It was impossible to tell time in Bruno's subterrean laboratory, but when Kayi and Carlos emerged panting and covered in dust, they didn't have to blink in the bright, shining sunlight because there was none.
Lady Morgana waited, her sword sheathed and her arms crossed. "Well, I can clearly see that Bruno gave you two quite a workout."
Carlos and Kayi only nodded, gasping for breath.
"Was it enough to show you the consequences of thievery?"
"We didn't- ow!" Kayi cried as Carlos kicked her.
"Yes, kupo, we learned our lesson."
Kayi glared.
Morgana seemed pleased. Her long ears twitched slightly. "Well, I can say, you two look much worse for the wear. Kayalie, by the way, has alreay left with her clan," the Lady said.
Kayalie was Kayi's older sister. She had loved her clan and loved engagements and loved fighitng overall. "Such a thrill," she replied whenever Kayi asked why she loved engagements enough to be constantly preoccupied with them.The difference between Kayi and her Sniper sisters' weaponskept the two apart, as while Kayi fought with a sword like her mother, Kayalie took after their Hunter father and used a bow.
"Why?" Kayi asked. "Just curious."
"Come along now, you two," Morgana said suddenly, looking out at the new moon in the sky. She seemed very afraid. "Let's go... To the Main Hall."
"Why-"
Morgana's eyes flashed. "JUST COME ON!" she roared, sending Kayi and Carlos jumping and hurrying after her.
Behind them, a soft moaning cry was heard from Bruno's laboratory.
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"Mother, why did we-"
"Your sister, Kayi.She left on the trek with her clan," Morgana said, interrupting.
"Kupo, Lady, about why-"
"Oh, Bruno hates being disturbed whenhe wants to do expirements-"
"But we were all the way-"
"Never mind. Anyways, Kayi, your sister has already left on her Great Clan Trek. She was in a great hurry, and nearly forgot her bow and took the wrong one, but she wanted to say goodbye." Morgana turned from her pacing. "You know that Kayalie won't be back for long."
Kayi was delighted. "Yes, Mother, I know. Are we dismissed?"
Morgana hid a smile. Her youngest daughter was so much like herself as a child. "Yes, butkeep away from Bruno's lab, okay? He was complaining about even Starkin, who's waiting for you near your room. Don't keep him waiting."
Kayi and her moogle best friend were gone in a flash.
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"What's the Great Clan Trek, kupo?" Carlos asked on the way to where Starkin waited.
"Oh, it's nothing really. Kayalie and her clan are participating. It's where clans travel to some remote location. Each clan in the game have a card, which you use to find the secret location. First three clans win, and to get cards, Kayalie said something about beating down any clan in your path. But what if you keep on getting repeats?" Kayi asked.
"Kupo, I think that Kayalie and her clan are coming in first. She was in a hurry, wasn't she?"
"I don't know," Kayi replied. "I didn't see."
"Well, kupo, I saw," Carlos said. "She was rushing everywhere. Picked the the wrong bow twice before getting her own bow," he said.
"Well," Starkin's voice boomed. "Well, Bruno sssure did a number on you two."
"Kupo, he did. I don't look forward to going back, kupo," Carlos called as the ex-Dragoon came intosight.
"Starkin! Can we go play really quick before bedtime, just a little while?"Kayi asked.
Starkin blew smoke through his nose and hobbled over very slowly. "It's raining."
Kayi flinched in guilt. She had been so exubreant about getting away from Bruno and his subterrean world that she had forgotten- rain made the old bangaa's arthirtis act up. "Actually, I'm really tired. Let's just go to the library or something," she quickly said, saving Starkin his embarresment of admitting that he could barely even walk.