Understanding Kevin's meaning, Yelena struggled to prop herself up with her arms.
To her surprise, this action didn't require much effort, and the pain and exhaustion she had imagined didn't come.
Her body, better than ever!
She gently lifted the corner of the blanket, her slender and petite body moving lightly as she carefully got out of bed.
She didn't wake Pozëmka beside her, and her sensible behavior softened Kevin's gaze a little.
—
Hoo—
Outside the tent, the cold wind brushed past, slightly clearing Yelena's muddled mind.
"Sit down."
Kevin sat on a rock, with a burning fire beside him.
Yelena sat down opposite him, visibly nervous.
"What's your name?"
"Yelena."
The clear voice of a child answered the man's question.
"That flower."
Kevin extended his hand.
"For you."
The girl hesitated for not even a moment, placing the crystal flower in Kevin's palm.
It was originally his thing, and she knew it must be a very precious treasure. There was no reason for her not to return it, even though he had temporarily kept it there to save her.
The moment the object left her hand, the warmth faded, and she once again felt that cold power within her stirring restlessly.
Kevin weighed it in his hand, a glint flashing in his blue eyes.
He wasn't good at manipulating people, but a small test wasn't difficult.
After all, even when adopting cats and dogs, you had to see if they guarded their food, let alone someone with more complex thoughts?
But as far as the results went, this child had passed.
Sourcestone Arts? A power system completely different than Honkai energy, he was very interested.
With a flick of his finger, a ring slowly extended from below the crystal flower, and a white rope appeared out of thin air, threading through it to form something like a necklace.
"Wear it until you have completely mastered that power within you, then you can decide what to do with it."
In Yelena's surprised gaze, the necklace was handed to her.
"This is too... thank you..."
The child's restraint didn't make Yelena insist, because in the man's calm gaze, she only understood one meaning:
"I won't say it a second time."
She obediently put it on her slender neck, the gorgeous crystal flower like the most perfect adornment in the world.
"I'm very interested in the power within you. I can teach you how to tame it, but in exchange, I will study that power while teaching you, how about that?"
Kevin asked.
Yes, "tame"!
A power that cannot be completely controlled is like an untamable beast.
Like when Kevin's body temperature once dropped to -50°C due to merging with Papat's genes, even after entering a stable period, it remained at -30°C year-round, and ordinary people would get frostbite just getting close.
By the New Era, after a long time, when he finally completely mastered that power, there were no longer companions and comrades who needed him to restrain his temperature.
But today it came in handy, as the essence of energy is similar.
Yelena's symptoms wouldn't be more severe than his, so logically, his experience should be useful.
When it came to taming "beasts," there probably wouldn't be anyone in this world with more experience than him.
"To become, your student?"
Yelena nervously clenched the corner of her clothes with her small hands. She could see that Kevin's identity was definitely not simple.
Whether it was the elegant and luxurious tent, or the crystal flower he casually took out that could heal her...
But, was this really something she could hope for?
"You can understand it that way. If you're unwilling, we can also maintain a simple transactional relationship."
Kevin didn't care about so-called teacher-student titles. There were many ways to achieve his goals.
"I'm willing! Of course I'm willing!"
Yelena said excitedly.
"Willing... what...?!!"
The Patriot, who had just arrived, heard Yelena's excited shout and felt his Wendigo form acting up.
Flames faintly appeared on his halberd, and black energy gradually emanated from his body.
Patriot—Destruction Form!
————
Of course, the misunderstanding was eventually cleared up, and the Patriot also revealed his intentions.
He wanted to adopt Yelena as his adopted daughter. Just like with Kevin, she had no reason to refuse her savior.
Thus, in just one day, our poor little Yelena, simultaneously gained a teacher and father, becoming one of the few people with immense background in all of Terra.
This should have been a good thing, but—
"Hey! Where's the child?!!!"
Pozëmka's panicked voice came from the tent, then she anxiously lifted the flap and ran out.
Her hair was messy, her sleeves wrinkled, until she saw the unharmed Yelena beside the Patriot and Kevin, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's good that you're safe... it's good that you're safe."
She was really afraid that Yelena would have left while she was sleeping, and then she would have no face to show Kevin and Mr. Patriot.
"Hello, I'm Pozëmka, Kevin's companion."
She smiled and extended her hand to Yelena. Her fair and beautiful face was breathtakingly beautiful in the sunlight, causing even Yelena, another woman, to stare blankly.
"Y... Yelena, the teacher's student."
Even though her arm was wrapped in bandages, some black Sourcestone fragments could still be faintly seen.
"So the teacher's name is Kevin?"
She thought.
Yelena half-raised her hand, wanting to shake it, but hesitated.
But soon, her hand was held by a delicate one, and Pozëmka's gentle smile appeared before her eyes.
"Yelena, nice to meet you."
"Kevin, you should have woken me."
Hearing this, Kevin stiffly turned his face away. He just wanted to let her rest a bit more.
After all, cleaning the wounds, applying medicine, and bandaging were all done by Pozëmka; he was only responsible for the final cleanup.
"But, teacher? It seems something happened that I don't know about."
"Mmm..."
After Yelena's explanation, Pozëmka finally understood the whole story and was happy for her.
After all, not everyone could have such good luck.
"Come with me. I will teach you how to 'tame' it."
Kevin didn't hesitate at all. He could see that Yelena had recovered well and there was no risk of overexertion.
That crystal flower's effect was not just about suppressingout of control Arts and keeping warm.
Yelena didn't complain but nodded firmly.
This was an opportunity of a lifetime, and the ice-smart girl understood this.
If she had had a teacher with such powerful back then, would the subsequent hardships have happened?
——————
[Event—About Humanity·Part 1]
Theresa: ...Mr. Kevin, I heard from HR that you wish to join Babylon?
Kevin: Mmm.
Theresa: Babylon is very grateful for your assistance, but perhaps I'm being too bold, may I ask for your reasons for joining us?
Kevin: I'm not interested in your ideals, what you want to do, or what you aim to achieve. So let me state in advance that after completing my own objectives, I might leave. I'm joining because of him (her?), that's all.
Theresa: Why the Doctor?
The figure leaning against the wall, the hooded person known as "Babylon's Ghost," also looked up.
Kevin: Because he's human.
Theresa (muttering softly): Human? But aren't we all human...
Theresa: Such a straightforward yet puzzling answer. Nevertheless, Mr. Kevin, welcome to Babylon.