"Aah, I wanted to ask you something," Catrina said, moving her hands awkwardly.
"Is that so? Well, what is it? I am all ears." I said, gesturing for her to continue.
"Can I join the black ops or more work under you?" Catrina said, bowing down in front of me.
"Hmm, you're a sage, correct?" I said, taking a thinking pose.
"I can use earth and wind magic, but I don't have a class yet," Catrina said hesitantly, looking down.
"Huh? You don't have one? how old are you?" I asked, baffled. Looking at her again, she looked to be in her 20s with her waist-length black hair and brown eyes. She was the same height as Mother.
"I am 17."
"Holy shit, I thought you were older," I said without thinking.
"Don't say it like that!" Kayda yelled, hitting me a couple of times over the head.
"Sorry, I didn't think that through. I didn't mean to say that you were old," I said, giving Catrina an apology.
"It's okay. I do look like I am older because I am a half-elf," Catrina said, smiling like my comment didn't bother her.
"Half-elf, how does that make you look older? Whatever, if you don't have a class yet. Is it fine if I make you get a close combat class for my squad? You see, I already have multiple mages and long..." I explain before Catrina interrupted.
"NO, it's fine. I always had a thing for swords anyways. The only reason why I used magic more was to get my parents' approval. That's why I don't have a class yet. My parents forced me to wear an experienced blocker to have a lot of experience using magic before getting to my class. They wanted me to get elemental sage." Catrina explains while fighting awkwardly.
"Elemental sage? That's not possible for you. First, you don't have enough elements even to recommend it, and I am pretty certain your parents never got someone who was skilled enough in magic even to get you close enough to making you earth or wind sage." Kayda explains, crossing her arm in disappointment, making Catrina look down.
"Recommended? Need skilled teachers? What does that have to do with anything with a person's talent, Kayda?" I said, narrowing my eyes at her. "Having the amount of element can go with born talent, but a teacher has nothing to do with your work. Yes, it can make it easier, of course, but if you work hard on your own, you can do anything."
"You not wrong, but it was still too big of a goal for her," Kayda said, not faltering.
"Yeah, yeah, I know her parents were hoping for too much," I said, waving Kayda off. taking my eyes of Kayda, I looked at Catrina, who was on the verge of tears. "Hey, why do you want to cry all of a sudden?"
"You just said it. I was born a fail..."
Smack!
"Dumbass, we said your parents were expecting too much from you. It's their fault, and they are the failures for not listening to their child first." I said, glaring at her.
"Wasn't it you who want to make her a close combat type a few seconds ago," Kayda commented with an annoying voice.
"Ugh, I was asking if it was fine, though," I said, clicking my tongue glaring at Kayda.
"Oh right, you did say it like that," Kayda said, smiling at me innocently.
"Shameless dragon. Anyway, now that I think about it, I could never use Analysis on you. Are you from a noble family?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Aah, yes. I am the second daughter of Earl house Everstern, Catrina Everstern." Catrina said, making me raise an eyebrow.
"Ooh, okay, how much do you love your family?" I asked, getting weird looks from Kayda and Catrina.
"Are you going to..." Kayda started before I talked again.
"No, I wasn't planning to kill them, but I might get you disowned, Hehe," I said, laughing evilly while looking at Catrina.
"No, please don't, and don't hurt them as well. I really love them," Catrina said desperately.
"Okay, if you want it like that. I will take you, but you will be moving to the barracks and hide everything from your family that happens with you and what you do from today onwards." I said, grinning.
"...Okay, I understand," Catrina said, nodding.
"Now that I think about it. you will probably be the most normal person in my squad." I said, looking at her intrigued before smiling. "Aah, it's fine. I will get some screws loose in your head with training."
"I like to be sane, please," Catrina said, hiding behind Kayda. Peeking over Kaydas' shoulder, she added. "And what do you mean by the most normal person?"
"Well, you see, my squad is like this. We have two sis-cons that are open to each other about it. Then there is the ex-federation doggie that's head over heels for my backpack bunny demon loli. Then the other demon fox that's overprotective and is the vice-captain of the crazy heads squad."
"Overprotective? how is Chinada overprotective?" Kayda asked a bit worriedly.
"Well, not of me personally, but more things that are mine or people that are close to me," I explain, shrugging.
"Yours? That actually makes sense. Seeing as you are her queen." Kayda said, tilting her head.
"Oh, you're her Queen?" Catrina said with a grin.
"No, it's not like that. It's because I am a Fox primordial and chinada is a demon fox," I said, revealing my race with a wave of my hand.
"You are a what!" Catrina yelled in surprise.
"Yeah, why do you think I am so powerful without a class and only being 14," I said, shrugging.
"You younger than me!" Catrina yelled in surprise again.
"Oh, one more thing, don't yell like that, or I break your vocal cords," I said calmly while walking close to her while looking down at her.
"Yes, Ma'am," Catrina said meekly.
"Hey, Kitsuna, you miss some detail about your squad." Kayda comment making both of us look at her confused.
"What did I miss," I said, tilting my head.
"That you are Apricot's mother figure," Kayda said, smiling at my annoyed face.
"You really won't drop that, will you," I said, annoyed.
"No, never, it was way too cute when she cried on your ċhėst, reportingly calling you mom, Ha-ha," Kayda said before breaking down laughing.
"What happened to make that kind of situation?"
"Sigh, a couple of weeks ago. I made myself an ice dungeon in a lake with my ice magic. I wanted to hide the dungeon from prying eyes. So, I asked Apricot to create a powerful illusion around it. Sadly, she needs some time to do it, so for the next 2 weeks, she worked on the illusion in shifts. This information got out to a spy in the Black Ops, and he was ordered to ȧssassinate her. The time he chose to do it, Apricot was on her way to the dungeon while I was walking from it. When she just got about 30m from me, I felt someone move towards her fast. Knowing what was about to happen, I Flashed Step in the way, taking a dagger to the heart. Even though the stab wound healed instantly, the poison on the dagger disabled me for a couple of minutes, making me fall over like I was dead. In the end, Apricot captured the guy, and after that, she came to me, that was still lying on the ground crying and muttering mom the entire time. Wait, how was that situation cute?" I explain before looking at Kayda weirdly.
"That is actually cute," Catrina said with stars in her eyes.
"What not you too. Apricot is 19 years old. How can a 14-year-old be her mother figure.," I whɨnėd in depression.
"You mentally 30 years old and don't deny that," Kayda said, leaving no discussion possible.
"You're a reincarnation as well?" Catrina asked, looking at me, intrigued.
"Yes, I am one," I said, just nodding.
"Before I go, I brought these guys for you. They are yours to play with." Kayda said, gesturing to the party that was still tied up by my chains behind her.
"Yeah, I figure, but they won't have any information, so you won't mind me killing them, right?" I said, walking closer to Gaby first.
"If you think so, you can," Kayda said, not caring much.
"Wait, you are going to kill them," Catrina said, surprised.
"Yeah, they betrayed me," I said, looking at her like she asked something dumb.
"I did warn you before that you want to work for a demon," Kayda whispered next to Catrina'.
"That's right. You did say that," Catrina said, looking down.
"Man warning her before time, and she still accepted. She might already have a screw loose," I said, Laughing lightly.
"Well, got to go."
"Not so fast. Chinada, take Catrina away. Also, test what weapon will fit her." I said, knowing Chinada was close enough to hear me. Just like I ordered, Chinada suddenly appeared next to Catrina before disappearing, taking Catrina with her.. Looking at Kayda, I asked. "Do I have a split personality?"