"That's him. Yen's Soulbound," the twins whispered in unison, leaning in close to Kiyel, their mischievous grins all but daring him to react.
"You?" Kiyel blurted out, his disbelief palpable as he stared at the chicken standing nonchalantly before him.
The creature was like something straight out of a cartoon—its feathers sleek and clean, its wings functioning like hands, and its expression a cocky mix of arrogance and disinterest.
"Oh, you've met him," Jian said, appearing from the shadows with his usual calm demeanor. "Arkon, this is Kiyel. He's a summoner too, and Yen's former servant. He insisted on joining us." Jian's tone hinted at mild exasperation, but his smirk gave him away.
"Heh. Good luck, kid," Arkon said, his tone dripping with disinterest as he tipped back a bottle of wine. Kiyel watched, entranced, as the chicken somehow managed to pour the liquid into his beak with effortless precision.
As if that wasn't bizarre enough, Arkon raised the empty bottle over his shoulder and added, "Ah. Tell Yen I'm running out of wine." With that, the chicken sauntered off, his gait casual and completely at odds with the stunned silence he left behind.
Kiyel stood there, his mouth agape. For a moment, he wondered if this was some elaborate joke.
"That… chicken is the young master's summon?" he finally managed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Unfortunately, yes," the twins and Jian replied simultaneously, their expressions deadpan.
Kiyel blinked. He already knew that Yen wasn't exactly celebrated for his summoning skills—despite coming from a prestigious lineage of legendary summoners. But this? A cocky, wine-drinking chicken? Surely, even Yen could've done better. His entire family had summoned divine spirits, mythical beasts, creatures of unfathomable power. This… was almost insulting.
"Come on," Jian said, cutting through Kiyel's spiraling thoughts. "We'll show you the training grounds. You can train there while we take on missions. It's too risky to bring you along just yet."
Still dazed, Kiyel followed, his body moving automatically while his mind wrestled with what he'd just witnessed. The twins bickered as usual, but their words barely registered.
When they finally arrived at the training grounds, Kiyel snapped out of his stupor.
The area was simple but practical—a wide-open space with a wooden hall tucked into the corner, likely for meditation or indoor exercises. The air smelled faintly of pine and freshly turned earth, and the faint hum of energy suggested the space was enchanted to repair any damage caused during training.
"Don't hold back when you train," Jian said, gesturing to the grounds. "Any damage gets repaired automatically."
"We've seen Yen summon Arkon before," Soh said, his gaze drifting upward as if reliving the memory. "It was… oddly mesmerizing to watch."
"Yep. I hate to admit it, but the guy's really gifted," Juh added, his arms crossed.
Kiyel frowned, his gaze dropping to the ground. "But… Arkon must've been a disappointment for him. Maybe that's why he left the family. His father—the master—must've been devastated."
The twins tilted their heads in unison, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity. Jian raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Juh asked.
"I just mean… Arkon doesn't seem to match the young master's abilities. He doesn't… suit him," Kiyel said, fumbling for the right words.
They all stared at him, blinking. Jian was the first to speak, his tone light with amusement. "Are you underestimating your master?"
"No! That's not what I—" Kiyel groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just think Arkon doesn't seem strong enough."
"Arkon's not weak," Soh said flatly.
"Yep. He's annoying sometimes, but he's really strong," Juh added with a shrug.
"In fact," Jian said, a grin tugging at his lips, "Arkon trains us."
Kiyel froze. His face flushed with embarrassment as he realized how badly he had misjudged the situation. Jian, ever perceptive, shifted the conversation smoothly.
"Anyway, you can train here or rest from the journey. Me and the twins will find some suitable missions. Leon and Keios are already off doing their thing, and Nyx… he's probably at the arena, dueling as usual."
"Then I'll use this time to train. Thank you for your kindness," Kiyel said, bowing deeply.
"See you later!"
"Yep."
The twins tapped his back, and Jian gave him a small wave as they walked away.
Now alone, Kiyel took a deep breath and settled into the training grounds. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to focus on the flow of qi within his body. The energy felt weak, unsteady, and resistant to refinement. His breathing faltered as he struggled to control it, frustration mounting with each passing second.
Suddenly—SMACK
"Ow!" Kiyel yelped, clutching the back of his head. He turned to see Arkon standing there, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
The chicken plopped down lazily, leaning against his ever-present wine bottle like it was a pillow.
"Go on. Continue," Arkon said, waving a wing dismissively.
Kiyel hesitated but returned to his meditation. Barely a minute passed before Arkon interrupted again.
"Stop, kid. Ugh, this buffoon…"
Kiyel flinched instinctively, covering his head, but no second strike came. He peeked and saw Arkon munching on a piece of beef jerky.
"Am I doing it wrong?" Kiyel asked hesitantly, his voice small.
"Obviously," Arkon said, rolling his eyes. "You're rushing it. You'll cause qi reflux and wreck your cultivation. It's basic common sense."
"I'm sorry," Kiyel muttered.
"Shut up," Arkon snapped, tossing the jerky wrapper aside.
Kiyel pressed his lips together, thoroughly chastised.
"There's a library here. Go read something and figure it out," Arkon said, standing up and dragging his wine bottle noisily across the ground.
"I… can't read," Kiyel admitted, his face burning with shame.
Arkon froze mid-step, then sighed dramatically, looking up at the sky. "No wonder…"
He turned back to Kiyel, his tone softer now. "Fine. Sit. I'll guide your qi flow. Pay attention and don't mess it up."
"T-thank you. I'm really grateful," Kiyel stammered, hurrying to sit with his back to the chicken.
"Ah, shut up," Arkon grumbled, pressing his wing firmly against Kiyel's back.
As the qi began to flow, Kiyel felt an immediate difference. The energy was smoother, steadier, and soothing in a way he hadn't experienced before. His breathing stabilized, and for the first time, he felt like he was making progress.
"Now, keep it up on your own," Arkon said after a while, pulling back. "If you stray, I'll smack you with this bottle."
Kiyel nodded, sweat trickling down his forehead as he focused intently. He wasn't about to give Arkon an excuse to follow through on that threat.