"Nothing..." she answered in a voice even lower than mine, almost like moving her lips.
'And she was laughing in a brave, confident, strong voice just a moment ago.'
This weird friend of mine... Taika's a beast, a predator at that. Her words were just normal, probably right from her own point of view.
She knew what she said would sound inappropriate from a human perspective, but to a beast like her, it was what it was.
More than that, we were the weird ones knowing and being able to talk that special language of hers.
Now, why would a human know a tiger's language? Simple question, right?
And she was a witch, so it was fine to some extent.
Her special magic as well as the {Old magic} naturally made her a great polyglot like me.
And even though this old lady friend of mine understood stuff like that, she was overthinking the word 'mate'.
There was nothing to overthink there. Absolutely nothing. Nope.
"It was just Taika's way of calling two people who like one another. Don't think too much about it.
I don't wanna get arrested- I mean, you know what I mean, right?"
I knew it would be difficult to keep the wild hormonal changes and stuff under control, but it was a small matter.
The big question would be what to do in situations .
She just fell into deep thought on just a single word, and there could be a time I might be the same too.
We can't survive something dangerous like the evil spirit if we do fall for something so dumb as this, right?
"Rein. I said it quite a few times in these some hours we have known each other.
It's not like you to act foolishly .
Yes, I love that blushing face but; you are overthinking right now. Not fantasizing.
You know the difference, and you still pointlessly do this.
Do you think I can ever find someone even close to you?"
This was a grave, deep question. And a basic foundation called 'trust' and an immovable trust in our case was the only thing that will make us 'us'.
We had the foundation, a natural foundation, but time was the only thing that could solidify that.
It was difficult to put it in words, but I knew she understood what I was saying, and there was no way I was even going to try finding someone else.
She was already a part of me, no take back now.
We don't have that policy here.
There was the first time everything. And I didn't want to search for the second time in this life in this matter.
I was like these beasts too, maybe, after living among them for this long time.
I only ever wanted one, and there was only one chance for this dark heart of mine.
"If you doubted that something would go wrong, we would part ways, cliché shit like that just from hearing the words of a powerful beast, then darling, you are mistaken.
When I like something this much, there is no way in this nature I would let go or betray that belief.
I don't know how things will go with 'us', but I do know for sure… we will walk the same path for this.
While holding hands, just ."
The flow that this thing started at and what was going on is too weird, right? Well, even I can't do anything about that.
We both were sitting before each other, forgetting all the background chuckles, laughs, and fun they were having with the big tiger.
We were holding hands, fingers interlocked with others, looking at each other in this quiet moment, and she had calmed down after hearing those last words.
Even more, she was now relieved, happy, and back to her normal self.
The smile on my face made her smile, too. Actually, she smirked with a playful smile.
"Damn right, bastard. You will never find someone like me~."
The smirk on her face was deep, and this behavior that suited herself perfectly relieved my heart.
"Haaa... and I don't think there's another one as perfect and weird as the one before me.
The amazing archer who can kill a target from miles away, a close combat expert that can enter the ZONE at will with different fighting styles.
A mage and weapon wielder who just loves what he's doing.
An amazing chef I won't be able to find anywhere.
Plus, if we aren't together, how will I meet my beloved Anna more frequently?
Plus, there's that special ice cream-"
And even before she can think of reaching those words, I cut her off, fully knowing she will say something sooner or later.
And that was the quickest, cleanest, and the simplest answer I can give to her popping desires.
And as I knew, her face was suddenly clouded with disappointment and anger.
She looked at me with furious eyes, angry and cute. How is she cute when being angry , god...
"Ha... ok. You can have it when we do the spirit summoning ritual after dinner."
She was pouting just a moment ago when I declined her request, and that was just a subtle change of expression.
And I saw it so clearly that I won't ever forget it now.
Let's consider this one a free gift. No need to tell her.
But, as soon as I mentioned the spirit summoning ritual, forget Rein, the old ones who were just so naturally feigning ignorance, turned their heads toward us with an excitement-filled look.
I genuinely forgot we were with our family and that even after speaking in this almost inaudible voice, the strong old ones could hear us.
"Your fault," she complained after the sudden transition of facial expression of surprise to a playful smirk.
Now they won't leave us alone.
We both sighed in helplessness, knowing full well just how they will do everything in their power to see this summoning ritual.
And, if it were me... they knew it won't be anything normal.
Now they had another entertaining thing to see before we go back to my new home.
And we were helpless here.
I knew she will be coming with me after this talk a moment ago, but our chance of some alone nighttime was ruined.
What has happened has already passed away so we can just stay in the present and do what we can, and wanted to.
We were happy, though. Taika had cheered up the mood, and we had completely forgotten about that 'test' from a while ago.
Taika, she was quite something, and I pray dad can have enough strength to handle this beast that possessed (Indigo) ranking strength even at this moment.