Chapter 5: Chapter 4 : Nostalgia – Part 2

“Oh my god! He’s adorable!” The young Klaire shrieked, still partially infused with the banshee heritage she wouldn’t gain proper control over for another year. Though that might have been simply that she wasn’t properly motivated until she developed her crush on Carl.

“That was amazing, Carl! Seriously, I’ll pass the info to Lydia, she can see it gets to Leanna.” The handler that Lydia first approached was excited beyond words, already scribbling notes and he would become a bit of a pen-pal to Carl, always sending ideas for great combos and the two would discuss them over slate-comms.

“So, your name is Carl?” Klaire asked him with confidence, before beginning to circle him like she was getting ready to attack, which she did with a very aggressive hug. “I’m going to go ask Mum, but would you mind if I came with you to Auntie Leanna’s? I was supposed to go to SAT-Station in a month, but this little guy is too adorable to wait that long.” She cooed, clearly meaning she wanted to spend a month glomping his new pet.

“Do you mean Squidge or the boy you’re about to kiss if you get closer.” Lydia teased, turning the two young children red as tomatoes.

“Squidge, obviously, love the name though Carl. Can I pet him please?”

“Sure.” Carl answered, more uncomfortable with their proximity than he cared to admit.

“Just don’t tackle him please, I haven’t checked his stats yet.”

“Stats?” Lydia asked suddenly. “Your pets have stats? Carl, I hope you know how incredible that is, most summons and tamed beasts don’t have that, it means Squidge here will grow with you and can be cultivated, I’d imagine anyway.” Lydia’s words were blowing his mind again and again with every syllable.

[ SYS BUILD = PRIMORDIA V 1.0.0 ]

[ NAME = SQUIDGE] [RACE = GLUTTONOUS-SLIMEDRA ] [LEVEL = 1 ]

[ VIT = 900 x LVL ] [ DEF = 20 – 1084 x LVL ] [ INT = 12 x LVL ] [ STR = DEF + LVL ]

[ DEX = 200 x LVL ] [ CHA = 40 x LVL ] [ MP = INT x LVL ]

[ HP = VIT + DEF ]

[ SKILLS = MATERIAL SHIFT, REGENERATION, FORCED REGENERATION, KEEN SENSES, MANA-INFUSED SENSES, COOL TOUCH, DENSITY SHIFT, NEO GROWTH, PRIMORDIA EVOLUTION, MITOSIS, OPTIONAL MUTATION, RE-ABSORPTION, SIZE CONTROL, CATALYST DONATION ]

[ SKILL RANKS = F = 0, E = 1, D = 0, C = 2, B = 2, A = 2, S = 2, SS = 0, SSS = 4 ]

[ ADDITIONAL = N/A ]

“Looks like it got everything I liked about them.” Carl spoke excitedly.

“Well that’s excellent Carl, since the little one has made a new friend why don’t we all go back and we can sort the letter, then we’ll get you on your way to the SATS. You need to be settled and briefed before starting.”

With that, the four of them headed to a message centre which had private rooms for children like Carl, who needs to send a message to people not in possession of a personal slate.

The whole time he and Lydia were focused on the letter, Klaire and Squidge had been playing happily, what they didn’t know was that Klaire had already sent Leanna a picture of her new adopted son and several of the new pet.

When the letter was done, Lydia confirmed with Klaire’s mum and Leanna that she was okay to go with me then took us to the gate room.

The four of them waited for a while and then a woman, face riddled with nervous worry and contained excitement, stepped out of a gate and scanned the area. Carl was impressed that she managed to spot them so easily in the bustling chaos of people coming and going.

The woman got within a metre before coming to an abrupt stop, where upon she studied each one in turn with piercing red eyes.

Only after that and an uncomfortable period of silence did the stern authoritative facade break and the woman stooped to Carl’s level. “Sorry, I messed up already, I don’t know what to say.” She admitted it shamelessly, but in the process appeared to him much more like a normal person.

“How about… “Hello Carl, my name is Leanna, why don’t we start with that and you can call me mum when it feels right.” Or you know, say hello to the familiar faces, or even the adorable new species.” Lydia scolded, before chuckling and giving her a hug.

“Yes! Good! Hello Carl, I’m your new Mum, if you want, maybe…” Carl laughed a bit at the fact that she messed up the lines that Lydia had just fed her, then hugged her.

“Thank you for taking me in Mum, I’ll try not to be a leech, please feel free to take from my new account for daily stuff.” Carl’s words were meant to be respectful, but they simply made Leanna realise how much he had been hating himself for relying on people who owed him nothing.

“Carl, listen to me. I want to be a mother, but that is a title that should be earned, as your first mother earned it. I will provide you with everything you need, I will do my best to help you reach your potential. All I ask is that you give your time at the SATS your best effort, stay out of trouble and ask if you need help with anything.”

“Also, she gets cranky when people leave crumbs on counters and don’t use coasters.” Klaire added, making Leanna turn fully flushed.

Leanna tried to be a put together adult and ignore it, choosing instead to drag him to the necessities department to buy clothes, textbooks and to see what exactly Squidge would eat as he was a new species and no one knew. The answer was anything, as long as Carl gave him the go ahead.

“That could be a problem, some areas don’t permit pets and if you need to leave him with me or an extended period…” Leanna sank into herself, trying to solve the new puzzle.

[ SYSTEM NOTICE, PET AUTHORITY FIGURES CAN BE DESIGNATED ]

“Squidge, I need you to be a good slimedra and do whatever Leanna tells you, okay? Say hello, she’s going to be taking care of us.” At the command Carl received another notice telling him Leanna had been designated as authority, but whilst that was happening, Squidge had pulled her to the floor and was “saying hello” by curling up on her for a nap.

“Squidge, I’m happy to see you too, but we need to get this done so I can get us back for food…” Apparently she found a a command phrase, he barely hesitated before rolling off and helping her up.

They ended up buying enough stuff to keep Carl and Squidge happy in their new home, then Lydia had to quickly dip out, she had spent a rather long time with them and still had to see at least one more child if she wanted to get paid.

“Now, Klaire… Why did your mum tell me your things would be arriving at my place tomorrow?” Leanna said, noting the way the young girl’s eyes were focused on the squishy critter through her blood-red hair.

“I thought it would be nice for Carl to have a friend before we started the academy.”

“Then why have you not said a word to him.”

“I was trying to let you two bond and keep auntie Lydia at bay.”

“Don’t lie little banshee ankle-biter.” Leanna said, narrowing her eyes.

“Isn’t that rude? Sorry but do you not like half-breeds Leanna, if not, I think I should say I think I might be one.”

“What, oh no! Sorry, most people can tell because of the eyes. Me, Lydia and Klaire’s mother were actually a big part of the half-breed equality movement back in the day, that’s why we’re so close the ankle-biter calls me “Auntie”, I’m surprised Lydia didn’t tell me you were though.”

“She might not have noticed, we didn’t look at my stats long before we got distracted with the money and beasts and Klaire, but my race tab says “human plus” I don’t know what the other half might be.”

“Did you say “human plus”? That, that isn’t half-breed. Carl, you are very special, we should get home quickly, talking here might draw attention…” As she was about to stand up her personal slate beeped and she pulled it out to view. “…While we’re talking, I need to do so with you as well Klaire. Why exactly were you trying to kiss Carl?”

She then turned to the data slate so they could see, the first bit was a simple message. “Hey Leanna, take care of that young man, ya hear!” Sweet and to Carl’s mind, very Lydia-like. It was followed however by another which was very Lydia-like to the minds of Klaire and Leanna. “P.s just because they’re kids, I wouldn’t let them snuggle at night time. xx” Followed by a stealthily taken image of when Klaire was on top of him.

Too embarrassed to defend themselves, they followed Leanna back to the portal room and, with a deep breath, stepped through to arrive at the SAT-Station.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep