The library hummed with quiet energy as Leopold settled into his chair at the central desk. The interface projection glowed before him, a detailed view of the Qiari world shimmering in midair. His sharp eyes scanned the continents, lingering momentarily on the uninhabited stretches of land populated only by scattered monsters and spirit beasts.
"Too quiet," he muttered, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk. His mind churned with possibilities, the steady rhythm of thought momentarily pulling him away from the lingering warmth of Faye's earlier teasing.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Faye appeared, gliding toward him with her usual grace. She perched on the edge of the desk, her crimson eyes sparkling with renewed energy.
"What's the plan today, Master Leo?" she asked, tilting her head with a playful smile. "More observation? Or are you going to actually get your hands dirty?"
Leopold ignored her quip, his attention fixed on the glowing interface.
"Something's different," he said, narrowing his eyes. A faint shimmer at the edge of the projection caught his attention—a new tab, subtly integrated yet distinct in its aura.
With a gesture, Leopold expanded the tab. Its sleek design unfurled like the pages of a book, revealing categories that glowed with potential. Each section was labeled with elegant simplicity:
Race Templates
Item Templates
Energy Templates
Afterlife Templates
…
Leopold leaned forward, his sharp gaze scanning the options.
"Creation Tab," he murmured, his voice tinged with intrigue.
"This wasn't here before."
Faye clapped her hands together, her excitement evident.
"Finally! The fun stuff!" she exclaimed, leaning over the interface with unrestrained glee.
"This is where you get to really show off your creativity, Master Leo. Templates for anything your brilliant mind can imagine."
Leopold's expression remained stoic, though his curiosity was clear.
"Explain."
Faye adjusted her glasses, her tone shifting into something more serious—though her enthusiasm still bubbled beneath the surface.
"This tab is your toolbox for true creation," she began. "You can design entirely new races, unique artifacts, energy sources, and even metaphysical systems like an afterlife. Anything you want to add to your world, this is how you do it."
Leopold nodded slowly, his mind already racing with possibilities.
"And these templates… are they limited?"
Faye shook her head. "Not at all. You have full creative control. Want to make a race of aquatic beings with crystalline scales? Done. Need a legendary artifact that evolves with its wielder? Easy. Feeling philosophical about life after death? You can design that too."
The library's ambient glow shimmered gently as Leopold examined the interface before him. The Creation Tab expanded like an intricately bound tome, its golden edges radiating quiet power. As he scanned the categories—Race Templates, Item Templates, Energy Templates, and more—his sharp mind turned toward the unpopulated continents of his world.
"These continents," he murmured, his voice even.
"They're wasted potential right now. Scattered monsters and spirit beasts are fine for challenges, but there's nothing driving civilization. That needs to change."
Faye, perched on the desk beside him, leaned in eagerly. Her crimson eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Ooh, are we making a new race?" she asked, clapping her hands.
"This is going to be fun! What's the theme? Mysterious? Majestic? Oh, please say it's something cute."
Leopold's lips twitched into a faint smirk.
"Cute, is it? You've been watching too many of my memories."
Faye grinned unabashedly.
"You mean the ones filled with anime catgirls? Don't even try to deny it, Master Leo. You're only human—well, sort of."
Leopold ignored her teasing, though a faint blush crept up his neck. He tapped the Race Templates option, the interface expanding to display humanoid and non-humanoid designs, each customizable to a meticulous degree.
Leopold selected a humanoid base, adjusting its features with practiced precision.
"They'll be humanoid," he began, "but with feline traits. Agile, perceptive, and attuned to their surroundings."
The holographic projection began to shift. A sleek, humanoid figure took form, its ears elongating into soft, feline shapes atop its head. A slender, expressive tail curled behind it, and its eyes shimmered with an intelligent, predatory gleam.
"Catgirls," Faye said with a delighted laugh, her hands clasped together.
"You're actually doing it. I knew you had it in you, Master Leo."
Leopold rolled his eyes but continued his adjustments.
"They'll need traits that make them more than just aesthetic," he said, focusing on the interface.
"Heightened agility and senses, natural stealth, and a strong sense of community."
He refined the body type, ensuring a balance of practicality and elegance. Their lithe frames spoke of speed and flexibility, but their musculature hinted at surprising strength. Their furred ears twitched in the projection as if responding to distant sounds, and their tails moved with a fluid grace.
Faye leaned closer, her voice practically a purr.
"They're beautiful. But what about culture? Personality? Are they going to be lone hunters or cuddle in packs?"
Leopold adjusted a few more parameters, his expression thoughtful.
"They'll value independence, but with a strong communal streak. Their society will emphasize adaptability and survival, blending individual prowess with group harmony."
Faye's grin widened. "So, cute and competent. You're really spoiling me today, Master Leo."
As the final adjustments fell into place, Leopold paused, his fingers hovering over the save button.
"They'll need a name," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Something fitting."
"Hmm," Faye mused, tapping a finger to her lips. "How about something sleek and elegant? Like... Felini?"
Leopold arched an eyebrow. "Too obvious. And too close to feline."
Faye huffed. "Fine, Mr. Perfectionist. What do you suggest?"
Leopold thought for a moment before typing: Nykara.
The name appeared in bold golden letters above the projection. Faye tilted her head, her crimson eyes shining with approval. "Nykara," she repeated. "I like it. It's mysterious, classy, and just a little exotic. Perfect for your fancy catpeople."
Leopold finalized the template, watching as the system created a vivid projection of a lush, uninhabited continent. Verdant forests stretched toward towering mountains, with shimmering rivers carving paths through the land. He placed the Nykara at the heart of this landscape, their figures materializing in small, scattered groups.
The hologram brought the first moments of the Nykara to life. They moved with feline grace, their ears twitching and tails swaying as they explored their surroundings. Some tested their claws against the bark of trees, while others crouched low, observing the wildlife with curious intensity.
Faye clasped her hands together, practically glowing with excitement. "They're perfect," she said. "And they're going to make the Qiari look so boring."
Leopold smirked faintly. "Let's see how they develop before making judgments. The Qiari have a head start, but the Nykara might surprise us."
As the projection dimmed, Leopold leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady but reflective. Faye perched on the armrest, her grin playful but her tone genuine. "You've outdone yourself, Master Leo," she said. "These Nykara? They're going to make things very interesting."
Leopold glanced at her, his lips curving into a faint smile. "That's the idea."
Faye leaned closer, her voice a teasing whisper. "I guess last night inspired you more than you're willing to admit."
Leopold shook his head, though his expression softened. "Don't push your luck, Faye."
"Oh, I will," she replied, her laugh light and melodic. "You'd be bored without me."
The library quieted as Leopold leaned forward, his sharp eyes fixed on the projection of the newly populated continent. The Nykara had taken form, their lithe, feline-humanoid figures moving with a natural grace that hinted at their predatory instincts. The verdant forests, shadowy caves, and sprawling grasslands of their home provided a striking backdrop for their emergence.
Faye perched on the edge of his desk, her crimson eyes gleaming with excitement as she watched the scene unfold. "They're already fascinating," she said, her voice soft but brimming with enthusiasm. "Look at how they move—so deliberate, so precise. You really nailed it, Master Leo."
Leopold didn't respond immediately, his gaze following a small group of Nykara exploring the dense forest. Their ears twitched at the faintest sound, their tails swayed in perfect balance, and their glowing eyes scanned their surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
One of the Nykara crouched low, their sleek form blending seamlessly with the undergrowth. They stalked a small spirit beast, a shimmering, rabbit-like creature with translucent fur that glowed faintly with qi. The Nykara moved silently, every muscle coiled with tension. With a sudden burst of speed, they pounced, their claws slicing through the air.
The spirit beast darted away at the last second, its qi-infused agility narrowly outmatching the Nykara's precision. The hunter let out a low growl, their ears flattening in frustration before rising again as they analyzed the terrain.
Faye leaned closer, her voice filled with amusement. "They've got spirit. I like that."
Leopold nodded slightly, his expression thoughtful.
"They'll need to adapt quickly if they're going to thrive. The monsters and spirit beasts in this region won't make it easy for them."
Further along the projection, another group of Nykara gathered near a riverbank. Their interactions were a mixture of playful and strategic. Two of them splashed in the water, their laughter ringing through the air as they tested their agility by leaping from rock to rock. Meanwhile, a third Nykara perched on a nearby boulder, their glowing eyes scanning the horizon, their tail twitching in rhythmic anticipation.
"They're not just hunters," Leopold observed.
"There's a sense of camaraderie. They're learning from each other."
Faye smiled, her tone turning teasing.
"Sounds a bit like you and me, doesn't it? You do the brooding, I do the entertaining."
Leopold raised an eyebrow, but a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "If you say so."
The boulder-perched Nykara suddenly let out a sharp, melodic sound—a signal, Leopold realized. The others instantly ceased their play, their ears swiveling toward the treeline. From the shadows emerged a massive, wolf-like spirit beast with glowing blue fur and qi-charged claws.
The Nykara didn't scatter. Instead, they moved as one, their postures low and their movements synchronized. One Nykara circled to the right, drawing the beast's attention with deliberate feints, while another crept closer from the left, their claws glinting in the dappled sunlight.
Leopold's gaze sharpened. "They're strategizing," he said quietly.
"Even without a leader."
Faye clapped her hands softly, her excitement palpable.
"They're naturals! No wonder you made them. I mean, look at that coordination."
The Nykara's plan unfolded with precision. The one circling to the right baited the spirit beast into lunging, its massive jaws snapping shut on empty air. In that moment of overextension, the Nykara from the left pounced, their claws sinking into the beast's flank. A third Nykara, waiting in the shadows, delivered the finishing blow with a swift strike to its neck.
The beast fell, its body dissipating into faintly glowing qi particles that scattered on the wind. The Nykara stood over their first victory, their glowing eyes reflecting the fading light. They let out a low, harmonious cry—a sound that seemed to carry both triumph and gratitude.
Leopold leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed as he observed the aftermath. The Nykara began dividing the spoils of their hunt, their actions methodical but tinged with a sense of camaraderie. One of them crouched by the river, washing their bloodied hands, while another traced a pattern into the dirt—a mark of their first triumph, perhaps.
"They're everything I envisioned," Leopold said quietly, his voice carrying a rare note of satisfaction. "Efficient, resourceful, and adaptive."
Faye tilted her head, her grin widening.
"And they're just getting started," she said. "Imagine what they'll become with time. Maybe even a match for your beloved Qiari?"
Leopold's lips curved into a faint smile. "We'll see."
Faye leaned closer, her tone dropping to a playful whisper.
"Admit it, Master Leo. You're proud of them. Just a little."
He didn't answer directly, but the gleam in his eyes spoke volumes. As the projection shifted to show other Nykara exploring the uncharted expanses of their continent, Leopold felt the familiar spark of curiosity—the thrill of watching something new unfold, untainted by interference.
"They'll write their own story," he said finally, his voice steady. "All we have to do is watch."
Faye chuckled, her crimson eyes sparkling. "Oh, Master Leo, you're really getting the hang of this whole 'creator' thing. Now, let's see how long you can keep your hands off the reins."