"That guy had some nerve," Koniko said as she scrubbed Kojo's back.
"Yeah," Lin agreed. "At some point, I wanted to cut him up."
"He must think he's tough if he could walk up to me with a threat," Kojo said.
"Are you sure you'll be alright in your next fight?" Adriana asked.
"Don't worry, princess. I'll be alright, but that's not the issue," Kojo said, blushing. He tried to get out of the tub, but the girls grabbed him and forced him back into it.
"You're not getting away," Sharone said, hugging him, her breasts pressed against his chest. Just then, Millian walked in.
"Hah, who, what, where? Oh, Millian, it's you," Kojo said, looking at Sharone who was clinging tightly to him.
"This isn't what it looks like."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," she said with a smile. "I must insist that you postpone your lovemaking. The Doctor wants to see you."
"Doctor?"
"Yes, Doctor Olson. He was the one who nursed you after you passed out from your fight with Keo," Adrianna said.
"Oh, okay."
Kojo eyed the man sitting across from him in the Duke's sitting room suspiciously.
"Where are the girls?"
(They're out shopping. Something about getting ingredients to make you something.)
Kojo smirked, but it vanished as quickly as it had come. He eyed the man who sat sipping tea.
Doctor Ryan Oslon appeared to be in his mid-twenties and wore a petty coat over a white long-sleeved shirt. Kojo couldn't sense any arcana coming off him, and yet he had a menacing presence, more sinister than anything he'd ever faced. Kojo noticed a ring on the ring finger of his left hand.
"Huh?"
"Pardon?" Olson asked in a polished accent.
"It's nothing. So why did someone as accomplished as you wish to see me?" Kojo said with an emotionless voice.
"Why the hostility? I simply came to check how you were faring. I was the one who attended to you when you collapsed. That was truly an interesting case. You showed symptoms of Arcana overload and yet had almost no magic power in your body. Then there was your fight with Jattara. I dare say you're the first being to survive the Sunderer poison. Not only that, but you totally erased its effects, essentially saving the entire Province."
"Where were you? I heard you weren't around," Kojo asked.
"I had to rush out of the city to the nearby town of Paloma to treat an epidemic, so you must pardon me."
Kojo just grunted.
Oslon just looked at him.
"Right," Oslon said, putting the cup down and getting to his feet.
"Right. I don't know why, but I'm sensing you have distrust toward me. I wouldn't trust me if I were in your situation. Well, I'll take my leave. I'll do well to see your next match," he said with a smile before walking away.
"Sysia,"
(Yeah. He's got something to do with the events that are transpiring.)
Oslon stood outside the Estate. He looked back, his eyes glowing. He ran his hair through his hair and walked away.
Smoke filled the mansion. Kojo ran to the kitchen and saw the girls struggling to put out a fire.
"What are you guys doing?"
"Oh, Kojo," Sharone said, startled. "Well, we thought we'd make you something yummy to eat to make you feel better, but things aren't going as planned," she said.
Kojo blinked, shook his head, and smiled. Frost covered the entire kitchen, putting out the fire.
"Let's start over," Kojo said, tying an apron behind him and walking forward. Soon, the leftover ingredients and partly burnt ones were transformed into delicacies, their aroma filling the entire estate.
Lin looked at how Kojo was happily teaching them how to make various dishes and made them taste some of them.
"Kojo, I'm worried," she said as Kojo fried an egg.
"Don't worry, Lin, the fire's low, so it won't burn. See?" He said, flipping it.
"No, not that. I mean your fight with Axle. I mean, he is all sparkly and gross with a high and mighty attitude, but he's one of the best swordsmen and wind mages in the kingdom. Aren't you a little bit afraid?" she asked. The others looked at him. Kojo put the egg on a plate, then turned facing the stove, facing them.
"Listen, guys, his threats are just words. Me, I won't talk much. I'll just show action. And as they say, action speaks louder than words." He smiled and patted Lin's head. The smell of smoke filled the kitchen.
"Uh, Kojo," Adriana tried to draw his attention. "Don't worry about me. I've already had my fair share of near-death experiences. This is gonna be a walk in the park."
Reynolds cleared his throat. They turned to see him leaning at the entrance.
"Yo, Rey. What's cooking, man?"
"You are," he responded.
"Yeah, it's kinda obvious. Any special requests?"
"You know you're literally on fire, right?"
"Huh?" Kojo turned and saw his pants had caught fire. He yelled and jumped around, trying to put it out.
The girls giggled at this.
"I heard you were the one who made this dinner," the King said.
"I did, with a little help. That dish right there is pudding." He winked at the girls who blushed. Kojo was, however, feeling more uncomfortable. The entire royal family was eating with them. He looked over at Yukio. Their gazes met, and she smiled. Leo leaned over and frowned. Kojo ignored him. The raid chief was supposed to be there, but he was still out of town trying to stop a misunderstanding with the goblins living in the east. Doctor Olson happened to be in town and was invited to join them. He smiled at Kojo.
"This is pudding?" The king looked at him, then tried a taste. He then melted as the flavor of the food blew his mind away, causing him to melt due to its deliciousness.
"It's sooooo good!!!" he exclaimed, serving more.
The others tried it too and were overwhelmed by it.
"Atari Kojo, accompany me back to the Capitol and become the royal chef," King Gorges said.
"If I survive the tournament, I'll consider it," Kojo responded politely.
"Well, Kojo does make some delicious food. As I said, he's an asset to the province, so I can't allow you to snatch him away," Duke Philip said.
"Come on now, Philip, stop hoarding the young man. You should allow him room to improve his talents," Duchess Vincentia said.
(Isn't she the same person who wanted you dead a few days ago?)
"I'm shocked," Kojo thought, looking at her. His gaze moved away from the Listowell siblings, who were arguing over who'd get him if he survived the tournament, and moved over to Olson, who sat quietly eating his food. He noticed Kojo looking at him and raised his head and smiled at him, his eyes flashing.