.
"Is there anyone beside you here?" Kai asked, his voice laced with irritation.
"Why? Can't I be here?" she said, tilting her head.
"Tch. Do what you want." He said and turned away.
"Okay~"
"As for you, go and sprint towards that tree and come back. Also, no stopping, no slow pacing."
"Alright." Ethan raised his fists to his chests and clenched, dramatically.
Then—
"Heiyyaaah!"
He bolted.
And—
[<Ding!>]
[<You had unlocked a new title! Temporary teacher>]
'Huh?'
[<You will receive pts for teaching, that can be exchanged for gacha. But note, this is for limited time period.>]
'Really!' Kai exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with wide excitement.
[<You blind? Why do I always have to say things twice?>]
'Oh, sorry.'
Then Kai's gaze landed on Ethan, who came back, panting, bending his knees.
A sly grin tugged on Kai's lips.
"Free pts, it's gonna be fun."
"Haa...Haa..." Ethan gasped for breath, his hands resting on his knees.
"Wow, you're fast, Ethan." Elina said from side in a cheerful tone.
"Thanks!"
He straightened up then—
He shuddered.
'Why am I feeling chill at my back?'
******
"Haa... haa..."
Ethan laid on the grass, his chest heaving up and down.
"... D-Don't you... think th-... that it was too much..." He said, mid gasps.
"There's no shortcut to the success, Ethan. No pain no gain."
Kai said grinning, as he checked the hovering blue panel infront of him.
[<Title: Temporary Teacher!>]
[<Current students:
-Ethan
Pts earned: 5 pts.>]
'Tsk, just 5 points. He's really a slowl learner.'
Then he turned to Elina, who sat beside Ethan and said.
"Okay, so now its your turn."
Elina flinched.
"B-But I don't—can't, I'm not big or strong as Ethan."
She said, nervously.
Kai shook his head, "I'm not talking about physical training like him, though you need one, I'll made for you a much easier one than him."
"Really?"
"Yes, but first, what you need to do is—"
[<Soul Space activated!>]
A magic circle formed beside them.
And Vex came out, purring and perched on Kai's head.
"... Is about beasts."
Elina's eyes sparkled and she began nodding her head, furiously.
[<Do you want to take Elina as your student too?>]
[<Yes!>]/[<No!>]
'Yes.'
******
"Phew..."
Kai exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
The sun was now dipping on the horizon, cascading the orange hue in the sky.
Shadows of the tree were stretching as the sun began dipping.
After training them.
Kai send them off with Lina back to the town, and stayed back to train himself.
--
{Daily Task}
Push-ups: 100 ✅
Pull-ups: 100 ✅
Running: 10 km ✅
Crunches: 100 ✅
Plank: 10 min ✅
[Ding!]
[You've completed your daily task.]
[Here are your rewards: 3 pts]
{Current Gacha Points: 31/100}
--
'Elina gave me 8 pts, while Ethan 5. She's a quick learner. Ethan's little dumber but he got potential.'
Then he moved from the clearing and reached bit deeper parts of forest.
Then—
[<Soul space activated!>]i
Vex and Falcon materialised above the glowing magic circle.
Then Kai pulled out an E+Essence Core from his storab bracelet.
He placed it in front of the faclon and—
"Wait a minute!"
He said, furring his brows.
"I didn't named you, did I"
Hearing this, the Windsight Falcon slumped its head down and nodded.
While Vex patted it's back, to cheer loor guy up.
He rubbed the back of his neck,"Ah, sorry!"
"Then your name should be..." he began stroking his chin, as if he was in deep thought.
"Yeah, what about... Vael?"
Kreee!
The Windsight Falcon cried cheerfully, flapping its wings.
"Okay, Vael. You can absorb these now."
Vael nodded and sat on the Essence Core and closed its eyes.
After few minutes later, it opened its eyes.
Kree!
Kai then put another Essence Core and Vael sat on it again.
This process continued.
When Vael absorbed the last of the Essence Core.
A tiny brust of enegery shot around the surroundings, as Vael broke through.
Since Kai was at Peak-Intermediate Core and Vael only at Mid-Lesser Core, it didn't effect him much.
But—
Grrrr!
Low growls were reverberated around the area.
And few figures came forward from the bushes.
Kai had deliberately chose this place for Vale's rank up.
Since it was bit deeper, there were plenty of stronger beats nestled there and a low tier beast like The Windsight Falcon—Vael was free meal for them.
They didn't want to miss the opportunity to devour a newly ranked beast.
While, Kai also didn't want to loose the opportunity to hunt for more cores.
"Killing two birds with one stone." He smirked and unseathed his dagger.
Vael shot above in the sky, Vex crouched down.
"Come. Let's dance." Kai said.
And—
Whoosh!
(Thank You guys for reading this far.
This mark the ending of the 1st Volume.
And I'll try to make things little fast in next volume as the first one seemed bit slow.
And again thank you guys so much.)