Enigma of Sin

The next morning, Kayn woke up early as he usually did so that he could practice his Void Star technique to steadily increase his core's level while he performed the martial forms that he was taught all those years ago.

He didn't necessarily need to do it still, but it helped keep him centered and he honestly felt that he was absorbing more mana this way than just sitting there, though he hadn't actually tested it.

After cleaning himself up and dawning his professor uniform, he woke Lara up and went to the kitchen, placing her into her high chair with some food he already had prepared for her. Kayn inwardly chuckled a little as he knew that Kinzie was still asleep, she was always sleeping until the last minute, ever since he met her.

However, he also knew exactly how to get her up and out of bed, the smell of food. So, he began to cook a couple of gourmet omelets for the two of them. Kayn was already aware that she didn't have class this morning and usually just trained by herself during this time, so he wasn't worried about her being late to class since she didn't have her uniform with her.

Within a few minutes of the egg aroma spreading, Kinzie appeared in the kitchen in her pajamas with messy hair and rubbing her eyes. Only when she opened them did she remember it wasn't her grandpa cooking or his place, but Kayn's.

She bolted back to the guest room before returning a few minutes later with her hair neatly pulled up into a pony tail and back in the dress she had on the night before.

"Good morning, breakfast will be ready shortly." Kayn stated as pretended that he hadn't seen her the first time.

"Okay, thank you for cooking once again." Kinzie thanked Kayn as this would save her a trip to the cafeteria. Plus, if it tasted anywhere as good as the food last night, she would probably ask Kayn if she could pay him contribution points to cook food for her in the future.

Just the thought of last night's food made her mouth water. At this rate, if Kayn did cook for her, she would have to put in more effort to not get fat.

And as she expected, the omelets were delicious. The egg was mixed with peppers, onions, cheese, and a sausage made from the same type of bird which laid the eggs. This was another one of the dishes that Kayn prided himself on as he had learned how to make several varieties of omelet when he was on Earth.

After they finished eating, Kayn once again cleaned the dishes in almost an instant and stated that he had to prepare Lara before leaving for lessons. Kinzie nodded, but then asked Kayn to wait for a minute when he returned with Lara all dressed up for the day as she pulled out a communication crystal from her bag and activated it.

A few seconds of glowing later, a voice echoed out from the other side, "Hello my granddaughter that doesn't call me enough. I'm surprised you're awake so early on a day you don't have class, did something happen?" Rowen spoke in a jokingly chiding voice.

Hearing his chiding, Kinzie decided to play a prank on him and responded as seriously as she could, "Yes, something did happen Grandpa." Rowen waited for her to continue as he could hear the tone behind her words.

"I saw Kayn. He's alive. He saw me too and just frowned. He didn't even bother to wave or say hi before disappearing back into streets of the academy."

"Are you sure you didn't imagine him? I find it hard to believe that he would be allowed to be a student with how far along he was already!" Rowen spoke as the person he remembered probably wouldn't benefit from being a student, unless he changed to being a trade skills master.

"I know it was him Grandpa! He was wearing a professor uniform. But the main point is that he frowned at me and ignored me!"

Kayn who had been silently listening in on the conversation raised his brows as he was curious what that old man would say about him once he had lost Kinzie's favor. And just as he suspected…

"Little brat bastard! Just forget about him, you've made other friends now, haven't you? He was probably just trying to get in your pants or something and when he failed, he ditched you! He's just a scamming twerp, so don't worry about him and forget he even existed if that's how he's going to act towards you."

Rowen's voiced raised a notch as he was angry for her. He had been thinking Kayn was a good kid after all the stories Kinzie shared with him, but now, he flipped his gear and tried to dissuade Kinzie from thinking about him.

However…"Pffffftt" Kinzie couldn't stop a laugh from escaping her lips as she was enjoying Kayn's stumped expression with his eyes wide and mouth open. He didn't think that the old man thought that poorly of him.

Rowen heard her suppressed laugh and suddenly had a bad premonition. "Actually Papi, I lied." Kinzie spoke as Rowen knew his premonition was true as Kinzie would only call him 'papi' now when she was in a really good mood or something amazing had happened to her.

"I did find Kayn. He's alive and okay, but he had been through a lot. He even invited me to his home and cooked dinner for me while he explained everything that had happened and why he hadn't called me or accepted my calls. It turns out his crystal was destroyed. In fact, he's right here, say hi Kayn."

"Hello again Enchanter Rowen, or should I call you Old Man Rowen for old time's sake? I am a brat after all." Even though Rowen couldn't see him, he knew the little bastard was smirking while poking fun at him.

"Fine, fine. I apologize for calling you a brat bastard, but you are a scammer, so that sticks. Anyway, it sounds like you properly apologized to my precious granddaughter. You didn't do anything shady to her did you?" Rowen narrowed his eyes at the crystal as he spoke.

"Grandpa!" Kinzie yelled out as she was not at all expecting him to ask something like that. "He only made me dinner as we talked, he even made breakfast!" Unfortunately, she clapped a hand over her mouth right after she spoke realizing that she made things worse.

"Give the crystal back to that bastard right now! I'll kill him!" Rowen yelled as he assumed something had happened. From her own words, she spent the night at his place after all!

"It's fine! I just ended up at his place past curfew as he was telling me what had happened to him. He offered me the guest room, nothing happened, so stop thinking that it did!" Kinzie rebuked Rowen since she didn't want him to get the wrong impression.

"Alright, well we can talk about everything later. Maybe all three of us can meet up one of these days. And kid, I'm glad you're alright. You had Kinzie downright depressed for a while there. I expect you to make it up to her."

"Of course." Kayn smiled as the crystal dulled, indicating that Rowen had disconnected their call.

He then looked at Kinzie. "Now, I really have to get going. If you don't have classes today, you're free to stay here. Otherwise, let's go as if you're caught exploring the area without me, they will suspect you of something."

"Wait, what about Lara? I didn't think you'd trust anyone enough to leave her alone with them, and surely you don't take her to class with you." Kinzie wondered out loud as Kayn was currently holding Lara in his arms.

"Ah, you're correct, I don't. Here I'll show you where Lara stays while I'm out." Without waiting for her reply, he pointed in front of him as the Wanderer's Villa in its tent form appeared in the living room.

Kayn pulled back the flap that was acting as the door and gestured for Kinzie to enter. When Kayn entered in behind her, he practically ran into her as she had stopped in the middle of the doorway, standing in awe at the scene before her. It was like an entirely separate house was inside this tent that appeared out of nowhere! 

"Follow me, I'll explain as I set up Lara for the morning." Kayn said as he began walking forward towards Lara's playroom.

"You remember Elder Earthborn, the dragon I mentioned? Well, he and I had a little bet and I won this place from him before he ascended to the Celestial world. Though, I guess it's better to say that I received it as a payment for solving a million-year-old problem for him."

"But where did you pull it out from? I didn't see you reach into a pocket or bag, unless you have a dimensional ring, but I remember you telling me last night that your family's ring was lost." Kinzie interrupted as she couldn't see Kayn's intent to continue speaking from behind him.

"I was getting there," Kayn chuckled softly as he knew she was immensely curious about the Villa. "After I obtained it, it evolved into what is called a Noumenon Artifact, meaning it's connected with my soul and I can store it there.

"I'm also allowed to keep a total of four people inside of the Villa while it is resting in my soul, as long as they are registered in the database it has. I can even create an avatar that sees and hears everything happening inside, transmitting it to me in real time. So, I never have to worry about Lara while she is in here."

"Amazing…" Kinzie uttered as this place was even more astounding than she initially thought. And before she knew it, there was another Kayn standing in front of her. The real Kayn placed Lara on a mat with her toys all around her before he turned around, once more having Kinzie follow him to the exit.

"I'll show you more another time, but for now take this and we can meet again when we have free time." Kayn then handed her a crystal as he absorbed the Villa back into his soul. Kinzie absentmindedly took the crystal as she stood in a daze after the Villa with Lara inside had vanished just like that.

She regained her composure and her face lit up with determination, "I have a lecture this afternoon that lasts until the last bell, but I want to meet you again tonight. We can even have dinner again! If you don't want to cook, we can go to the restaurant in the shopping district, but I won't take no for an answer! We have a lot of catching up to do!"

Kayn smiled as he didn't mind. Most of his nights were either spent training himself, adjusting lesson plans, playing with Lara, or playing the piano. In fact, he was even interested in seeing Kinzie's reaction to his music.

"Dinner it is then. I'll meet you at the restaurant an hour after you get out of class. I want to feed Lara first, then I'll just have her nap or play in the Villa so we can have dinner with just the two of us." Kinzie beamed and even blushed a little once Kayn stated his intent for it to be just the two of them.

Fortunately for Kayn, hours were a thing here with the bell tower's magic sun dial contraption. So, he was able to put a time on things better for the people he was with.

Though minutes and seconds still weren't a thing. Even if he kept track of them himself at times, he couldn't find the right words in the current language to describe them.

He and Kinzie left the gated area and separated after she confirmed once more when and where to meet later on that day. Kayn's eyes followed her figure as she practically skipped away to her own merry tune. It was quite obvious she was overjoyed at being reconnected.

Kayn himself was the same as he honestly really missed their connection as they had grown quite close, even after they separated, they talked almost daily if they could. She truly was his best friend in this life. Now that he found her again, he couldn't wait to pick up where they left off.