With her left hand still on top of her head, Arashi turned her upper body to the right. She pointed at Asami and said. “That’s a lie! I only want to teach him how to throw a punch!” Asami took awesome pistachio nuts from the bag on Reiki’s lap and said. “The only thing you taught him last spar was how much of a sore loser you are.” Reiki was staring at the large bag of unshelled pistachio nuts, he thought. This should be enough to last me two to three days for some extra protein in my diet.

Arashi let out a scoff as she stopped pointing at her, she said. “I am not a sore loser! I had him pressed against the ropes. I won that spar fair and square.” Reiki took out a tattered pouch from his pocket as he put the bag of pistachios in it, he continued his train of thought. Cherry exited the house by… Phasing through a window… It makes me wonder where her real owner is. Asami waved her hand as the remote that was on the coffee table flew into the palm of her hand, she said. “I’ll admit you won the spar.”

Arashi’s eyes slightly narrowed, she thought. … She’d never let anyone win an argument against her… Asami started browsing through the channel, she spoke under her breath and said. “But lost in terms of martial mastery the moment you started using mana.” Reiki was staring at Arashi’s calm expression, he thought. Oh, she took that a lot better than I thought. He heard the sound of knuckles cracking. Reiki moved his gaze down and saw Arashi’s fists curled into fists while visibly shaking. He continued his train of thought. Nope, spoke too soon.

Ender’s voice rang in his head, he said. [Negotiate with the woman on your right for some dragon meat.] Reiki thought. And we’re offering what in exchange? Arashi was taking slow deep breaths to calm herself down while Asami covered her mouth to hide a small yawn. Ender said. [I’ve scanned her mana the first time you met her and she’s only eating about fifty to seventy grams of dragon meat on average. With my method, she can eat six hundred grams a day.] Reiki managed to control his expression, he thought. Didn’t I already eat dragon meat twice? That one time with Kiru and I shared some with my elves.

Reiki looked around the room as he pretended to be affected by the awkward atmosphere, Ender said. [The first one was passable quality at best, and you should tell your elves the ‘dragon’ meat you ate was mixed blood. That woman, on the other hand. I’ve searched inside her pouch and she has an eye for quality.] Reiki faked a cough and said. “... Asami, what would it take for you to give me a consistent supply of dragon meat?...” Asami stopped flipping through the channels as she placed the remote on the couch, she said. “Let’s see… I’d consider it if you become my disciple along with your obedience and loyalty.”

Arashi let out a soft scoff, she spoke under her breath and said. “You might as well ask for his soul.” Without missing a beat, Reiki said. “How many kilos of meat do you have access to?” Asami placed her right hand on the armrest of the couch, she said. “I have a farm for it.” Reiki’s eyes widened in surprise, he said. “A farm for dragon meat?!” Arashi rolled her eyes as she put both her feet on the coffee table, she thought. No one has seen that farm, chances are it’s fake.

Asami’s lips curled into a slightly smug smile, she said. “Just a small farm, nothing special.” Reiki thought. Never would’ve thought I’d hear the words dragon and farm in the same sentence in real life… He said. “About our deal.” Asami let out a soft laugh and said. “Sure, let me listen to your counteroffer.” She thought. Though, I highly doubt you have something of equal value. Arashi let out a sigh just loud enough for them to hear, she thought. Don’t bother with one, she has no intentions of accepting it.

Reiki pretended to think, he said. “Then, how about I teach you a way to eat about five to six hundred grams a day?” Arashi shook her head sideways, she thought. That’s not enough to make her think-. Asami gave him a polite smile and said. “Quite the offer you gave me but-.” The two girls realize what he said. Arashi stopped her train of thought for a few seconds to process his sentence, she thought. Did he just say six hundred grams?! Asami still had her polite smile on her face, her expression turned serious.

She said. “I only like jokes at appropriate times, Reiki.” Reiki had a perfect copy of the polite smile Asami gave him, he said. “And I came here to make a deal.” A moment of silence passed by as the only sound that filled the room was the television. Asami let out a chuckle, she said. “Alright, I’m sorry for the smile. It’s a habit I developed when negotiating with people. I have dragon meat in my pouch, can you tell me how your method works?” Arashi moved some hair behind her ear as she was intently listening to the conversation.

Reiki leaned on the backrest of the couch, he said. “Can’t do that, you haven’t told me if you agreed to the deal.” Arashi was staring at him with an odd expression, she thought. Kids don’t understand the meaning of fear. Asami’s lips curled into a smile, she thought. Interesting… Trying to negotiate with me on equal terms… She said. “Deal. If your method allows me to eat six hundred grams of dragon meat in a single day, I’ll provide a constant supply of meat for you.” Reiki reached out his hand, he said. “Deal.” Asami reached for his hand as the two of them shook on it.

The two of them pulled their hands back, Asami said. “I’m all ears, what’s your method?” Reiki thought. Ender, you better talk quickly. She has no qualms with placing her hands around my neck. Asami glanced at Arashi who was pretending to watch TV. Asami said. “Arashi… Go buy something outside for a few minutes. I’ll reimburse you.” Arashi scratched the back of her head, she thought. Shit, gotta think quick… Ender’s voice rang in Reiki’s head, he said. [Do the string training and say everything I say word for word.]

Arashi placed a hand on top of Reiki’s head as she messed up his scraggly and unkempt hair, she said. “He still hasn’t told me if he wanted to spar or not?” Arashi gave her a wry smile. Asami returned the smile and said. “I’ll be sure to convince him, you can go.” Reiki opened his mouth to say something when Arashi placed a hand to cover it, she said. “It’s fine, I can convince him myself. Mo-. Mother always told me that I need to practice convincing people when I inherit the clan from her.”

Half of Reiki’s face was pressed up against Arashi’s large chest, he took a couple of whiffs and thought. Citrus?.... It’s orange, she smells nice. Asami shook her head sideways, she said. “There you’d better start small, convincing an adult is easier than a child.” She noticed the look Reiki was giving her, Asami continued. “You’re not getting an apology from me Reiki. I’ve had more than my fair share of dealing with children.” Reiki moved his gaze to the TV, he thought. … She’s not wrong, pleasing an adult with a fake promise of money is easier than trying to convince a kid…

Asami moved her gaze back onto her and said. “Arashi.” Arashi shook her head sideways, she said. “This is my apartment.” Asami let out a slow exhale, she thought. Oh god, she argues just like her mother… She said. “I’m the one who got you this apartment using my connections.” Arashi used her eyes to look frantically around the apartment, she said. “W-Well, my mom already spent a fortune on that door.” She pointed at the magic door that leads to her gym. Asami nodded in agreement and said. “True, your mother always spoiled you too much when you were younger… I can still see it still hasn’t changed.”

Reiki was watching the show while waiting patiently, he thought. I forgot the season for this show sucks… Now I have to wait god knows how long for the next three seasons for it to be good again. Asami placed her hand in her pocket as she took out a red coin with a front-view face of a dragon on one side with the other one completely blank. She said. “Would this be enough to get you to leave?” Arashi’s gaze was glued onto the coin, she thought. Mom would kill me if she knew I refused that coin.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Asami tried to tempt her by trying to pass the red coin onto her hands, Arashi moved her hand away from Reiki’s mouth as she grabbed the armrest of the couch with both her hands. Arashi said. “I… Don’t have anything on my mind at this moment…” Asami raised a brow in interest, the corner of her lips curled into a slight smile. She said. “Then how about you hold onto this and tell me at a later date?” Arashi tightened her grip on the armrest as her fingers sunk in deeper ripping part of the fabric.

She gritted her teeth and forced herself to speak, Arashi said. “... I-I’ll pass.” Reiki stared at the coin, he said. “What can you trade the coin for?” Asami skillfully spun the coin between her fingers, she said. “The coin itself has no value as a currency, plus it’s made out of cheap metal.” Arashi was massaging the temples of her head, she thought. As long as neither of them talks about this with my mom, I won’t get punished for it. Reiki moved his gaze back onto the show on TV, he said. “What kind of metal?”

Asami pocketed the coin and said. “Just a mix of elven and dwarven steel.” Reiki quickly turned his head to see Asami had a slight smile on her lips, he said. “How’s that supposed to be cheap?” Arashi’s brows furrowed, she thought. For something so valuable to be made out of low-quality metal… Asami made herself comfortable on the couch by leaning on the backrest, she said. “It’s cheap in the mainland.” Reiki’s furrowed in confusion, he said. “Elven and dwarven steel? How does that even work?”

Arashi scratched the side of her head and said. “Long story short, father was a dwarf and mother was an elf. Both of them were blacksmiths and taught their son, who was heavily discriminated against by both species.” Reiki thought. Yeah, I expected this kind of treatment for half-bloods. Arashi continued. “No one wanted to hire him so he created the new metal which was easy to produce in large volume without sacrificing quality.” Reiki continued his train of thought. Ah, I can see where this is going. He said. “Let me guess, people got greedy, threatened him, got the means to produce the metal, and then killed him.”

His mouth turned into a smile, Reiki thought. That’s how it always ends. Arashi was about to say something when Asami spoke first. She said. “Very close, but no. When he started putting his weapons for sale he made large quantities. He managed to own the entire market for two weeks before the assassinations started and threw the method to the public.” Reiki turned his head to look at her, he said. “He revealed the way to create the metal to everyone!?” Asami nodded as she let out a mocking laugh and said. “Let’s just say, all major forces couldn’t collect every single parchment.”

Reiki said. “Parchment?... How bad was it?” Arashi moved the cushion on her left and placed it behind her, she said. “It was everywhere, literally everywhere. Glued onto streets, buildings, and birds were constantly flying around the mainland dropping parchment from the sky.” Reiki thought. … What a spiteful man… I like him. He said. “And the name of the metal is?” Arashi used her hand to cover her mouth to hide a small yawn, she said. “Name? Oh, it’s called mixed steel.” Reiki started laughing, he said. “Mixed steel? What, all the good ones were taken?”

Asami picked up the remote she placed on the couch, she said. “It’s out of spite, rumor is he was called mixed blood for his entire life. Now when anyone thinks or says of mixed steel, they think of him.” She turned the TV off and continued. “His income may not be nowhere near what it once was, but he still made a fortune.” Reiki thought. He's still alive? That’s surprising, I expected him to be killed for making the method public. Arashi thought for a moment and said. “Others did try to name it, Ertyhuxite and Sanfyrine. Mixed steel just stuck.”

Asami lazily stretched on the couch, she said. “Alright, that’s enough chatter.” She moved her gaze onto Arashi who refused to make eye contact. Asami continued. “Arashi, if you don’t get out of this apartment in one minute I will throw you out. Even if I destroy half the building in the process.” Arashi was staring out the window, she thought. Fuck, I was hoping she’d forget… Reiki suddenly spoke and said. “I think we should let her stay.” Arashi wrapped her arm around him as she pulled Reiki closer to her, she said. “See! Reiki doesn’t mind me hearing about it.”

Asami moved her calm gaze onto him, she said. “You have to convince me otherwise I’m throwing this entire building along with the people in it.” Half of Reiki’s face was smashed into Arashi’s large chest, he slipped away from her arm and said. “Even if she knows how to eat large amounts of dragon meat. Arashi would still need to get her hands on some and I doubt her clan has that much spare cash to send her.” Asami stared at him and thought. … He has a solid point… Even if she buys meat in bulk again, others would think it’s her spending streak again…

Arashi was constantly softly tapping on the armrest of the couch waiting for her response. Asami said. “... Fine, she can stay.” Arashi clenched her left hand into a fist, she thought. Yes! Mom's method of pressing dad's face into her chest worked! Reiki glanced at Arashi from the corner of his eye, he said. “But only if she agrees to join my training from time to time.” Arashi let out a chuckle, she said. “That’s it? You need to see my daily regimen then.” Asami stared at him and thought. I am interested in how your relationship with her develops.

The two girls moved their gaze onto him, Reiki thought. Ender, anytime now. Ender said. [First off, mana string. Remember, word for word.] He smiled at them and said. “No need for those stares, I’ll hold up my end of the bargain.” With one fluid motion, using the tip of his fingers he created a mana string. Reiki used the tip of his middle finger to turn it into a triangle and effortlessly turned it into a circle that was spinning mid-air. Asami stared at the mana circle and thought. Passable internal mana control.

Arashi’s brows were raised, she thought. People still do that nearly forgotten mana exercise? Asami moved her gaze from the mana circle onto Reiki as she gave him a nod to continue. Reiki cleared his throat and said. “You concentrate a circle around your stomach and constantly swirl the mana.” The mana circle floating in mid-air slowly dissipated as Reiki kept doing mana training with his right hand, as the conversation came to a sudden halt. Asami’s eyes widened slightly, she said. “... That’s it?...” Arashi tapped his shoulder a couple of times and said. “... Reiki… Is this even going to work?...”

Reiki nodded as he easily finished making another mana circle with his right hand, he said. “It sounds simple, but I’m willing to bet money you two would struggle at the start.” Asami raised a brow from interest, she thought. Oh? You’re that confident huh… Asami placed her hand inside her pocket as Arashi quickly took her feet off the coffee table. Asami tapped the inside of her pocket a couple of times as two large cuts of frozen meat appeared on the coffee table that nearly covered the entire top. The smell of the meat slowly spread out in the room as Arashi managed to get a waft of it, she thought. God, that smells so good.

Reiki stared at the two large cuts of meat that were resting on metal trays, he thought. That’s easily A5 marbling and by the fact it’s taking up the entire table… He let out a whistle and said. “These weigh ten kilograms each, don’t they?” Arashi gulped as she stared at the large cuts of meat, while Asami gently drew a circle on the meat. Asami said. “Correct, now. You said six hundred grams in one day. I’ll have two hundred grams, I like my steak pan seared, medium-rare seasoned with salt and pepper on both sides. Baste with butter, three crushed cloves of garlic, half a sprig of thyme, and two pieces of sage.”

Arashi had a bewildered expression on her face as she stared at Asami. Arashi said. “He’s not going to remember-.” Before she could complete her sentence she was interrupted by Reiki, he said. “Noted, got any sides you want?” Arashi’s eyes widened as she gave him an odd look, she thought. You understood that?! Asami thought for a moment and continued. “Steamed asparagus cut in the middle, then sear them on a pan for thirty seconds with olive oil. Along with a dozen blistered cherry tomatoes season both with a light sprinkle of salt. Oh, and lemon wedge.”

Asami let out a chuckle and said. “Was that an order or a code for his new training?” Reiki stood up from the couch, he pointed at the cut of meat she drew a circle on and said. “I’m going to be using the meat you touched for yours, this question is a little late. Does Arashi even have salt and pepper in the cabinets?” Arashi glared at him and said. “Anyone with half a brain stocks up on food.” Asami let out a chuckle, she said. “She barely had one-sixth of what I said, so I had someone deliver them here because I refused to live in a pigstyle.”

Arashi moved her gaze onto Asami and said. “Hey, I clean my apartment!” Reiki was staring at the frozen meat, he said. “Can you do me a small favor and cut mine in half? Along with your two hundred grams of meat? I don’t want to spend an entire hour making incisions.” Asami snapped her fingers as one of the large pieces of meat was cleanly cut in half, Reiki thought. Wow. Arashi placed her left hand in her pocket and reached out for one of the dragon meat that was cut in half. Reiki blocked her hand with his and said. “What are you doing?”

Arashi had a confused look on her face, she said. “... I’m taking my share?... Isn’t that the reason why you asked her to split it in half?” Reiki shook his head and said. “No, I’m planning on eating half of it now and saving the rest.” Arashi had a look of disbelief on her face, she said. “You’re planning to eat five kilograms of meat in one sitting?! Your stomach is going to explode.”

Asami turned the TV back on and thought. Five kilograms of meat… That would be one giant steak… Or is he going to make two to three large steaks?... Arashi stared at him for a couple of seconds and said. “Then what about me? Why did you let me stay?” Reiki took out a tattered pouch from his pocket, he said. “Just because we didn’t kick you out of your apartment didn’t mean I was going to share.” Reiki thought. Ender how many grams can she eat? He moved the pouch closer to one of the large trays as his share was sucked into the pouch.

Ender said. [Same as the other one.] Reiki thought. Six hundred grams a day. He easily lifted Asami’s share of the dragon meat off the coffee table as he headed to the kitchen with Arashi behind him. He said. “Give me an hour or so and Your meal will be ready.” Arashi’s gaze was on the large tray of meat as she followed him to the kitchen, she said. “Reiki, can you make me a steak with some of yours?”