When Remy returned to the cave, the look of shock on his small face was unmistakable. There, in Kael's arms, was the last thing he had expected—a dead rabbit.
It seemed like whatever the human had been tinkering with for days had finally worked.
Remy hadn't fully understood what Kael had been doing. He had his fair share of experiences with traps—his life in the sewers had taught him plenty about avoiding them—but none of the ones he had seen were quite like the contraption Kael had been building.
It almost seems unique and... crude.
Still, there was something about the way Kael worked on it, day after day, with that determined look on his face. It had been a strange mix of emotions, the kind Remy wasn't used to sensing. Maybe it was due to the familiar contract, but Remy could feel the anxiety, the frustration, and the gnawing impatience in Kael's heart.
The human had been growing more restless with each passing day. There was only so much that foraging could do, and Kael knew it. Remy, though small, had brought back enough food to keep them alive, but Kael had felt that he needed to contribute something more. He didn't want to rely entirely on Remy, not when the little rat had already done so much for him.
Now, though, as Kael beamed down at him, holding up his prize with that huge grin plastered on his face, all Remy could feel was relief.
He did it.
Kael chuckled as he caught the rat's expression, a mix of shock and disbelief. He couldn't help but feel proud—he had worked hard for this, and Remy's reaction felt like a well-deserved reward.
"Well, this was worth it," Kael said, puffing out his chest a little.
Remy scurried up to his usual perch on Kael's shoulder and patted him on the head, almost like a parent offering silent praise to a child who had done well.
Kael raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-annoyed.
Why do I feel like I'm being treated like a kid?
But the warmth of the moment wasn't lost on him. Remy's presence had been the one constant in this harsh new life. The bond they shared had grown into something deeper than just master and familiar—it was something closer to family. In the orphanage, Kael had never had someone who truly cared, and here was this little creature, treating him as an equal, pushing him to be better without saying a word.
"Well, I guess you've earned this..."
Kael muttered, unable to hold back a smile. He presented the rabbit, the fruit of his hard work.
"You've done so much for us… You deserve this more than me."
Remy, however, shook his head and squeaked in protest, his beady eyes fixed on Kael's. He pushed the rabbit toward him, insisting that they share the meal together.
Kael's heart softened at the gesture. Remy's antics always got to him, and today was no different.
"Fine, fine,"
Kael said, a small chuckle escaping his lips.
"We'll share."
He carefully positioned the rabbit on the ground, pulling out his rusty old knife, the one he had took from the orphanage's kitchen. As he made the first cut, the knife struggled against the tough hide, but Kael pushed through. His hands, still clumsy with the task, trembled slightly, but he was determined to make this work. He wasn't going to let this victory slip away.
Clink!
A small, shimmering object slipped out from inside the rabbit's body and landed on the ground with a soft clatter. Kael froze for a moment, staring at the strange, crystalline object. It glowed faintly, catching the dim light from the cave's entrance.
"Huh?" Kael bent down to pick it up. "What's this?"
Remy's eyes immediately locked onto the crystal, his nose twitching in curiosity. The glow seemed to mesmerize him, his tiny paws tapping on the ground as he scurried closer.
Kael held it up to the light, turning it over in his hand. The crystal had an almost ethereal quality, the soft light it emitted pulsing gently, as if it were alive. Kael's mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was holding. He had heard about these before—origin crystals. They were supposed to strengthen a person's origin root, helping them grow more powerful.
His thumb brushed over the smooth surface of the crystal, and for a fleeting moment, he wondered if he could absorb it. He knew that origin crystals were meant to be absorbed by humans to enhance their powers, making them stronger, more capable. It was tempting.
But then he hesitated, the weight of reality crashing down on him. His origin root was damaged—broken. There was no guarantee that absorbing this crystal would do anything for him. In fact, it might make things worse.
It's useless to me, he thought bitterly. But Remy…
Kael glanced over at his familiar. Remy was practically drooling, his eyes fixed on the crystal with an intensity that Kael hadn't seen before. The rat seemed almost entranced, as if he could sense the power inside it.
Kael sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I guess this is yours, huh?"
He knelt down, holding the crystal out to Remy. The little rat wasted no time, snatching it up eagerly and retreating to a corner of the cave. Kael watched, amused, as Remy's tiny paws worked to absorb the crystal. The glow intensified for a moment, surrounding Remy in a soft halo of light before fading completely.
"Well,"
Kael said, leaning back on his hands,
"at least one of us is getting stronger."