CHAPTER 31: STAR TRAITS

Anna sat under a tree, her back supported by the tree’s trunk. She stared at the dead flame bear lying at the place of action, blood and brain matter dripping out from its eye sockets. Even though Anna knew that she had to kill it, she still felt bad about it. After all, she was the one who had invaded its place of rest and attacked it with the intent to kill. She, who had never killed any living being before, felt a bit lost after killing the flame bear.

White looked at Anna with a frown, who had a solemn look on her face as she stared at the flame bear’s dead body. He walked towards her and spoke in a reassuring tone.

"It had to be done, Miss Anieal."

Anna moved her gaze towards White but didn’t say anything.

"You must harden your heart; you have to take lives if you want to survive in the world of strength and power." White continued without a pause.

"Don’t let your emotions sway you, Miss Anieal."

Finally, Anna responded with a small smile.

"I know... White." Anna said as she stood up and began to walk towards the way she had come from.

"Let’s go," Anna said to White. Ready to leave the forest.

White nodded and followed behind her.

Suddenly, Anna stopped and turned to look towards the flame bear.

Seeing that, White spoke.

"Blake will take care of it, Miss Anieal."

Anna nodded and began to walk again.

***

After reaching The Kinten Villa-

Anna sat at a white wooden chair which had a blue cushion, inside Damien’s room, as Damien asked her.

"So, you used threads to bind the flame bear?" Damien said as he looked at Anna while cradling a teacup in his hands.

"Yes," Anna replied as she held her gaze with Damien.

Damien nodded at her words and leaned back on the chair as he spoke with amusement.

"That’s interesting."

"What is?" Anna said as she tilted her head in confusion.

"Your ability, or as we—Midnighters— like to call it, your star trait."

"Star trait?" Anna asked as she moved forward in her chair.

"The star trait is what determines which sub-skills a Midnighter has an affinity for," Damien said as he took a sip from his teacup.

"I see." Anna listened to him and nodded her head.

"Your trait seems to be linked with mind or soul-related abilities. So, it’s quite interesting that you can materialise those golden threads of yours. It’s like a different ability altogether," Damien concluded as he put his teacup away, which was already empty.

"But. Can we learn sub-skills that we don’t have an affinity for?" Anna asked with curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

"Yes. However, it will take months if not years to learn a basic skill you don’t have an affinity for." Damien replied with a slight smile on his face and continued.

"That is the reason why most Midnighters only learn skills related to their traits." Damien paused for a few moments and continued.

"So you too should only learn skills related to your trait, Anna," Damien suggested with narrowed eyes. He knew that Anna would try to learn anything she could, and that would be bad for her.

"But... how would I know which skill is related to my trait?" Anna asked with a confused look.

"Haha! You just try using your trait and sub-skills in different ways till you can learn or create something you can use." Damien concluded with a chuckle on his face.

"Now, you should go back to your room and rest, it was a tiring day for you after all," Damien said as he stood up and hugged Anna for a few moments.

Anna nodded her head and left the room with slow steps.

Anna walked towards her room, her steps echoing throughout the lavender-blue walls of the villa. She slowly opened her room’s door, and just as she did so, a black and white missile landed on her. Startled by the sudden events, Anna hurriedly looked at the thing that had jumped on her. Her eyes then fell on a cat of black and white fur with topaz yellow eyes, looking at Anna with its big eyes.

"Vey!!" Anna beamed and hugged Veylor tightly. Anna had not met Veylor since the day she had been to the Spirit realm, not physically, at least.

"Meow!!" Veylor too replied with similar enthusiasm as her.

Anna then looked at the scarred man with crimson eyes and short raven black hair, and spoke.

"Thank you, White," Anna said in a gentle and thankful tone.

Her words brought a smile to White’s face as he bowed and replied.

"That’s all I can do to uplift your mood, Miss Anieal."

Anna, hearing that, replied with an even brighter smile.

"It’s enough... It’s more than enough."

White looked at Anna for a few moments as he left the room after giving a small bow.

Anna stared at White’s parting figure and thought.

’I wonder when he is going to reveal his true face to me.’

Soon, however, she shook her head and looked at Veylor, who was in her arms. She then moved towards her bed and took a seat. She then placed Veylor and began to move her hand on its body, caressing it.

"Mya?" Veylor looked at Anna with worried eyes, seemingly able to understand her inner turmoil.

"I am fine, Vey," Anna said with a soft chuckle and continued to caress Veylor’s body.

Seeing that, Veylor also began to rub his head on her abdomen, trying to make her feel at rest. Seeing that Anna chuckled

"You are such a good boy, Vey," Anna said as she picked up Veylor in her hands and hugged him.

"Myu!Myu!" Veylor replied as he nodded, giving his approval to her words. He was a good and noble beast after all.

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