"Alright." Kai replied with a smile as he set down the paper and took a crowbar and yanked open a cabinet. He heard a snap sound and the wood broke soon after.
Claude watched as Kai continued on without a word. It seemed almost automatic. Even from watching, he could tell that the person was troubled and flushed with thoughts.
But so was he. Claude gulped as he hid his shivering hands behind his back and slumped into the chair. What would that lady have needed from his grandmother that she needed to take her away by force?
They..weren't going to actually harm her, right? If they did, what would they obtain from such an action besides a series of consequences?
And..Claude felt like there was an itch in his brain. He knew that lady just now was someone major. He remembered her well from his childhood. She spent quite a lot of time around his grandmother.
But they drifted when grandma moved away from the capital. Instead of drifting, getting cut off would seem like a better word.
In all the time Claude invested into thinking, Kai had already been half done with the preparations. Now, he stood there with a smile.
"Just a small heads up, there's probably monsters along the way. You know how to fight, right?" Kai asked, taking out the daggers from his belt he had managed to keep in before all of this started. He regretted leaving the swords behind. He then stared at the wall of swords Mr Walton had handcrafted, his eyes sparkling.
Claude stayed silent and followed Kai's eyes and his eyes also landed on the board of blades. But instead of looking at a normal sword with a straight blade or a spear with the sickest looking tip. He felt attracted to the navy blue twisted blade
"That's for an esteemed customer. Mr Walton took months to come up with that." Kai said, immediately knew what the boy wanted. Working here for a few months, he had gotten quite the experience.
"Oh. I was just looking." Claude turned away and stared at something else.
"Doesn't matter now, does it? Just take it." Kai encouraged, smiling as he swiped off two swords from the board and hung it on his belt.
A familiar red ring glowed in his peripheral vision.
"I kept it." Claude quickly said. "You can have it back."
"You can keep it if you're willing to store all of these in the ring for me." Kai remarked, seeing how hesitant Claude was to pass it over.
"Then I'll take it. Don't go back on your words. And I'm also taking that sword." Claude said, pointing at it. More shameless now.
It was a sword with a dark blue blade that closely resembled water. The blade was a curve almost like a wave. And it's sides were smooth and well sharpened.
Carefully, Claude reached out and took possession of the unique sword. It felt like it was calling his name. He took it and could feel a gush of electricity rushing through his veins upon contact.
Instinctively, Claude held it at a certain angle in front of him. He watched as the blade twisted downwards and compressed. The blade itself has a will of its own?
"Mr Walton told me something. You're great at using magic. And you synchronise most with water." Kai said, bending down and fixing his shoes.
"What does that have to do with anything? Are you telling me I should take a staff instead and shove it up people's arses?" Claude replied aggressively. Struggling to hold onto the sword which felt oddly heavy for its size.
Kai let out a small laugh as he shook his head. "You have a foul mouth." He stated. "I mean..that sword needs mana to be applied into it. A person's mana is usually shaped by their affinity and personality. If you work well with water, that sword should be easy to master for you. Once mana is applied, you can gain control of the blade. But if you can't for now, you'll have to play along with the law of physics."
"Yeah. I know the theory of mana. Just let me know the sword needs magic, don't ramble on like a teacher." Claude snapped. He closed his eyes and imagined a calm dead sea as mana seeped from palm. He could feel the object he held taking on a proper form.
Kai eyes widened in shock as he watched the weird sword turnt into a normal one with a straight blade. It was a spectacular sight. He had taken quite an interest in that sword too but he hasn't managed to change it's shape one bit.
Guess Mr Walton was right. That particular sword did choose its owner. And it clearly wasn't him.
"I'm envious. What a shame. I liked it." Kai remarked honestly, standing up straight and dusting his pants.
"What? The sword? You couldn't change it's form? Its so simple." Claude bragged, unconsciously smirking as he easily changed the sword's form again. This time, it had a deadly arc that could hook and kill.
Kai smiled. "I'll go change and grab some more stuff." He replied, unfazed. He went inside the attic and took what he figured he needed.
Taking a peek at the sky. By the time they leave, it'd be nighttime. It wasn't a good sign at all. He saw a small dot in the sky gliding through the moody blue. He closed his eyes and felt fatigue creeping in.
Kai finished packing up and took all the necessities they needed. Even if it resulted in a little 'robbery'. But Mr Walton would definitely excuse that. Even if he didn't, what could he do? Come back? No way. Not when he's under Aurora Meyer's power.
Claude followed after and kept the bags in the ring and felt something poking at his finger, as if draining his blood. "This uses mana too? To keep the items? You've got to be kidding."
Smiling, Kai opened the door. "We'll get some food before we actually set off. You don't mind, right?"
"Of course we're getting food. I'm not going to go on an empty stomach." Claude figured it was the most obvious thing ever. He looked around the house and found it strangely empty despite the lavish amount of furniture.
Claude walked out the house and Kai passed him some bronze coins.
"Here, get some food for us. And some snacks if you really want to."
"You're not coming along?"
"No. I'll catch up to you. Don't worry. I have..something to do before we leave."
A bit unsure, Claude stayed for a while and wanted to offer assistance. He felt terribly uneasy with the way Kai was staring so intently at Mr Walton's shophouse. It reminded him of when he was threatened by Kai.
But he made up his mind, Claude turned around and left. "I'll see you at the main gate."
Kai stared a little longer and let out a sigh. He took in the image of the shophouse for a little longer. And with a flick of his hands on the box of matches. A flame lit up.
If he were to use his magic, a small group of talented magicians could trace it back to him by mana. He hadn't considered it before but now he did, knowing exactly whose house and evidence he was removing. And who was on his back.
He flung the single matchstick onto the grass and watched the fire spread ever so slowly. He wished time would slow down.
His hands began to work faster, he lit one up and dropped. Repeatedly until he was out.
And by the end of it, smoke filled his lungs to the brim and his vision blocked with haze.
Fire built around the shophouse as it devoured the wood and flammable materials, leaving nothing behind for the eye.
Kai gritted his teeth and put on the cloak that was hung on his shoulders. He then put his hands in his pocket and took out a letter that was left on the window sill this morning.
It had a familiar emblem on it.
And it brought a fearsome message.
Bans on reports of Lord Bellaire's death had now been lifted. And his death spread across the continent as a surprise to many. For one of their pillars of power and economy has fallen. And with no heir to take over the remains.
She now knew. She had to.