Kaela listened to all of her adoptive father's story as if it were a fantastical motion picture unfolding right before her very twinkly eyes.
It wasn't often that she got to hear about her father's work directly from the source himself. Usually she was only hearing retellings from the cooks or maids.
It was cool to have a guardian who was an actual monster hunter and led one of the strongest forces in the multiverse.
However, she couldn't help but notice there was something about the story that was a little bit less grandiose compared to the rest of the ones she'd heard.
"...You got your butt beat."
Shin showed a smile that was not a smile as he accidentally snapped the wooden spoon his daughter had been using to eat with.
"...I most certainly did not." He defended.
"Did too."
"That dragon got lucky once! It will not happen again."
Kaela stared at her father with particularly big eyes and a scowl.
"...Papa is a bully."
"E-Excuse me?!"
"Sounds like he just wanted to go home to me." Kaela defended. "You could have let him go home."
"So that he could have eventually returned to the any world he wanted to wreak havoc on us all??"
"Maybe he just wanted to go home to eat toaster strudels." Kaela shrugged.
Shin stared at his daughter with unveiled suspicion.
"... Are you sure he's the one who wants to eat toaster pastries?"
Kaela shrugged again, significantly less innocently this time.
Ordinarily, Director Shin would have would lecture her on excessive sugar in her diet, but this time was a bit different.
Since they were both going to be stuck at home for a while, maybe it would pay to adjust his approach a bit differently.
The way his father did with him.
"... I too believe that I would like a toaster strudel."
Kaela felt elated.
Her father lifted her out of bed and into his lap and he wheeled the two of them towards the door.
They had almost left the room when the door slid open once again to reveal a new face.
She wore the standard white shirt, brown coat and slacks that members of the order usually wore.
Her bright olive skin was soft and blemish free, as was the delicate black hair that fell down her back.
She had warm eyes with a small trace of mischief hidden within their brown undertones.
"I heard someone was feeling a little under the weather today. Looks like you're getting the VIP treatment, huh?"
"Big sister!" Kaela threw up her arms with glee.
Shin could not help but noticing that at the moment Branch Leader Fiona entered the room, he ceased to be interesting to his young daughter.
He had already been notified through several reports of their close relationship, but this was the first time he actually had a problem with it.
"Good afternoon, Director." Fiona smiled and offered a crisp salute. "I'm glad to see you're recovering well."
Shin stuffed down his unwarranted hostility so that he could atleast pretend to be an incorruptible superior.
"...I thank you for that, Branch Leader."
"Awh, so formal."
"When you're in your browns, I will refer to you by your station only. Nothing else."
"Her name is Fi-Fi!" Kaela reprimanded.
"Not right now it isn't."
""Fi-Fi!"" The girls cheered in unison.
"Why?" Abaddon tilted his head in confusion.
"She said that she didn't have shit else to do."
"...Fair enough." Abaddon lay back down onto Entei's soft, but study body.
But he suddenly opened his eye and realized that certain other little beasties were missing from the room.
Namely, Bagheera and Bayle.
"Where are my pets?"
"Asleep. We told them to come with us."
*Grunt* 'They did not care.' Entei confessed.
Abaddon felt a vein bulge in his forehead.
He'd see if those monsters cared about him when he coincidentally forgot to feed them for a week... or four.
"The master smells like depression. Why is that the case?" Camazotz asked.
"... I do not smell like depression, bat."
Entei placed his large paw on Abaddon's shoulders and gave him a cheesy sympathetic look as if to say; 'It's alright, bud. You can tell us that you need help.'
"...That's it, no more television dramas for you or Mira."
*Depressed whimpering.*
While Abaddon was trying to get back to resting, another significantly more annoying individual contacted him.
A dark 'rip' was created in the space in front of him.
Through the opening, Abaddon could see the loathsome face of Maliketh staring back at him.
"...Overlord. There has been a development I thought you should be aware of."
Anger showed on Abaddon's face immediately.
The air around him wavered as if it were enduring a heat wave; and all tangible light in the room was sucked in by his darkness.
"I can assure you, Maliketh.. my mood lately has been an unbearably foul thing. I urge you not to tell me anything that could make it worse or the fate that awaits you will not be kind."
Maliketh was no stranger to Abaddon's immense dislike for not only him, but the rest of the Uma-Sarru as well.
And yet, this was the first time that he ever actually believed that Abaddon would seriously harm him. It somehow instilled even this deathless being with fear.
"I-I understand. I've come here to speak to you about the collection..."
- 15 Minutes Later...
When Maliketh was long gone, Abaddon went back to lying on Entei with his eyes shut.
He would have been sleeping already, if Camazotz was not so determined to keep him company.
"Why does master hate the Mr. Maliketh so much?"
"Why won't you let me sleep..?"
"Mrs. Audrina says you sleep too much and Camazotz responsibility is to be a 'goodest boy' and keep you occupied."
Abaddon groaned in indignation.
"...His body's power is unsettling. I would loathe him significantly more if I could lock him inside a specific appearance."
"Why? Who does the master see?"
"...My father."
"Mr. Asmodeus is indeed nauseating to look at. He's quite ugly." Camazotz nodded.
"Not him, bat." Abaddon suppressed a snicker.
Before Camazotz could ask what he meant, the sliding door to the dojo was pulled open.
Hajun and Kirina both stepped into the dojo while hand in hand.
But the particular condition they were in was alarming to say the very least.
"You two... What have you done..?"