- To Make an Omelet...-
(or ‘How I returned back home and shared breakfast with Luna and Hyzenthlay’)
Beta-Reader: Ant0nius
“It looks… nice.”
Luna’s comment got a glance from me. Hyzenthlay merely hummed, her attention still latching onto the little task I’ve given to her.
While Shuck did a good job in confirming that my flat was now safe and devoid of any unpleasant visitors before ‘permanently removing’ the little issue that was the camera staring right at the flat’s inside, I decided to make a thorough look of the home.
Considering how one of the kivs supporting Locket had an old-fashioned camera on himself, it was just legitimate to be worried that the place was bugged quite meticulously and in a way so that nobody with a good understanding of technology could spot on a quick inspection.
Shuck had a basic understanding, and the only one I knew that could actually get through with this kind of task without breaking a sweat was Titania.
The water-based being was a zealot over technology, especially if this technology was something born from a Kivouachian’s hands.
Humanity was something the neutral kiv found to be a double-edged blade. We worked well with our capacity to develop new technologies as she could then study and improve on them  with her own ideas, but she absolutely despised the curiosity we were known for.
Humans were curious people, and curiosity was a good way for kivs to get their cover blown because of some nosy moron.
She mentioned visiting to check for any ‘pattern’ left behind by Locket, but that invitation was quickly postponed by Ludwig’s own orders of establishing a working ‘detection system’ to monitor any activity from the former Grand Voice.
As of now, neither the squirrel Kivouachian nor I could find anything that cemented this concern.
Stopping for a moment to address my bodyguard’s comment, I granted a brief but polite smile.
“Thank you.”
A nod from the blue-haired kiv put the interaction to a subtle conclusion.
Eventually I decided to stop checking around as I was fairly sure the flat was 100% clear and ready to be used as a safe zone for anyone passing by.
The next step for me was to reach the kitchen and grab something to eat from the fridge. As Ludwig had requested the day before, I left the Croft Estate without getting any breakfast.
Hyzenthlay decided to tag along out of personal interest, and to not get caught tired with Lucy nearby. While the murderous critter had ‘for some reason’ lessened her unique brand of teasing, she was still prone to mood swings that easily put the small kiv in a tight spot.
I wasn’t unsure about Luna’s need for breakfast, but I still decided to ask her if she wanted something to eat.
At first she refused, mentioning that she was alright as she was right now. But then, as I started to cook some eggs, I noticed her stare fixing upon the frying pan over the stove.
“Are you sure that you’re not hungry?”
Her stare trailed for a moment up to me, with her lips twitching in what looked to be a tough decision.
“I don’t wish to impose?”
The question-like response got a sigh out of me as I added a couple more eggs on the pan.
About twenty minutes passed in relative quiet and peace, long enough for the eggs to be cooked properly and for me to put them in three different plates.
I also gave Hyzenthlay some bread that she could use to dip in the yolk of the egg. While the squirrel-like Kivouachian now had a degree of appreciation for this kind of breakfast based from an earlier occurrence, I quickly noticed that she was unable to precisely manipulate her body to properly grasp the cutlery and eat the rest of the meal.
Until she got a better grasp of that part of her biology, I would need to help her with the fork-work.
As she finished eating the yolk, I started to help her with the remaining bits of the egg.
At first there wasn’t much difference from the usual. Hyzenthlay looked a little bit embarrassed, but she was perfectly aware that this wasn’t a situation born from teasing, but from actually assistance.
And while that was easy for her mind to grasp, for Luna it looked quite… odd.
She paused mid-bite, with her fork still in her mouth as she narrowed her eyes at the scene.
I noticed that stare, filled by curiosity and perplexity as I retracted the utensil from the squirrel’s lower face and back to her place. I didn’t say anything, and merely studied what kind of thoughts could’ve kept the Kivouachian this… silent.
She was thinking quickly and much, with her eyes flaring with interest as she seemed to realize on her own what was going on.
Instead of giving a direct question to confirm this idea, she merely went for a ‘careful’ query.
“How good is Hyzenthlay’s control?”
Blinking, I paused for a moment as we both stared at Luna.
“I-I’m not that good,” Hyzenthlay replied. “I didn’t have the chance to train or… or to develop on my own.”
To be fair, the small creature had been in plenty of situations that already started the small process of gaining full control of her body.
Claws were now easy for her to form from her pawns, but she was having trouble going beyond that degree of manipulation.
From what Ludwig had mentioned with his own analysis of her situation, the squirrel was either having trouble to adapt because of her ‘Squirrel DNA’ or was genuinely falling back compared to the normal kivouachian’s growth because she was living in a ‘kind environment’.
While the Kivoack wasn’t outright hostile in terms of natural existence, the climate created by their species in the densest sections of their society was quick to force only a handful to exist.
And those were the ones that managed to adapt as quickly as possible and attain their full strength at an early age.
Hyzenthlay didn’t have that kind of ‘childhood’, nor did the training provided by Fleischer (and Lucy in minor part) managed to fully help her with this kind of problem.
I had mentioned this already to the wyvern, and the kiv seemed to take the news with an intrigued  but understanding attitude.
“Considering the circumstances, you’re improving at a modest pace,” I rebuked with a sigh. “You shouldn’t kick yourself like that.”
“But- But I’ve to rely on you to avoid getting hurt by Lucy!”
Her case was as silly as it sounded, which is why Luna snorted.
“Many Kivs, even those that once worked in the Yolsh, are afraid of Lucy. Rightfully so. She was one of the most vicious judges when the Kivouack still existed,” The blue-haired Kivouachian pointed out. “You’re right to assume that your control is much weaker compared to many’s, but it’s wrong of you to be ashamed of relying on someone else to survive. It’s common for this situation to happen even now that the Kivouack doesn’t exist anymore.”
“Plus, I’m fine with this,” I added with a hum. “I think we’ve already established that.”
“If Lucy wants to hurt me, she would go through you first,” The squirrel rebuked with some insistence. “That would be my fault-”
“Nah, Lucy would first find a reason to be angry at me, and then use it to then hurt you,” I corrected with a sigh. “It wouldn’t be your fault. At least, it wouldn’t be the driving factor for her to strike at me.”
“I thought you two were close,” Luna commented with a hint of confusion.
“It’s difficult to explain. I would say that we both agree on some topics, but we also agree to disagree on other matters,” I explained… in the best way I could. At this point, with how things were changing around it was difficult to keep track of everything. Especially with the kind of relationship I had with Lucy Lacemaker.
“Friends but… not?”
“As I just said, it’s complicated.”
Luna merely nodded, the look on her face suggesting that she had accepted the implicit request of not keeping up with that madness.
But just as I turned to look back at Hyzenthlay, I noticed the squirrel giving me an odd look.
“What about me?”
I blinked, a confused look quickly replaced the relieved one that previously occupied my face.
“Hmm?”
“I mean, I understand that Lucy’s complicated- you are fine with Fleischer and Shuck… but what about me?” She elaborated some more. “What do you think of me?”
“You’re a good friend,” I replied calmly. “And someone I enjoy to talk to about many things. I trust you.”
Each addition seemed to draw a wider smile out of the squirrel kiv. In the end she nodded and seemed… happier.
“That’s good to hear.”
“And what do you think of me?”
She tensed up a little bit, her eyes widening in a mixture of surprise and… nervousness.”
“You’re… You’re a good friend too!”
The outburst made me snort, her tiny paws reaching to cover lips and eyes as she realized how loud that was.
“I’m sorry...” She apologized shortly after, making me sigh before reaching to pick her up.
Tensing up a little bit, she still allowed me to pull her by my shoulder as I calmly gave her a hug.
“There’s nothing wrong with saying something like that,” I muttered quietly. “So don’t apologize for meaning this.”
Humming, she snuggled her cheek on my neck. Saying nothing else, I turned to look at Luna and… she was failing miserably in hiding a grin over the sight in front of her.
I blinked, merely smiling in return as I waited a little more before letting Hyzenthlay out of that embrace. She looked slightly saddened by how ‘short’ that was, but soon I gave her something else to think about.
“By the way, Luna,” I started with a fascinated look. “I know this could be a private topic for you but… what is your relationship with Ludwig?”
…
“What?” She muttered calmly, trying to play off the surprised silence that ensued just as I questioned her about that.
I had noticed that something was off when the two were around, with the Grand Voice appearing ‘tamer’ and the female kiv looking terribly flustered and submitting to him.
At first I merely ruled it out as something akin to close friendship that just grew awkward with Ludwig’s promotion to leader of the Kivouachians, but…
Lucy told me a little more about these two.
Both were close, but it was debatable if this was just friendship or something more.
The only detail the murderous critter worth of some serious thinking was about a specific situation when she caught them both sneaking out of some forbidden library.
They were doing something ‘illegal’ together, and that they were caught ‘laughing at each other like a bunch of idiots’.
It was just too ‘easy’ for them both to be having that ‘tight’ relationship, but then again both were usually pretty far from each other.
With Luna at Las Vegas and Ludwig ruling from the Croft Estate, it was difficult to say for sure if they were still close or not.
“H-He’s the Grand Voice?” The blue-haired Kiv replied with some uncertainty. “Is- Is there something else you were thinking?”
“Not much thinking… just pondering over some stuff Lucy told me yesterday,” I answered with a shrug. “Still, I hope you understand I’m not trying to tease or threaten you-”
“Then why are you asking?” She retorted with some irritation. “Why?”
“Curiosity?” I rebuked calmly. “But I’m sorry to be rude and-”
“No,” Luna interrupted, her harsh tone being enough to draw me to silence.
“...”
Then she sighed, shaking her head. “I rather not talk about it.”
Nodding, I decided against keeping up any other conversation at the table.
Once we were all done with the breakfast, I took the plates and left them by the sink. I would work on those once I was done cleaning around.
I was back at home, but despite Luna’s presence and Shuck saying that nothing was touched there… I couldn’t help but think something odd.
This was my flat, but for some reason I didn’t feel safe as I was before…