Aiden stood amidst the wreckage of the battlefield, his golden aura slowly fading as exhaustion weighed down on him. The once lively forest now bore deep scars of battle—charred trees, upturned soil, and craters where powerful spells had landed. The air still carried the faint, acrid scent of burnt wood and ozone from the light explosion that had ended the monstrous fight. His breathing was steadying, but the soreness in his muscles reminded him of how close he had come to death. Ciara sat by his side, her fur bristling slightly as she surveyed the devastation, while Lumina hovered nearby, her antennae twitching with unreadable thoughts.
Despite the eerie silence that followed the destruction, Aiden remained vigilant. His gaze roamed over the battlefield, searching for any trace of One's body. Yet, there was nothing. No limb, no fragment of bone—nothing remained of the monstrous transformation. The light explosion had eradicated One's very being, reducing him to less than ash. Aiden clenched his fists as a chill ran down his spine.
What if One had been stronger? The thought made his stomach churn. What if it wasn't a Specialist-ranked mage but an Elite… or a Master? The implications of such a horrifying reality left him shaken. He had nearly lost his life fighting against a mere field agent. A mere disposable pawn. What of the real masterminds lurking in the shadows? His resolve hardened at that moment. I am still too weak… I need to get stronger. If I don't, next time I won't be able to protect myself, let alone the people I care about.
With that thought in mind, he turned back toward the camp. Though he had sprinted as far as possible from it to avoid unnecessary destruction, he now had to return. There was work to be done.
Upon reaching the camp, Aiden was greeted by the grim sight of scattered corpses. The remnants of the battle lay sprawled across the clearing—lifeless bodies of Numbers and fallen felines. He exhaled slowly, then turned to Lumina.
"Lumi," he called, his voice calm but firm. "You can use all these corpses to your liking."
The moment the words left his lips, Lumina darted across the battlefield. The glow in her multiple eyes intensified as she began absorbing the corpses, her small body pulsing with strange energy. Aiden watched in astonishment as the bodies—seven beast corpses and twelve humans—vanished one by one as though they had never existed. It was eerie, the way she consumed them, making them disappear into some unknown space.
"Just… what are you doing to them?" he asked, still processing what he had witnessed.
"I am integrating their biological data into my system," Lumina responded matter-of-factly, her voice holding a faint hint of pride. "This will allow me to enhance my evolutionary process."
Aiden frowned, still wrapping his head around the concept, but he let it go for now. He had a more pressing question. "Now that you've absorbed them, can you create new eggs?"
Lumina's antennae twitched before she replied, "Yes, but I will need to build a proper nest first."
That sparked an idea in Aiden's mind. "A nest, huh?" he mused. "Let's return home first. It's going to be dawn soon."
With that, Aiden led his companions through the darkened forest, moving swiftly yet cautiously. When they reached the mansion, he didn't bother using the front door. Instead, he leaped through his window with practiced ease, landing inside his room as silently as a shadow. The moment he hit the soft mattress, exhaustion finally took over, and sleep claimed him instantly.
Ciara and Lumina remained by his side, watching their master's peaceful, albeit tired, expression. The battle had taken a toll on him, and they both knew he needed rest. Ciara curled up beside him protectively, while Lumina stood guard, her mind already processing the newly acquired biological data. Both silently vowed to grow stronger, to no longer be burdens to their master.
Morning arrived, casting warm golden light through the windows of the mansion. The scent of freshly cooked breakfast filled the air, signaling the start of a new day. The entire household had gathered at the dining table—Ayleen, Orin, Clara, Chloe, and Greta but one person was missing.
Clara was the first to frown. "Why hasn't Aiden woken up yet?"
Chloe followed suit. "It's unusual. He's usually up by now."
Greta, standing nearby, hesitated before offering, "I'll go wake up young master Aiden."
Orin, sipping his tea, smiled at her. "You don't have to call him 'young master' all the time, you know."
Greta's face turned a deep shade of red. "I-I like calling him that…" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. Then, flustered, she quickly added, "I'll go wake him up now!" before dashing off toward Aiden's room.
Chloe and Clara exchanged knowing looks, while Ayleen chuckled softly. They all knew Greta harbored a massive crush on Aiden, and her antics only confirmed it further.
Upon reaching his room, Greta knocked politely. "Young master Aiden?" she called. No response. She knocked again. Still, silence.
A little concerned, she carefully pushed the door open and stepped inside. There, she found Aiden in deep sleep, his breathing even and his expression serene. She took a hesitant step forward—
A sudden hiss made her freeze.
Ciara, who had been lying beside Aiden, had perked up, her silver fur bristling aggressively. Her piercing eyes locked onto Greta, warning her not to come any closer. Before she could even react, Lumina's antennae twitched, and with an unsettling click, she snapped her mandibles together violently. The combined sounds of the hiss and the crackling of Lumina's mandibles echoed ominously through the room, making Greta's heart pound in alarm.
The noise was loud enough to be heard downstairs. Ayleen and Orin immediately frowned, sensing something was wrong. Without wasting a second, they rushed upstairs, followed closely by Chloe and Clara.
When they reached Aiden's room, they were met with an unexpected sight. Greta stood frozen at the doorway, her face a mix of frustration and confusion, while Ciara and Lumina guarded Aiden's sleeping form with unwavering vigilance.
"What's going on?" Ayleen asked, eyeing the unusual scene.
Greta let out a small huff. "I came to wake him up, but… they won't let me near him."
Ayleen frowned in thought. "That's strange. They've never acted like this before. Maybe Aiden told them not to let anyone wake him?"
Everyone nodded at the possibility. To confirm, Ayleen decided to try herself. However, the moment she took a step forward, Ciara's hissing intensified, and Lumina's mandibles clamped together once more, this time even more aggressively.
Ayleen sighed in defeat. "It's no use. They're not letting anyone near him." She shook her head. "Let's just let him sleep until he wakes up on his own."
With that, everyone slowly filed out of the room, leaving Aiden to rest in peace, while his two loyal companions stood guard, ensuring that no one disturbed their master's much-needed slumber.