— Where are you going? Are you an idiot?
— What!? What don't you like now?
— The fact that you're going to your stinking basement.
— Don't call it that! It's not stinking. And what else did you expect? It's an abandoned building.
— Are you really that stupid? I underestimated your stupidity. Do you understand that this creature might know where our house is? And she might just be waiting for us there. Perhaps she didn't want to do anything, but when you crushed her self-esteem… Now she'll just tear you apart, since she's also an elf. So she won't leave it just like that.
— Whatever. There's a chance she doesn't know where it is…
But it suddenly dawned on him that apart from his house and the place where they trained, she could not have seen them anywhere else, except those two places. So she definitely knew where his so-called house was. He turned around sharply and headed to the Blue Pharmacy.
— See, you made the right choice. You're not so hopeless after all.
— Just shut up already.
— … Who are you talking to? – Turning sharply at the sound of the voice, I was taken aback.
— What… Ais! What are you doing here!
Ignoring her question, although she, of course, understood that he did not want to answer and did not insist, she simply stared at his face. The corner of her lips twitched a little, and she said:
— Well, I got some free time… so we can train.
— Ah, of course, of course, well, there's one problem.
Spreading his arms in different directions, he smiled. A very good idea had come to him on how to solve the problem with that elf.
— A problem?
— Yes, yes, one of your familia members, I think she's going to kill me.
She frowned, and the smile fell from her face, taking on its usual expression.
— She… Who is she?
— Well, she… She…
— Lefiya. – Kane reminded.
— Yes, right, Lefiya! She's an elf, and I think she's also a mage.
— Lefiya?
Doubt appeared in her eyes.
— Yes, yes, she definitely is… we had a little fight, and I think I slightly hurt her pride. But just slightly… Probably. But know, Ais, she started it first… She said that such a pathetic animal like me can't talk to you. Well, and I made her lose her temper. But know, I thought I would die back then, when she angrily began using magic, and to calm her down, I threw a tomato in her face three times, and hit every time. Well, and then I ran away. That's the story. – He rattled off in one breath.
— …A tomato?
— Yes, yes, a tomato right in the face… but actually, it looked funny. But that's just by the way. So will you help me? Just tell her I deeply apologize for what I did.
— … Well, I'll talk to her… but let's leave that for later; first, we need to train.
Again, she returned to the reason she had come, which could not but please me; if she brushed her off so easily, then this acquisition called Lefiya was really not that serious.
— She's probably waiting in my basement, so you go in first…
— … Yes.
— What was her name again…
— Lefiya.
— Yes, Lefiya, right, ahah… What level is she?
— Level three.
— Well then, go in. Maybe she's prepared a trap.
— She's not like that.
— Yes, maybe. But it seems to me she should learn to control her emotions a little better.
— …
— Well, let's not linger. Today we have a new goal!
Looking at her serious face, he stopped fooling around and got down to business.
— A new goal!
— Yes, Ais! Since you've advanced quite a lot in your skills, it's time to reach a new level, and that is…
Pausing to intrigue her, which worked quite well.
— That is?
— That is…
— That is…
— Desserts!
— … Desserts?
— Yes, that's right… I don't see joy on my student's face. – He looked at her face and saw not a drop of joy at the increase in difficulty. – Well, never mind.
Patting her on the shoulder, smiling from ear to ear. But that smile immediately fell when she furrowed her brows and narrowed her eyes.
«Maybe she's guessed,» — he thought. A small shiver ran through his body from her gaze. Then he understood what he had done to her: from such a sweet girl, he had turned her into someone who began to enjoy beating him. But it had been his fault from the very beginning; when he felt that he was better than her at least in something, he began to use it in every way, but she also showed where she was better than him.
This scene continued for several more minutes; no one even moved, each thinking.
— Ahem, ahem, let's start, or we might not make it. After all, I also wanted to go to the dungeon.
At his words, she frowned even harder, and a gleam of worry appeared in her eyes.
— It's already quite late.
— It's nothing terrible, don't worry.
He simply waved his hand, as if there was nothing to it. He guessed what she was getting at, but did not want to get into a pointless argument. She was already unhappy that he descended into the dungeon alone, and when he said he wanted to go down at night, it did not please her.
«I shouldn't have said it, what an idiot.» — he thought, beginning to regret saying it, for he would make her worry. But the feeling of regret quickly turned to joy that there was one more person who would miss him if he died. But seeing her face, his smile vanished.
— Well, I was joking. Ha-ha-ha, look at your face. Ha-ha, kh-kh.
He felt awkward at his own words, and from her face, he understood that she definitely did not believe him.
— …
— Well, let's not waste any more time. Let's start!
Nodding to him, they both headed to the usual place — the kitchen.
Some time later.
— Tasty… For a first time. You're talented as always. – Looking at her with envy that she was almost perfect in everything, but he had deliberately looked for a dessert that was very hard to make, but she had managed.
— Do you really like it?
— Yes, thank you. – Finishing the last piece, I said.
— Who would doubt it, ahah.
Kane's throat sounded again.
— …
Casting a glance at her, she smiled sweetly, looking straight at him, which made him blush a little.
Some time later.
They both sat on the bed, and there was complete silence, not counting Kane, of course. One thought spun in Kopii's head: when would she leave? He guessed the reason for such behavior. He regretted more and more that he had not held his tongue. He could only hope for one thing: that she would not spend the night at his place, because that was a very small chance, right? He hoped, but with every minute, his hope crumbled. And he could no longer hold back; he asked:
— Maybe it's time for you to go home, Ais? I wanted to go to bed early, to get enough sleep and go into the dungeon with new strength.
— … – But he was met only by her distrustful gaze, which seemed to see right through him.
— Don't worry, I was really joking back then… You know, I sleep naked.
— Say it! Of course, if you don't want to join me, since there's only one bed. Just say it. No! No! Say that I can warm your body with our passion tonight. Not that either.
– So, of course, if you don't want to watch…
— You're right, it's already too late; I have to go.
Before he could finish, she interrupted him and immediately headed for the exit.
— Bye, Ais.
— Yes, bye.
— Ah…
— Why are you lying around? Come on, go to the dungeon.
— I don't want to.
— So you're a liar too.
— Go to hell. I got lazy; Ais completely destroyed my motivation.
— What are you, a lazy bastard? Come on, get your ass up and run to the dungeon like a good pig. Come on, you bastard, go!
— …
— Oh, damn. The act of pathetic trash like you. You know that.
— …
Kopii continued ignoring Kane, which infuriated him greatly, but he could do nothing about it. Before, he could just talk nonstop, which annoyed Kopii, but now he was already used to it; he could even fall asleep to Kane's voice; however much he shouted, however much he insulted, nothing worked anymore, and he understood it perfectly.
That is why, for the first time in a day, Kopii sank into complete silence. So foreign, but at the same time familiar. Under such silence, he sank into slumber.
The next evening, after he returned home from the dungeon, a surprise awaited him that did not gladden him much.
— What are you doing here?
— Does something not suit you?
— Everything doesn't suit me. Get out of my house!
— You call this a house? It's just a dirty basement!
— Let's have a threesome!
— I won't allow it anymore! You being alone with Ais! You dirty animal!
— Get out!
— No!
Ais just stood aside and watched the scene unfold; she did not want to offend anyone, so she did not interfere. But the argument did not last long, and he had no choice but to accept it, for if he could not make her leave with words, then by force even less so.
— Well, fine, to hell with you, you can stay here as long as you want!
She smirked at his words, showing with her whole appearance that this was how it should be. At such a smug face, his fists itched.