I left the training hall and found Lance in his room.
He looked up from his bed with a smile. "Hey bub, did you win?"
I closed the door and nodded. "Yep, almost effortlessly. One punch."
Lance chuckled. "So you're a one-punch man huh? Nice. So what's next on your list?"
I pocketed my hands. "I'll link up with Jashen and Anna at the theater. What about you?"
Lance stood up. "I'll come with you." He walked over and I held out my hand.
"Lance."
"Hm?"
"I want you to punch me. As hard as you can."
Lance blinked. "You want me to do what?"
I stood in front of him with my arms at my side. "You heard me. I need a baseline, I one-tapped a guy."
Lance stared at me for a long time. "Lafayette, there are levels to this. I'm not a cocky 12-year-old."
"I know, hit me."
He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Then he rolled up his sleeve and released a long sigh. "Alright, you asked for it."
I watched his easygoing expression shift to something more focused. This was a real elite scholar. I didn't move.
He coiled back his fist and charged it with Ouro. A heated fist. Without a gesture.
He knew gestureless casting? Already?
He snapped his fist forward and slammed it against my stomach. The force was enough to send me sliding into the wall.
BAM!
CRACK!
I slammed back against the wall and vomited upon myself. There was a hole burned in my shirt as I dropped to my knees.
Lance kissed his teeth and he crouched down.
"Are you alright?"
I held up a hand. "I'm alright," my voice came out more strained than intended. I pushed myself up and healed any damage. "Thanks for the reality check."
Lance sighed.
"You're welcome, I guess. Though I don't know what you get from that. I could've just told you what would've happened."
I took off my shirt and tossed it aside. "If you just told me I'd always doubt it. But a punch? You can't doubt a punch. It either hurts or it doesn't."
"Yeah." Lance gestured towards the bathroom. "Go clean up and we'll head out."
— — —
I emerged from the bathroom in casual clothing. My white uniform was packed neatly in a bag.
Lance nodded and the two of us exited the academy. Outside we made our way to the theater.
When we arrived at the building, there was a crowd around the entrance of people leaving through the entrance.
Which must mean the play just ended.
Lance and I watched the crowd spill onto the street. Some were young couples linked in arms. Others were families who moved in large clusters.
We waited until the crowd thinned out a bit, then pushed against the crowd to enter the building.
The lobby smelled of perfume, fresh bread, and wax.
A chandelier hung from above and illuminated the space. The walls were paneled with large, red coverings.
Past the white pillars, a few stragglers could be seen around the refreshment table. And a few more people were sitting at tables near the entrance.
Among them were Anna and Jashen. Jashen spotted me before I spotted her. She was in a silky red dress with black highlights.
Four silver my ass.
That looks way more expensive.
Anna rested against her, her face buried in Jashen's chest as her shoulders trembled.
Lance marched over with a long stride and a curious expression. He didn't say anything at first, just quietly moved to pick her up. Anna wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
She buried her face in his neck.
Finally, Lance spoke. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" He used one hand to support her ass and the other to run his fingers against her scalp.
Anna, with a whiny voice, replied. "Those dirty two-timing bastards! They betrayed him. After everything he sacrificed they still betrayed him, it's not fair, Lance!"
Lance kissed the top of her head as he bobbed her in his hold. "I know, I know…"
Anna dropped her face against his neck once more. Lance looked over at me. I stared at Jashen. She didn't look nearly as affected as Anna was.
If anything she looked confused.
"What is it?" I asked. My lips moved before my mind did. Jashen sighed as she stood up to approach me.
She got close and took my ear in her hand.
Then she whispered. "I don't understand why he didn't just leave the empire. He went into a room full of people he knew didn't like him, and was surprised they killed him. I catch myself thinking, what did he expect?"
She continued. "I asked Anna, and she told me to stop being heartless. But I wasn't heartless. Qagum could've had his wife and daughter, but instead he threw it all away."
She frowned as she pulled away.
I gestured for her to lend me her ear. She leaned close.
"Jashen. You might not understand it because you had to survive for a long time. But think of what you'd do if someone you loved was in trouble?"
Jashen pulled back and stared me right in the eyes. "I'd kill whoever wants to harm you."
She said this with no dramatics. "I wouldn't try to change anyone's mind. Because what you think is far more important to me than what they think."
I couldn't help but smirk.
"Alright then, what is something you'll die for?"
"You," Jashen answered without hesitation.
My mouth opened but nothing came out.
"Would you die for me?" She asked.
I closed my mouth and frowned. "What kind of question is that?"
"One I'd like the answer to."
I blinked then immediately shook my head. "No, I wouldn't. I value my life more than I value a fox. So there."
Jashen smirked knowingly as she poked a finger against my chest. "You hesitated."
"I did not."
"You did. Which means you would, which means you like me." She straightened up with a smile.
"Peer pressure. You're peer pressuring me into this relationship. You're a monster."
Jashen snickered. "You can't peer-pressure someone into something they don't want. Only, something they're unwilling to accept."
"And your reasoning?"
"No one could peer-pressure you into eating shit unless on some level you wanted to taste it."
I fought off a smile and looked away. "Fine, you got me, alright. There's a possibility I'd die for you."
Jashen grinned. "I knew it."
I ignored her and looked over at Lance and Anna.
Anna had calmed down and was now standing on her own. Though her eyes were still puffy and red.
Lance held her close to his side. "Are you hungry?" He asked.
Anna nodded.
"Do you know what you want to eat?"
She again, nodded.
Lance braced his shoulders and held his breath. "Will you tell me what you want?"
Anna shook her head.
Lance's shoulders dropped as he exhaled. "Pork it is."
"I don't want pork," Anna replied.
Lance narrowed his eyes.
"We're getting pork."
— — —
We left the theater and headed to a grill shop.
It was a cozy place that sat at the end of a busy street.
We stepped inside and sat at a corner booth. Anna sat down first, then Lance sat beside her. I stepped back so Jashen could sit by the wall.
But she had different plans.
She sat me down first and then sat in my lap. I tried to push her off me, but she didn't budge.
After being smacked in the face by her tail for the millionth time I raised my shirt and stuffed her tail under it.
Her tail wrapped around my back and that was that.
Lance and Anna watched the whole interaction with wide eyes.
I raised my hands in defense. "I'm not into this, I swear."
"Right." Lance raised his menu to hid hos face. But I could see his shoulders trembling.
Anna placed a hand over her mouth as she stared out the window.
Jashen didn't seem bothered in the slightest. She picked up a menu and leaned forward to read it.
I sighed in defeat and massaged her sides. It was mostly a way to keep my hands from fidgeting.
Jashen's tail swished closely against my body as she flipped through the menu.
Eventually, the waiter came to take our order and that was that.
As we waited for our food, Lance stared at Jashen and me. I averted my gaze as my cheeks reddened. Even I couldn't bullshit my way out of this one.
But that wasn't gonna stop me trying,
"You two have no shame in your game, do you?" He teased me.
"It's not my fault. You have to understand, it's not that we don't have shame, it's that she behaves like an animal. You don't blame a cat for resting in your lap, do you?"
Lance raised his hands to placate. "Hey, I won't yuck your yum. But have you looked into contraceptives? I'd hate for you to uh, have a litter so early in your career."
I swallowed hard.
Jashen rested a hand under her chin. "We aren't mating yet. I want to wait until we're blessed. But after that, I want to get pregnant at least twice so I'll have at least six kits."
Six kids?!
Anna blinked. "That means you'll need triplets at minimum."
Jashen nodded proudly. "Yes, it's common to have three kits per pregnancy. I'm personally the youngest out of 12. You know?
Triplets are common?!
I felt my soul leave my body.
"Oh my, that's so cute. I can imagine it now, a bunch of little fox babies running around." Anna's eyes lit up. "Oh, and you'll let me be their godmother, yes?"
"Of course! And you'll let me be the godmother of your kids too, right?"
Anna slammed her hands on the table and leaned forward. "Absolutely! We should plan around each other so we can start trying for kids at the same time."
Jashen nodded with an intense seriousness.
The two of them rapidly fired ideas like they were planning a start-up.
Instead of trying to change the world though, they were discussing ovulation cycles.
I couldn't help but wonder about the logistics of six kids. That's so much money out of my pocket.
I'll definitely have to get a mansion or some sort of estate too. And maids to help Jashen if she's ever overwhelmed. I'll also need enough to pass on to that many kids without any of them feeling left out.
Wait a minute, why am I planning around this?
Lance audibly cleared his throat. "Hey, the food is here, look at that."