Death, Devotion, Dissonance

"My hometown?" Bella's voice turned a notch higher. "Why? And why do you even think that I'll enjoy visiting home if we're going there for traveling?"

'Ah… I probably should've given this more thought. Bah, I'll just have to push through with it and hope she sees it the same way I do.'

"I was just thinking I should see this person I'm trying to kill with my own two eyes. I know I told you I'll do my best to support you, but it's a bit hard to feel hatred for someone I've never seen before. And also, we can give a visit to Arza, since you're both in the same town. You said you were interested in his half-made Conditional Absolute, right?"

"I guess I did…"

"And besides, this won't be our last journey together. Maybe next time we can go somewhere else… like Arcvallen? Oh, I've heard there's a really nice lake just beyond a few mountains northwest, called Mirror Lake. We can also go there."

"Fine, I can see your point… But it's a promise that you'll bring me to Arcvallen next time," Bella said and puffed out her cheeks.

Evin pecked her on the cheeks, and after grabbing her chin, kissed her on her lips. He was becoming more confident in these things and Bella also seemed to enjoy this side of his. But even if he'd done this countless times already, Evin felt himself going hard in his groin, demanding Evin to push further. Perhaps Bella was also waiting for him to take the next step, but Evin decided that it didn't hurt to wait. The moment would come.

"When do you want to leave?" Bella asked, pulling away from the kiss.

"I don't even mind if we go today… but I think I have to inform Rith before we go."

"The Cosmic?"

"Yes. She mentioned something about reporting to her if I need to go away to distant places."

"Then you go do that. I'll prepare my stuff," she said, and the two separated.

Evin made his way towards Rith's den in Ankelite, and gently knocked on the door. A familiar, but drowsy voice came from inside, telling him that the door was open. Taking it as permission to go inside, Evin opened the door and looked around.

The dwelling of a Cosmic was a weird place. On one hand, everything seemed normal, with a normal sized furniture decorating the room, but on the other side, there were tiny little wooden furniture designed for the convenience of the Cosmic. Some of them seemed relatively normal, just small rectangular shaped wooden spaces designed to let the Cosmic rest on it comfortably.

Others, though, were more confusing. Masterpieces of woodworking, built in confusing shapes, with random wooden rods and platforms appearing in random places. Evin would for sure think these were uncomfortable to be in, but he was quickly proven wrong when he saw Rith's shape in one of these objects. Judging from her clothesless state and her drowsy meows, the Cosmic was sleeping there.

"Can you pull me out of this thing?" the Cosmic asked, groaning.

Evin approached her with some hesitation, and searched for a comfortable spot to grab at Rith's body. He managed to grasp at what he thought was her chest and slid her out of the contraption she was stuck in.

"That can't be comfortable to sleep in."

Rith shrugged. "You'd be surprised. Lately, I've been finding it more and more difficult to sleep anywhere else… But it is a bit hard to part with it come morning."

The Cosmic then walked through the room, collecting her few pieces of clothing with her maw. She threw them all inside a bin and brought out another set from her drawer. It was a confusing sight… seeing a feline tying up the buttons of her shirt, the same way a human would.

"Why do you need to wear clothes in the first place? You didn't seem so mindful of me seeing you without it."

"To distinguish ourselves from our less intelligent brethren. And besides… they feel good to be in," Rith said, and attached her earrings. Finished with that, she puffed out her chest proudly. "Done."

Evin clapped his hands, reciting praises for the Cosmic who was able to wake up and wear her clothes.

"So? What did you want from me, to come to my humble abode?"

"Ah, Bella and I are going to Jiha town and since you told me to inform you of these things, here I am."

"For how long?"

"We're not sure. We're gonna meet her family and after that, we're gonna do some sightseeing, I guess."

"Wow. Didn't you guys date for only a week? And you're already going to meet her father… you're probably the only boy I know who's excited to see his girlfriend's father."

'Well, of course I wouldn't feel scared of meeting him. I'm trying to kill the damn person, after all.'

He didn't know how, but he somehow ended up encouraging Bella's plan to take revenge against his father, and even agreed to take part in it.

"Well… It is what it is."

"Hmm… How are you two going to get there?"

"We considered flying there, but we'll take a carriage. Since there's a paved road between here and there, the trip only takes half a day. It's not that bad."

"In that case, I'll go with you," Rith said.

"What? Why?"

"I've been thinking that we should resume our training. I was much more lenient with you, since you were practically the best student among the Cosmics' students... but king Seth started demanding for results after than incident with portals on the Island."

"What incident with portals?"

"Ah, you don't know? Then I don't think I can tell you," Rith said, shrugging.

"So you're going to resume our training… But isn't that just geometry and the planar imaginations? I can do those on my own."

"Ah, this time, we're gonna actually make portals," Rith smiled. "We'll even try to create some Storage rings… though I'm not sure how well that's going to go."

"Really? Finally?" Evin asked, feeling excited.

"Yes, yes… Uhh, I'll actually fly over to Jiha Town and wait for you two in the Viscount's house," Rith suddenly said. "Wouldn't wanna impose on your carriage ride."

"Alright…" Evin shrugged and went back to the dorm, towards Bella's room.

Gathering their stuff, the two of them made way towards the transporters' business and hired a private carriage ride for the occasion. During the ride, Bella spoke about the Mage guards at her house and Evin spoke about Rith and some bits about his study on portals.