It had been a week since Mio had arrived at Kai's place, her wounds were already healed and she could move properly. This was also the day that Kai planned to bring Mio back to his clan.

"Mio, you ready?"

Kai asked Mio who was stretching behind him.

"We're going to have a race right? Are you sure about this?"

Kai asked Mio.

"Nn."

During this week, Mio had found out that Kai had been training his body quite a bit; she wanted to test him out. Although she had also figured out that he wasn't adapted to this new body as of yet.

"Control over quality. Control over quality."

Mio repeated those words as she began to take a running pose.

"I'm really fast, you know that already. I really don't know why you wanted to race with me."

"That's because even if your body is strong, you still don't know how to use it. I wanted to beat you in terms of control."

Kai tilted his head to the side and nodded.

"[Agility]."

Mio's body had a green outline but it faded as fast as it came.

"[Stamina]."

Mio's body once more glowed but with a blue outline.

"Eh? What is that?"

"?"

Mio tilted her head to the side after Kai's questions.

"Uhh, status enhancements?"

"Eh, how come I don't have any?"

"It's a skill that all mages should know."

"Reo."

"Nn?"

"Why didn't you teach me any of that?"

"Well, I was going to teach you after you adapted to your body. You go for jogs everyday but you're treating your body as it was before."

"Ah..."

"Well, let's race!"

Mio seemed quite hectic.

"Ready,"

The two took a running pose, they both took the pose that Olympic runners use when running.

"Eh?"

They looked at each other in wonder.

One thought ran through their heads. It couldn't be...

"Go!"

When they lost their focus, they didn't hear Reo. When the word 'go' was heard, Mio jolted back to reality and ran.

"Ah!"

Kai also ran as fast as he could.

"Oi, that isn't fair!"

Mio was running faster than Kai.

"What is?"

"You're glowing green again! I can tell that you're using that enhancement!"

"It's a handicap; I wouldn't be a match for your actual speed without this."

Saying that, Mio smiled and ran faster.

"..."

Kai was speechless as he saw Mio disappearing from his sight.

"Ahhh! I'll show you!"

Kai went faster and faster as he used different running methods. He kicked the ground from time to time to try and speed up to which the floor cracked.

"Haaa!"

When he finally caught up with Mio, she was dumbstruck.

"...Are you an idiot?"

"What?"

"...You're wasting a lot more stamina than you should."

"It's fine, you're wasting mana too, aren't you?"

"Hooh, you noticed?"

[Agility] and [Stamina] required mana everytime it's cast. Her running stamina was boosted by [Stamina] so she could travel long distances but those enhancements had a time limit. Once her mana runs out, she would be significantly slower and it would be Kai's win. But if Kai's stamina fades before her mana, it would be her win even if she does run out.

"Then, I'll have to speed up as well."

Kai closed his eyes while running which could be said to be unwise in the forest.

Mana began to gather inside of Kai and into his legs.

"Mana manipulation?"

"[Body Enhancement]."

"So he knows that!"

Kai focused the [Body Enhancement] into his legs, this was the same [Body Enhancement] that could withstand twenty times the gravity.

Kai sped up faster and faster until he left Mio in the dust.

"...What the hell just happened?"

Mio stopped moving and looked at the horizon to where Kai disappeared.

An hour later, Kai ran back and encountered Mio.

"Yo."

"...Don't tell me you already made it back?"

"Nn."

"Haa... Okay, it's your win."

"Hah."

Kai let out a tiny chuckle then carried Mio in a princess carry.

"...What are you doing?"

"Well, you'd take longer than I thought so I thought I'd just carry you there."

"...Are you an idiot?"

"Well at your speed it would take you at least two hours more."

"...Fine."

"[Body Enhancement]."

Kai's figure disappeared with that speed. If one were to suddenly encounter it, they would only see a faint silhouette and a wild wind accompanying it.

==========

Outside the Kuroshi Clan

"Well, this is as far as I go."

"Thanks, are you really sure won't come with me? I'm sure that I could remove all the gazes off of you if you come with me."

"You're talking as if it'll really happen... Anyway, I don't want to. I don't want to go back in there without controlling this."

"I've realized this before but darkness shouldn't be that hard to control, I wonder what made yours unstable..."

"Don't mind it. I'll probably be back here next year because I feel like I can control it soon."

"Nn, thanks again."

"You're welcome, I hope we meet again."

"Nn."

Mio nodded with a smile as Kai returned a nod and turned around back to the forest.

"Kai, huh?"

Mio had a smile on her face as she walked into the gates.

==========

Kuroshi Clan, patriarch's Mansion.

"Milord, the young miss has returned."

"I see."

Yasuo knocked on the door of the duke yet he only said two words in response.

Yasuo stepped back and found Mio in the main hall of the mansion.

"Young miss, you have returned. The duke has acknowledged your return, I will now guide you to your room."

"Nn."

Yasuo and Mio could be said to be fairly close. Before the duke treated Mio like trash, the duke forbid anyone to do even the slightest harm to Mio. She could be called 'spoiled' even.

"Young miss, you seem to be quite happy."

"I do?"

Mio had a smile on her face as she walked behind Yasuo.

"It definitely isn't because you just returned, could it be that you made a friend?"

"You always see right through me."

"Hoho, is it a boy?"

"Nn."

"Young miss, I hope that you won't try and court someone of your own volition."

"It's not like that! He's only a friend."

Mio denied Yasuo in a fluster.

It was at that moment that they had passed the duke's room. Mio suddenly fell silent but immediately regained her mood once they passed the door.

Yasuo noticed the abrupt changes in her mood and worried.

"The duke has only done political affairs ever since he arrived, he had not left that room other than to eat and relieve himself."

"I see."

Mio only said two words in response, she didn't care.

"Young miss, I hope you won't hate the duke. At the very least, he's still your father. He had always treated you nicely until that day."

"I know, I don't hate him. I just..."

Mio couldn't let the words out and just cut off her sentence.

"Yasuo, could you do some investigation for me? It's only inside this clan."

"Anything, young miss."

"Find out about Kuroshi Kai, his family, his powers, his background, everything."

"As you wish."

Yasuo stopped in front of a door and guided Mio inside.

"Have you eaten lunch, young miss?"

"Nn."

"Then, dinner will be ready in four hours, I will call you when the time comes."

Yasuo nodded once more and closed the door. His figure walked into a dark part of the hallway and disappeared.

==========

Kuroshi Clan, Kai's Household.

"The daughter of the duke arrived earlier, didn't she?"

"Nn. Apparently she had an errand to do and was only able to arrive now. Strange thing is, she didn't have a carriage or anything of the sort. But she didn't look like she was tired at all. She arrived only a week after the duke which is the strangest part."

Yoko gave her analysis to Akane.

"So she's allowed to go outside on her own... Yoko, spar with me!"

"...I don't mind but are you sure?"

Yoko sized her up and down during those words.

"Wha- rude."

"You already lost to me before, so..."

"It's only a spar! We only need to share our techniques by application!"

"Fine."

Yoko stood up after Akane.

"Aunt, can we use the backyard?"

"Sure, Kai always used that place to train as well."

"Thanks."

Akane walked towards the backyard with Yoko in tow.

Once the two left the room, Juro had struck up a conversation with Akemi.

"Akemi, be alert for these next few weeks."

"I know."

Akemi stroked Emi's hair to which she slept through.

In the backyard, Yoko was clashing with Akane.

"Ha!"

Akane's fist shot out as Yoko moved it with her palm gracefully.

"You improved again...!"

Akane gnashed her teeth.

"I've been training a lot to make up for the time I visit this house."

Yoko used her footwork to get near Akane and made a side kick.

Akane used her left arm to block and her left hand to grab Yoko's leg.

"Haaa!"

Akane successfully grabbed Yoko and pulled her near. Akane immediately used a palm chop to target Yoko's neck, it looked like Akane won. But...

Yoko's body suddenly twisted using her leg as a stand. Yoko's face had a smirk.

"Damn!"

Akane immediately figured out what she was planning to do.

Yoko retracted her leg and used her other foot to kick Akane's head. The attack connected and sent Akane flying to the wall.

"Ha... still as strong as ever I see."

"You're not so bad yourself."

"[Fast Movement]."

"[Nimble Footwork]."

They both ran towards each other once more. Their sparring continued until six in the night with more attacks landed by Yoko.

"I still can't beat you..."

Akane grumbled while complaining inside the house.

"That's because your movements are like an open book."

"...You two should stop talking like that while eating."

""Yes.""

The two meekly responded to Akemi's words.

"Akemi, you've gotten scarier ever since these two are always in the house..."

"Of course, I treat these two as potential daughters to marry my son."

"That is true..."

The two flushed red from the conversation but didn't respond. Yoko had gotten tired of telling them that she wasn't in love and just let them be.

After they ate, a knock came from outside.

"Hello..."

A meek voice of a girl sounded out after the knock.

"Ah, who is it?"

"I'm the duke's daughter, Mariko Erina..."

"The duke's?"

Akemi and Juro looked at each other then nodded.

"Akane, open the door for her."

"Yes..."

Akane opened the door and let Erina inside.

They all fell silent once her figure was seen but Akane's words snapped them back to reality.

"Beautiful..."

"Nn..."

Yoko responded to Akane's words unconsciously. Erina turned red but expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you."

Akemi was only momentarily stunned but let her inside.

"So, what is the duke's daughter doing here?"

Akemi questioned her once she took her seat.

"I just wanted to meet the family of the man who saved me."

"Mm? Saved you? Who?"

"Kai, he saved me in the forest. Ah, I already know of his circumstances so none of you have to feel afraid to hide anything."

The room fell silent.

""""Ehhhhhhh?!""""

Until the resounding words of the four who were dumbstruck reverberated throughout the room.