Kass walked back to the table as he finished her call, she kept her phone back to her pocket.
Kris noticed the frustration etched across her face.
She waved off a concerned glance from his uncle and Auntie, her brow furrowing deeper.
"Its so frustrating!" she said, her voice a mix of annoyance.
"The company has been forcing me to make a new song for my next comeback."
Kris' mother exchanged a sympathetic glance with his husband before speaking up gently.
"Don't worry, Kass. The right song will come. It always does. You have the talent you just have to believe in yourself"
Kass sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"I know, but it's just so frustrating. I've been working so hard, and I feel like I'm stuck in place."
Listening intently, Kris could sense her determination beneath the surface of her frustration.
After a moment of thought, he decided to speak up.
"Hey, can I come with you tomorrow to the studio? I'd love to see how the song creation process works."
Kass paused, a look of surprise washing over her face.
In the past, he had hardly acknowledged her unless she mentioned something related to the series he liked.
"Really? You want to come?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yeah," Kris replied, he smiled at Kass' reaction.
"It sounds interesting."
Kass' grin widened, her frustration momentarily forgotten.
"Absolutely! I'll show you how to make songs and choreograph dance! I can't wait!"
Kass fluttered of excitement at the prospect.
Kris had always been curious about this world's music, and this was the perfect opportunity to dive into it.
As Kass and his parents continued their conversation, they reminisced about how Celestine (Kris' mother) had loved her song, "That Night."
The warm atmosphere buzzed with laughter, filling the dining room with life. Kris leaned back in his chair, watching them with a content smile.
Just then, the door swung open, and Delilah entered, wheeling a cart filled with a new batch of dishes.
Eres followed closely behind her, both of them bowing respectfully as they approached the table.
"Dinner is served!" Delilah announced cheerfully, revealing an array of colorful dishes that filled the room with delicious aromas.
As everyone settled in to eat, the conversation shifted to the upcoming Data Beast training evaluation exam.
Kris's parents exchanged glances, concern flickering in their eyes.
"Kris, are you ready for the exam?" his mother asked gently, her voice laced with worry. "After everything that happened, we just want to make sure you're okay."
Kris looked at them, calm and collected. "I'm ready. I promise, everything will be fine," he reassured them, his tone steady.
Kass, eager to support her cousin, chimed in. "If you need a Data Beast, I can help you out, Kris. I have some connections."
Kris smiled, grateful for her offer. "Thanks Kass, but I've got it covered. I already have a Data Beast."
His parents exchanged relieved smiles, comforted by his confidence.
The room continued to fill with laughter and chatter as they enjoyed the meal together.
...
As the morning sun began to rise, the sky transformed into a vibrant canvas of orange hues, casting a warm glow over the Blazewood mansion.
The rhythmic sound of huffing and puffing filled the air as Kris jogged through the garden, the soft earth beneath his feet and the gentle rustle of leaves surrounding him.
Beside him, the Pyro Cub trotted eagerly, its fiery fur gleaming in the light.
After a quick stretch and a few warm-up exercises, Kris felt the sweat trickling down his forehead.
'This body is a bit too frail to move around, luckily my habit of exercising in the morning transition to this body as well.'
After they circled the garden they soon reached the training ground, a familiar spot within the mansion's expansive property.
It was still early, around 5 AM, and the world felt peaceful and quiet.
Inside the training ground, he took a moment to catch his breath.
A massive pillar stood at the center, adorned with scratch marks and burn scars—a testament to countless training sessions.
Kris reflected on how it had been just three days since he and the Pyro Cub began their intense training together.
Today, he would attend the Data Beast evaluation exam, and he wanted to be fully prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he reached into his back pocket for a water bottle.
He took a long drink, feeling the cool liquid refresh him.
Afterward, he offered the bottle to the Pyro Cub, who eagerly lapped up the water.
"Are you ready, Pyro?" Kris asked, his voice steady as he patted the creature's head affectionately.
The Pyro Cub meowed in response, a determined gleam in its eyes, as if to say it was ready for anything.
Kris stood before the tall training pillar, determination etched across his face.
"Alright, Pyro, it's time to show me the result of your training! Use Claw Strike!"
With a fierce meow, the Pyro Cub lunged forward, its sharp claws glowing faintly.
A resounding thwack echoed through the training ground as Pyro struck the pillar three times, leaving scratch marks in its wake.
"Nice! Now, let's switch it up," Kris instructed, his voice steady and encouraging.
"Perform a dodging maneuver and then hit it with Flame Pounce!"
Pyro's fiery mane flickered as it darted to the left, weaving side to side as if evading an imaginary attack.
Kris's heart raced with excitement; Pyro was getting the hang of their training.
"Double time!" he called, echoing his Marine training as he watched Pyro speed up.
With a burst of energy, the Pyro Cub launched itself towards the pillar, flames trailing behind it.
"Now, Pyro!" Kris shouted, eyes wide with anticipation.
In one swift motion, Pyro leaped high, engulfed in a bright blaze, and collided with the pillar. The impact shook the structure, sending dust and debris swirling around them.
Kris couldn't help but cheer,
"That's it, Pyro! You nailed it!"
He approached the cub, a proud smile spreading across his face.
"Now, let's cool it for a moment. Good Job buddy, Standby!"
The Pyro Cub immediately sat down, its fiery mane flickering gently as it patiently awaited Kris's next command, the bond between them growing stronger with each training session.
After an intense hour of training, Kris and Pyro Cub finally wrapped up their session.
Both panting from exertion, they made their way back to the Blazewood mansion, eager for a refreshing shower.
Once clean and invigorated, Kris headed to the kitchen, his stomach rumbling in anticipation. As he entered, the enticing aroma of food filled the air, and he spotted Martha Brasch, the mansion's chef, diligently preparing breakfast.
Martha was a warm woman with a friendly demeanor, the wife of the Head butler, James Urken. As Kris observed her bustling about, he couldn't help but reflect on the peculiar familial atmosphere within the mansion. It seemed that most of the staff had some connection to James.
The head maid, Delilah Urken, was James' sister, and their family extended to Argus Vundag, Delilah's husband, and their granddaughter, Eres Williams. Eres was the daughter of their daughter, Emma Vundag, who was now one of Celestine Hayao's secretaries(Kris's mother).
Kris pondered the tight-knit community working within the mansion. While it was somewhat unusual to have a family-centric staff, it also fostered a sense of harmony and efficiency. However, not everyone was related. For instance, Cillian Reed, his guard, and also the trainee under him who Kris had spotted earlier while jogging he passed by the Guards Training Ground and saw him practicing with Argus and Cillian.
Despite the warmth surrounding him, Kris still struggled to adjust to being served like a young master. Even though he had experienced giving commands to soldiers but this treatment was so different that it felt weird.
He had been an NCO (non-commissioned officer) in the Marine Corps, leading an elite group of soldiers known as the Ember Unit.
They earned their name for their missions to ignite conflict or distinguish threats, effectively leaving chaos in their wake.
They could either finish off a terrorist group completely, engulfing them in destruction, or retreat strategically as if acting like embers that, when left unattended, could grow into a full-blown fire.
"Good morning, Young Master Kris!" Martha called, noticing him standing quietly in the kitchen. "I'm still preparing meals. You can sit on one of the chairs at the island."
Kris blinked, momentarily lost in thought, before shaking his head to clear it.
Martha's presence was comforting, but he sensed she felt uneasy under his gaze.
She must have been recalling the last few mornings when he'd come in sweaty after training, looking for breakfast instead of having it delivered to his room.
So now to make her feel comfortable he would take a shower and look clean before going to the kitchen.
"Good Morning, Chef," Kris finally replied, offering her a small smile. "What are you cooking Chef Martha?"
"Well I'm cooking scrambled eggs infused with truffle oil and topped with caviar, Served with fresh baked croissants." she replied, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.
"That sounds delicious!" Kris said, leaning against the counter, taking in the mouthwatering scents that filled the room as he watched her work.