Private - 'Home' sweet home

_____After a long walk, a decent nap, and a fairly long time soaking in medical salts to ease the screaming of her muscles Kaede was able to enjoy being home again. Well, least until one of the maids knocked Kaede’s door as the girl relaxed in bed. A slightly drained movement as she looked over to see the girl enter and stand at attention as far away from Kaede as she could with a blush on her face. It was a simple thing most the girls did since Kaede gave up trying to keep her desires and ‘noble’ lifestyle split.

”Lady Kaede, your father has asked us to inform you that breakfast is ready and you and your friend should eat something. He also would like to talk to you about the last…”

_____The maid stopped speaking as Kaede lifted her hand and got herself out of bed. Her eyes fluttering as she rubbed them and started to walk towards the doorway. The maid quickly moving to open the door and allow Kaede to pass. A slight startled look across the maid’s face when Kaede did not even wink or make some comment as she normally would. To be honest Kaede was simply tired of always waking up still stuck in the game and did feel in the mood for anything of her normal interest.

_____Walking across the house, bare feet gently pressing of the cold stone or soft rugs that lined the floor leading to the guest rooms. Kaede stopping at one of the few as she gently knocked on the door where she last left @Mahiru Wind resting on the bed before she left. Only if she was told to enter would Kaede, and if not Kaede would yawn and move to get something to drink before trying again. Hopefully the girl was not one of those like Kaede who had weekend classes, or liked to sleep in...

 

Mahiru's eyes flickered open. She woke with a start, surveying the surroundings. She was in a room, and it seemed fancy to her. She wiped her eyes and let out a small yawn. Well, I don't know where I am, so might as well get ready to go out.

Hopping off the bed she had slept on, Mahiru walked over to the dresser. Are there even any clothes...? She opened the dresser and found her normal set of clothes in it. Oh, hey... She changed from the spare clothes she had worn into her normal clothes. I feel like a wreck...

Mahiru walked over to the door to the room, still half asleep. Turning the doorknob, she pushed the door, only hearing the knocks after she started. She felt the door hit something as she tried to comprehend what happened. Wait... Did I hit something...? She looked around to the other side of the door to see Kaede. "Oh... Morning..." She let out another small yawn. "What brings you here...?" Her hair hadn't been tidied up yet, so it was sticking out everywhere.

 

”What am I doing here? Well for one this is sort of my house. Secondly i came to let you know breakfast is ready. I do advise you fix that hair though, my dad would be driven to ask if he could brush it since he has a father complex. Alice here will help guide you to the dining hall afterwards.”

_____Kaede spoke calmly before she waved for the maid to step forward and left the two to deal with the hair issue. It was mostly to make sure her father was not twitching up until he got the urge to ask for permission to fix the hair, Kaede learned this the hard way until she got used to fixing her hair before giving him a chance to see it. God forbid he ever got the chance to see Kaede’s real life bed head. The idea once more hitting Kaede like stones as she walked without another thought until reaching the hall.

_____By the time Mahiru joined the room it would seem everyone else in the house was waiting for her. Several other figures sat at the table, Kaede at one end and the one who was likely her father to the opposite side. Among those that sat to the sides three seemed to stand out from the rest. A Yladian woman who was taking the wait time to clean her dagger. A Felis mage who was getting teased with string by a human woman sitting beside her.

_____In terms of open seats there was one to the right of Kaede, to the left of Kaede’s father, one beside the human woman to her right, and last one to the left of the yladian woman. Kaede’s father looked surprisingly close to Kaede, outside his more muscle tone and lighter skin. His green eyes also setting them apart as he waved to the girl hinting he was fine if she sat near him, rather seemed to be asking her to sit there.

”Glad you could join us this time around. I am Westly, i hope the room was to your liking, it was a rather rushed set up so do forgive me for it not being exactly ‘five star’ as i think my daughter would say it.~”

_____A comical moment where both Kaede and the felis girl slammed their hand to their faces at how Westly was trying to be accommodating to how some adventures spoke. But, once the girl picked her spot Westly would turn to kindly ask for the maid behind him to bring out the food, and with a nod she walked off and Westly turned to smile at everyone. It seemed like a fairly odd family to be honest.

 

"Oh... Okay... Sorry, I'm still mostly asleep..."

Mahiru had quickly tidied up her hair so it could be presentable and made her way to the dining hall, guided by the maid. I wonder what kind of food they have...? She got a dumb grin on her face as she began to drool, but she quickly noticed and wiped the drool away using her sleeve. No, I have to look presentable.

As Mahiru and the maid made it into the dining hall, she was almost fully awake, but still slightly sleepy. She picked up most of what the man, Westly, said. "Thanks... It's fine, sir..." She wiped her eyes again to fully wake herself up and looked for an open seat. There's a seat next to Kaede. She walked over to the empty seat next to Kaede, trying to be as polite as she could. Sitting on the seat, she looked around at the dining hall. It's so fancy...

 

_____Kaede smiled gently when @Mahiru Wind took a seat near her, her father looking slightly sad he once more lost the ‘challenge’ to his daughter but smiled and moved on to the next topic. The woman at the table hiding the string away and turning to face Westly as they leaned forward to exchange a few words. The felis trying to do the same with the other yladian woman who seemed to ignore the child. Kaede offering a smile to the girl before Westly coughed to get the attention of the group. The maids slowly filling in with the food.

”Today we have tried to cook up the ‘pancake’ recipe from my daughter’s secret book she hid under the cobblestone stove, as well as tried making the honey syrup that seemed to be circled and with a note to match it.”

_____Kaede’s face turned crimson as her father spoke. A glare to the woman who chuckled and held a book up causing Kaede to grow more flustered. Watching as the maids lifted the tops to reveal the flat treats from Kaede’s childhood. Her face turning dark as she looked down at the food before her, a memory of her father and her making them caused her to start crying. The yladian, and the felis glaring at Diabloa who just seemed to smile as she enjoyed the uncommon dish.

”It is one thing to tell Lady Kaede to simply accept she is trapped in the game Diabloa. THAT i can deal with, but to force her to deal with things that only pull her back to that time of sadness is not forgivable!”

”Wind is right! Why do you have to go and pick a wound we can’t heal like that!”

”Because the sooner she accepts there is no going back the sooner she can move on with her life here.”

_____The three seemed ready to start yelling before Kaede tapped her fork down against the plate and slowly moved to cut the pancake. She did not try to stop her tears, or stop the fighting with words. She would go the middle path, accept the annoying actions of her half friend, and try to show her friends she was not as destroyed by the action as she truly was inside. Calmly pouring the honey mix onto the cut pieces Kaede ate one and tried to smile past her tears.

”Good thing I did not write the special ingredient… Still have to say, good try but me and my real dad’s pancakes and honey knock this out to the curb.”

Then perhaps we can try to improve and test it again, you know how much i dislike such a one sided lose…”

 

Mahiru listened to Westly's description of what was made for breakfast. Pancakes! Her eyes began to literally sparkle. I love pancakes! She began quickly growing impatient as the others commented on Westly revisiting Kaede's childhood. "What's wrong with that...?"

Mahiru felt her stomach rumble, turning to Kaede and tugging on her shirt. "When do I get to eat the pancakes?" She felt like a child asking her mom for a bunch of candy from the candy store, and she was perfectly fine with it. She just wanted some pancakes inside her.

 

_____Kaede would take a moment to look over to Mahiru before waving at the plate before the girl. While the pancakes looked a bit burnt, and still seemed a bit doughy they tasted like little vanilla cakes. It was not long after eating as few from her own plate that Kaede stopped and looked down at the food, her mind trying to recall the last time she got to enjoy making and eating pancakes with her real father. It felt like so long ago she was afraid to leave home to go to college, but now all she could worry about was her father.

_____Finishing what was left on her plate in silence before turning a maid down when they asked if she would like seconds. A shallow nod as they took her plate away and Kaede focused on the glass of water she still had, finger tracing the lip of the cup as she held in a sigh and tried to bring herself to look up without showing how depressed she was once more. She had too keep herself strong, she had to cling to the hope she could fix this problem and return home. She had to do that… it was the only thing to keep her from falling apart anymore.

”So, what is Nyaa story then?~ Like how did you meet Kae-chan?~”

_____The felis girl pointed her fork at @Mahiru Wind from across the table, her tone a purr and clearly spoken despite having food still in her mouth. Her tail flicking around behind her to try and change the subject to hopefully change the mood. Least that was how Kaede could see it as she simply moved to relax her head against the table. A thought of asking a maid for some wine was starting to sound so tempting.

 

Mahiru was caught off-guard by the question, as she was almost done with her pancakes but not quite. "Uh... I was attacked by wolves..." She tried to make herself as small as possible, still munching on the pancakes. Though they're a bit burnt, these pancakes are great! I should learn how to make them! She looked around the dining hall again. "It's... A long story..."

 

_____At the mention of long story it seemed like Westly’s ears poked up, his face moving to the girl as he smiled showing clear interest in the tale now more than ever. The felis’ tails slowed down as she nodded in understanding and went back to eating her food. She did not want to pry and it seem the girl wanted to keep things to herself. After a bit if @Mahiru Wind chose to tell her tale or not the food would thin down and the Maids would claim all the empty dishes before Diabloa moved to leave the room without a word to anyone.

”Kaede, you will be in charge of the house for the next few days, I have to go make sure the people in the village don’t worry with the changes that King Astor have implemented will cause harm. Wind i would also like to make sure you tighten the city guard or train them. I don’t think things will be as peaceful even after the danger of that monster was dealt with…”

As you wish my lord. I will accompany you to the village to begin right away.”

_____With that the two would get up and leave the room, Kaede waving goodbye to both of them before she looked down at her cup. A slow sip as she looked up between the two felis girls and tried to smile somewhat. An idea crossing her mind as she rose up and spoke what she thought would be slightly helpful to both clear her mood and help Mahiru with something she would need.

”Neka-chan, what do you say to helping me train Mahiru. If memory serves you both have white magic and i do know if a little pesky group of foes to the south. I don’t mind being the fighter if you two can back me up. We can also start with some mild training, is that ok with you Mahiru?”

”Nyaa sounds like fun!~ Last time we got to work together was that one crystal raptor, that and training someone is always a fun task.~ If she does not have a staff I think i still got my staff from when I started playing, lemme check…”

_____Kaede felt a sting rise in her heart as she watched Neka use the motions of starting up her UI, she did not let the bad emotion show, rather turning her focus to Mahiru. It was after all partly the girl’s choice here. Did she want to get right into the action with two people who could hold their own, or did she want a bit of training first?

 

As Westly addressed Wind, Mahiru snapped to attention to him. "Y-yes?" After a tiny bit, she realized he wasn't talking about her and she slumped into her seat. Thank goodness... It was at this time that Kaede brought up the notion of getting some training. "Yeah, I think some training would be good... Maybe something mild, first... I also took Aeromancy, whatever that is, and Nature Magic." She opened her interface and flipped through some menus, likely her checking something. "So, when do we begin?"

 

”Aeromancy is wind and lightning magic. You can use it to disrupt targets, boost your movement, or shock them. I’m sure there is more options with it but as far as I have seen those are the main things I have seen done with that mastery. If you wanted to train that I would have to try and find Charlotte since she is the only other Aeromancy user I know…”

”Nyaa, then Nature magic is control plants and the sort. Healing pollens, root binding, that sort of thing. We can start in a bit, first we would need to find someone who is slightly hurt to start things off. Least if you wanted to start with healing and not empowering…”

_____Kaede smiled gently as she stood up and began to leave the room, Neka-chan happily skipping after Kaede waving for @Mahiru Wind to follow before she tossed a wooden wand with a small white crystal at the tip to the girl. When she caught or picked up the item it would be a simple item beginner wand but something the girl could use for the time being at the least. Kaede leading the group out to a small arena where a woman stood attacking some training dummies. When the woman Noticed Kaede approaching she stopped and moved to get down on her knee.

”Forgive me master for not staying by your side to wake you… I thought I would have time to train some more…”

”It’s fine Sara, shall we try sparring to see how much you have improved? Neka and Mahiru will be your supports, just light sparring since we are trying to help Mahiru get used to using spells and such.”

_____Kaede would move past the girl, lightly tapping her shoulder to hint she could rise. Kaede did not seem to have a weapon, her hands empty as she snapped her fingers and the glowed purple. Partly pushing herself into cosmic form as Sara drew both her weapons to get ready. Neka looked to Mahiru with a smile and her tail wagging playfully before she spoke.

”So this is when Nyaa would buff your team mate. While there is two ways to do this. One you can use your UI to help cast the spell, makes it less likely you will fumble a word or two, OR you can do it without the UI. To start though, and since this is a peaceful spar use your UI to buff Sara here.~”

 

As Mahiru followed Kaede to the sparring area, she couldn't help but feel excited. I'm actually going to get training for my skills! She practically hopped as she entered the sparring hall with Kaede.

What she saw was... Odd. Kaede, activating a purple energy, against a woman, apparently named Sara, using dual blades. She was caught off-guard when she was instructed to buff Sara. Quickly opening her menu, she fumbled around with the menus for a bit... Damage buff... White magic! She tapped on the last button and the gem on the beginner staff she was given began to slightly glow. Mahiru made a surprised yelp as the light intensified slightly moved to Sara, doing something. Mahiru wasn't sure. "Uh... Did I do it?"

 

_____Sara would slowly lifter her weapons as the glowed a faint white to help show @Mahiru Wind her spell had worked. Kaede would have clapped, if not for the fact doing so while her hands had taken cosmic form would cause explosions. Moving them slowly as Sara rushed forward trying to slash at Kaede. A slowly wave of her index and middle finger as a blade of Cosmic energy caught the weapon and tossed the girl back to where she started. A difference in power shown as Neka chuckled lightly.

”Nyaa no matter how many times I watch Kae-chan fight she always seems twice as strong even if only a day passes… I fear if she ever lets her temper loose again with that cosmic magic at her fingertips… Anyways.~ At this point Nyaa can try two things.

Neka moved to wave her fingers to make her point of two choices, but comically held three fingers up, intention or not was unclear however.

”You could heal the small amount of damage Sara-chan has taken, OR Nyaa could try to weaken Kae-chan with a debuff.”

_____Neka would move to do the other choice Mahiru did not pick to help out. Once both actions had been done Sara would try to attack Kaede once more. A slow wave of three fingers downward as the area was hit with gravity likely dragging all three of them to their knees. Kaede quickly moving her fingers to stop the gravity well before waving a finger left to throw Sara’s gravity off as she tried to approach leading the girl to trip.

”In some cases you can remove negate the side effects of a spell like my gravity well just now. Light magic is not as versatile as some of the other support centric magics in this world but in the right hands can do a great deal of work. Over time you will earn how to best use the magic to suit your style or needs.”

_____Kaede moved her right index finger up as Sara’s gravity was removed sending the girl into the air slightly to stop her from approaching once more Gently pointing the finger towards the other two as Sara was moved to them and set down once more. As it stood Kaede just seemed able to keep the threat out of her effective range. This was partly to see how Mahiru would consider how to help out her teammate to overcome this. After All, if there was one keen way to learn, it was from testing their creativity either drastically or steadily.

 

As Mahiru watched Sara bounce futilely against Kaede, she couldn't help but wince. Well... Somebody has to do the heroism... Right? She was told she could either heal Sara or debuff Kaede. "Hmm..." She opened her menu some more and began fumbling with some menus. After a couple seconds, some small vines appeared out of the ground and wrapped themselves around Kaede's ankles, causing another yelp, though smaller, from Mahiru. "Er... Did I do it?"

 

_____Kaede would look down at the vines, it was a good start but so far Kaede as not moved from her spot so the minding at her feet was of little worry. Right thumb and index pressed together before Kaede snapped and a small burst of cosmic energy removed the vines. She did not do it to discourage the girl but to slightly show she saw them as a potential delay later on. Neka moved to lightly pat Mahiru’s shoulder before she tried to whisper in the girl’s ear to plan a strategy.

”A good try, but Kaede is only used her fingers so far, if you want to try and bind something it should be her hands in this case since they seem to be her reliance so far.”

Neka would bounce back to her spot before she spoke at her normal tone again.

”A mage also should always keep track of their Energy bar, Any time Nyaa cast a spell it will go down, if it ever runs out you pass out. That’s not always a good thing if you are fighting and nobody can reach nyaa in time.”

_____Neka lifted her finger to wave it as a ‘no good’ with her comment. While the girl should only have burnt a third of her energy so far Neka felt it was needed to warn the girl to watch out for that sort of thing. Kaede moved her focus back to Sara as the glow on her weapons grew brighter, Neka lowering her staff with a playful grin before tapping the shaft against the ground before a ghostly blue light coated Sara’s feet.

”What Neka just did was set two buffs on Sara. The first was a damage buff, in most cases the newest buff on a person will override the older. The second is a protective ward against my gravity well most likely.”

_____Neka grinned before pointing her staff forward as Sara launched of quickly. Kaede blinking slowly to adjust her plan before moving to swipe her left arm downward. The gravity around Kaede growing greatly as the stone pressed down into the dirt, the moment Sara entered the circle she found herself slammed against the ground, her chin bleeding from the impact. This was of course, if Kaede could cast such a spell so easily. Her mind not worrying to much about @Mahiru Wind who would likely be worried about her energy and be checking it while the fight progressed.