Or so I thought… I hear news of magicians rising amongst the humans… damned bastards, they should know their place.

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Kai rubbed his bandaged arm, trying to scratch a literal itch, however it was useless. He sighed and leaned back on the couch, melting inside the soft cushions. Onyx jumped and laid his large, fluffy head on Kai’s lap, lightly wagging his tail back and forth. Karfi sat opposite him, with Tausi in his lap and Natasha to his left. Both adults drank from a large bottle of wine, which they poured into glasses. Meanwhile, Tausi’s small body begged to fall asleep whilst her conscience wanted her to stay awake even if just a little longer.

A light chuckle escaped Kai’s body, followed by a grunt of pain. “Argh, this is really annoying.”

“Well… you did this to yourself, again,” Natasha said, holding a glass of wine at her eye level. “I swear, the only thing you know how to do is go missing and get hurt. Has anyone told you they’re going to die of worry because of you?”

“Ah… yes, they have… several times already.” Kai rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, his face flushing red behind the mask.

“Right, expected that.” Natasha giggled lightly while drinking from her glass, causing a little wine to spill down her neck. Kai’s focus immediately shifted to the drop of wine and remembered the smell of the drinks at that particular bar. He watched the drop rush down Natasha’s neck, passing by her veins, which pulsed with warm blood.

His heart immediately began to race, and his teeth began to clench whilst he felt his fangs fight to come out. With his entire being trembling, he mustered the little willpower he had to look away.

“Are you alright, Ichor?” Karfi asked, concern clear in his voice.

“Hum?” Kai gulped and glanced at the man, his glowing red eyes almost visible through the mask. “Y-eah, I am… just, pain.” He replied through gritted teeth.

“That’s good. You’ve really done a number on yourself, huh? I meant to ask what that was all about.”

“Right,” Kai gulped and lightly cleared his throat, thinking of a way to explain the weird creature. Looking down at Onyx, he collected himself, and his lips parted with a sigh. “I saw that… thing, well more like sensed it, while it was invisible. I chased it through the city and noticed it was heading in this direction. I got anxious and tried to stop it, but I was unsuccessful. It stopped right in front of your house, rather, the bar, for some reason. I didn’t want any of you to get hurt, so I fought it, naturally… but.”

“Woah there, slow down kid.” Natasha put down her glass and stood up. “You’re talking too fast. I think I get the idea.” She said while heading toward the bar, returning with a large cup of water shortly thereafter. “Here, take it slow, alright?”

Kai nodded and avoided looking in the woman’s direction, or at Karfi, for that matter. He simply pulled out a straw and finished the cup in one fell swoop. “Right… I was already exhausted from my, uhm… trip. Luckily I had some crystals in my ring, otherwise, I’m not sure I could have defeated it.”

“Ah yes… so much money. Kid, are you loaded or something?” Natasha said with a sigh, taking a small sip from her glass.

“Loaded, why?”

“Have you seen the price of those things? You basically exploded a small fortune right in front of the bar!”

“Uhm… I have, maybe? Aren’t they a necessity?”

Hearing that, Natasha sighed once again and tilted her head back, placing the back of her palm over her forehead. “Kid, crystals of that purity are not a ‘necessity’ but a ‘luxury’... I could feel them from the door for Lumiera’s sake!”

“Ah so-”

“Now, Natasha. The kid basically saved us, stop nagging him about this and that. He could have died.”

Natasha sighed heavily and leaned back in her seat. “You’re right, not like I’m his mom. I’m just glad he’s alive…” Kai chuckled awkwardly as a light wave of warmth sprung up inside his chest.

“I’m sorry for causing you two trouble again…” Kai lowered his head, an apologetic expression hidden behind his charred mask. His hand clenched into a fist as images of the events three days ago flashed through his brain, and anger quickly overtook him as he thought about all the bystanders. I’m going to have a talk with Raymond very soon…! However, the thought of facing that man again sent a cold shiver running down his spine. I shouldn’t have toyed so much with him.

Upon hearing Kai’s words, Natasha instantly got up and walked over to him, then lifted his head and seemingly stared right into his pupils. “Listen here kid,” an imposing, unfamiliar tone erupted out of her mouth. “We never thought about you as a troublemaker, so don’t assume you’re one, got it?”

Kai nodded, his body shaking from the woman’s sudden firmness. “U-Understood…”

“Hahahaha” A loud, hearty laughter broke out from behind her, and Karfi’s large figure shook as he pulled his head back. Slapping himself on the knee, and waking Tausi up from her land of dreams, a tear ran down his reddened cheeks. “Man, it’s been a while since I saw you like that, Natasha.”

The woman’s pupils dilated slightly, and she slowly let go of Kai as she stumbled backward, landing on the soft couch next to Karfi. “Indeed… quite a while huh.” Her melodious voice reverberated in the air, carrying a hint of melancholy and sadness. “How many years?” She asked, picking up the wine bottle resting on the table, and taking large chugs from it.

“Too many,” Karfi sighed as he took the bottle from her hands, and in turn took large chugs as well. “Ever since Isabella…”

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“Isabella… hah.” Natasha chuckled. “She was always our sunshine, but she was such a dummy… such a big… dummy.” A tear dripped down Natasha’s cheek, which she quickly wiped and stole the bottle again. “Fuck… go get another bottle.”

Karfi took a moment to glance at Natasha, then stood up with a groan. He gently picked up his daughter, who had quickly fallen asleep again. After tucking her in bed, a few bottles appeared on the table after searching through the bar.

Kai watched the two silently, complicated feelings forming in his chest. He wasn’t sure what to make of the situation, after all, he’s the one usually being emotional. I better leave them alone… That is what he thought, however, the clinking bottles on the table posed too much of a temptation. It’s been a while after all… but I couldn’t possibly… not with them around. He sighed, finally, and pat Onyx on the head, preparing to return to his room.

“It’s alright, kid, you can stay.” Natasha’s voice quickly rang in his ears, and as he turned he was met with her pleading eyes. Turning to Karfi, the man nodded, and Kai decided to remain, at least until they passed out.

Perhaps, even people like them need company… Kai thought, and picked up a small bottle before pulling a wooden glass out of his ring. “Alright, I’ll accompany you.”

Seeing Kai be so eager, the two smiled, and each took their favorite drink to enjoy. It didn’t take long for the two of them to completely lose their sense of self under the influence of alcohol, not to mention the previous glasses of wine they drank before.

Natasha’s sad, melancholic disposition turned to be slightly more cheerful, even joking about the past as Karfi quietly recalled those times.

“Fatty, say… hah, do you remember when…. remem… when…. we met?~” She asked, forcing herself to make coherent sentences in between sips. “You were so big… li-like, so big. You know? Rotund, haha… that’s why I called you fatty, ‘cause you were fat!”

“Yes Natasha, I remember… hah. That was… the-twenty years ago, right?” Karfi’s slightly slurred speech showed that the alcohol got to him as well, however, he was much quieter. “O-or thirr ty? Hic Who knows…”

“Mhm… thirty… we were so… so yo young… and so, so stupid.”

“Yeh… I remember one time, we were with… with Paul… hah, that ba- bastard.” Karfi hiccuped, then took another sip from his bottle, which was almost empty.

“Righ… Paul, Hah… he was so… dumb, such a dummy… but… hic he was so… hot…”

“Hahaha,” Karfi roared with drunken laughter. “You had the hots for him. Poor guy couldn’t take a hint…”

“Mhm… poor Paul, dumb bas hic bastard…” Natasha’s eyes lost some of their sparkle, and she chugged a couple of large sips from the bottle before wiping her mouth. “I still remember… his… his… stupid face… fuck! Why was he smiling? He was dying… in my arms, right in my fucking arms… he was dying… and he was smiling. What, did he finally get the hint?! Fuck!”

A tear ran down Natasha’s cheek, then another… and swiftly another, and not long after two long rivers slid down her reddened face. “Fucking idiot…” She sniffled and took another sip from her bottle.

Karfi let out a heavy sigh upon hearing her story, and he took a drink as well before parting his lips. “Isabella was the same… even on her deathbed, coughing like a maniac. I still remember them vi- vividly, the re… red spots slowly sucking away at her life. But her smile… shit… it was so bright… brighter than any star or sun. Even on her deathbed… Tausi. I did- didn’t let her see Isabella, even in her final moments. I wanted our child to remember her mom healthy… I wonder… Did I make a mistake?”

He asked, his question falling on deaf ears as Natasha’s soft breaths slowed down as she lay comfortably on the side of the sofa. With her eyes closed, and bottle threatening to fall out of her arm, it was clear that she had quickly fallen asleep after discharging the feelings she’s been holding on to for who knows how long.

Karfi chuckled quietly and took the bottle before it had a chance to fall on the floor. He looked toward Kai, whose head lay on Onyx, seemingly sleeping, the straw he used to drink with still in the glass.

After tidying up the place a bit, Karfi took two blankets and placed them on both Natasha and Kai, then silently retreated into his room.

…

Hearing the door click shut, Kai’s eyes opened, his mind slightly dizzy. So that’s how his wife died… what a tragic fate… He thought as he got up and gathered himself. Thankfully I didn’t drink too much, but I’m still not accustomed to alcohol. With a sigh, he quickly got up, feeling the sunrise, penetrating through the holes present all throughout the house. I don’t know if I’m lucky or stupid…

Glancing in Natasha’s direction, he gulped and felt blood rushing through his body. His nails turned visibly longer, and the eyes hidden behind the mask took a cat-like shape. No! He struggled to turn his head and bit down on his tongue, the sweet, coppery taste of blood rushing down his throat. I can’t not… I should try going to that wine place… No, that’s not a good idea either, I don’t know what kind of place it is. Fuck, just move! He willed his body to hurry over to his room, secure from the sunlight. Onyx followed quickly behind, and the door closed with a click behind them.

The boy’s breathing turned heavy, and he quickly threw the mask on the ground, revealing his pale face. Sharp fangs, like those of a viper, protruded out of his mouth, alongside a set of large canines. After drinking his own blood, the taste of the gobelin’s flesh resurfaced on his tongue. His nails now turned into claws, dug into his hand as he clenched his hand into a fist.

Calm down… fuck, damned gobelin… calm down. He struggled to keep his instincts under control, however he did so to the best of his ability. He took a deep breath and sat down on the bed, his legs in a lotus position and both hands on his knees. Meditation seemed to work for some people… maybe… And with that thought, he began breathing in a rhythmic fashion, trying to distract himself with other thoughts.

Isabella… that was Karfi’s wife's name, what a beautiful name… Makes me think of a flower, a very pretty one. However, was it so? How did she die, was the disease so bad even Natasha couldn’t cure it, or did she become a doctor because of that, or could it be because of Paul? When did Yasa come into the picture? Thirty years ago… It's a long time for a human. I’ve almost forgotten, considering the elf's lifespan, and possibly even my own. He sighed and opened his eyes. To his delight, the claws and fangs had gone away, and so did his desire for blood. Fuck that was scary…

With another deep breath, he closed his eyes again, this time letting his mind wander, or be empty.

After a couple of minutes passed, his blood-like, red eyes opened, a determined look within them. Alright, after three days of rest, my Fusioned Core should have settled…

With that thought, he took a look deep inside his body, and a small smile formed on his face. Indeed, it looks like I have improved greatly. I bet I can cast even better spells now… if I knew any. I think I really need to find a teacher, my body spells fell behind as well, although I can use them for a lot longer now.

Regardless, he was delighted with this result, despite the deep heartache of having used all of his remaining mana pills. Wait! His eyes shone with an excited glint as he grabbed the necklace around his neck, and looked with eagerness at the cubic building inside the violet fog. I have the best teachers right here, and countless books!

After a simple thought, his body fell limp, almost as if asleep, alarming Onyx for a second, however, the Obborik quickly calmed down. He licked his snout and made his way to the door. Increasing in size, he sat down in order to block the door if anyone tried to enter, and quickly fell asleep, snoring on his paws.