Daily Short: Kyo 07

Meat is meat, chop, sever, slice, fillet, de-bone. Meat is meat.

                                                             Talos the Butcher

Fluffy beds are the best. Kyo thought upon waking up with the feeling of cleanliness on her skin. The bacon smell is the best, too. Lured by the scent of cooking food, she threw on a too-big shirt. Socks that looked more like leggings accompanied the shirt to keep her toes warm on the cold floor tiles. Properly outfitted, she immediately engaged her food detection radar. Utilizing the information sent through Plant Manipulation IV, it was clear where the scents emanated.

Talos the Butcher was cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Without delay, Kyo padded along at a sneaky clip to acquire sustenance. The mean big brother would, without a care in the world, devour all the delicious food leaving a tiny kitten with nothing! Pausing as she moved through the hallway, Kyo tilted her head, listening to the voice of her Patron.

There is a faster method of movement. Kudzu told her through their link.

Like what? Kyo pushed back to the Patron plant.

Ask the vines to let you move through them. Kudzu replied, turning his attention from her and ending the conversation.

If anyone had seen Kyo’s expression, it would have been surrounded by question marks. Shrugging, she moved to one of the nearby vines that flowed throughout the mansion. Talking with the vine allowed her to understand it was an easy process. Plant Manipulation IV spun, twisting the green mana in the tiny kitten’s body. A complex pattern formed before her body vanished, turning into green light that flew into the vine. Like lightning moving through the water, Kyo found herself speeding to the kitchen in a flash.

Her body was thrown out of the vine at the exit point in another flash of green light. Kyo turned to the side and made retching noises at the abrupt transition from the floaty green world to the real one. Looking up, she saw Talos the Butcher staring at her with slightly widened eyes and an absentminded expression of shock.

Kyo felt inordinately proud that she could shock the big brother butcher. Making a victory sign like the mercenaries in the bazaar did, she moved to a stool. Talos recovered quickly before the bacon, eggs, and chopped vegetables burned. After sitting down, Kyo found a plate of delicious-smelling food. A fork was placed alongside, and a large cup of heavenly milk accompanied it.

Talos didn’t say anything further, moving to make his breakfast.

This big brother is super quiet. Kyo thought as she stuffed her face with breakfast. No matter. Talking is overrated anyways.

She’d promised not to experiment yesterday. She wasn’t about to ask what to do because that was how stupid children got chores assigned to them. No, instead, Kyo put on a bright expression to stare at Talos as he finished plating his food. The large cat tribe man raised one eyebrow at her face before sighing.

“A teacher to help you deal with magic will arrive from the Lion,” Talos said before turning to eat his food at a sedate pace.

Kyo’s eyes sparkled as she vaporized the food with a skill born from eating in the slums. She was finished within minutes by gulping down her milk while holding the cup with two hands. As she moved back toward the vines, the garden plants informed her that intruders had arrived.

Kyo glanced back at Talos and said, “Intruders.”

“Ok?” Talos asked.

Kyo thought for a moment and nodded, “Ok. I need experimental materials.”

Intruders are fair game. Kyo thought, deciding to treat the incident with the rules from the slums. Those who invade another’s turf have violated the peace.

The slums didn’t have things like complex justice. If you broke into someone’s home, you better be prepared for retaliation. It wasn’t like the guards would descend from the city to provide protection. Slum dwellers were well aware the only person who protected their homes could be seen in a pool of water.

Enemies have arrived. Kyo sent it to her Patron.

She felt a sense of sharp relief as the entity from unknown parts focused its attention on her entirely.

Do you know how to fight with Green Mana? Kudzu asked.

No? Kyo replied.

I could explain, or I could get someone to clarify for you. Yes, that would be best. My explanations wouldn’t make sense to you as you are not a plant. Kudzu decided there was the sensation of waiting one moment.

Out of nowhere, a large book fell from the air. Kyo gaped in surprise as the book shifted from a massive tome into a small item that fits within her hands.

Greetings, little fluffy one. A voice said with a motherly tone.

Amazing! Kyo sent back across the new mental link that now existed.

Let us do some practical training on the terror of properly using Green Mana for combat. You may call me, Nota, dear little fluffy one. The book said.

Kyo realized this was another powerful entity who had offered to be her Patron. As she moved towards the nearby vine, Kyo wondered why it was suddenly alright to talk. Previously there had been a distinct feeling that the Patrons were not united.

Kudzu has been taught that the sooner you grow in strength, the sooner our Eve returns. Nota sent cryptically explaining everything.

The Silver Elf Empress in the chapel? Kyo remembered.

Indeed. Such things are for when you surpass the Lion in power, though. Nota said as Kyo flowed into the vine, moving towards the garden.