Capricorn looks at him with a raised eyebrow. She knew that smile all too well… and the emptiness in his eyes? Let's say it wasn't the best way to ruffle her feathers when she was already tired.
Because dang it, he was right— she was indeed pretty tired.
She sighs and tenses up a little.
''If you say so…''
She glances at the bartender.
''Give me another drink—
-With twenty percent foam and eighty percent juice.'' Adam adds.
She stares back at him, who was already looking at her with a smug grin.
''I told you, angel~ I know you better than anyone~''
She rolls her eyes at him and turns around in her stool.
''I wish my crew was here… at least I'd get to choose who I could talk to…''
Adam chuckles.
''Well, I know I'd choose you.''
He leans in.
''I'd choose you every single time…'' he tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her circular earrings.
She blinks at him before leaning back.
''That was intense… and hugely unnecessary…''
She mumbles.
She fishes a map in her coat and pulls it out for him to see.
She sets it down on the bar and places a finger on Chocland.
''I need your help getting onto Chocland…''
Adam smirks and looks at her with those infuriating purple eyes of his…
''The Great Capricorn asking for help, I see…''
He looks back down at the map.
''I could help you get there… but I thought you preferred fighting me, not bonding with me.''
She shoots him a death glare.
''I do enjoy fighting you.''
She huffs.
''But I rather you being useful.''
Adam chuckles.
''If you say so, angel…''
She glares at him.
He started looking at the map. It only showed a few planets and the distances between them. From Pottam to Chocland, there were 50 years of travel… at lightning speed…
Adam cringed at that.
It was possible to teleport there, but the amount of magic would be huge… and that wasn't the only problem…
If they had to fight The King, it would be better to try getting even stronger.
Capricorn was The Greatest Hero, yet even she felt uncomfortable at the idea of that fight…
Noticing this, Adam gently pats her back.
''Are you sure you can do it…? Last time you were on Chocland, things were rough…''
She shrugs with a smirk.
''Saving people is kinda my thing~ people admire me for it. It's my job…''
The bartender hands her other beer as she drinks it in just a few minutes.
Adam sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
''We both know you don't want to go there…'' he grumbles. ''Why do you have to be so stubborn?''
She shrugs.
''I like being admired.''
She smirks and stands up.
She puts her tailcoat back on and grins at him.
''Besides, aren't you the one who likes it when people think we're a couple~?''
A slow smirk forms on his lips as he stands up.
He takes her hat to ruffle her hair with it.
''We are a couple.''
She snorts.
''Rivals at best.''
She walks her way out of the bar with him.
He followed her close.
He reluctantly allowed Silver to leave.
He would never let Capricorn.
''Wait a second…'' she pauses in her tracks. ''Where the heck is Coco?''
Adam blinks before humming in thought.
Should he tell her…? On one hand, if she found Coco that meant she'd find William… but on the other hand, Cap will kill him if he lies to her again…
He grumbled under his breath.
''I'm not sure, but…''
Meanwhile, Coco, William and Leyla were still walking towards the mountain.
William and Leyla could both feel their breathing grow steadier since they started walking. Did Coco's training already work?
William smiled to himself and took Leyla's hand. Coco was actually useful…
After 10 other kilometers— or five hours later— Coco came to a stop and turned to look at them with a sigh.
''Another break…?'' He grumbled under his breath.
William thought about it before shaking his head… though his stomach was growling…
''No. Let's wait an hour or two more…''
Coco smiled, surprised.
He didn't expect William to turn off a such tempting offer…
He was growing.
'They grow up so quickly…' he thought. 'I would wipe away a tear if they weren't so weak—'
Coco turned back and sighed in contentment.
''Good thinking…''
He started walking again.
''So, from now on…''
He abruptly turned around again and slapped William. Much harder this time.
William rubbed his cheek and looked at him with wide eyes.
''Why did you do that—?! I thought we were going somewhere—!!
-From now on, as we'll continue walking, I'll make some surprise attempts to hit you.''
He smiled widely.
William blinked and made a nervous smile.
''You're not actually serious, right…?''
Coco snorts and keeps walking.
William's smile slowly fades as he whines.
''Come onnnnnnnnnn….!''
As promised, an hour later, they were eating.
They all chased a few animals.
Chickens, rats, cows… everything was chased.
William came back with a dead chicken.
Leyla came with a dead pig.
And Coco came back with a dead cheetah.
When William was about to make a fire with some wood, Coco slapped his head.
''HEY!!!''
Coco just smiled sweetly.
''Time for you to make a fire with your magic.''
William's eyes widen.
''W-What do you mean… 'with our magic'? I don't think I have this capacity…''
Coco smirks.
''You don't.''
He nods towards Leyla, who was stroking a rabbit.
''She can.''
William's eyes widen. He looks over at his sister.
''Really…?''
Coco nods.
''The Goddess of Day has that capacity, doesn't she?
-But Leyla worships The Cloud Goddess…'' William mumbles.
Coco shrugs.
''Some Gods have more than one thing to handle… The Goddess of Surreal is also The Goddess of Clouds, Day, as I said, and whatever else she is…'' he mumbled under his breath.''
William blinked.
''I always thought she was only The Cloud Goddess…''
Coco snorts.
''To be fair, as a God, I would be pretty depressed if it would be my case…''
William chuckles.
''True…''
Leyla came back with the bunny while humming happily.
Coco smiled at her and stood up.
''Alright… now we eat and walk back towards the mountain, but first…''
He chuckles.
''You're going to train your fire powers!''
She blinked with a nervous smille.
''You're not actually serious… right, mister Coco…?''
He raises a curious eyebrow.
''When have I ever been anything else than serious?''
They just stare at him and mumble a small 'never…'.
He rolls his eyes at them and nods towards the wood.
''Come on, try. I know that fire isn't the easiest thing to control… but you have to at least try. You'll never get better if you stay in your comfort zone…''
She takes deep breath and crouches down, resting a finger on one of the branches.
She takes a deep breath and concentrates.
She closes her eyes, her breathing growing steadier.
A few, small sparks started to form from her finger. But there wasn't any fire yet…
She could feel her finger getting warm, but she couldn't push it further yet…
Coco smirked and nodded.
''I approve of this.''
He pats her head.
The birds nearby chirped in contentment.
''See? You're already improving. In a few weeks, you should be able to burn a whole forest.
-I don't think I would want to do that—''
He just kept smiling and patting her head.
She actually enjoyed the attention and leaned into it…
William was looking at them with a soft smile… and a hint of jealousy. He wanted to become strong too.
But Coco only showed Leyla the strings.
He felt like a spectator.
And he didn't like it…