Kain's Room / Evening
He tossed his pen down with a dramatic sigh, slumping over the desk.
Homework.
Ugh.
The cruel, endless bane of every student's life, even his.
He rubbed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and lazily stared at the ceiling.
The system was quiet, for once, offering no easy cheats or skip buttons.
He was on his own.
Truly a cruel fate.
Knock knock!
Kain groaned.
"If it's Finn asking me to double-check his essay, I'm throwing him out the window"
He dragged himself off the chair and shuffled to the door, unlocking it with a click.
He swung it open.
And there she was.
Alyssa stood smiling up at him, her pink hair shining under the hall lights, her sea-blue eyes warm and shy.
In her hands was a neatly wrapped basket, the soft smell of baked sweets floating into his room.
"Um... good evening, Kain," she said sweetly, voice almost musical.
"I... I made too many snacks while practicing, and I thought... maybe you'd like some?"
[ System Update ]
[ Quest Triggered: "Accept Alyssa's Homemade Gift" ]
[ Rewards: Small Affection Boost, Possible Loyalty Boost ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 25% (+2%) ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 16% (No Change) ]
Kain blinked slowly.
He wasn't sure if it was the fatigue, the smell of fresh sweets, or the goddamn vision of purity standing in front of him, but something twisted warm in his chest.
He leaned casually against the doorframe, lips quirked up.
"You baked all this yourself?" he asked, voice low and lazy.
Alyssa nodded quickly, cheeks pinkening.
"I... I wanted to practice more. And... and I thought, you helped Finn a lot today, so you deserved a reward too!"
Kain stared at her.
'Was this girl even real?'
'So sweet, it's like she fell out of a dream'
He reached out, taking the basket carefully from her hands, brushing her fingertips just slightly.
Alyssa looked like she might faint from the brief touch, quickly looking down at her shoes, flustered.
"Thanks, Alyssa," Kain said, softer than usual.
"This means a lot"
She peeked up at him, face glowing like a candle.
"I... I hope you like them!"
[ System Update ]
[ Bonus: "Shared Moment" — Minor Hidden Stat Increase with Alyssa ]
Kain chuckled to himself, stepping back.
"You want to come in for a minute? I got tea," he offered, playing the casual big brother card like a damn master.
Alyssa's eyes widened like he had just invited her to a royal banquet.
"I- I don't want to bother you—!"
"You're not," Kain said smoothly.
"Promise"
Alyssa fidgeted a little, then nodded shyly, stepping inside.
Kain closed the door behind her with a click, feeling the system quietly hum in satisfaction.
He set the basket down and turned to see Alyssa looking around his messy room like it was some grand adventure.
Kain grinned behind her back.
This was going to be fun.
A Little Later
Kain poured the tea lazily, sliding a cup toward Alyssa as she sat nervously at the edge of his bed.
She held the cup with both hands, almost like it was some sacred relic.
Her eyes darted around, taking in the random scattered papers, the books on the desk, and the sword leaning against the wall.
Everything about her screamed pure, sheltered noble girl, seeing the "rough commoner life" for the first time.
Kain sat back down at his desk chair, sipping his own cup, watching her like a lazy cat watching a sparrow.
Not hunting.
Just enjoying the view.
"So," Kain said casually, smirking a little.
"First time in a guy's room?"
Alyssa nearly choked on her tea, coughing and turning bright red.
"I—I—I mean—I've visited my brother's room before—but that's different—I—"
Kain chuckled low under his breath.
[ System Update ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 27% (+2%) ]
'Cute'
Alyssa finally managed to calm down, setting her cup down carefully on the nightstand.
"Um... Kain?" she asked, voice soft.
"Yeah?"
She fidgeted with her skirt a little, twirling the hem nervously.
"What's it like... being Finn's best friend? He always talks about you like you're... amazing. Like some kind of older brother he really admires..."
Kain blinked, caught off guard for half a second.
Finn...?
Admiring him like that...?
[ System Notice: Hidden Loyalty Quest Available: "Support the Hero's Love Journey" ]
'Heh. What a dumb, good kid'
Kain leaned back, putting one arm over the back of his chair, looking effortlessly relaxed.
"Finn's... one of the best people I know," he said, voice lower, honest.
"Kind. Brave. A little dumb sometimes, but... he always does his best for the people he cares about"
Alyssa's eyes practically sparkled.
She hugged her knees a little closer to her chest, smiling like the sun.
"I... I think so too," she whispered.
[ System Update ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 30% (+3%) ]
He set his cup down, leaning forward slightly.
"You really like him, huh?"
Alyssa's cheeks burned scarlet, but she nodded shyly.
"I... I think I might be falling for him..."
[ System Update ]
[ Mood Meter: Alyssa → Kain: Comfortable 85% / Shy 90% ]
Kain leaned his chin on his hand, watching her, feeling oddly... amused.
And maybe... a little protective.
Not because he was jealous.
It was just that she was that innocent.
He let a slow, lazy grin cross his lips.
"Then you better be ready," Kain said, voice teasing.
"Finn's an idiot when it comes to romance. You'll have to lead him around by the nose"
Alyssa giggled, covering her mouth with both hands.
"Y-You're terrible, Kain!"
"But... maybe you're right..."
The sound of her laugh was warm, sweet, like honey in tea.
Kain leaned back in his chair, satisfied.
And as Alyssa talked more, asking him about Finn, about school life, even about swordplay, Kain found himself honestly answering her.
No lies.
No tricks.
Just... being the good best friend.
Alyssa laughed again, the sound soft and musical.
Kain just sipped his tea, letting her talk, answering when needed.
It was... oddly peaceful.
Until—
"Um... Kain?" Alyssa asked, her fingers twiddling together in her lap.
She looked almost nervous again, her eyes wide and hopeful.
"Yeah?"
She leaned forward slightly, voice dropping to an almost conspiratorial whisper.
"Would you... maybe... spar with me sometime?"
Kain raised a brow, caught off guard.
"Spar with you?" he repeated, setting his cup down.
Alyssa nodded quickly, cheeks pink.
"I just—! I know Finn's so amazing, and he must've learned so much from you too, and I- I wanna get better!"
She flailed her hands a little, looking adorably frantic.
"I'm not very good... but I wanna understand! Like how he moves... how he fights...!"
Kain tilted his head lazily, one elbow propped on the chair.
'Man... she's serious'
'...And kinda cute about it, too'
[ System Update ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 33% (+3%) ]
[ Mood Meter: Alyssa → Kain: Excited 78% / Nervous 60% ]
He smirked a little.
"Sure," he said, pretending to think it over.
"But no crying when you lose, alright?"
Alyssa puffed up her cheeks, her small hands curling into tiny fists.
"I won't cry!" she insisted.
"Besides, Finn always says you're super scary when you fight seriously! So—! I'm ready!"
Kain laughed under his breath, genuinely amused.
[ System Notice: Quest Accepted – "Teach the Pure Flower" ]
[ Objective: Spar with Alyssa without hurting her ]
[ Reward: +5 Affection, +10% Loyalty, Possible Unlock: Protective Bond ]
'Heh... this system's way too easy sometimes'
Just as he was about to say something else, there was a knock at his door.
"Yo, Kain, are you alive in there?!"
Finn's dumb, cheerful voice rang out.
Kain rolled his eyes.
"Come in"
Finn barged in like always, a big grin on his face, holding some dumb manga he wanted to show off.
He paused, seeing Alyssa sitting on Kain's bed, sipping tea.
"Whoa!" Finn blinked.
"You two getting along, huh?"
Alyssa brightened instantly, beaming at Finn.
"Mhmm! Kain's so nice! He even agreed to spar with me sometime!"
Finn grinned like an idiot, thumbs-upping Kain without a care in the world.
"Atta boy! Teach her good, bro!"
Kain just smirked, lazy and amused.
'God, he really is a moron. Doesn't even think for a second anything weird's going on'
"Yeah, yeah," Kain said, waving a hand lazily.
"I'll go easy on her. Promise"
Finn flopped onto Kain's couch without permission, already flipping through his manga.
He didn't notice Alyssa still smiling shyly at Kain, her face a little pink.
And Kain?
Kain just leaned back, savoring the moment.
Playing the perfect best friend.
Training Yard / The Next Day
The late afternoon sun hung low, casting a soft orange hue over the empty training grounds.
Kain leaned lazily against the wooden fence, arms crossed, watching Alyssa bounce on her toes with an excited grin.
She wore simple training clothes, loose-fitting but modest, and carried a wooden practice sword a little too big for her hands.
"You ready?"
Kain asked, a lazy smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Mhmm!"
Alyssa nodded eagerly, gripping her sword with both hands.
She practically sparkled with excitement.
Kain pushed himself off the fence, walking slowly to the center of the ring, stretching his arms over his head.
'Man... she's way too bright for this world'
[ System Notice ]
[ Quest: "Teach the Pure Flower" – In Progress ]
[ Objective: Spar without hurting her ]
[ Bonus Objective: Raise Affection during the match ]
[ Progress: 0% ]
Kain rolled his shoulders and took a stance, relaxed, casual, no killing intent, no sharp movements.
Just... a warm spar.
"Alright, Alyssa," he said, voice lighter than usual.
"Come at me however you like. No pressure"
Alyssa took a deep breath, nodded, and rushed forward with an adorable yell that sounded more like a kitten's mewl.
Her swing was clumsy, a wide, obvious arc aimed for Kain's side.
He could've dodged with his eyes closed, but instead, he parried gently, tapping her blade aside with a light touch.
"Good! Keep your footing tighter, though," Kain said, encouraging.
Alyssa stumbled a little, cheeks puffing out in frustration.
"I'll get it!"
She rushed again, trying a vertical strike this time.
Kain stepped aside, lightly tapping her shoulder with two fingers as he passed.
"Balance, Alyssa. Feel the ground"
Alyssa turned, panting but smiling.
"You make it look so easy!" she said, laughing breathlessly.
Kain chuckled under his breath, his usual cold sharpness nowhere to be found.
He stayed loose, playful, almost offering openings, coaching her with little hints instead of punishing her mistakes.
To Alyssa...
He wasn't the cold, dangerous Kain that Finn barely survived fighting.
He was the warm, bright best friend.
Kind.
Patient.
Safe.
And to Kain...
He was just letting her shine.
[ System Update ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 42% (+7%) ]
[ Mood Meter: Alyssa → Kain: Joyful 85% / Comfortable 80% ]
After a dozen more attempts, and a lot of tripping over her own feet, Alyssa finally collapsed onto the grass, laughing so hard she was gasping for air.
"I-I lost!" she cried, flopping onto her back, staring up at the sky.
Kain walked over, standing above her, the faintest smirk on his face.
"You lasted longer than Finn did last month," he said dryly.
Alyssa blinked up at him, wide-eyed.
"Really?!"
Kain shrugged.
"Probably. Hard to tell when the guy blacks out mid-fight"
Alyssa giggled so hard she had to cover her mouth.
[ System Notice: Quest Complete – "Teach the Pure Flower" ]
[ Reward: +5% Affection, +10% Loyalty ]
[ New Passive Unlocked: Favorable Impression – Alyssa ]
[ Alyssa sees Kain as a "safe and comforting" presence ]
Kain offered her a hand.
She took it with a smile so bright it could've blinded him.
"Thank you, Kain," she said, voice pure and sweet.
Kain just grunted, pulling her to her feet.
"No problem"
Inside, he was grinning like the devil.
Outside, he stayed the perfect, lazy best friend.
Winning the long game... one sweet smile at a time.
After a couple more matches.
Light, warm, almost playful, Alyssa, bright-eyed and giggling, wipes a little sweat off her forehead.
"You're amazing, Kain!" she says, cheeks flushed, offering him a bright smile that feels like a sunrise.
Kain just chuckles under his breath, rolling his shoulder casually.
"You're not so bad yourself. You've got good instincts"
Alyssa beams at the praise.
Without missing a beat, she grabs Kain's hand (without thinking) and starts pulling him toward the exit.
"Come on! Let's get coffee! My treat!"
Kain doesn't resist.
He watches the sway of her pink hair, the brightness of her sea-blue eyes, and for a moment, he actually lets himself enjoy it.
Not as a hunter.
Not as a schemer.
Just as a man.
At the Coffee Shop
Alyssa orders something ridiculously sweet, a strawberry latte with extra whipped cream, and shyly asks if Kain wants anything.
He grins lazily and says,
"Surprise me"
She comes back with a black coffee for him, because, in her words, "You seem like the type who doesn't like too much sugar."
(And she's right.)
The conversation flows naturally, like two best friends who have known each other for a while.
Alyssa talks about her favorite novels, all innocent romance and dreamy princes, and Kain listens with an amused smirk.
At one point, she holds out one of her favorite books, hugging it close to her chest.
"You should read this! I think you'd like it... There's a character kinda like you"
Kain raises a brow.
"Oh yeah? Cool and handsome?"
Alyssa blushes furiously.
"N-no! I mean... well, maybe a little... but he's actually really kind underneath! He acts tough, but he protects everyone"
Kain hides a smirk behind his coffee cup.
As they walk back to the dorms, the sunset bathes everything in gold.
Alyssa hums a little tune, the light catching in her hair, making her look almost otherworldly.
"Thanks for spending time with me, Kain," she says softly.
"It means a lot. You're... um... you're really important to Finn. And to me, too"
Kain just ruffles her hair lightly, making her squeak.
"You're easy to be around, Alyssa"
Her cheeks glowed pink again.
Later, standing alone on his room balcony, Kain lights a cigarette, staring out into the darkening sky.
Alyssa's laughter still echoes in his mind.
Her bright, pure smile.
Her shy glances.
Her trust.
Kain smirks lazily to himself, taking a slow drag.
No schemes.
No traps.
Not yet.
The best fruits are the ones you let ripen slowly.
And Alyssa, sweet, adorable Alyssa, was going to be perfect.
Night
The halls are quiet, the lamps flickering soft golden light.
Most students are tucked away in their rooms, winding down.
Kain, meanwhile, sat at his desk, barely pretending to work.
Homework half-done, pen tapping lazily against the paper.
His mind is everywhere.
Alyssa's bright laugh, the smell of strawberries when she leaned close, the shy way she fidgeted with the book she gave him.
Then—
Knock knock!
Kain lazily turns his head, expecting Finn or maybe one of the girls.
The door creaks open, and there she is.
Alyssa.
Hair slightly messy from running.
Eyes shining with nervous excitement.
Hands clutching a small tray covered in a soft cloth.
"U-um," she squeaks, cheeks pinker than her hair, "I made some snacks... for you! I, um, thought you might be hungry... after sparring and... studying...?"
Kain stares.
Actually stares.
For once, the cigarette hanging from his lips nearly falls out.
"...You really came all the way here just for that?" he says, voice low and a little rough.
Alyssa nods shyly, stepping inside.
She sets the tray down on his desk, fidgeting with her skirt.
"I know it's late... but I just... I thought you might... like it..."
Kain pulls the cloth back.
Freshly baked strawberry tarts.
Still warm.
[ System Notification ]
[ Affection Meter: 42% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: 36% ]
[ Mood: Happy (+10) ]
[New Quest Unlocked: "Savor the Sweetness"]
[ Spend time alone with Alyssa and compliment her efforts! ]
[ Reward: +2% Affection ]
Kain lets out a soft, low chuckle, the kind that rumbles from his chest.
He leans back, arms crossed, looking at her with lazy amusement.
"You're really dangerous, you know that?" he says, voice teasing.
Alyssa's eyes widen, panicked.
"D-dangerous?! I didn't mean to—!"
He laughs quietly.
"Relax. I mean... too sweet for your own good"
Alyssa blinks.
Then slowly, shyly, her face lights up with a blinding smile.
"...Thank you," she whispers.
And just like that, Kain is done.
Finished.
Destroyed.
Absolute KO.
He bites back the urge to laugh again, instead picking up one of the tarts and taking a bite.
It's actually good.
Like, really good.
"You're full of surprises, Alyssa," he says around a mouthful.
She beams even brighter.
The night stretches on.
They sat together by the desk, Kain doing homework half-heartedly, Alyssa nibbling on a tart and humming under her breath.
Sitting together under a single lamp.
The Next Day
Kain found himself wandering the quiet streets outside the Academy gates.
Cool breeze.
Dimly lit cobblestones.
Few students risk sneaking out, but Kain is no normal student.
He shoves his hands into his coat pockets, humming lowly under his breath.
A mission in mind: Buy Alyssa something sweet.
Something ridiculous and pink and dripping in sugar, just because her damn smile stuck in his head.
A bell jingles overhead as he steps out of the coffee shop, a small pink box in hand.
He barely takes two steps down the street when it happens.
The hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Kain freezes.
A slight shift in the air, a muted scuff of leather boots.
He's surrounded.
He lets out a long, dramatic sigh.
Of course.
He could fight.
Break bones.
Rip them apart.
But where's the fun in that?
He lets them come.
Let's them drag a cloth over his mouth.
Let the world slip into black.
An ungodly amount of time later…
The cloth around his eyes is removed, and he notices a few interesting things.
The room is lavish.
Too clean.
Marble floors, gold accents on the high ceiling, and thick velvet drapes blocking the moonlight.
And standing before him...
A man with the same sea-blue eyes as Alyssa, but sharper.
Harder.
His hair, a stern cut of pinkish blond, was dusted with streaks of silver.
A heavy blade rests casually at his hip.
Next to him, a young man.
Broader.
Taller.
Eyes sharp with suspicion, jaw tense.
It took only one glance to tell who they were.
Alyssa's father.
And her older brother.
Both staring at Kain like he was something disgusting stuck to the bottom of their boot.
Kain tilts his head lazily.
Still sitting in the chair they threw him into.
Still holding the pink box of sweets in his lap.
"...Yo," Kain drawls, lifting a hand in a lazy wave.
The older man steps forward.
Boots echoing coldly on the floor.
"You," Alyssa's father says, voice like a blade drawn in winter, "are going to tell us everything about your intentions toward my daughter"
Kain merely chuckled, which must have set her father off as he landed a great right hook.
His cheek swelled, and it really hurt; he had turned off a bit of his defense for this act to go through perfectly.
And yet, he didn't think it was going to hurt as much.
"Ouch, I can't even laugh? Talk about–"
He couldn't even finish his sentence as her brother landed a left hook.
"Mmh!"
'Fuck! This hurts!'
Kain looked up and saw their eyes; they weren't kidding, but either way, this plan had to succeed even if it meant taking a few more hits.
About 40 Hits Later…
Blood dripped from Kain's mouth, staining the pristine marble beneath him.
His wrists ached against the tight rope biting into his skin, and his eye was already swelling shut, courtesy of Alyssa's brother's quick temper.
They had demanded more answers, growled about intentions, loyalty, trust, and when Kain didn't so much as flinch, they answered his silence with fists.
He sat there now, head hanging slightly forward, breath slow and even.
The paper bag of sweets he'd bought was crushed under one boot, not that he was looking at it.
No, Kain simply stared at the floor with a half-lidded, uncaring gaze, playing the perfect victim.
And then he heard it… the door creaked open.
Light footsteps echoed across the marble.
Kain didn't lift his head, but his mind sharpened, breath pausing for half a second.
A warm, sweet voice floated across the heavy silence.
"Papa? Liam? I made some cookies this morning!"
Alyssa's voice was bright, gentle, completely untouched by the tension in the room.
She stepped in, backpack slung over one shoulder, a small tin of cookies held out in front of her like a peace offering.
Her smile was sunshine, pure, genuine, the kind that made Kain's battered face feel even more surreal.
"I thought you two might want some before I head off to class," she chirped, stepping deeper into the room, and then she froze.
Cookies tipped slightly in her hands.
Her smile faltered, confusion flashing across her face like a cloud blotting out the sun.
Her bright eyes flicked to the blood pooling under Kain's chair, to his battered face.
And to her father and brother, both standing tensely like two guards who'd just been caught torturing a prisoner.
The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on.
Kain slowly lifted his head, just enough for Alyssa to meet his bruised, dispassionate gaze.
He didn't say anything.
Didn't need to.
He played his part perfectly, broken, betrayed, quiet.
Her hands trembled slightly around the tin.
"...Papa...Liam... what are you doing...?"
Her father's jaw tightened.
Her brother shifted his weight, guilt beginning to crack his earlier fury.
Kain kept his mouth shut because he knew.
He didn't have to say a damn thing.
Alyssa's heart would do the work for him.
The tin of cookies clattered to the floor.
Alyssa dropped it without even realizing, her hands flying to her mouth in horror.
Tears filled her eyes in an instant, hot, overwhelming, betrayal flooding her heart as she stared at Kain's bloody, beaten figure.
"No... no... what... what did you do?!"
Her voice cracked, breaking in the middle like a snapped string.
Kain didn't move, didn't struggle against the binds.
He just watched patiently.
Silent.
Like a wounded knight who refused to beg for mercy.
[ System Notification ]
[ Affection Meter: 42% → 56% (!!!) ]
[ Loyalty Meter: 36% → 61% (!!!) ]
[Mood: Devastated / Guilt-ridden / Protective]
The system practically SCREAMED in Kain's head, blinking red and gold, alert after alert pouring down the corner of his vision.
Alyssa stumbled forward, her school bag sliding off her shoulder and hitting the ground with a dull thud.
She knelt by Kain, fingers frantically working at the rope.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't know! I didn't know!" she sobbed, tears falling freely onto his bloodstained shirt.
Her fingers trembled so badly that she fumbled with the knots.
Kain felt her hands, warm, desperate, brushing against his bruised skin as she undid the binds.
Each hurried tug, each hiccupping apology, squeezed the vice tighter around her own heart.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...!"
Finally, the ropes snapped free.
Kain slumped forward just a little, but caught himself with a casual flex of his arms, hiding the strength underneath the performance.
He kept his breathing shallow, kept his face bruised and tired.
Alyssa threw her arms around him without thinking, hugging him tightly, almost desperately.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered against his shoulder.
Kain said nothing.
He didn't have to.
His silence was the sharpest dagger.
Alyssa pulled back a little, and that's when she saw it.
The crushed paper bag.
The sweets.
Broken, stepped on.
The ones she had mentioned in passing.
Her favorite.
Kain had skipped class.
Risked getting caught outside.
Had bought them for her.
The tears spilled faster.
She covered her mouth, her entire body shaking.
"...for me..." she whispered.
"You did it... for me..."
[ System Notification ]
[ Affection Meter: 56% → 73% (!!) ]
[ Loyalty Meter: 61% → 82% (!!) ]
[ Mood: Heartbroken / Protective / Attached ]
Her heart cracked open fully, no room left for doubt, for suspicion.
All she saw now was Kain, bleeding, hurt, loyal.
Not Finn.
Not her father.
Not her brother.
Just him.
Alyssa wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve, furious at herself, hating her own blindness.
She cupped Kain's bruised face gently, treating him like something precious, something fragile.
"I'll fix it," she whispered.
"I'll make it right, I promise"
Her father and brother stood frozen, shame radiating off them in thick waves, but Alyssa didn't spare them a second glance.
Kain tilted his head slightly, hiding the faint, victorious glint behind the battered, sorrowful mask he wore.
This...
This was the beginning.