Katalia listened to the clatter of cutlery against the plates. She sat beneath the grand chandelier of the Laracassa hotel’s restaurant, surrounded by the soft hum of orchestral music and the low murmur of conversations from other Kin dining. Despite the warm lighting of the restaurant, Katalia still felt cold. Her father, her brothers, and her aunt all sat around her.

Her father looked drained; the night had been weighing heavily on his mind since that morning. He and her aunt had never been the type of Akila to fly in sync, her father often mentioned. And their relationship had withered further after her mother’s death. Katalia could see the tightness in her father’s beak, and the forced pleasantries he attempted to exchange with her aunt.

He had insisted they all dress their best. Katalia had worn a traditional formal Levarato outfit – a long black skirt that swept the floor as she walked, and a white long-sleeved blouse, topped with a traditional, bodice apron embroidered with the intricate flowers found in the Levarato Province. Her father and brothers wore black pants, white shirts, and blazers stitched with similar floral designs.

The restaurant, like much of the KinAkila world, was run by the Lankala – masters of the Vas Atoro Empire. Katalia didn’t care for Lankala cuisine. She also preferred the fish-based dishes from Levarato or even Costadore itself. Tonight, the heavy meat dishes of Lankala filled their table.

A weathered, elderly Lankala men approached their table, his plumage faded to a dull white. He extended his yellow hand, practically bowing as he greeted her aunt.

“Ms. Lucia Feroz,” the restaurant manager said, his voice filled with awe. “What an honour to have you here. Two Kai-Yo legends reserving a table in the same restaurant – what are the odds?”

Katalia found it odd he seemed so surprised. After all, her father and aunt, had some form of relation.

Bright lights suddenly burst before Katalia’s eyes, followed by the rapid click of camera shutters. Her aunt posed eagerly, switching effortlessly between smiles, pouts, and more serious looks as the cameraman continued taking his photos.

“Make sure my photo’s centred if you’re going to hang it,” Lucia said without a hint of modesty.

“Of course, Ms Feroz,” the manager replied, nodding before his team finally retreated, leaving the family to their dinner.

Silence returned, broken only by the occasional clinking of utensils. The table had barely shared any words, but Katalia could feel her aunt’s obliviousness to the growing resentment beneath the surface.

“We should do this more often when I’m in town,” Lucia suggested, her voice casual.

“We should,” her father responded, tight-beaked.

More silence. Then Lucia turned to her nephews, eager to break it. “So, how’s the training?”

“Good,” Manu Jr said correcting his posture at his aunt’s insistence before continuing. “I’m quite positive that one of us will make it to the Belna Invitational finals for the Mythics.” He shot a pointed look at Katalia. “Well, maybe not all of us.”

Katalia’s grip tightened on her fork, but she bit her tongue.

“That’s really rad man,” Lucia smiled. “But what was that look?”

“What look?” her father asked.

“The weird look Junior gave Lia,” her aunt pressed.

“I’m sure it’s just one of their inside jokes,” her father muttered, before he returned to stabbing his meat.

Her aunt’s attention shifted fully to Katalia. “How have you been?”

“Good,” Katalia quickly responded.

“You sure love? You didn’t sound so good the other day on the phone.”

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“I was just tired.”

“Really?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“And it wouldn’t having anything to do with you storming off on me the other day, would it now Lia?”

The comment hung in the air for a moment, and her father’s voice suddenly cut through, sharp and loud. “Storming off?” The surrounding tables turned briefly toward them, curiosity flickering in their eyes before returning to their meals. “You humiliated her,” he said in a more hushed tone.

“How?” Lucia asked, unfazed.

“Come on, she’s basically still a kid. You talk down to her. You fight her in front of other Kin.”

Lucia leaned in slightly, her eyes narrowing at Katalia. For a moment, disbelief flashed in them, followed by a brief flicker of anger. But she quickly masked it with her usual smugness.

“If she had a problem, why didn’t she tell me?” Lucia said, her voice cool and composed.

Their waiter returned, cutting through the tension. “Is there anything else you’d like for the evening?”

“We’ll be having dessert,” Lucia said in a sweet tone to the Lankala waiter. “What you thinking guys?”

But Katalia’s gaze was momentarily distracted. It wasn’t just that the waiter’s feathers shimmered like the brightest Solar Push she’d ever seen, and she could say that with certainty, having witnessed Titos Pericles’ patented F O Fist live many, many times. It wasn’t just his strong forearms peeking through his rolled up shirt sleeves, striking yellow like sunflowers basking in the midday sun. But it was also the fact that his beak also looked sharp enough to cut through even Divine Pulse Cells.

“Lia… Lia…” her aunt’s sing-song voice drew her attention. “He’s cute, isn’t he?”

Katalia stared her down, shocked, saying nothing.

“My niece is really beautiful, isn’t she?” Lucia turned to the waiter, who was caught off guard.

Katalia longed for nothing more in that moment, than for the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

“She’s a Pureborn too,” her aunt continued. “She’ll protect you from all the terrors creeping out of the Poko Poko marshes. Well, she’ll at least try.”

‘Ahhh,’ so Katalia thought. This was another one of her aunt’s games.

“You should ask her out some time,” Lucia continued. “Wouldn’t you like that, Lia? Instead of being stuck in a stuff gym punching wooden blocks all day long.”

“I’m sorry but I have a girlfriend,” the waiter tried to be as gentle as possible.

“That’s a shame,” Lucia pouted. “Anyway. You should focus more on your training anyway. You don’t want to get stuck at the Mythic level too long, do you? You know your mom had that problem. But it let me catch up to her, so we could train together.”

Kaelo jumped in, trying to change the subject. “So, when will you be back in action?”

Before Lucia could respond, something in the back of the room caught everyone’s attention. Katalia swivelled in her seat.

“Whoa, that’s Osarok,” Manu Jr whispered.

All eyes in the restaurant had turned toward her. Osarok, dressed simply in a skirt and blouse, seemed older than Katalia had remembered from seeing her a couple of months ago.

Her father made a clicking sound, before muttering under his breath, “Bitch.”

“Dad,” Katalia said, mortified.

“I apologize,” he sighed, shaking his head. “I shouldn’t use language like that.”

“You’re right,” Lucia said. “Cunt suits her better.”

While some Kin had come up to say hello to Lucia earlier, the entire restaurant, including the staff at the back, had erupted at Osarok’s entrance. The patrons of the restaurant lined up for autographs, and the flash of cameras filled the room. Katalia caught the sting of jealousy in her aunt’s expression.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so adored before,” Katalia remarked.

Lucia forced a smile.

Katalia locked eyes with her aunt. “Do you know her? I mean like personally. Can you introduce me? I have never been in the presence of someone at her level before, you know?” Before her aunt could reply, Katalia added one more jab, “Or is she one of those that think she’s too important for regular Kin like us?”

“I’m anything but regular, child,” Lucia shot back. “And surely you of all Kin should understand why I wouldn’t want to interact with her.”

Her father remained silent, focusing on the sweet berries and powder sugar on his plate.

“So…” Manu Jr said, watching the crowd around Osarok. “Are we really the only ones not getting a picture. It makes us look bitter.”

Nobody responded. Only the clatter of camera shutters and thank-yous filled the pause.

Lucia broke the silence again. “Give Lia to me. Let me take her on the road.”

“No,” her father said, this time making eye contact with her.

“Listen—”

“No.”

“You’re fucking up her chances, Manu.”

“Like you care.”

“I do care. Mariya would be mortified knowing her daughter is 19 and still Pushes like she had her Talentbirth a month ago.”

Katalia exchanged quick glances with her brothers, unsure what to say.

“Mariya,” her father said bitterly.

“Yes.”

“Mariya… hated you. She thought you were an egocentric, vapid, ignorant –”

“And she would have been one of the greatest KY fighters if it weren’t for her insecure boyfriend convincing her to give up her dreams and chase regional tag belts in Iradi.”

Her father pushed his chair back sharply and stood, pulling out his wallet. He threw a handful of notes onto the table.

Lucia snatched the money. “Are you sure? I think you might need this more than me.”

“Let’s go,” he said harshly, signalling for them to leave.

As they filed out of the restaurant, Katalia glanced back at Osarok, who briefly locked eyes with her and smiled. Then she caught sight of her aunt, who was already flirting with the waiter, and tugging playfully at his shirt.