"Huh, where's my mana core?" Kael's eyebrows knitted together, his hand digging into his beg trying to find it.
"Did I drop it?" Kael thought about it. But then he decided to not care. It was just a D rank mana core. Nothing much to care about.
"Hah…" He let out a deep breath, wiping the sweat on his forehead. He placed the wooden sword back to the rack, then rested against a bench, overlooking the training field. Few people, like him, were doing their own training. Some casting magic onto stationary metallic targets, some practicing using the elements in unique ways.
He looked at his rabbit, quietly sitting next to him. He felt like his rabbit seemed to be 'nervous' from the way his ears flattened whenever he was around.
"Buddy, what's the matter." Kael picked him up, letting the rabbit face him. The rabbit seemed to avoid his gaze, his ears turned flatter. Even his bobbed tail was wiggling left and right.
"You look really suspicious, you know?"
Shou gulped a mouthful of saliva, he shook his head frantically. Trying to deny Kael's suspicions.
"Hm." Kael thought maybe he was still depressed due to the fight with the rat in the morning.
"You seemed good to go. Let's practice for a bit. Come here." Kael dragged the rabbit to a clear area, with a metallic dummy standing still amongst the grasses. The metallic dummy had some marks on them, from various spells or weapons attacking it over the years. But the structure remained intact, the special material it was made from was designed to be tough.
"Every person has their own way to train their magic, depending on the effect they want to achieve. Alicia had been honing his Water Whip Spell for months, building the skill to create it little by little. Some water mages focus more on creating a powerful torrent, or creating sharp pressured water. But you had to build it from the ground up, feel the way magic flows and shape, refine it, then make it powerful and strong."
Shou listened carefully and nodded. Kael wondered if the rabbit truly understood everything. But he did not doubt the rabbit understood some of it at least.
"Let me show you first. Everyone trained this basic projectile spell with the elements. It's a fundamental level spell to learn how to shape and launch a spell. I will use Earth element as an example, but the principle is the same. Observe me first."
Kael sat down on the grass and dug a handful of soil.
"For me, it was more about compressing this soil to harden it. Channel your mana, feel it, until you can even manipulate its shape."
The soil in Kael's hand started to coalesce together, forming a clump of earth. The clump was still loose, but it was slowly, but surely, being compressed more and more.
"Now it's your turn. Make a ball of water first. Maintain a spherical shape, and try to hold it." Kael hoped the rabbit understood the assignment. He opened his water flask and placed it near Shou for him to use. Without much surprise, Shou did as told.
His paw raised, his mana surged. A handful of water poured out of the bottle, hovering above his paw. Kael was already surprised seeing the smooth operation of taking the water out.
He's really talented. Kael commented. Then another surprise rippled in his heart seeing the rabbit formed a spherical shape, there was no sign of the shape breaking at any point.
"Huh. You are better than I thought."
He thought it would take some time for him to do this. But it seemed he underestimated him.
"Good. Now we can proceed with the next part. Solidify the structure by wrapping a coating around it to maintain the structure, then propel it forward. Like this."
The lump of earth in Kael's hand floated above his hand, then the structure turned rigid for a second, a layer of energy visibly coating it. The rock levitated above him, and with a clench of his fist, he created a propulsive force, akin to exploding the mana around and behind the rock to launch it forward at fast speed.
The rock landed on the metallic dummy, creating a loud thunk and broke apart.
"Your turn."
Shou nodded. He wrapped his mana around the ball of water he made. With a grunt, his paws clenched as he tried to propel the water ball. The water ball launched forward in a parabola, but it fell short before reaching the dummy, and the structure of the water ball broke midair and turned into a splash of water instead.
"That is impressive for a first time." Kael genuinely praised. Most people would take a few days to even do this. His rabbit was truly talented.
"Again." Kael encouraged him.
Shou didn't need to be told twice. He wanted to become strong and continued training until his mana ran out. But at the end of the day, he managed to launch a fully intact water ball and hit the dummy's body with it.
Though the damage was close to nothing, closer to a water balloon hitting a target, this progress encouraged Shou to keep going.
The days passed in a routine. Every evening, Kael would train himself and then his rabbit. Alicia seemingly curiously, actually stayed after school and went to the training field to watch. She was more interested in seeing the rabbit training his magic.
"Wow. He can do that in just a week?" Alicia was surprised, even in awe.
He watched as the rabbit raised his paws, creating a rigid body of spherical water above him. And with a swing of his paws, the water ball rushed at a fast speed, hitting the dummy body with an audible thunk!
She estimated the force was akin to a fully intended punch from an adult and would leave a bruise if hit. A week for this result was abnormal. She recalled taking a month to achieve the same result when she was 10 years old.
"Not bad huh. He surprised me as well." Kael spoke with pride. The praise for his rabbit felt like a praise to himself.
"You are really good at training him! Maybe you can be a beast tamer." Alicia smiled as she praised him.
Kael's nose seemed to grow longer, feeling his chest filled with more pride.
"Hm. It's nothing. I only explained the basics and he got the hang of it quickly." He pretended to be humble.
Alicia continued to watch the rabbit practicing. It was really fun to watch. Seeing him stop to rest for a while, Alicia, as a fellow water mage, decided to give a demonstration.
"White, want to see how I train my water spell?" Alicia flipped her long hair, excitement filled her eyes eager to teach him.
Shou nodded quickly, not refusing at something that seemed useful for him.
"I like to use my spell as some sort of limb. As for firepower, I used the principles of a whip to create strong offensive power. I use them with a real whip to supplement it but at my skill now I don't actually need it. It was just easier."
Alicia showcased her prowess, creating a long, thumb thick tendril of water and moving it around midair.
"This is my basic training. Maintain an elongated shape, and move it fluidly while maintaining its shape. Once you get the hang of it, increase the volume, solidify the shape more, until…"
The body of water grew from a fist size to a bucket, then into an arm thick tendril that constantly moved in air. She grabbed it, and the long body of water seemed to be connected to her right arm, swaying in the air as if it was part of her body as if she grew a tentacle from her arm.
She swung her arm in a circle, the tentacle water rushed towards the dummy, slapping it with a loud thunk.
As it hit some water broke and splashed onto the dummy, but the tentacle didn't break, maintaining its shape. She continued, whipping at the dummy mercilessly, creating loud thunks that echoed in the training field without stop.
Each strike could break the skin and might even break bones if hit right.
"How about it? Pretty good right? I don't have to keep creating water balls over and over again and launch them one by one. Using it like this, I can keep mobilising my mana to continuously maintain this magic." Alicia said with some pride over her own technique.
Kael huffed. "Alicia, you had a ridiculous amount of mana. White doesn't. He can't use it like you do."
"Huh… I didn't consider that…" Alicia thought for a second, looking at the rabbit trying to think on what kind of shape and flow suitable for him. But given the rabbit didn't have too much mana like a human mage of noble bloodlines…
"I guess you can only stick to those water balls…" Alicia had no other idea, unfortunately.
"Just start from the basics. No need to copy Alicia. You are doing good already." Kael did not want his familiar to be discouraged and reassured him.
Shou observed carefully and listened attentively. He wanted to tell Alicia, actually, he had a way to increase his mana capacity and with time he should be able to wield it like her, maybe. Absorbing the mana core didn't just increase his mana, but also, imperceptibly, changed his body and permanently increased the amount of mana his body could store and generate. As mana cores contained not just energy, but another unknown factor.
Shou still tried to create a water tendril. It was difficult, and he couldn't use too large of a body of water elements. Kael was right, it was not suitable for him, at least not yet. But Shou wouldn't give up. He wanted to find his own technique, his own strength.
He trained alongside Kae each day, both having their own goals.
Kael wanted to defeat Arthur, and redeem himself in the upcoming tournament this year. Meanwhile, Shou wanted to have power to make his own choices.
Kael found his pet's company became an indispensable part of his routine. Somehow, it felt easier to keep going when he had company alongside him.
The man and the rabbit finished their training for the day and returned to the dormitory. Both exhausted, and both plopped down the couch the instant they came back.
"Ha…" Both of them let out a deep breath, then look at each other.
Kael couldn't help but laugh seeing this. It was funny how they mirrored each other at this moment. It seemed the words that the pet would take on its owner's personality seemed to be true, he thought.
"Come 'er." Kael spoke softly and placed him on his lap. It was weird that he could care for his pet more than he thought he would. It was a different feeling to have this little company all the time. That, maybe, he had come to care for it like his little friend.
The idea that he would lose his pet became painful somehow when a random thought crossed his mind.
"A rabbit lives for ten years at most right…?" He felt his chest a little stuffed at the thought.
"You stinky bunny…" He muttered softly and sniffed his fur. It smelt like fried chicken for some reason.
You are the one who stinks! Shou complained inside.
"You know… I wish I could just drop it all… the burden, the expectation…"
Kael suddenly muttered with a heavy tone. Shou stopped moving around, surprised at the words. He stopped moving around and listened.
"I know I am the apparent heir and all… But it's not like I asked for it. Still… I wanted to make him proud. It sucks when I fail him… and I always did."
The hands holding on Shou get tighter, as if something heavy was pressing down in Kael's chest.
"I am trying my best… but… at times I just wish I can just… I don't know, rest, maybe. Or, is as good and talented as he wanted me to be."
"It's frustrating…"
"And there's my cousins and uncles… I know he was under a lot of pressure. That's why…"
Kael didn't know why he was confiding in his pet. It's not like he understood. But… somehow it felt like he did.
Shou felt sad hearing Kael's words. Seeing his face, tired, heavy; Shou realised it had been a weight for him. He leaned closer, rubbing his head against his chest as if to comfort him.
"Haha… that's ticklish. You really seem to understand, don't you?" Kael smiled as he patted the rabbit.
The stone in his chest felt lighter now. It was quite therapeutic to talk to the rabbit like this.
Shou felt he understood Kael more. He appeared confident on the outside, and seemed arrogant whenever he came across Arthur specifically. But, now it seemed more like a facade, a mask to hide his weakness, to appear strong in the eyes of everyone.
You can do it, Kael. Shou spoke in his heart. Despite everything, he already cared for him in his own way. The two just sat there on the couch, resting their bodies. After a few minutes, Kael remembered something.
"When was the last time you bathed… was it two weeks ago…" He sniffed the rabbit. He couldn't say he stinked, but he still called him stinky.
"You need a bath."
What? But I can clean myself! Shou grumbled inwardly, but he had no choice but to comply. But the next scene shocked him.
Kael unclothed himself, now entirely bare to the innocent rabbit's eyes. The muscular lines on the pecs, the abs, the hairs trailing down his…
Kyaaa!
Shou tried to run, but unfortunately he was forced to stay and washed up with Kael.
Oh… I am a rabbit… I am a rabbit… don't think like a human.
Shou chanted the same mantra in his mind as he sat in Kael's lap in the bathtub. Sometimes he wondered if this made any sense. Why was his heart racing whenever Kael was close like this with him? He already knew the answer. The company, the days he spent with him every day, it would be a lie to say his heart never moved. And yet, he was really afraid, because…
Whatever warmth and fluttering in his stomach he felt, it wouldn't be possible, it wouldn't be right. And Kael only saw him as his pet, as he should.
Shou closed his eyes, his paws fiddled together as he came to term with his situation again. Regardless of the situation, what he knew was, he had come to care for Kael. Whenever he seemed downed, Shou couldn't help but feel for him. Whenever Kael trained hard, he couldn't help but feel proud and admire him. And, he would always miss the warmth Kael gave him whenever he was around.
I guess… I already… Shou turned his head up, looking at Kael's handsome face. He was resting his head against the bathtub, his eyes closed, looking serene yet tiredness visible under his eyelids.
It was hard to admit it. That he had come to care for his captor. But acknowledging it now, he felt lighter.
You are not a bad person… Shou whispered in his heart. I am a mess… aren't I…
Shou said to himself. He wondered what the future would be like for him. What kind of things he had found himself into.
Would I leave you, if I had the chance to be free…?
The question rang in his mind. The question was heavy for him, and it was a difficult one.
"Kael…" Shou muttered.
"Hm?" Kael opened his eyes. He thought he heard a little, soft voice in his ears. He sat up straight, looking around the bathroom for anything.
"Kael…" Shou called again.
"Huh…?" Kael looked down, hearing the small child-like voice coming from - the rabbit.
"What…? Did you just-" Kael felt his heart stop for a second, his eyes widening in pure shock. He thought he was insane.
"Yea… I can speak." Shou mustered his courage to reveal the truth. He couldn't hold himself back anymore. He longed for a real connection. Not just as a pet and its owner, but something real.
Kael felt his brain froze, words stuck in his throat. Only the sound of flowing water can be heard in the bathroom. He could only stare at the rabbit's unblinking eyes, trying to comprehend what he just heard.
"Um… You heard me…" Shou said carefully, seeing that Kael seemed to be frozen.
His brain finally recognised what was happening, and in the right instant-
"WHAT THE FUCKKKK!" A shout of terror escaped his mouth, water splashed around as he let the rabbit go from his hands from sheer shock.
"Hey! Don't just let me go!" Shou plopped into the water and had to flail around to stay afloat. If he couldn't swim he would have drowned!
"HOLY SH*T! YOU CAN REALLY SPEAK!"
"I know I know! Calm down!"
"NO WAY!"
"Yes way!"
"NO WAY!"
"Yes way!" Shou retorted again, trying to make it clear he could.
"Oh Luminus… I am going crazy… How can you speak…" Kael closed his eyes, his hands grabbing his own hair as if trying to come to terms with this absurdity.
"I am a magical rabbit, not a normal one." Shou crossed his arms, his head raised high to make it clear. His feet stood on the water surface through magic, as if showcasing his extraordinariness.
"This is insane…" Kael wondered if this was all an absurd dream. If he was losing his mind from exhaustion. But no matter how many times he closed his eyes and opened them, the rabbit was still there.
"Since when… how long… why you…" Kael stuttered trying to form questions.
"I just don't want to make it weird…" Shou replied simply.
Seeing Kael's silence, Shou continued.
"Mary taught me how to read and write, so…"
Kael had to digest the words for seconds. Suddenly, laughter escaped his lips. A laughter that tried to cover up his shock.
"Haha… hahaha… Mary knew you could speak all this time?"
"Yea."
The suspicious scenes of Mary whispering to the rabbit flashed in his mind. He finally understood.
"Dammit… so all this time… you two had been talking without me… I will cut down her wage…!" Kael said with newfound resentment.
"Huh? No! Don't!"
"And no treat today!"
"What?! NOOO!"
"That's what you get for hiding this from me!"
"I know you would over-react! See!"
"Oh shut up! Who wouldn't act like this when a rabbit out of all things could talk!?"
"Told you!"
"Shut up for a second! I need space!" Kael stood and took his towel to cover himself.
"Crazy… crazy…" Kael muttered as he walked out of the bathroom quickly, sitting on his bed trying to process everything. He took a deep breath and breathed out.
Shou walked out after, shaking his body left and right to dry himself.
The man and bunny stared at each other, losing words to say.
"Hah… hahaha… haha… wow… you can talk." Kael suddenly laughed again. A sigh escaped his lips at the end.
"Yes, I can…" Shou replied.
"Hahaha… that's… this is crazy really." Kael couldn't help but have a nervous, perhaps amused, smile.
When he thought about it, maybe he shouldn't make it that big of a deal. He was still a rabbit at the end of the day, his familiar.
"Whatever… I don't want to think anymore. Just come here…" Kael patted the spot on the bed.
Shou huffed. "Fine…" He hopped onto it, and just sat there quietly. Kael stretched his hand towards him, hesitant, but then decided to just pat his head as usual.
Shou accepted it without any sign of rejection. Kael had always patted him, to a point it became something normal for Shou.
Kael let out another sigh. Things didn't change. He was still his familiar. Or rather… a friend.
Both of them wondered how things would go from this onward. Or maybe, nothing would change at. As the two just sat there, Kael let out a small laugh suddenly, just thinking about how Alicia would react.
"White, I had an idea… tomorrow…"
Kael felt a little mischievous, and suddenly had an idea to tease her. He whispered his plans to White's ears.
"Hihi… you are a bad guy." Shou replied with an amused chuckle.
"Fine, but you need to give me more treats." Shou rubbed his paws together, ready for mischief.
Kael let out a similarly mischievous grin. "Deal."
***