The Extra's Supremacy

By afternoon, the sun was high, and the streets were alive with energy. Kain decided to take Lily outside for a little adventure before heading to Elara's workshop. He knelt down, motioning for her.

"Hop on," he said with a small smile.

Lily's eyes sparkled with excitement as she clambered onto his shoulders. "Wheee!" she squealed as he stood up, holding her legs securely.

Kain adjusted her weight and began walking through the streets. Lily tapped his head playfully. "Uncle Kain, did you know Emily from my class brought cookies yesterday? She didn't share them!"

"Didn't share, huh?" Kain said, feigning shock. "That's a grave offense in the world of cookies."

"I know, right?" Lily huffed. "And then James took my crayon, and I told him to give it back, but he said no! Being a nursery kid is so hard, Uncle Kain."

Kain chuckled at her dramatic tone. "Sounds like you're dealing with some tough situations. How do you manage it all?"

"I tell them, 'Sharing is caring!'" Lily declared proudly, throwing her arms up. "But they don't always listen."

"Well, next time someone takes your crayon, you can tell them your uncle is a powerful Ascender," Kain said, half-joking.

"Really?!" Lily gasped.

Kain smirked. "Of course. But let's not go scaring your friends just yet."

Lily giggled, leaning forward to rest her chin on Kain's head. "You're the best, Uncle Kain."

When they finally arrived at Elara's workshop, Kain gently lifted Lily off his shoulders and set her down. Elara was standing outside, chatting with a colleague, but her face lit up when she saw them.

"There's my little sunshine," Elara said, crouching down to hug Lily. She looked up at Kain with a playful smirk. "And how's our resident babysitter?"

Kain rolled his eyes. "Still alive, somehow."

Lily giggled, hugging her bunny as she looked between her mom and uncle. "We had so much fun, Mama! Uncle Kain gave me a ride, and I told him about the crayon thief!"

"Oh, did you?" Elara said with a laugh, ruffling Lily's hair.

Elara noticed a smudge of syrup on Lily's cheek and raised an eyebrow. "She had pancakes, didn't she?"

Kain smirked. "Of course. Only the best for her."

Elara shook her head with a laugh. "You spoil her too much."

Kain glanced at Lily, who was busy showing her bunny to her mother. "She deserves it," he said simply, his voice carrying an unspoken warmth.

"She forgot to brush her teeth this morning," Kain added dryly.

Elara sighed, giving Lily a mock stern look. "Lily, what did we say about taking care of your teeth?"

Lily pouted, but the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her amusement. "I'll do it tomorrow, I promise!"

Shaking her head with a fond smile, Elara turned to Kain. "Thanks for looking after her. I'll take it from here."

"No problem," Kain said, giving Lily a small wave. "Behave, okay?"

"I will!" Lily said, waving back with both hands.

As he walked away, Kain couldn't help but smile.

.....

After leaving Elara's workshop, Kain returned home, his body yearning for rest after the long day. He unlocked the door, stepped inside, and kicked off his boots without a second thought. Dropping himself onto the sofa in an awkward sprawl, he grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

The flickering light from the screen danced across the dimly lit room as Kain flipped through channels absentmindedly. A cooking show, a crime drama, a music performance—none of it held his attention.

Just as he was about to turn the TV off, something caught his eye. The screen showed the gates of the Ascender Academy, bustling with activity. An interviewer was speaking directly into the camera, her microphone poised and ready.

"This just in: the Baron Galish was found dead yesterday under mysterious circumstances," the reporter announced. "As tensions rise, we now turn to Princess Oriana for her thoughts on this incident."

The camera panned to the gates, where Princess Oriana stood, surrounded by a group of other ascenders and staff. Her long, flowing blonde hair gleamed in the sunlight, and her piercing blue eyes were as sharp as ever. The reporter stepped forward, extending the microphone toward her.

"Princess Oriana," the reporter began, her voice firm but respectful, "do you have any comments regarding the death of Baron Galish? Many are speculating it may have ties to—"

Before the reporter could finish, Oriana swept past her without so much as a glance. Her cold, regal demeanor and commanding presence silenced the area as the crowd parted to let her through.

Kain leaned forward, his interest piqued. Watching Oriana's indifference, he couldn't help but smirk.

'Her attitude is just as described in the novel,' he thought, the familiarity striking a chord with him. Princess Oriana had always been portrayed as aloof, calculating, and entirely uninterested in anything that didn't serve her goals. Seeing her in action only confirmed what he already knew.

The broadcast shifted back to the interviewer, who was trying to salvage the moment with commentary, but Kain wasn't paying attention anymore. He leaned back on sofa.

The sky outside had turned a deep shade of indigo by the time Elara and Lily returned home. The soft hum of their laughter filled the air as they entered. Elara placed her bag by the door and headed straight for the kitchen, humming a tune under her breath as she began preparing dinner.

Kain remained seated on the couch, flipping through channels without much interest, but the aroma wafting from the kitchen soon drew his attention. He made his way to the dining table as Elara set down steaming plates of food.

The family gathered around the table, and Kain dug in eagerly. He was a huge fan of his sister's cooking, savoring every bite, though his mind wandered slightly.

Midway through dinner, Kain's phone, sitting on the edge of the table, vibrated with a soft buzz. Elara, being closer to it, glanced at the screen and frowned slightly.

"The money for completing the mission and Aliyak's bounty was transferred to your account, Reaper," she read aloud, her voice neutral but curious.

Kain's fork paused mid-air for a brief moment before he resumed eating, his expression calm. "That's just from my last job," he said nonchalantly, avoiding her gaze.

Lily, blissfully unaware of the tension, finished her meal with a satisfied sigh. "That was so good! Thank you, mom!" she chirped, her innocent smile lighting up the room.

Elara smiled warmly at her niece and ruffled her hair. "You're welcome, sweetie. Now, it's time for bed. Go on, and I'll tuck you in soon."

Lily pouted slightly, reluctant to leave the table. "But I wanna stay with you and Uncle Kain!"

"Bedtime, Lily," Elara said gently but firmly.

With a dramatic sigh, Lily slid off her chair and headed to her room, leaving Kain and Elara alone at the table.

Elara leaned back in her chair, her expression shifting to something more serious. "Kain, I need to ask you something."

"What's up, Sis?" Kain asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elara's piercing blue eyes, so much like his own, fixed on him. "What's your job at the government? And don't give me some vague answer like last time."

Kain blinked, caught off guard by the directness of her question. He leaned back, considering his response. "I've told you before—it's just a desk job. Paperwork, logistics, that kind of thing."

Elara crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced. "Paperwork doesn't come with bounties, Kain. And it certainly doesn't involve aliases like 'Reaper.' What are you really doing?"

Kain sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had always admired his sister's perceptiveness, but it was moments like these that made him wish she wasn't so sharp.