Kai's dash penetrated Shi's flesh, but the sword got stuck inside him. Kai was terrified, not because of Shi's grin, but because Shi wasn't bleeding. Not even a single drop of blood came out. A sword was inside him, but he didn't show any expression of pain, just that terrifying grin. His hands were slowly closing around Kai.
"Shi!"
Kai looked in the direction the voice came from. A very personable and feminine-looking man was standing in front of a big door, a maid beside him. The man had golden hair, very fair skin, and sapphire-like blue eyes. His beauty was divine. He gave off a very calm and friendly vibe, completely opposite of Shi. 'Am I half blind, or is that man's skin glowing…?' Kai said to himself.
"Adam, why are you here?" Shi asked in the same empty and calm voice.
"Axarcus told me that the three special students are here." Adam's voice was calm and very pleasant to listen to.
"Yes. I was having a friendly duel with them."
Kai looked at Shi. His face was like before, expressionless, his grin gone.
"Don't you want to take out the sword from my flesh?" Shi said to Kai.
Kai pulled the sword out and it transformed back into a pen. The bloodless wound on Shi regenerated in no time. It was the first time for Kai to see a person using regeneration; he had only read about it in books. Adam walked near Shi and first looked at Caihong, then Kanhatsu, and then Kai, the only one still standing out of the three.
"They're interesting."
"I know."
"Oh! Is she Kanhatsu?"
"Yes."
Adam walked over to Kanhatsu and knelt on one knee to examine her. He placed one hand on her and she began to glow green.
"Is it… healing magic?" Kai asked in astonishment. He had never seen such effective healing power.
Adam walked to Caihong and did the same. "They are unconscious," said Adam. He stood up.
"Kai."
"Y-yes?"
"You did good. You may go and rest now."
"But Caihong and Kanhatsu…"
Shi raised one hand toward them and they disappeared. "I have teleported them to the room. You can go now."
"B-but where's my room?" Kai was still trembling.
The maid who stood beside Adam came near. "Follow me, sir," she said politely. Kai went behind her. Now Shi and Adam were the only ones standing there. Shi again took out the cylindrical container from his coat pocket and ate some pills.
"How is your condition, Shi?"
"The pills are only for suppressing my condition, Adam, not to cure it. Nothing can cure it."
Adam didn't say anything for a while. He looked at the sky and then again at Shi. "How were those three?"
"Need work. Especially Kai."
"I told you before that Kai would fall behind compared to Caihong and Kanhatsu. You didn't send any master for him."
"I have different plans for him."
"Because of his race?"
"…Yes." Shi then asked, "What do you think about Caihong? I thought his kind was extinct."
"He is the last of his kind, though. I last saw someone like him during the first Ragnarok."
Shi didn't say anything for some time, as if he was remembering something from the far past.
On the other side, Kai was in his new room. His mouth hung open; he had never imagined that he would stay in a room like this. The room looked luxurious and royal, like a Victorian-era castle room. There were three separate beds. Caihong was laid on one, while Kanhatsu was on another. One trio shares one common room, Kai thought.Kai looked at Caihong. He was sleeping like a log, like nothing had happened. He then moved his eyes to Kanhatsu. 'Her face looks adorable while sleeping…' Kai turned his face, blushing a little.
He walked to the window. The sun was sinking, and the sky was orange. Suddenly, a crow flew in and sat on Kai's bed. Kai walked closer. The crow carried a very small and shiny blackish-white pearl.
"Are you hungry?"
The crow flapped its wings. Kai placed a bowl of grains in front of the crow. The crow kept the pearl on the bed and started pecking the grains. Kai took the pearl."The pearl looks very beautiful. I wonder where the crow found it."
Kai brought the pearl very close to his eye when the crow flew near his face and flapped its wings. Kai fell on the floor in surprise. The crow then dropped the pearl into Kai's open mouth. He was going to take it out, but the crow again began to flap its wings near Kai's face. Kai didn't want to, but he swallowed the pearl; it was too slippery. The crow flew out of the window. Kai felt very weak. His chest was burning and his heartbeat was very fast. His vision was blurring and he soon lay on the floor, unconscious.