Kaida walked over to Akari, watching her struggle to keep her neck upright. She bent down, grabbed Akari's hand, and pulled her to her feet.
"Ow—OW, OW!!"
Akari stumbled back against a pillar, clearly in pain, her eyes barely able to focus on Kaida.
"...Do you need medicine?"
Akari nodded weakly, pointing to her own pocket. Her arms and body trembled from the strain of the fight.
{"Either breaking that domain caused this… or just using it did."}
Kaida reached into the pocket and pulled out a small bottle, examining it closely.
["The pills are poisoned."]
Kaida glanced over at Akari, popped one pill into her mouth—and immediately spit it out, along with a stream of poison from the pill came out from her throat due to absorbing it. It hit the ground, hissing as it melted the Mana-reinforced concrete.
"H... Huh?" Akari stared, stunned, unable to process what she had just seen.
"Poisoned. That's all."
["Ma'am, that ability was one-use—"]
{"I know."}
Kaida took the pill she just had in her mouth and coated it in qi, cleaned it up and put it back in her bottle after taking out another one and waiting for Cinder.
["Not Poisoned, the one who did that isn't dumb enough to poison them all without someone noticing it's Qi concentration."]
She handed it too Akari letting her eat it.
"That enough?"
Akari nodded, now seated and exhausted. Meanwhile, Kaida looked up at the rain as Cinder's status screen appeared in front of her, flashing a reminder that the ability was now locked.
{"I already know."}
["...Wait—ma'am, how do you have these abilities? I thought you were just some stoic lady..."]
{"...Don't worry. I'll explain later."}
Akari glanced at Kaida, watching her stare off in silence before finally speaking up, her voice hoarse and confused.
"So... how'd you know it was poison? My Alchemist doesn't get it that fast..."
"Smell." Kaida's tone stayed flat, her answer blunt.
Akari blinked—weirded out, but deciding not to push further, she let it go. Still, she had another question—especially after losing.
"Are you really Foundation Establishment?" Akari looked puzzled.
"Yeah. I reached it this morning. Speaking of... what time is it?"
"..." Akari looked away, clearly stunned and feeling down from that fact. "It's four. Sun's setting at this point."
{"...Ruined her mood. Well then."} Kaida didn't seem to care much, but sighed.
"If it makes you feel any better, I have techniques that aren't my level."
["Ma'am, why—"]
{"I don't care if she knows I have techniques. She doesn't know how they work."}
Akari still felt humbled by the defeat, but not bitter. Hearing Kaida helped—just a little.
"Alright..." Akari nodded, keeping her calm.
["Oh—ma'am, the pills were poisoned by that man Akari protected."]
{"Same guy I saw at the newcomers meeting. Probably going after her since she's a royal... Might be from the Underworld too, maybe."}
Akari stood up, now fully healed from the pill. Looking around, she finally spoke.
"What's your name?"
Kaida took a second.
{"...I feel like I could trust her... She reminds me of ███."}
[CINDER.EXE HAS CRASHED]
{"...Oops. Looks like Cinder can't hear Divine Language."}
[CINDER.EXE IS REBOOTING]
"..." Kaida felt a little hesitant using the name, even when she knew the person whose name she was borrowing wouldn't mind.
"Rhea. That's my real name." She was lying, but it was closer than 'Kaida.'
Kaida couldn't help but smile at the fact Akari looked like ███. Though it quickly faded, it was there long enough for Akari to notice.
{"Why... did she smile?"} Akari thought to herself, watching as Kaida's face shifted back to the stoic expression she normally wore.
Kaida's eyes softened for a second, only to harden again. "I'll be going now."
She walked—always barefoot—through the main area of the Sect. Her legs didn't burn; they were comfortably warm. The sun touched the concrete, and her blue, white and green hair bathed in light. A sigh escaped her lips as she stood straighter, reaching the bottom of the peak.
"...Wonder how Amaris is doing." Her voice was blank, but laced with a tinge of care.
She jumped up and landed on a branch, looking down. She was a few hundred feet up, a brief unease from the height hitting her before she shook it off. Jumping again, she reached the peak—it took far less time now.
She remained calm, her body poised as she looked to the side.
{"Finally back, Cindy?"}
["...Yeah—"] Cinder felt... surprised by the nickname.
{"I wonder how Marie is doing... Oh wait, she got decapitated. Never mind."} Her voice still unserious
She reached her home as the rain continued falling. There, she saw Vael sitting on a branch, which had jammed itself into the wall.
"...I hope I don't have to pay for that." Still dry.
["I doubt they'd make you pay for something you're an— Never mind. That's your bird, so technically you caused the damage. So yes. Unless they let you do whatever with the home."]
{"Cinder... Isn't this literally the world you're from. How do you not know that?"}
["...Maaaaaybe."]
{"...If I was at a higher level, I'd grab your metaphysical body."}
[CINDER.EXE is sweating metaphorically... again.]
"Please stop." Her eyes narrowed as she looked to the side, hearing footsteps.
No one appeared, but she had clearly heard someone. She knew she was paranoid, but she wasn't simply hearing things... not yet.
{"Oh, come on, why don't you just call them out~"}
Kaida was silent for a bit. {"...I'm going insane, or is my mind just speaking seductively to me?"} She blinked, then shook her head and looked in the direction she originally heard the steps.
{"Oh come on~"} another voice spoke in her mind.
{"Oh, nevermind, it's just you. Just leave me alone right n—"} She closed her eyes but felt the air shift. Her eyes opened once more, and she saw what looked like a Tibetan Mastiff running up to her and jumping on her, pushing her to the ground. "Wh—"
Amaris ran after, looking flustered and clearly not ready for this. "SORRY!!! He's not usually like this." She went inside and patted the back of the young mastiff.
"Ughhhhh... It's fine. Just make sure he doesn't jump on me like that again," she groaned.
"A-Alright. Uhm, Bear, can you come back?"
Kaida lay still for a moment, looking at Amaris. "Seriously...? Bear? Well, whatever. Do what you like." Kaida chuckled softly.
Amaris stood stunned for a bit after hearing the chuckle, but a warm smile grew on her face. "Well—okay, I can't come up with better names. I took that name from a doctor..."
"Ah. Reincarnation or transmigration? Name it." Bear was licking Kaida's blue hair in joy, its tail wagging.
Amaris looked flustered and confused, still processing it. "Transmigr... Wait, huh...? How-"
"Heard Akari call doctors here alchemists, so hearing someone call them a doctor is out of place." Her voice was sharp but measured.
"I-I see... But you aren't... surprised?"
"Seen too many people write about it. It just got boring. But you aren't like them—the ones who make every transmigrator cold and, for some reason, obsessed with going back to their world. I guess that's why you're better. Albeit, I'm technically a transmigrator as well."
"Technically," Kaida sighed.
Amaris smiled softly. The compliment made her a lot happier. "I see."
"...Don't take it too seriously. And don't make me regret saying that."
Amaris gave a soft laugh. Bear walked over and shook off against her, letting the water in his coat fly everywhere. Kaida didn't mind, but she still found it annoying to be this wet.
"Mmmm... whatever. What are you even doing here, Ama?"
"Well, I wanted to ask if you're doing okay after fighting my sister. I heard from one of my friends that she fought you..."
"Yeah, she's fine. Oh—no, yeah, I'm fine. She fell out of the ring," Kaida said, her voice measured and calm.
Amaris was a little surprised, but seeing that Kaida hadn't been defeated by force made her feel relieved.
"Surely that's not all you came here for?"
"Well, no. I actually wanted to be friends. Even with how you act... you seem kind. At least to those who need it."
Kaida tilted her head, her eyes softening, no longer narrow. She wouldn't dodge the dog's lick again—but alas, it was a failed effort.
"I don't mind it. You don't seem annoying or rude. You're more human than those I've seen call themselves a God."
"What?" Amaris looked puzzled.
"People who saw themselves as righteous just because they believed they were God."
"A God...?" Amaris tilted her head confused as Bear lied down between both of them, Amaris sat down.
"Do you seriously not know what a God is?" Kaida felt a little surprised.
"Yeah."
"Well that's... Probably why this world doesn't feel that bad to be in. They're basically higher beings."
"I see." Amaris's lips curled
"Don't take it too seriously, people weaponize it for their benefit all the time."
Amaris felt more knowledgeable on the subject, nodding along, but- She noticed Kaida's hair and physical appearance change, it felt... Cleaner. "Did you... Do something?"
"Yeah, created a state to return bacteria to zero. I could've heated up my body to kill them off or something else..." She stops speaking for a second. "Also how old are you? You seem about 19."
She found it surprising someone could actually use concepts from the original world into this one, but it felt plausible, but when the age question came in Amaris moved her and her finger rubbed her cheek nervously. "...I was surprised too when I asked Vairo but... 184 years."
"I see... By chance, since you're a Princess do you know who Osami is?" Kaida was quiet for a bit after this {"Makes sense, Osami took less time to get to Foundation due to being a Prodigy."}
"Ah- Her? She's very enthusiastic about Cultivation and she's very fast with Cultivation though rushing might hurt her and I warned her of that... But- Yes I do. Daughter of a influential duke." Amaris spoke quickly getting somewhat lost in thought.
"Yeah he's- Influential sure but not great to be around if near his daughter and you're someone without rank." Kaida spoke dryly.
"I've heard, It's true. He doesn't mind me talking with her but when another Duke's kid talks with her he seems protective."
"...Sounds like he wants her to be friends with you to get more influential."
Amaris sat stunned... Bear moved to look up as if it felt the change in expression.
"It's... Obvious but I can see why you don't understand." Kaida sighed. {"Hard to see that when the girl's a gem in a world like this."}
The sound of a bird flying and entering the home. It was some sort of Crane, the white color and blue streaks. It moved it's leg up and gave a note to Amaris.
"I won't disturb you then, do what you must." Kaida moved back leaning against the wall as she stretched her arms and legs like she was yawning to sleep.
"Thanks." Amaris opened the note while reading it, a hint of surprise and yet happiness. "It seems elder brother is getting married, so I'll be gone for now." Amaris gets up and pets bear softly.
"I... Know I've just met you but it's going to be hard to take Bear with me to there so I'll leave him to your and Wenxu's care. If you can't then please give to Akari."
"If I can't I'll give to Akari." She nods with a smile on her face more often now.
Amaris waved and left, she jumped into the wind and flew on the crane which could carry her weight. Kaida on the other hand looked over too Bear and pat it's head.
"...Cute." Kaida smiled softly petting the dog
[Cinder has finished recording]
Kaida's face went from happy to annoyed instantly. "Ruined it."
["Cinder will stop."]
"Never said you had to stop, just said you ruined it."
She walked over to the fridge seeing it filled to the brim with food... And drinks? At least a note left there for the box of it.
'Thought you'd like these since I made them from what I remember!' - Amaris
"How predictable... Yet likeable." Kaida went in and grabbed the Soda opening it and drinking it all down. She crushed the can and threw it into the trashcan taking out beef with her going to cook.