It had been almost two weeks since Azura had achieved the liquid ki phase of her cultivator’s training. Most of that time was spent in the mana forest. The dense mana there slowly increased her supply of ki. Each of her techniques had improved significantly during this time. Now she could walk easily while projecting her ki with every step. The improvement to her body also became more apparent. She didn’t need as much sleep. Nor did she have to use the bathroom at all since her purge. At first she was worried, but her body appeared to convert everything into ki. Yet despite this and acting as a mana sponge, the amount of ki she was generating daily was minuscule. She really needed to find a better way.

While her training was proceeding smoothly other issues began coming up. Hamal’s warning that the mages were up to something had become apparent now. It was nothing overt, but the little oddities were adding up. Everyone knew something was coming. Another round of high taxes was Azura’s guess. Things were tense between the two races. It hadn’t been this bad since the food prices had changed. Many kin were considering leaving.

“What do you think’s going on?” Toren asked. The pair were on the roof tops in the slums. Azura had finished with her training for the day when Toren suggested this little outing. He’d been doing that more and more lately. It was nice. It brought back memories of simpler times. In fact she was above the librarian’s house where she had accidently pelted Grassfoot, the old crow-kin. She considered doing it again.

“No clue,” Azura admitted. “Not like the mages talk to me.”

Toren sat down his feet dangling over the side. Azura joined him as the pair looked over the city. The past few years had not been kind. It looked like a strong wind could render half the kin homeless.

“What’s your plans?” Toren asked.

“Dinner, then bed,” Azura replied.

“No. You know what I meant. What do you want to do with your life?”

“I… I don’t know,” Azura admitted. “I mean I have my training. Besides that I haven’t really thought that far ahead.”

“Have you… thought about having a family?”

“Not really. You?” Azura asked.

“I guess. I haven’t thought about it much either. Never really had a dad. But, I think I would like to try some day.”

“Oh? Any girl in mind.”

Toren gulped as he turned to face her. “I got one I’ve been looking at…”

Azura felt herself get rather hot. Was he…

“W, what’s she like?” Azura said her words coming out in a rush.

“Well she’s a bit annoying. Has the table manners of a pig. And she’s rather violent.” Before Azura could demonstrate said violence he went on. “She’s also kind. She sacrifices personal wealth for the sake of the kin in the city. She works hard and is fun to be with.” Azura flushed as Toren kept going his face drawing closer to hers.

“She’s as much troublesome as she is pretty. Which is a lot. In short, she’s my best friend.” With that said Toren pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was a bit sloppy. Neither of them had experience. Yet it lingered. Toren for his part couldn’t believe he had finally had the balls to say what he’d been feeling. He half expected Azura to toss him off the building.

Azura wasn’t sure what to think either. But she liked Toren, always had. Perhaps something more would be just as grand.

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A minute later the two separated, both flushed. Without speaking their fingers intertwined as they watched the sunset.

Veltras and his two apprentices waited on the roof top a short distance from the target’s home. Their instructions were clear. Make the incident look like it was kin related. Which meant no magic. A brief investigation was conducted by his apprentices. This was crucial training for any good assassin. He let them decided on the strategy involved to meet their customers’ requirements. They concluded a break in when both were home and asleep was the best approach. Taking two targets at once was always risker but as they were just kin it should be easy. This way they avoid any suspicion if both died a short time apart at different places. Veltras had agreed.

With a dome of silence and the illusionary wall in place he turned to his apprentices. This would be a perfect training kill for both of them. Kin were easy to kill compared to mages.

“Tell me about our targets,” Veltras commanded. It was best to review what information they had gathered. He wasn’t too worried. If they had missed anything it didn’t matter that much. The targets were nulls after all.

“Target one is an adult cat-kin female name of Coralline. She works primarily as a clothes mender and is active in the community. She is often at home or in the company of other local kin. Threat assessment low.” The first assassin stated her voice a whisper. She was garbed all in black with only her eyes visible. Veltras nodded.

“The other target is named Azura. She is a blue haired half cat-kin, daughter of target one and the noble Loric. She is young but is on the threshold of adult hood. She spends most of her time away from home. Threat assessment… unknown.” The second assassin replied, his eye’s down cast. Veltras waited. When nothing more came he became angry.

“Your job was to know your target. Just because they are kin doesn’t mean you can slack off.”

“I’m sorry Master,” the man said. “I tried to follow her on two separate occasions.”

“And,” Veltras prompted.

“She visited the rat-kin. Then only returned late in the day.”

Veltras anger faded. Rat-kin. He didn’t like kin. No mage did. But he had to respect the rat-kin. They were in the same sort of work he did. Killers, smugglers and all around pests. Yet they had their own sort of honor. They only targeted mages, never kin. The apprentice was correct in his assessment.

“Very well. Your choice was correct. It wasn’t worth the risk for gathering information on a kin. However next time I want a complete report on the target habits. If this was a mage target this would be dangerous. How will you execute the deeds?”

The pair brought out clawed gauntlets and slipped them over both hands. Veltras nodded in agreement. They could slash the pair up to add to the illusion kin were the killers.

“Are they home now?” Veltras asked.

“Yes,” they said in unison. “The girl came back recently.”

“Good. You are to act tonight. I’ll keep a look out and prevent any interference. Do it quick and quite. Understood?”

“Yes master,” the pair said.

The three assassins stood at the post waiting for the sun to set.

“You seem extra cheerful today,” Coralline said critically.

“Hmmm,” Azura said not stuffing her face for once. Her mind was far away. To the time she shared with Toren. It had been unexpected, but nice. Really nice, if she was honest with herself.

Her mother leaned forward as if expecting some aliment to be discovered if she could only look closer. Azura looked into her mother’s face and blushed.

“Gods below, he finally did it, didn’t he?”

“Huh?” Azura asked stupidly.

“Toren!” Coralline said happily. “He told you how he felt. So, how did it go?”

“Mom!”

“What? A mother needs to know these things. Did he kiss you? Do you need pointers?”

Azura’s blushed deepened.

“Wow! He actually did? I didn’t think he would be so bold. Did he use his tongue?”

“I’m going to be sick…” Azura muttered.

“Where you that bad?”

“Mom!”

“You didn’t accidently bite him did you? Or burp in his mouth? That’s a risk since you eat so much.” Coralline asked her tone that of a dedicated educator drilling the slow student.

“N,no!” Azura squeaked covering her face.

“That’s great!” Coralline said somehow her tone growing sweet enough to kill a humming bird. “Perhaps you can make a fake mouth with your hand to get some practice. You don’t want to embarrass yourself a second time.” For a demonstration she wrapped her fingers around her thumb and simulated a fake mouth. Moving the fake mouth to her actual one she mimed kissing it, tongue included.

“I’m going to bed!” Azura shouted storming off to her room.

“Make sure to practice!” Coralline shouted after her.

Azura slammed the door shut and tuned out her mother. Yet even as she buried her head into the pillows she couldn’t help but remember that kiss…