This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Kain finally—barely—managed to redeem his burgeoning reputation as a woman-obsessed Casanova.

"She's not some date I'm chasing after… I think she might be someone I used to know. Someone who went missing nearly a decade ago."

That, at least, quieted most of them. Sort of.

Eventually, after enough eye-rolling, vague half-truths, and a particularly impassioned appeal to their professionalism, Kain managed to refocus the group. He skirted around Airalai's identity, unwilling to drop the bomb that she was his sister. That secret, for now, was staying locked away.

"Malzahir," Kain said, turning toward the figure who'd remained suspiciously quiet after dropping that nugget of wisdom about Serena. "I know you weren't planning to leave so soon, but I think you should go with them."

Malzahir's expression remained unreadable for the most part, but was slightly hostile. "To investigate her?"

'Serena would be thrilled to know he has this unnecessary sense of loyalty to her…just where did he get the misconception that we were a couple?!'

"Partially. But you'd also benefit from seeing more of the Celestial Empire firsthand. You've only ever lived in the southern deserts, so life in the Empire will be a huge adjustment. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to teach you everything. Darius and the others have travelled the Empire pretty extensively while working as a team of mercenaries. Alternatively, you have far more experience as a beast-tamer than they do, and so you can help them with that. It's a win-win situation."

Malzahir was quiet for a long moment before letting out a slow breath. "Fine. But if I sense even a hint of matchmaking, I'm returning and submitting a report to Miss Serena."

'Why?! WE. ARE. NOT. A. COUPLE!'

But Kain could one grudgingly but release a smile upon seeing him agree.

Kain watched the group depart within a couple of hours. Malzahir looked back. His gaze lingered on Kain with a flat, unblinking intensity. A look that said: I don't believe you. Not for a second.

The headache Kain had just felt go away was beginning to return, and he couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.

---------------

Two Days Later

Kain stood in the central courtyard of Dark Moon College, under the shade of a massive tree, feeling strangely out of place.

After all that had happened—joining the Order, missions in relics, confronting abyssal creatures—it felt like he was no longer a student but rather an active member of society. An active protector of society. Returning here to attend classes like normal felt like slipping into a uniform that no longer fit.

Students bustled around him, most oblivious to the very real threat of another invading world while they were busy with exams or gossip. Kain adjusted the collar of his training jersey he wore for one of the practical classes that afternoon, and strode forward, cutting through the courtyard.

He didn't even make it to the building for the first class of the day before someone spotted him.

"Well, if it isn't my long-lost brother," came a familiar teasing voice—Bridge.

Kain turned just in time to catch a half-hearted punch to the shoulder.

"You missed practically the whole semester. Are you sure you can even pass on to the next year? Not to mention all the stuff going on at home. Melody decided to pick up the violin and she won't stop playing ever. I stopped going home as much because of it. At the crack of dawn, I would hear screeching like nails on a chalkboard," Bridge said, walking in step beside him while catching him up on the latest events of Melody, their youngest sibling. "Also, the twins, Jasper and Jasmine, suddenly got a taste for spicy food and are petitioning for hot sauce to be officially classified as a side dish. You have a lot of catching up to do."

"Are they winning the petition?"

"Surprisingly, yes."

The two exchanged a look and broke into quiet laughter as they entered the building of their next class together. It felt good. To talk about nothing important and not have to be constantly on edge, looking over his shoulder.

'I missed this…normalcy'

That thought clung to him as they settled onto a hallway bench outside the lecture hall to wait for their instructor to arrive.

"By the way," Bridge said, tossing him a curious glance. "Did you hear about the new school event they're planning?"

Kain blinked. "No. What event?"

"Well, since the second re-ranking was cancelled because of the city's whole abyssal incident," Bridge explained, "the school's throwing this huge replacement event to make up for it, since the greatest opportunity to earn more credits and resources was to increase your ranking, but that wasn't possible for a while. Kind of a mashup of a mock expedition and a survival challenge? But with tons of opportunities to earn credits and rare resources. Performing well will allow participants to increase their strength before the next re-ranking."

"That's… great," Kain muttered. It was hard to get incredibly enthusiastic about this event. Unlike the other Dark Moon students, the college was not Kain's only or primary means of obtaining rare resources. He was now part of the Order. Moreover, he had an entire planet filled with resources just for himself, waiting to be uncovered.

"You're really lucky that the last re-ranking was cancelled, you got to preserve your rank and still get a chance to participate in this event," Bridge added while looking at Kain in mock jealousy.

Kain chuckled softly, though his smile faded as he glanced away from the eye contact with Bridge.

He tried to act as normal as possible, but whenever their eyes met for too long, he was reminded once again of all the secrets he kept from them.

He still hadn't told any of them about Airalai.

Not even Bridge.

The next time Bridge looked his way, Kain averted his gaze again and changed the subject.

'I want to protect this… this mundane, peaceful life. I want to protect them. But the longer I hide the truth, the harder it gets to come back to it…'

And despite the warmth in the hallway, Kain felt the weight of cold, bitter guilt wrap around his shoulders.