“Well, well, well...Someone’s looking a lot better.” said an accented, female voice. Deep, warm, and light just like the coffee she served at her dinner.

Cassandra Neuville, my former-landlady, and the proprietress of my favorite diner, sat across from me. Her long, pointed, and fur-covered, ears twitching as she kept half an ear open to make sure that nothing was going awry with her diner’s kitchen staff.

Despite the passage of four years, she didn’t seem much different than she had during the first days of our acquaintance.

She had the same olive-colored, rectangular face, with its button nose and pronounced cheekbones. She had the same sharp and watchful dark-blue eyes. She had the same long, dark, gray-blue hair, colored like a smog-choked sky.

Despite the fact that she should have looked a little older as a mortal, with all those years of laughing, frowning, and stressing over things taking their toll, she didn’t look like she’d yet left her thirties.

On the contrary, if one looked closely, one got the sense that she might, in fact, be gradually aging in reverse, and one day she’d look like she was in her late twenties instead. This was the power of having an S-Rank constitution.

The only thing that might have truly changed since that first day when we’d met, was the attitude with which she dealt with me. Before she’d been quite vigilant of me. Now we were friends.

I was quite happy with that change. I liked having friends. I certainly preferred to make more friends, rather than making more enemies.

“Ugh...Don’t remind me...That bug I had a few days ago was awful.” I said. Taking a sip of coffee, and shaking my head, as I remembered the ailment of a few days ago, when I was still recovering from being intimate with Margot.

“What was that anyway? A flu? A stomach bug? I didn’t think people like you could even get sick.” said Cassandra. Looking troubled and perplexed.

“It was less an illness and more a state caused by my own nature. Technically, this isn’t the first time I’ve been that way. It was just the first time it was bad enough for you to notice,” I said. Answering vaguely.

“Ah...One of those things,” said Cassandra. Nodding. As a kaporka, a magical being born of luck and positive energy, she understood what it meant to have one’s nature lead to complications in one’s health.

She didn’t know everything about what I was but she knew a little. At the very least she was quite clear that I wasn’t human, or even entirely terrestrial in nature.

“Yeah, one of those things ...It's no big deal. I’ll figure it out one way or the other,” I said.

There was a lull as Cass and I just sat and enjoyed the quiet sounds of the diner getting ready for its early morning rush.

“Anyway, how about you? What’s going on in the world of the legendary Cassandra Neuville?” I said. Smirking.

“Le-, Legendary?! Oh, stop it…” said Cass. Blushing faintly. Jolting nervously for a moment as if to see if anyone was listening and then rolling her eyes as she realized I was just teasing her.

“Well?”

“Well, nothing...I’m the same old gal I was yesterday when you asked the same question.”

“Really? So there’s nothing going on in Planet Cass?”

“Nh...I don’t know...Well, there is one thing...Maybe?”

“Ah-ha! I knew it. Well, go on don’t keep me in suspense.” I said. Taking a deep sip of my coffee and leaning forwards.

“I’ve been thinking about dating again…” said Cassandra. Almost whispering. Blushing slightly.

“Oh?! Good for you,” I said. Genuinely happy for my friend because this really was big news.

It was a sign that the careful and ever vigilant kaporka no longer felt hunted. Going from just getting by and doing all you could to keep your head down, to thinking about relationships, life partners, and the like, was a big step.

It was an indication that Cass had finally grown comfortable enough with her situation to think about “other things” and it was those other things that made the difference between living and mere survival.

“Well, we both know you’ve got good bait you just needed to put your line in the water,” I said.

“Hmph, I guess...It’s just...It’s been a while, you know. And what would the kids think?” said Cassandra. Fidgeting. Taking a second and third sip of coffee just to give her hands something to do.

“I think the kids would be happy for you and glad to see you putting yourself out there...at least Ashley probably would. That nephew of yours is a bit mysterious.” I said. Chuckling.

“Oh, Doug is a sweetheart, he’s just a bit shy is all, standoffish, but he’d definitely be on board! ... I think… So yeah, maybe you’re right...Maybe I am just worried for no reason,” said Cassandra.

The topic of conversation turned to lighter, more airy, subjects. Eventually, the time came for me to pay the bill and head off to work.