Cat Mania

47. Aftermath

"Huh? Who're they?"

"I haven't seen them before, but don't they look like children? What're they doing here?"

"I didn't know the academy accepted kindergarteners.. is that okay...?"

Three children, wearing the academy's uniform, entered the new combined training facility.

'We can finally go to class!' Hong and Ohn excitedly held back their emotions.

'Feast your eyes on me, the great and mighty dragon, Raon Miru!' Raon confidently walked. 'You lowly humans should be praising me!'

Cale awkwardly walked behind them, not liking the attention those three gathered.

"Cale!" Jihye, along with the other unaffiliated students, ran towards him.

"I heard you won against Duke." Gangwoo smiled. "Too bad we missed it."

Jeongsu gently smiled.

"I can't believe you're that strong." Taeyoung complimented, without stuttering.

"Yeah, me too!" Gangwoo agreed. "When I heard the news, I thought I had hit my head! I heard the Grayne family was really strong."

"Oh, by the way, are your kids attending class now?" Jihye pointed out.

"Cale's kids!?"

The whole room grew shocked at the sudden information slapped into their faces.

"You have kids?!" Subin urgently inquired.

"Aren't you too young to be having kids, Cale?!" Jisuk was flabbergasted.

"Are the new students his kids...?"

"They don't look similar."

Cale groaned. "They're adopted." He corrected them.

"Ah.." Subin slowly backed away, embarrassed. "I didn't know that..." She turned away, blushing red.

"Pft-" Jisuk let out a small laugh.

"Don't laugh at me!" Subin jabbed Jisuk on the shoulders.

"Ack-" Jisuk ran away.

"I didn't expect you to have children." Gangseok approached them. "What's their names?" He asked.

"I'm the almighty and great Raon Miru!" The black-headed boy proudly presented himself.

"I'm Ohn." The grey-headed girl spoke.

"And I'm Hong." The dull-red haired boy went last.

"You rejected the principal's offer to be his disciple at first. Did you ask him to allow your children into the academy as a condition to becoming his disciple?" Gangseok was quick on things.

"The principal offered him to be his disciple?"

'You couldn't ask this in private?' Cale was dying from the amount of stares directed at him.

"And he fulfilled his conditions.. was the principle that desperate...?"

'You all are wrong.' Cale wanted to say, but kept silent. "He was just benevolent, seeing talent in me and my children.." Cale tried driving away from their attention.

"Well, if it were me, I would go to those lengths to recruit him as well."

Gangseok watched Cale carefully. "If that's what you say." He nodded, then headed off. 'The principal didn't accept me as his disciple. Not only that, but you defeated both me and Duke. I don't think he's just benevolent.'

'He didn't use my force control...'

Kayden and Kartein sat inside Cale's room, filled with despair. They had been at the event, saw Cale fighting against Duke. For some reason, they were saddened, when throughout the entire fight, Cale didn't use either of their powers.

'To think, despite having a bit of my power, used other powers. But most of all, he had a high efficiency with them. It isn't common to be well-versed in two abilities.' Kayden thought. 'Just how did he wield three.. no, four.. attributes at such a young age... even I can't do that.... Wait.. I, the great Kayden, can't do that?!' A dark, ominous aura surrounded the fat cat.

On the other side...

Kartein grabbed his non-existent cat fur with his claws, his gaze showed that he had gone insane. 'He didn't even use my force control, or even get hurt!... wait, he didn't get hurt?' His eyes lit up. 'Then he must've used my healing, there's no way he could've gone off unscathed!' Kartein smirked.

Creak...

"I'm back." Cale opened the door.

The kids flooded inside him room.

"What's wrong with the two of you?" Cale asked, noticing their bad condition.

"It's nothing." Kayden sighed.

'Whatever. It's none of my business anyways.' Cale fell onto the bed.

"Dad. Shouldn't you wash up before going to sleep?" Ohn reminded him.

"Ugh.." Cale groaned slightly, pushing himself up. He headed towards the bathroom.

Shortly, he came out. Hair dripping wet with water, with a towel over his head. He roughly rubbed the towel around his head.

Cale sat on the bedside.

Knock knock

"Who is it?" Cale asked as he went to open the door.

"The principal requested you to meet him in his personal training facility." The informant left after relaying the word.

Cale sighed. "I'll be back." He told the kids and the other adults. Cale quickly changed back to his uniform and left.

"Have you been practicing with my force control?" Seongik asked.

Cale had arrived. He was now sitting down in the middle of the room like last time.

"Yeah." Cale nodded. He lied, he didn't do much with it. Cale closed his eyes, focusing on channeling his powers throughout his body.

"Oh-ho?" Seongik chuckled. "It's seems you have. Your capacity and efficiency has increased." He commented. 'I didn't expect him to get so far within those few days... impressive.'

Now that he mentioned it, ever since Cale learnt his force control, his body was lighter when using his powers.

"Why don't we put it to a practical test?" Seongik suggested. "Try attacking me."

Cale took a stance of a long-ranged offensive position. He flung his arm across, sending a wind slash similar to the ones he used in his previous fights.

Boom!

His attacks hit the wall, scratching the surface, Seongik had easily dodged them.

'Even with the same input, the outcome is different and the toll on my body has lessened.' Cale observed.

"Do you like it?" Seongik smiled. "I developed the skill myself, since I'm starting to get old and frail at this age."

'You sure don't look old and frail.' Cale sarcastically thought. 'I should be the one saying that...'

"Your attacks are very predictable and slow." Seongik then commented, giving Cale advice. "Let's start with your movements. It's obvious what you would do next, where the attack is aimed, and your ambitions."

'So what do you want me to do?' Cale got up from the floor.

Seongik continued to teach Cale, improving his stance and hindsight.

"What do you mean Cale won't be going back with us?" Jiwoo asked Seongik, worried with sadness.

——-
Happy Lunar New Year!

I'll try to make a new years special, but it'll probably be out later tonight or tomorrow:,)