Natasha: "Forgive me, Oshio, but do you know where Harry is...?"

This is the question Natasha asks while dusting. Oshio, who is doing the same thing as her, and in the same room, turns to the handmaid.

Oshio: "Harry...? Why do you want to know that?"

Natasha: "We didn't see him eating with us yesterday… Also, Master Milo told me he wasn't in the castle much. Does he travel a lot, or...?"

Oshio: "... He is often outside, enjoying Adara or doing whatever."

Natasha smiles at him before sneezing, dust falling on her nose. She rubs it and smiles.

Natasha: "I see, forgive my curiosity...!"

Oshio: "No worries, I just wasn't expecting it..."

And a few hours later, just after the discussion with Master Milo and Jiax, here she is in front of him, the mysterious man that is Harry.

Harry: "Talk about what?"

He is dressed in the same way as the first time that she saw him. His hair is tied back, but not as carefully as Natasha's. They still have a certain style; one that works on Harry; so she doesn't see how she can talk about his haircut. Long blonde hair that reaches her shoulders, bare arms and a rolled up t-shirt as much as her waist... She could never forget her style.

However, she is not there to admire him, but to talk to him.

Natasha: "I'd like to quickly talk to you about what I'm feeling... My instinct, to be more specific."

She doesn't want Harry to think she's coming to make a declaration of love to him, so she rushes to the end of her sentence. The man is sitting in a classless chair, but perfect for resting while enjoying Adara's rays. She notices that there is no food around him, nor any drinks.

When does he eat...? wonders Natasha. He who is never there during the meals... Moreover, she remembers well that Oshio had said that Harry does not get up before eight o'clock in the morning, normally, and yet, she never sees him going in the kitchen. Does he ever need to eat? She snaps out of her useless thoughts with a shake of her head and clears her voice.

Natasha: "You see, I've just been talking to Master Milo and Jiax about this, but my instincts are alerting me to a danger that is coming pretty soon..."

Her remark interests Harry, who shows a little more interest in what she is saying, but she still can't understand what he is feeling: he doesn't let any emotion show on his face. Neutral, but not cold.

Natasha: "Without lying to you or beating around the bush... I think something horrible is going to happen tomorrow."

Natasha knows that Master Milo doesn't want to tell the others about this, but that's exactly why she's here, talking to him about this:

Because she wants to put all the chances on her side.

Yes, she trusts her Master completely; that doesn't change what she is feeling. However, even if she trusts him to win the fight, that doesn't mean he won't end up uninjured. If she can get Harry in the fight, then it's possible that they can defeat the killer much faster and without any problems; without injury. Of course, her Master doesn't intend to fight alone, since she also told Jiax about it; but will it be enough? Probably, but she knows something:

She doesn't want to die anymore.

Yes, the power she received can be very useful, but Natasha is far from being a fighter or the most mentally tough. She can start over and over again, never stop until the end of time and relive her days forever, but that is not her desire at all. This ability that she has, Revive Backwards, she never wants to have to use it; at least, use it as little as possible. Only if it is useful or if she really dies. Killing herself to start over would probably be too complicated for her, because dying is far too painful. Physically and mentally.

In short, she wants to put all the chances on her side to make sure she doesn't have to start all over again.

Harry: "..."

The man doesn't answer anything, silently looking at the Kitta in front of him. Still sitting with his legs spread a bit, he looks like someone who has just been disturbed from his nap. He shows no anger or negativity on his face, but the opposite is true as well. She doesn't know what to make of his expression, so she remains as impassive as possible.

After all, last night, come to think of it, she had accepted something: the possibility that Harry would do nothing.

Of course, for her, that's not really a possibility. He is Master Milo's personal trainer, someone from his faction who trains him to become stronger and more resilient; there is no reason not to listen to Natasha.

At least, that's what she thought.

Maybe she is thinking too far ahead, but it is possible that he is not listening to her for the simple reason that what she is saying is only based on her INSTINCT; at least, that is what she makes them believe. If he considers that to be nonsense and not worth listening to, then there is nothing she can do about it. Just Master Milo and Jiax are enough, but she wants to make sure that tomorrow's fight goes well. She still knows almost nothing about the slayer, after all…

I remember Master Milo saying that Harry was more powerful than him... she thinks. That's the main reason she's come to talk to him: Oshio, Sulman, Miranda or even Chris wouldn't help her. Servants often don't have time to practice much with their Tempus, so Oshio must not be very powerful; Sulman, Miranda and Chris have work that proves they are not very good with their Tempus either. She doesn't want to judge them too quickly, since deep down she doesn't really know them and she might be wrong, but inside a castle, more than three fighters already seems like a lot; if she starts recruiting everyone... She doesn't want to go around asking everyone if they can fight by telling them about her instincts.

Harry: "... Are you sure?"

He finally speaks. This wakes her up from her thoughts and she nods with a smile: of course she is sure.

Natasha: "I am."

She doesn't want to go through all the explanations she gave to Master Milo and Jiax, so she hopes he will understand quickly.

Harry: "Are you sure it's tomorrow night...? That seems accurate."

She already knew he was going to tell her that.

Natasha: "I'm sure it's not today, otherwise I would feel it more strongly... However, it can't be further than tomorrow night, otherwise, I don't think I would feel it yet."

Harry: "..."

Natasha notices that she forgot to tell him an important detail.

Natasha: "I'm also pretty sure this is about Master Milo!"

She looks a bit sad and desperate. One could think that it's just an act to convince Harry, but her face really reflects what she feels... Since she knows what's going to happen tomorrow, she has every reason to show this worried look. Harry squints.

Harry: "Milo?"

She nods, hands one in front of the other in front of her pelvis.

Natasha: "I worry more about Master Milo when I look at him and I know it has to do with my gut, so I think something bad is going to happen to him..."

She lowers her head a little, showing her sadness. Of course she is worried about her Master: if they don't do anything, he will die again by this woman with black and purple hair. She doesn't want that…

I hope I can convince Harry... Natasha thinks. She doesn't know if her Master will be happy to know that she talked with him, but he shouldn't start bitching at her either. He doesn't want to alert the others, but he doesn't know what's really going to happen... Besides, she's sure Harry will talk to Master Milo and maybe Jiax next, so she doesn't want to worry too much about it.

Harry: "... Not listening to a Kitta's instincts is one of the biggest fools in this world; isn't that what they say?"

Natasha has never heard that phrase in her life. She doesn't know whether to agree with it or not, but she nods with a chuckle.

Natasha: "What a funny phrase."

Harry gets up from his chair and walks a few steps closer to Kitta.

Harry: "Who knows about it?"

Natasha: "Master Milo and Jiax, that's it. They told me they didn't want to alert everyone."

Harry: "Then why are you talking to me about it?"

Natasha: "Because I'm afraid of what's going to happen... I'm not going to tell other people about it, but I really wanted to tell you about it."

Harry: "And why me in particular?"

Natasha: "You are Master Milo's trainer and I heard that you are even stronger than him... With you by their side, no matter what happens, I am sure that everything will be okay..."

And she means it. She looks him straight in the eye, even if it is a little difficult for her.

Natasha: "I prefer to choose safety above all else!"

Harry stares at her for a long time, arms crossed, eyes in eyes. He squints again and Natasha can tell he's thinking about something in particular, but not knowing Harry, she can't know what's going on in his mind. He eventually turns on his heels without saying anything, which makes her nervous.

Harry: "I'll be on the lookout, but since we don't know what's going to happen, I'll pretend it's not happening. If my help is needed, I'll jump right in."

He turns his head a little, but Natasha can't see his expression.

Harry: "Thanks for the heads up, Natasha."

Chapter 10 : One Two and Three

She smiles and thanks him in turn. Even if he is not going to be directly involved in the fight, she is now reassured that he will be careful the next night. Since she already knows that the murderess will arrive tomorrow and that a fight will have to take place, she knows that Harry will step in and therefore help them. Maybe he won't have to because Master Milo and Jiax will be enough, but nothing is certain…

With Harry by their side, their chances grow enormously.

Harry: "You should get to work."

Natasha: "Of course. Thanks again and have a great day."

She walks away quickly and Harry sits down in the chair, rubbing his beard. He makes no sound, looking at the floor in front of him without really paying attention. Everything Natasha told him…

Milo drops to the floor, butt first, and lets out a long sigh of relief.

Milo: "Finally finished..."

This running session has been long and exhausting, so

Milo allows himself a quick break. Jiax looks on as she

does her last few pushups and Harry walks a bit,

watching them both.

Harry: "..."

As he does every day — with a few exceptions — he trains Milo to become stronger, more resilient, to better understand the opponents' openings, how to control his Tempus, to get in better shape, etc… Harry sometimes trains alongside him or just observes him and sees either his progress or his lack of progress. For the past few months, or even years, Milo has been making steady progress, so Harry is reassured and pleased. He would never have gotten his Recommendation if he hadn't been such a good student…

He has a real talent with his Tempus, but it's the regular training that makes him so strong now... thinks Harry. Having a Recommendation requires a lot of different criteria and no human who wasn't born with a certain talent could have it. Training alone can work on very few people; and even then, most are born with a talent. Whether it is for Tempus mastery, fighting or protection skills, stamina, the soul of a leader, etc…

Milo is a man who was born talented, that is without a doubt the reality. Harry has known this for a long time.

Harry: "Say, you two."

Milo looks at his coach and Jiax performs her last pump before resting in turn. They both question him with their eyes.

Harry: "Natasha told me about her instincts. I know you both know about it too."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Milo and Jiax were surprised to hear this. They would have thought that Natasha would have kept this to herself or at least not tried to talk to Harry... He may be a good person, but he can be cold, mysterious and distant. For Natasha to come and talk to him so quickly…

Milo: "What exactly did she explain to you?"

Harry: "That tomorrow you might be in danger. That it's her instincts that tell her that."

Milo: "I see, she told you the same as we did."

Jiax: "I wonder what can happen? If it's evening, you'll be in the castle, so I don't see how you could be in danger..."

Milo thinks the same as she does, but he can't NOT trust the Kitta's instincts. He's always followed his guard's, Jiax, so he does the same with his handmaid's, Natasha. He smiles as he turns his head to the Hourna.

Milo: "I ask myself the same question, but I don't see myself not trusting her."

Jiax: "We agree! I'm just... intrigued."

Harry: "..."

The coach looks at them and wonders what to think about it. No one has ever come to attack this castle directly. Sure, Milo has had some people try to kidnap him as a hostage, even a man who sought to murder him, but to attack the castle... Maybe it was a danger that was NOT a person? Like poisoned food or a natural disaster...?

I'll go check on the food ahead of time, but I don't see Sulman poisoning Milo... What exactly is going to happen? wonders Harry.

Harry: "In any case, I'll keep my guard up."

Milo smiled.

Milo: "Everything should be fine, but if it's ever worse than we think, I'm counting on you!"

A happy smile, full of confidence; one that looks just like Milo. Harry nods and tells them to get up, the training all but over. As always, Milo shows great determination in his eyes and is about to get even stronger. Day by day, he becomes more powerful; day by day, his dream seems more attainable in Harry's eyes.

When he takes the Test of Angels and passes it, he will have full confidence to become the future King…

When I think about it…

Harry looks at the castle wall behind him and watches as Kitta cleans up. He squints his eyes.

... Her instinct and my purchase... Is that…

It is now evening and the meal will be served in a few minutes. Natasha is sitting in the living room, Oshio at her side who has his eyes closed. They have both been there for a little over ten minutes, but no conversation has been initiated. They are resting, looking forward to dinner. Natasha touches her hands and looks ahead.

Tonight... And then tomorrow night…

This is the day the attack comes. After a good night's sleep today and a good day's work, after dinner tomorrow, the slayer will arrive. The fight will begin and victory…

Must be ours. That's what Natasha wants with all her heart. Winning is the only option she wants to imagine; but it's in her nature to also think the opposite: losing.

It is possible, though unlikely for her, that Master Milo, Jiax and even Harry are not enough to defeat this murderess. If this is the case, then the opponent will be as powerful as a Goddess and she can go back in time as many times as she wants, they will never win against her.

She does not want to imagine such a possibility.

A fight with the winged man against this woman will be my only chance... and it’s a bad idea... Natasha thought about this and smiled, amused at her own stupidity. He was going to come in destroying everything in his path, killing Master Milo and the other members of the unscrupulous faction and he won't even want to fight the criminal. It wouldn't do any good. Besides—

I still can't get rid of this unbearable chill when I think of him... Natasha thinks. She is still traumatized by his presence and the actions he has taken. She really doesn't want to think about him anymore, so she closes her eyes and sighs. Oshio notices this and opens his eyes.

Oshio: "Is everything okay, Natasha?"

She nods with a smile.

Natasha: "I was just thinking... nonsense."

Oshio: "Mmmmh, what kind of nonsense?"

Natasha: "Nothing important!"

She can't tell him the truth. If she were to explain what she experienced, she would have to confess her ability and the winged man would come back... She can't. Oshio puffs out his cheeks, a little annoyed.

Oshio: "I'm curious!"

Why is he interested? Natasha wonders. She knows

that it is not for incomprehensible reasons and probably

by simple curiosity, but she is nevertheless surprised.

It's true that I haven't talked to him much, since... she thinks. She had a "life" where they had talked for a while and had become closer, but it hadn't really happened again. Still, Oshio is someone she likes and she works with him. She looks at the wall in front of her again and keeps her beautiful smile glued to her face.

Natasha: "I was just thinking… about the past, shall I say."

Oshio turns his gaze to the same wall she is watching and stops puffing his cheeks.

Oshio: "The past..."

Natasha: "Yes..."

Oshio: "... Do you regret anything?"

Natasha turns to her.

Natasha: "What do you mean?"

Oshio keeps his eyes fixed on the wall.

Oshio: "You seemed to be bothered, so I figure if it's about your past, it's possible you regret something."

Natasha thought long and hard about his question. Basically, she was not thinking about her past at all, but about what had happened with the winged man, but since they are now talking about the past, she remembers the face of her Master Samus. Soft and kind, wrinkled by time... She squints a little, looks down and opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.

Does she regret anything?

She thought about it again and again before answering Oshio, an answer that was still a little foggy:

Natasha: "I don't regret anything... but I would have liked to spend more time with Master Samus."

Oshio: "..."

The man said nothing, listening attentively. Natasha smiled; a sad smile.

Natasha: "I think death took him a little too quickly, ahah..."

She knew that Master Samus was going to die, but even knowing this, she had found it so hard to separate herself from the Master she loved so much. The one who had taken her in, who had not left her to die in the streets of the cities... The one who had taught her to live and to love; to enjoy life and understand its beauty. Her Master who had accepted all her defects and physical attributes. The fact that she has a darker skin. That she was a Kitta. And also a Cursed.

He could have been racist. He could have taken advantage of her or sold her. He could have used her to vent.

But no. Master Samus was a perfect human being.

He had done nothing wrong to her and would never have dared; so even if she doesn't regret the time spent with him—

Natasha: "I wish I had said a better 'goodbye' to him."

It is hard for her; Oshio knows it very well. He can't fully understand her pain, but as he listens to her, he notices the sadness in her voice. Changing masters can't be easy, especially for someone like Natasha who loved her former Master so much.

Who still loves him very much, even after his death.

Oshio smiled faintly, but he still did not turn his gaze to the Kitta.

Oshio: "It's admirable of you, to still love your old Master so much even after death."

Natasha: "I will never stop loving him with all my heart."

Oshio: "Mmh, I understand."

In the past, Oshio was told that forgetting the feelings you have for someone who has died is like a second death; the worst of death.

Forgetting is scary.

Oshio finally looks at Kitta and sees that she has her head up and is not crying. Sadness brushes the skin of her face, but she seems fine. This reassures Oshio and he smiles.

Oshio: "I'm glad you don't regret anything, then."

Natasha smiles at him.

Natasha: "Thank you! And what about you?"

Oshio: "And about me...?"

Natasha: "Do you regret anything in your past?"

Natasha doesn't really know him. She knows that he is Master Milo's servant, that he wishes he was cuter and that he likes other races. She doesn't know how he was recruited, who his family members are, what kind of background he has, etc…

Oshio: "... Reg… ret…"

He blinks and finally smiles.

Oshio: "Not at all. I don't regret anything."

Natasha doesn't know if he's completely sincere, but his smile tells her that he's not necessarily lying, so she trusts him. She wants to talk more, but a man with a big smile enters the living room without warning, startling the Kitta.

Milo: "We eaaaaaat!!!"

Oshio: "No need to shout!"

He stands up scratching his hair and turns to Natasha.

Oshio: "Let's eat!"

She nods, one hand on her heart.

After supper, Natasha proposes a bath to her Master, confessing that she wishes one and that she would be honored to take one with him. As expected, he accepts without hesitation and they go there before going to their respective rooms. Nothing special happens during the bath, except for a long hug that Milo couldn't keep to himself. Natasha enjoyed it very much and she understands more and more how much she loves the touch of another living being. She lies down in bed after thinking a bit about tomorrow, but decides not to fill her head with information and doubts before sleeping. She closes her eyes and lets herself be lulled by the sound of the wind blowing on the window from outside.

???: "..."

With long blond hair flying in the wind, this man sits on the roof of the castle and looks out into the night with his blue eyes. They seem to glow in the dark, but that is more an impression than anything else. He has his left leg extended while his left leg is closer to his body, the knee a few inches from his chin. He has his right arm resting on that knee and his other arm is resting.

???: "..."

He is silent, no one at his side. The night is beautiful and he enjoys the scenery with joy. The silence, the fresh wind that runs through his hair and body, the stars that shine in the depths of space, Charon, the natural satellite that shows itself on cloudless nights…

It's a beautiful view. He could admire it for hours.

???: "..."

The man on the roof is none other than Harry. He is not going to sleep yet: he wants to enjoy this view first. His head is raised to the sky and he is enjoying this quiet, this silence, this calm. He looks at Charon and lets out a long sigh.

Broken into many pieces, long ago Charon was in one piece.

Its parts that float next to the huge part next to it, Harry watches Charon without thinking. The plains surround him and on the castle, he watches his surroundings. He touches what he has in his pocket and squints.

Harry: "... Master..."

But he said nothing more about the evening and a few hours later, a new day dawned.

The day before a violent fight.