It had been a few days since the start of the festival. I had gone back into my usual routine, however, there had been a small change in my relationship with Riku.

You see he would spend more time talking to me, sometimes during our lessons, he seemed to be trying really hard to make sure I understood as much as I could. It made my heart feel very warm.

After my lessons in politics, my etiquette teacher had gone to extra length to show me as much as she could. She had apparently heard from the palace ladies that I had been spending a lot of my time with the royal family and decided to double my workload.

The words “ I will not have you embarrass your family” had rung in my ears like a broken record.

I had eaten some lunch that Ki had personally cooked for me afterwards. It was some sort of sea beast and salad. I can’t tell you what I ate but it actually wasn’t too bad.

Afterwards, I had my rehabilitation with Dr Ishi. We had done my daily breathing exercises as well as sword movements. It had become much easier since when I first started. I had even managed to impress my father, who had snuck out from his piling work just to see me. I could tell he was happy because he seemed to be holding back a few tears.

It made me embarrassed but I was happy.

[ Stupid big guy! ]

Looking back on my past few months here, I had finally felt like I have found somewhere I belong. I still had a worry in my gut about my future and I still didn’t dare tell anyone I had no interest in women but … I felt like I had finally found a home.

I had just finished packing up and thanking Ishi when an old man had come to greet my father. He looked exactly like my father just a little older. He had long unmanaged hair that seemed to form a birds nest.

He was wearing dark amour with the Tama royal family coat of arms on it. It only took me a second to realise that he was the guardian of Tama, the one that had caused all the guards in the palace to salute at me... The awe-inspiring man that was my grandfather the general of Tama.

[ This… This is the awe-inspiring man? If it were not for the armour I’d mistake him for a beggar!]

I had looked to his side to see a young man no older than 18, he had a massive sword on his back and dark black fitting amour. I could see from a distance he had long flaxen white hair tied with a black string and strong red eyes.

[ Oh, it seems like albinos also exist here.]

My father after a while had signalled me to approach them. I had put on my best poker face to stop myself from laughing at my grandfather and approached the group.

“ You may not remember little Yuki, but this is your grandfather,” my father said.

The person who was my grandfather started slapping my back and smiling brightly.

“ Boy! You sure have grown! It’s like I blinked when you were a small child and now poof you’re an adult!” My grandfather said.

The boy to his side straightened his back.

Grandfather looked over then introduced him. “ This young lad here is Etsuko Ren, He has served by my side on the border since he was a wee lad, Now he will be your sword fighting coach! Be sure to be nice to him, he isn't used to being in towns and could use a friend!”

My grandfather slapped his back and he stepped forward before saying “ Etsuko Ren, 100 soldier leader of Tama pass. I will do my best to assist you Aikyo Yuki” He said awkwardly before saluting a perfect military salute.

[ What a weird guy ]

“ My name is Yuki, please just use that, can I call you Ren or do you prefer instructor Ren?” I say in response as I practised my court bow.

“ Instr..instructor Ren? No, you can’t do that you are from the esteemed Aikyo family! The honour cannot be mine. Ren.. please just call me Ren” Ren flustered through while trying to breathe.

[ haha cute! ]

I stifled a laugh. Ren went beetroot red. My grandfather and father both laughed.

“ Good that you are modest Ren, I am also glad to hear you talking Yuki, I had almost forgotten what you sound like!” Grandfather said to Ren to cheer him up and then looked at me.

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Ren looked up at my grandfather as if he was starstruck and smiled.

“ Uhh yeah, I guess.” Is all I could say in response.

My father had then called over Ki before he said “ Ki, Get young lad Etsuko here a place to stay near my son's room. Since he will be here to train him, They can start tomorrow morning.”

[ Finally, some sword training! even if Ren does seem rather unreliable he must be good if grandfather recommended him ]

“ Young Master Estuko, My name is Ki, Please follow me to your new room,” Said Ki elegantly, her aura changing to that of a perfect maid.

“ Is there anything else you desire Master? “ Ki said to father.

“ Not at this time” father responded.

She looked Ren up and down once as if sizing him up before leading him away.

Grandfather, father and I all ended up in the north building. Mother had stopped by and we spent the rest of the day with tea and snacks talking about grandfathers experiences at the border.

Apparently, it wasn’t just the other kingdoms that Tama had to guard against. There were bandits situated on the border as well as massive beasts that would cause smaller ones to attempt to flee into the Tama kingdom.

I had asked grandfather why it was bad to get new beasts in the kingdom and he had told me that animals are very territorial.

If the beasts in our land were to smell the new rivals, battles could break out. In fact a few years ago a village near the border was decimated after a giant beast had picked a fight with another over territory.

[ Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps ]

He also told me about Ren, apparently, he was orphaned young. He had joined the army to put some food in his belly, grandfather had decided to take him under his wing.

Life in the army was all he knew so he may not understand a lot but when it comes to swordsmanship he is one of the best.

It had taken so long to get a new teacher because he had personally gone to the border where Ren was guarding to assign this mission to him and bring him back.

I had at that moment decided that I was going to try my best, even if some of it was self-preservation, the efforts that my family were putting into me made me grateful.

Mother and father had also spent time telling grandfather about my improvements and the general running of the house. He seemed surprised as he had not realised how bad my heart had been.

I had watched the colourful expressions on his face as mother had told him about the palace. The sun had finally hidden under the horizon and the moon had begun to show its pale face. Ki had come to pick me up. I said my goodnights and left the north building.

As we were walking back I had noticed that Ki was walking a little more forced the usual. I turned to her and asked, “ Are you okay?”

She looked surprised for a moment before saying that she had an upset stomach. We had talked about her day as well as my training. She seemed pretty interested in it and also gave me some pointers. I think she had been reading some books when she had free time to help.

[ Ki’s a nice person, maybe she will learn how to fight when she had time too!]

We had finally arrived back to my room. She helped me get changed into my pyjamas and served some sort of vegetable soup concoction for dinner. I could tell the instant I took a bite who had made it.

[ Mother’s cooking is the worst ]

I was fed each spoonful and I smiled. It had tasted terrible but I began to appreciate the unique flavour. It seemed that my mother had made soup during my training and Ki had reheated it.

The sweet, sour and salty flavour made my heart quiver with gratefulness and my taste buds burn and cry.

After I had finished I had said my goodnights to Ki and she had left the room. I laid down looking at the ceiling. I had then spread my hand up in the air and absent-mindedly looked between my fingers.

[ I wonder how Cupid’s doing ]

“ You thinking about Meowster Cupid, Meowster?” said the disembodied voice of Kibbles.

[ mm since I can only see him when I almost die, I guess]

Kibbles had appeared out of thin air and landed on my bed with a small thunk. I dropped my arm and looked at it in the candlelight. It’s cute little-folded ears and stubby legs filled me with love. Kibbles seemed to fill the void that my old cat had left when he passed away.

Kibbles walked right on to my chest and stared down at my face. Its eyes seemed to reflect the light and shined a slight green and silver. Kibbles seemed to size me up before it gently licked my face.

It then turned around and put its rear in my face before getting comfortable and laying down.

“ Meowster, since you have gotten stronger I am able to come out more have you noticed?” Said Kibbles and it kneaded my chest a little.

I thought about it and realised for the past few weeks Kibbles had been appearing a lot more. It even sat around to watch the fights at the festival.

When I had first received the cat it could barely say hello before going into standby mode.

“ Mm I guess so,” I said out loud in response absent mindedly stroking its fur. It’s fine hairs felt really soft on my hand.

[My Status]

As I thought to myself a screen appeared in front of me. It was shades of pink. My picture appeared on the side and my figures were shown in deep black bubble letters.

Name: Yuki

Doki Dollars: 100

Strength: 11 ( Unlock: 18 DD)

Dexterity : 10 ( Unlock: 18 DD)

Magic: 0 ( Unlock: Unavailable)

Intelligence : 15 ( Unlock: 20 DD )

I had realised that both my strength and dexterity had gone up again. I then looked at Kibbles and said “ What do these stats mean compared to the average person?”

Kibbles seemed to think about it for a moment before saying. “ Well Meowster, 13 seems to be the average stat for most people your age in strength and dexterity. So you are just below average! However, 10 is average for intelligence so you are above average there. Someone like your grandfather is up at 94 in his stats and your father is mid 60’s.”

“ So I am about average huh? I guess that is better than being useless!” I said out loud in response and smiled.

“ Meowster are you going to spend some points? It seems like you have accumulated a few” Kibbles suggested.

“ I am sleepy right now, maybe tomorrow” I responded, patting Kibbles one last time before shutting my eyes and peacefully sleeping.

I had to save my energy for tomorrows sword practice.