'Spending time with Zaina wasn't the worst thing.'

Akamir thought, walking along with the girl who kept on looking around the place.

'Well, she did start opening up with me only now…'

"Why are you thinking?" Zaina asked, nudging his shoulder.

Akamir shook his head in response.

"Nothing too important." He replied. "But do we really have to walk on foot?"

As Akamir said, he glanced around the place as they were walking on the road.

On both sides of them was nothing but long trees and plants.

It was her idea to go back to the academy without the carriage as to spend more time together.

Zaina kicked a small stone on the path and let out a sigh. "Come on, it's not that bad."

'Yeah, it wouldn't have if there wasn't someone thinking of killing me right now.'

Akamir let out a sigh as he glanced back where Helen walked just a few metres behind them.

When their eyes met, she glared at him even more furiously.

'Yeah, she definitely doesn't like me at all.'

The dirt path stretched on, winding gently through the forest.

A few birds chirped in the distance, and every now and then, the sound of a squirrel darting across a branch reached their ears.

It was peaceful to say the least and Akamir was enjoying the peace.

Zaina stepped ahead and turned around to walk backward, facing him.

"You know, when I used to live here, I used to sneak out and explore all the time."

"Yeah, I remember you told me about it." Akamir replied, nodding his head. "Not a girly thing to do but who am I to say?"

Zaina puffed her cheeks and turned away dramatically. "What's wrong with that, I just like exploring places."

Akamir shrugged in response. "It's nothing wrong and I am not saying you shouldn't do that."

"Yeah, yeah." She replied, waving her hand. "Sometimes you act more like my father…."

Zaina's words died down as she slowly realised what she was saying.

Her cheeks turned slightly pink as she rubbed her face to hide it.

Akamir raised his brow. "You alright?"

"Y..Yeah." she mumbled without looking at him. "I..I am fine."

Akamir didn't press her about it.

He just gave a small nod and kept walking, pretending not to notice how flustered she looked.

Zaina stayed quiet too, this time walking beside him with her eyes down on the road.

She kicked another pebble, slower this time, as if trying to focus on something else.

"So…" she finally said, breaking the silence, "what did you use to do when you were younger? Before all this."

"Uh, me?" Akamir said, pointing at himself to which she nodded. "Well, I don't remember much about my childhood."

As far as Akamir remembered, his childhood was much worse than hers.

Most of the time, Akamir used to live in his room just to be safe from assassins and other threats.

His mother wasn't a good one as she saw him as nothing but a tool to rule the kingdom.

'….Well, I can't tell her all that.'

Akamir thought as he smiled bitterly, shaking his head.

Zaina noticed it immediately and a concerned look formed on her face. "Was it really that bad?"

"Not really." Akamir replied, shaking his head. "But…yeah. Not a good experience I must say."

Zaina didn't say anything for a while after that.

She just walked beside him, glancing at his face from time to time.

"…I'm sorry," Zaina finally said, her voice quiet. "I didn't mean to bring up something painful."

"It's fine," Akamir replied calmly. "It's not like I think about it all the time."

He shoved his hands into his pockets, letting out a soft sigh. "Besides, it's in the past now."

Zaina gave a small nod. "….Do you need a hug?"

Akamir gave her a look before he shook his head. "No, I am fine."

"Take the hint dumbass." Nayomi said, floating closely beside him. "How can you reject a lady like that."

"Can you shut up?" Akamir mumbled, glaring at her. "And I am not interested in a child."

Zaina blinked and tilted her head. "Did you say something?"

Akamir coughed and looked away. "Nothing. Just… thinking out loud."

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously but let it slide.

They walked a few more steps in silence before Zaina suddenly said, "You know, I'm not a child."

Akamir let out a sigh. "Zaina—."

"Oh, we are close to the academy." Zaina said, changing the topic. "Time sure flies fast."

"...."

Akamir looked at her as she didn't meet his eyes.

"By the way, can you please fix an appointment with Queen Inara for me?" Zaina said, looking at him. "I am trying to contact her but she always refuses."

Akamir frowned. "Why do you want to talk with her?"

"That's something between us." She replied, shaking her head. "Well, can you?"

'Bruh, why is she doing this?'

Akamir sighed as he nodded once. "I will see what I can do."

Zaina smiled softly. "Thanks. That means a lot."

Akamir gave a small nod, but he couldn't help the uneasiness settling in his chest.

'I will talk with Inara before informing her.'

"Oh, the mask you gave me." Akamir said, as they continued to walk. "It was really helpful. It even saved my life."

A genuine smile formed on her lips as she nodded. "Glad something of me can save your life."

Akamir gave her a short nod as they both came to a halt.

"The academy is only a few minutes ahead." Akamir said, looking at her.

Zaina kept on looking at his eyes. "I know."

"Well, I will talk with Inara about your request." He continued. "She would most probably accept—."

"Can you close your eyes?" Zaina cut in his words.

Akamir blinked twice. "Pardon?"

"Eyes?" She replied, tilting her head. "Can you?"

He let out a sigh knowing full well what she plans to do.

"Fine."

Akamir closed his eyes and immediately felt her moving closer.

Grabbing his collar, she made him lean in as he felt her lips on his.

Zaina's lips were soft, warm, and trembling just slightly.

It wasn't a long kiss but it wasn't short, either.

When she finally pulled away, Akamir opened his eyes slowly, blinking once.

Zaina had stepped back already, her face flushed deep red, and her hands clutched the hem of her sleeve tightly.

Zaina quickly turned around. "W..well, I will see you in my home then. Bye!"

She ran away before he could even reply, leaving him alone.

"Aren't you hypocritical?" Nayomi mumbled, floating closely. "Once you said, you don't like her but closed—."

"Urgh, leave me alone." Akamir said, pushing her face away.

Just then Helen walked past him, giving him the most threatening glare possible.

'The fuck are you staring at?' Akamir thought, looking away. 'It was her who kissed me not the other way around.'

Well, maybe that's why she isn't just attacking him right now.

Akamir let out a sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck.

He walked back to his house which was still a few minutes away.

'What a pain.'

---

---

When Akamir reached his home, it was already evening and the sun was close to the horizon.

The light shone over the entire place as he walked inside his house.

Zia quickly got close to him. "Welcome back young master."

Akamir smiled as she helped him take off his coat. "I am home."

Zia gently folded Akamir's coat over her arm and tilted her head. "Would you like coffee? Or something to eat?"

Akamir stretched his arms a little before answering. "Coffee would be nice with some cookies."

Zia gave a polite nod and walked toward the kitchen with light footsteps.

Akamir sat down on the couch in the main room, leaning back with a sigh.

'Hmm?'

Just as he sat down the air around him trembled and something walked out of it.

"Kyu~."

A purple fox let out a soft voice as she jumped at him.

Akamir smiled as he caught her with open arms. "Look who decided to wake up!"

He grabbed her and placed her on his lap and gently touched her belly.

"She is growing fast." Nayomi mumbled, observing the fox. "She might awaken again soon enough."

The little purple fox, now comfortably settled on Akamir's lap, stretched her body like a lazy cat, letting out another soft "Kyu~" before curling into a ball.

Akamir gently scratched behind her ears, earning a satisfied tail flick.

"I wonder how you'll become," he whispered.

"She's not an ordinary creature, that's for sure," Nayomi replied, floating lazily above the couch, watching the fox with half-lidded eyes.

"Adult void foxes are big enough to fill a continent."

Akamir raised a brow at that as he looked down at the fox. "Damn, that would be kinda nice."

"It won't be, you stupid boy." Nayomi replied, shaking her head. "Once she gets too big people will come to hunt her."

"They can try." Akamir replied, looking up at her. "I can take care of most of them."

Nayomi didn't reply; instead, she looked away without any words.

Akamir on the other hand kept on playing with the void fox until she suddenly stood up on his lap.

Akamir frowned as he looked at the fox. "What happened?"

"Kyu~."

She let out a soft cry before she extended her forehead towards him.

Akamir tilted his head as he somewhat understood what she wanted. "Do you want me to touch your forehead?"

"Kyu~."

'With my own forehead?'

He looked at her confusingly but didn't question her.

Akamir picked up the fox and brought her forehead close to his own.

When their foreheads touched—

'Huh?'

Akamir immediately lost his consciousness.