565 The show ends, and a new day begins
In front of Ester was an inescapable volley of icicles preparing to shoot. Ester felt angry when the icicles started spinning with Mariaâs new wind element awakening.
â... Is teacher Maria taunting me because I have no chance to make her use full power now?â She thought with a frown. Regardless of how Ester was currently feeling, she understood this was her current limit at the moment.
Esterâs mana was almost depleted from protecting her body too many times with sigil tattoos. Currently, she didnât have enough mana to protect her body against more fierce attacks.
âDo you want to continue? Remember that I donât have complete control of my newly acquired power.â Maria said with an overconfident tone. Even though she sounded in bad way, Maria was actually excited.
Ester shook her head. She looked at Vincent and her sisters. âI know I donât have a chance now. It is better to call it quits before I make them worried.â
Ester made the excuse she didnât want to make her loved ones worried. She surrendered, and the spar was won overwhelmingly by Maria.
*Clap, clap, clap* âGood match.â âYou two were great.â âI didnât expect to see a spar to this level.â The audience cheered and congratulated Ester and Maria.
âI want to awaken advance too. Vivid, letâs go to train.â
âYes, mast...â
.....
âNo fair! I want Vivid to teach me energy thingy too!â
Nick grabbed Vividâs hand while Lupa grabbed the other. Vivid turned his head at Vincent. After watching the expression of âGood luck.â on Vincentâs face, Vivid was taken away to spend the rest of the day with two exhausting people desiring to grow stronger.
âI want to make bite-sized food. Please excuse me.â Clair said before leaving.
[Looks like the spar has raised the morale of everyone. Well, Freerie are surprisingly energetic now. Maybe they could feel Esterâs emotions because they look excited.]
Vincent became surprised to hear this information. âThe soul pets can share emotions. I wonder what would happen when their Soul Synch becomes a hundred percent.â He pondered.
Vincent smiled at the view of Iris and Lilith checking Esterâs body. They worriedly started to unbutton her blouse and reveal her skin. The sight of faint bruises made the two of them pull Ester to their bedroom for healing.
Vincent, Plow, and Maria remained looking at each other. Everyone else had left to do something.
âCongratulations, teacher Maria. You became a Grand Witch and awakened the second element your level unlocks.â Vincent bowed his head and continued, âI also want to thank you for helping Ester awaken wholeheartedly. She was so happy to see her training finally give results that she danced energetically on the field.â
âToday was a great day for the two of us because Ester and I learned from each other. It was a give-and-take situation, Vincent. So donât think I didnât get rewarded for the help.â The friendly expression quickly changed to a frown. *Sigh* âIf I knew your family was going to help me awaken, I would have trained you guys harder.â
â...â Vincent became speechless because they didnât know what level of harder Maria was talking.
âWell, I am a little bit tired. I also need to inform my teacher about what happened in this little time.â Maira said while taking out her teacherâs card. She looked at the mansion and said the command to leave.
Vincent lifted Plow. âWas the spar exciting?â He asked while caressing Plowâs small and soft head.
âPlow wants to grow stronger. Plow will eat more food to become big for a longer time. Plow will show everyone foxes are the best!â *Pho*
âYeah. My little Plow is the best.â
*Pho?*
That evening, before Vincent closed his eyes to sleep, he asked Kazumi to visit his Soul Domain. He was curious to see the egg created from his and Lilithâs bond.
Vincent was invited to his Soul Domain shortly after. In front of him was a hovering green wisp, sixteen butterflies flapping their wings joyfully, and a little wolf wagging its tail excitedly.
Wolfie and Freerie rushed to welcome Vincent. They wanted to play with Vincent.
âHaha. All of you want to play.â Vincent said while patting Wolfieâs head and the heads of the sixteen butterflies with his index finger one after the other.
[It has been a few days since you visited. Yesterday Ester kept the kids company, and the day before, Lupa requested to play with the kids.]
âKazumi has become like a pet sitter at this point. She has passed the stage of calling the soul pets kids.â Vincent thought with a bright smile. He knew this meant Kazumi wasnât alone in the dark and deserted Soul Domain.
âCan I check on the soul pet egg?â
[Sure. It is on the treasure chest over there. Let me take you to it.]
Vincent followed Kazumi, and he started to feel the ground was different. The crystal grassy ground under his feet felt slightly steep. As if he was walking at the beginning of an elevated hill.
âDid the terrain change?â Vincent curiously asked.
[Yes. The ground has elevated from the center where the treasure chest is to the end of the crystal grass. I believe it happened when you lost control since it wasnât as steep as now.]
âI hope I will not lose control again. I donât want to ruin this place...â
[Donât feel down, Vincent. You call your Soul Domain this place, but all of this is a part of you. We are a part of you because without you; we can not live.]
Vincent nodded his head. He understood he should not let his anger take the best of him, or the steeper ground might become a volcano, and the mutation would cover all his soul.
Vincent soon stopped in front of the treasure chest. He became amazed by the level of detail. It felt like watching a masterpiece. On top of the treasure chest was a small emerald egg with light coming from within.
âIs bright.â
[How about you give it a name?]
Vincent smiled. âI like the idea. Lilith would be happy to hear about it too.â
[How about Sunnie?]
âNo.â Vincent looked at Wolfie and Freerie. âHow about Bright? As in a soul pet with the ability to illuminate this dark place?â
[What if the baby canât produce light?]
âHahaha.â
[Hey! Why are you laughing? I didnât say a joke. Humph!]
âThen why call it Sunnie? You donât know if it is going to be sun or not.â
[...] Kazumi didnât respond after realizing she made a mistake.
Bright can mean many things, such as producing light or a bright personality. But Sunnie will mean sun and heat.
âBright it is. â Vincent said, feeling victorious against the difficulty of winning an argument against Kazumi.
Vincentâs consciousness later returned to the living world. He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling while thinking about what a long day today felt like.
âI better rest. I donât know what kind of day tomorrow will be.â He thought before closing his eyes and falling asleep.
*Day 178 â 2 December â Thursday*
Vincent woke up in the morning. He moved his head to look around him. Only Plow was looking cutely at him on his stomach. The girls had already left to do something.
âWhy do I feel lazy all of a sudden?â The last to wake up pondered.
âPlow heard Jun Jun going outside. Plow could hear Jun Jun talk by herself.â *Pho*
âIt might be Kazumi. I canât feel her inside my Soul Domain.â
âCan we meet Jun Jun? Plow wants to make Jun Jun happy. Plow can play with Jun Jun that way.â *Pho*
âSure.â Vincent agreed to meet up with Jun Ye Rim and talk to her. Furthermore, to see if Kazumi was pestering her.
Vincent later found Jun Ye Rim with Plowâs acute nose. He approached the elf and wisp talking to each other. Or, more appropriately, a one-sided discussion.
âGood morning. How are you two girls doing?â Asked Vincent.
Jun Ye Rim looked at Vincent with her cheeks blushing. It was obvious the subject was making Jun Ye Rim embarrassed.
âThe sly Kazumi must be up to something.â He considered.
âSorry if Kazumi was teasing you this morning. If you need anything or shoo her away, Iâm your man.â Vincent offered.
[Hey! I am not a pesky fly. I am the intelligent, cute, and curvy Kazumi.]
âSure. Sure.â
[Humph!]
Vincent looked at Jun Ye Rim. Her cheeks were brighter. As if his words made her more embarrassed.
*Sigh* âWhat did you tell Jun Ye Rim? Her cheeks are going to become as bright as the sun.â
[As bright as a Sunnie? Hehehe.]
âYou are not my man...â Jun Ye Rim complained in a low voice. However, Vincent, Kazumi, and Plow could still hear her words.
âI will take responsibility, and I will not abandon you after saving your life. I donât care if I am or am not your fated person like Sofy loves to tell me; I will see that you live a good life while I am around.â
[Ho ho. Big words, Vincent. You are committing to treating Jun Ye Rim as your woman.]
âY-y-you are strange. W-why are you doing this much for me? I donât need your help. A-and you are not my fated one or anything like that. It-itâs not like I like you or anything.â Jun Ye Rim nervously stuttered and fanned her bright red chees to cool down.
At this moment, Kazumi chose to remain silent and take the spectatorâs seat. She was ready to watch and enjoy the drama unfold.