After they arrived at Madam Lane's Snack Store, they couldn't find their mom. They went inside the house and finally found her in her room. She was on the bed with a photo in her hands. She seems to be lost in sad thoughts as she didn't realize that Kai and Arryn were both inside her room.
Kai and Arryn looked at each other in confusion before Kai signaled Arryn to talk to her. She nodded and went near her mom and then she sat down by her side. She took a look at the photo and saw that it was a picture of she and her late husband and children.
After signaling Kai to come closer, Arryn then tried to read Mrs Lane's thoughts. After sitting down at the other side of his mom, Kai took a look at the picture and saw an unfamiliar, young handsome man who was holding onto a young beautiful woman. The couple were happily hugging two kids, a boy and a girl.
'These must be her family before me and Arryn. They look great together' Kai thought. He felt sad for her. He turned to his mom, seeing that she was still lost in thought. He didn't disturb her and only hugged her so tight as if he was afraid to lose her.
Arryn on the other hand didn't know when drops of tears fell from her eyes. She hugged her mom while she kept her eyes closed. The scene in the room looked very sad and peaceful. Mrs Lane had her two foster kids sitting beside her on her bed.
Few Minutes Later….
Madam Lane felt something resting on her. She felt like she was being sandwiched and when she looked at her sides, she saw her kids hugging her. She was surprised as she didn't know when they entered her room. She saw that she was still holding the picture and sighed.
"Are you guys awake?" She asked
"Yes mom, we're awake. We wanted to say goodbye before we leave. Why are you crying?" Kai responded.
"Oh, is it time to go? It was fast! Then what are you guys waiting for? Get packed and go on your journey to greatness" she replied while urging them to go get ready. She stood up and went out of her room.
" I'll be right back " she said as she quickly came out of the store.
Kai and Arryn came out of her room and saw that she was going out of the store. They didn't have an idea of where she was going. Kai turned to look at Arryn with a demanding expression.
" She is reluctant to let us go but she knows that this day would come sooner or later. She misses her family and she would become lonely and miss us when we leave " Arryn explained what she read in their mom's thoughts.
Kai nodded and said " Then, why don't we give her something that will remind her of us. Like we need to give her something that would make her to not feel lonely and not miss us too much "
" You're right. We should do that. And I don't think she's getting back anytime soon so let's start packing. " Arryn said.
Kai nodded and they went to their rooms to do their thing. Kai didn't have much stuffs to pack as he was only here for a little more than a week. He looked at his empty room and sighed. He didn't really have anything as a belonging. I mean, he possibly couldn't bring his bed in the journey. He only entered his bathroom and cleaned up.
Then he wore a dark gray outfit that was not too loose nor tight. He equipped a black belt that had some pocket and small weapon sheath. He put on his black boots and wore a white mask that covered his nose and mouth.
He came out of his room and went downstairs to wait for Arryn after his makeover. After some minutes, Arryn came downstairs with a bag tied to her waist and saw Kai sitting in the living room. She saw the outfit that Kai put on and became stunned.
" What's with that outfit? You look White and Black " she said.
" Cool right? " Kai looked pleased of his masterpiece.
" No, it's super uncool? Lemme help you with that " Arryn said and then she went and brought out another clothes.
Like the saying, a makeover is a woman's expertise [AN: no one knows who said that]. After a few minute of makeovers, Kai finally wore something pleasing to Arryn's eyes.
Kai wore a black and grey outfit. It was a long sleeve shirt and trousers. His belt was white and his boots was also white. His mask was black. He equipped a sword sheath on his belt.
He looked very cool and ash-gray fluffy hair had a different hairstyle now. Arryn made his hair to have long emo-like bangs in the front and spiked hair in the back. The hairstyle reminded him of a certain person in his previous life.
He then took a look at Arryn and his eyes gleamed in peace. 'Good Chaos! She is damn a belle!' He thought.
Arryn wore a red and white outfit made of silk. Her long fluffy blonde hair had been cut to reach her shoulders. Her red eyes were gleaming with light and she talked with confidence even though her tones were sometimes cold. The outfit accentuated her glorious physique and it was good. Her yellow bag was strapped to her waist, behind her.
" So, are you ready to go? " Kai asked with a silly smile after he shook Arryn's figure out of his head. He couldn't help remembering her naked body. It was like meeting an oasis in the desert.
" Yea. We just need to wait for mom. Have you prepared what you wanna give to her?" she replied
" Yes I have. What about ya? "
Arryn took out a necklace with a jaded crystal on it. The crystal was ruby in color glowing like the blue moon.
" This is the last of things I have related to the Volta Family. I'm giving it to her as a means of remembering me. What about you? " Arryn said.
" I would stay here with her " Kai said. His words came as a surprise to Arryn.
" You don't want to enroll in the academy? " She asked with doubt.
" Heh! You will see " Kai mysteriously said.
"*sigh* alright. Take this! Quickly equip this as we only have two more hours until we leave " Arryn threw a two sheaths and a small bag to Kai. One of the sheaths was long and the other was short. Kai took a look at them and saw that the long sheath contains a sword, the short one contains a dagger and the bag was empty.
He quickly strapped dagger sheath on his right thigh. He strapped the bag to the back of his waist and strapped the sword sheath behind him, on his back.
" Why on your back? Is it for acting cool " Arryn asked. She had seen most swordsmen holding their swords with their hands or strapping it on their waists. She rarely see the ones that put in behind them.
" Because it's convenient for me that way. I don't wanna hold it with my hands while walking around and I don't like like strapped to my waist. Putting it behind me is okay and it's also for acting cool " Kai said.
Arryn nodded and didn't say anything else. She just took a seat and started waiting for their mom. After some long minutes of waiting, they sense a presence and soon enough, Madam Lane came inside the house. She smiled when she saw that her kids were waiting for her.
" Come here you two. I've got something for you " she said sweetly with her hands behind her.
Kai and Arryn looked at each other before they stood up and went to meet her. Finally in front of her, Madam Lane took out a box behind her. She gave it to them in smiles.
The duo opened the box and saw a wristband and necklace inside along with two headbands. It was a black headband and a white headband. The wristband and necklace each had a gem embedded in it. They don't need to know which was for which as they both reach out and took their own.
Kai took the black gem wristband and the black headband while the white gem necklace and the white headband goes to Arryn. The moment Kai touched his wristband, Sys suddenly popped up.
«Encountered a Low Grade Treasure: Spatial Wristband- it is a wristband that contains a separate space for storing items. It cannot store living beings and it's size is no more than 2 meters. Option 1: would you like to equip this?
Option 2: would you like to recycle this for 50 CP?»
'What the? It's a Spatial Treasure. That's so thoughtful of mom. Now I don't have to temporarily stress myself with heavy loads since I haven't awakened my Chaos Space. It even brought out options. I can't recycle it as it was a painstaking effort for mom to get me this. So I Equip!' Kai was surprised in his mind from what he had seen. He chose to equip it and the Spatial Wristband suddenly appeared on his right wrist.
Thankfully, none of the ladies saw what had happened. He touched the black headband and when he didn't see the system's prompt, he just smiled and tied it on his left arm.
Arryn wore her necklace and also discovered that it was a spatial treasure. She tied the headband in a normal way, tied to her head. After that, she hugged Madam Lane while promising not too lose her gifts.
Kai thanked his mom "Thanks mom! I and Arryn also got something for ya"
Arryn then left the embrace of her mother and smiled sweetly. Mrs Lane felt something on her neck and when she looked down, she couldn't control her tears. She hugged Arryn once again while asking in a shaky tone "are you sure about this Arryn? Do you really want to keep your family's heirloom with me? *sobs*"
"Yes mom, pls make it safe for me. As long as it's with you, I'm rest assured and worry free" Arryn replied.
"Alright, it's my turn. Mom, here is my gift to you… 'what's happening? Sys! Why can't I use my Mystic Art?' Pardon me for a moment mom. I'll go and get it now" Kai said before he dashed to his room while consulting with Sys in his mind.
«Kai, unlike a Technique, Mystic Arts are just like MartialSkills and MagicSpells. They need to be cast by a Cultivator otherwise it's useless.»
'Then, why didn't you tell me in advance? I really wanted to make a clone of myself to my mom. Is there any way you can help me?'
«Use 100 CP to create a clone»
'Good! You can do it!' Kai said as he waited for Sys to finish. A few minute after, Kai felt like almost 80% of his energy had been sucked clean. Immediately after he felt his drained energy, he saw smoke popping up beside him and another Kai appeared.
Kai saw this and nodded. 'Worth it' he quickly took the clone downstairs to meet his mom. "Mom, here is my gift for you. I offer myself to you"
"What! What is that?!"
"It's a clone I made myself. This clone would be blue to do anything you want him to do for you except for destruction of the lives around and it can protect you quite well. Unless the person is not a cultivator, my clone would be a powerful tool for you"
"A clone of Kai. Is that even possible? Thanks Dear. I love the presents. *sobs* I want you guys to promise to visit sometimes. Now, I think it's time" Madam Lane said
"Yea, it's time for us to go Arryn. We don't wanna be late" Kai says to Arryn
"Yea I know that. Wait for me outside" she replied.
"Alright! Be quick! Mom, I love you, I'll miss you and I'll come to visit once in a while. I'll make you proud and I promise to bring back a daughter in-law or maybe, daughter in-laws for you!" Kai hugged his mom while making promises. He hugged her one last time. After that, he didn't wait for her to give her reply and left the two ladies and went out of the house.
*****
'Hmm, it will soon be night. To use earth's reference of time, I think it will be around 5pm.' Kai thought as he looked at the darkening sky. The sun would soon fall and the moon would soon rise.
It's been a two minutes now since Kai had been waiting for Arryn outside. He started looking at the sky since he had nothing to do. Then, he sense a familiar presence coming out of the house.
"So, you showed her the location of the loot we got from the Blood Gang?" Kai asked
"Yes, we also talked about some female stuffs. Now let's go. I don't think we are the only ones that will attend academy." Arryn said before she started running in a certain direction. Kai also followed her and the both of them dashed out of the range of Madam Lane's Snack Store.
'Sys, tell me a motivational fantasy quote to fuel me for this legend I'm about to make'
«Hmm, then how bout this?
-Even the smallest person can change the course of the future- Be yourself and make your Will»
'Wow, I didn't think you could think of that. Impressive." Kai quipped.
Under the darkening veil of the sky, the two teenagers quickly made their way forward. I'm this world where the strong rule the weak and the weak had no choice but to follow the strong, the duo's fate rely on their abilities.
Cultivators live in a fantasy world. A world of great illusion. So the great task in their life is to find reality in fantasy. With that said, sometimes we need fantasy to survive the reality.