Cat Mania

22. Getting Ready

A few days had passed since Kartein began the treatment.

Creak...

Kartein exited the room, a bit sweaty.

"How is it?!"

The kids jumped up from their seats, cornering him while asking questions about Jiwoo's wellbeing.

"I did it."

They stared at him, shocked.

Kartein sighed, "I fixed his core."

Their eyes lit up with excitement, with smiles to compliment it. The kids cheered happily, forgetting their hatred for each other, they went for big hug.

'It must be nice to have friends as awakeners at this age.' Kartein smiled, but it soon disappeared when he saw Kayden.

Night soon fell, leaving Jiwoo alone inside the hospital room to rest. However, Jiwoo was still wide awake.

Swoosh!

'Huh?' Jiwoo turned around.

Amyeong stood in front of the closed door.
(A/N: This is the person I called "Dark" before, I didn't realize his name was actually Amyeong, I remembered it being Dark but I guess it was a mistranslation when I first read eleceed. Amyeong means shadow ;-;)

"Wha- what're you doing here?" Jiwoo asked, horror in his eyes.

"How can you be Kayden's disciple..." Amyeong spoke. "Kayden declined many powerful awakeners begging on their knees, offering everything they had, but you, you became someone you shouldn't be. Your whole existence puts Kayden in danger!" Amyeong shouted angrily.

Jiwoo knew that. He didn't want to put Kayden in danger, but because of him, he is. "Then kill me."

Amyeong flinched.

"You came here to kill, didn't you? Then kill me!"

"..."

Swoosh

"Agh..." Jiwoo said in a low voice.

Bang!

The door swung open, making impact with the wall.

"Jiwoo!" Cale called out.

Amyeong looked back. "You..." His hand was strangling Jiwoo's neck, there was a mysterious dark power enveloping his arm to his fingertips. 'It's the person who was with Kayden when he rescued him!'

"Let go of him." Cale said, keeping his calm in this critical situation. He just came to visit Jiwoo, but then he felt a sudden unfamiliar energy coming from his room.

Amyeong let go of Jiwoo, and walked past Cale.

"Where are you going?!" Jiwoo shouted.

Amyeong looked back, "I already confirmed what I came here for." Then he left.

Cale watched as the door shut behind him, then turned towards Jiwoo, "are you alright?"

There was a slight bruise around his neck, in the shape of a hand.

"Yea..."

Cale nodded, "I'll bandage it up for you."

A few days passed and Jiwoo fully recovered with his core being perfectly fine. These days had been full of adventures and trouble.

"Are you leaving already, Kartein..?" Jiwoo asked, nervously. He had his final checkup with him.

Kartein's eyes widened. 'That's right.. I was only here to heal Jiwoo, now that he's healed, there's no need for me to be here...' he felt a bit sad thinking about this. "Yes.." He said stubbornly, walking out of the basement.

Jiwoo looked as he left, sad.

Kayden sighed, "there's no nerd for him now that you've recovered."

Jiwoo didn't answer.

Cale jumped down from the worn-out couch, "why don't you ask him to stay?" He suggested.

"H- huh?"

"I'm sure if you asked, he'll stay." Cale noticed their relationship growing stronger.

Jiwoo's lively attitude came back, "alright!" He ran upstairs.

'I'm leaving already...' Kartein gazed up at the clear blue sky. He was outside in the garden. 'I wanna stay.. but I can't go back and ask him.' He sulked. The cats tried to comfort him. 'I wanna stay with Cale a bit longer...'

"Kartein!"

Kartein looked towards the person calling him.

"Can't- can't you stay longer?" Jiwoo begged. "It seems weird having you leave so soon."

Kartein was a bit shocked, it was as if his wish came true. "Since you asked, sure."

Jiwoo exploded with a big smile, "thank you!"

Kayden smiled. "How did you know?"

Cale shrugged.

"Oh, right!" Jiwoo came to a realization. "The academy starts in a few days!"

Kayden grinned, "you better get ready then." He was talking about getting stronger.

"Yes!" Jiwoo cheered as the two ran back into the basement for training.

'These fighting obsessed bastards...' Kartein cursed, he just completely fixed Jiwoo's core and all he thinks about is fighting already.

Cale sighed, walking back inside.

——-
Shorter chapter than usual :,)