This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Kain's consciousness returned slowly, like a ship emerging from a dense fog. His head felt heavy, as if it were filled with lead, and a sharp, throbbing pain pulsed behind his temples. He groaned softly, his eyelids refusing to open just yet. The migraine was unbearable, and he could feel every heartbeat reverberating through his skull like a blow from a hammer.

But as he lay there, he became aware of something else. His head was resting on something soft, something warm. The sensation was comforting, almost soothing, and it helped to dull the edge of his pain.

He inhaled deeply, and a sweet, floral scent filled his nostrils. It was faint but unmistakable, like the fragrance of blooming flowers after a spring rain. The smell was calming and familiar, but not something he could immediately place.

As the pounding in his head began to subside to a tolerable level, Kain finally mustered the strength to open his eyes. The golden light of the chamber still permeated the room, practically blinding him before his vision adjusted. His vision was still blurry, but as it cleared, he realized where he was—and more importantly, who he was with.

His head was resting in Serena's lap.

Kain's breath caught in his throat. Serena was sitting upright on the dais, her silver hair cascading around her like a halo. The golden light of the chamber illuminated her features, giving her an almost angelic quality. Her eyes were focused on something in her hands—one of the devices Kain had brought back. She was examining it carefully, her expression one of quiet concentration. Her lips were slightly parted, and her long lashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks.

'Beautiful…'

Kain almost flinched at the intrusive, absurd thought.

'What the hell is wrong with me?' he thought, his cheeks flushing slightly. 'Since when do I think things like that about her?' He quickly dismissed the thought, chalking it up to the exhaustion and the migraine messing with his brain.

'Yeah, that's it. My brain's just fried. That's all...'

But even as he tried to rationalize it, he couldn't help but notice how serene she looked, how the golden light seemed to enhance her natural beauty. He quickly shook his head, trying to clear the strange thoughts from his mind. Focus, Kain. Focus.

Serena must have sensed his movement because her gaze shifted downward, her piercing blue eyes meeting his. A relieved smile spread across her face, and for a moment, Kain's heart skipped a beat. It was rare to see Serena smile, and when she did, it was like the sun breaking through the clouds after a storm. Her smile was soft, genuine, and it made something in Kain's chest tighten.

"You're awake," she said, her voice gentle but filled with relief. "I was starting to worry."

Kain's throat felt dry, and he quickly sat up next to her, clearing his throat awkwardly as he moved away from her lap. "Yeah, I'm… I'm fine," he muttered, his voice rough. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ignore the pounding in his chest. His heart must be pounding from the earlier overexertion…

Serena's smile dropped into a frown as her brows furrowed in concern, before she raised a hand toward his forehead. "Your face is really red. Are you sure you're okay?"

Kain quickly moved his head away from her hand, "Yup. Perfectly fine."

Serena dropped her hand back down awkwardly at his strange behaviour, but smiled again. "I don't know what you did, but thank you for saving me. Even Balens couldn't heal me, and I can only imagine how much of a toll it had on you."

Kain frowned, his brow furrowing as he tried to piece together what had happened. "I… save you?" He glanced around the chamber, his eyes landing on the devices he had charged. The cube-shaped one and the cylindrical one were both glowing faintly, their sigils pulsing with a steady light. The black-purple liquid that had drained from Serena's eyes, nose, and mouth was gone, and she looked healthier than she had before. The golden light of the chamber seemed to have merged with the violet energy from the devices, creating a harmonious glow that filled the room.

"You did," Serena confirmed, her voice soft but firm. "Whatever you did, it worked."

Kain's chest tightened again, but this time it wasn't from exhaustion. He looked away, his cheeks burning. "I… I just did what I had to do," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "You would've done the same for me."

Serena's smile softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on his arm. Her touch was warm, and it sent a jolt through him. "Thank you, Kain," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "I mean it."

Kain's heart pounded in his chest, and he quickly stood up, brushing off her hand. "Yeah, well… don't mention it," he said, his tone gruff. He turned away, trying to hide the flush that was creeping up his neck.

'What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I acting like this?'

Serena spoke up. "Kain," she said, her voice serious now. "What did you do to charge these devices? I can feel the energy in them—it's powerful, but it's nothing I'd come across before. Where did it come from?"

Kain hesitated, his gaze shifting to the devices. He didn't want to tell her the truth—at least, not yet. The energy comes from a fragment of the planet's core. I'd found a small reservoir containing its energy before your Prismarin found me. I'd simply channeled its energy to the devices

At his explanation, the Prismarin tilted its head in confusion while staring at Kain. It didn't completely buy Kain's explanation. Serena had been unconscious, but he'd watched Kain's every move. While it did look like Kain was channeling energy from somewhere else into the device, if Kain had a reservoir containing energy, why go through all the pain that it'd seen him go through? Why not just wish for Balens to transfer the energy from the reservoir to the objects. Yeah, there'd be an equivalent exchange, but it can't be any worse than the pain he seemed to suffer.

It was also unclear if Serena bought his story. But she wasn't going to push him if he didn't want to explain.

She could tell that Kain had many secrets he was trying to hide, but given enough time she was confident in uncovering them.