Daily Late Short Story: Kyo 36 (Patreon)

In the manor, tucked away amidst its labyrinthine grandeur, rested a room brimming with homely charm and wistful stories: the manor kitchen. This is not merely a place for culinary concoctions but a testament to the flavors of history, nurturing life within its venerable stone walls. Kyo knew the kitchen was the domain of one person only: Talos the Butcher.

The kitchen was a small, orderly affair, a miracle space adorned with an abundance of age-old accouterments. At least, it always seemed that way to Kyo because she was short. Even floating and teleportation didn’t make up for sheer size. Large, timeworn oak beams traverse the ceiling, whispering tales of past feasts in their intricate carvings.

An enormous granite counter stands staunchly in front of the stovetop, bearing numerous cuts and burns from hundreds of meals prepared over the recent years. A formidable stovetop, a set of four, stands sentinel behind the granite counter, emitting an almost comforting heat that warms the chill of the stone floor. Talos was even now beginning the preparation to clean the kitchen. Nearby, copper pans of varying sizes hang from the wall, each part of the magic of a delicious dish.

An array of dried and hanging herbs infuse the air with an intoxicating blend of aromas: sage, rosemary, thyme, their scents whispering secrets of past recipes. Jars of home-preserved fruits and vegetables line the shelves, gleaming jewel-like under the lantern light, a testament to the estate's fertile lands. Kyo’s eyes strayed to the tasty things while Xeraphiel droned on. The demon was very pedantic.

Evilly so.

A stone sink, robust and well-worn, stands under a window that frames the Manor's vibrant gardens, painting a canvas of everchanging seasons. It offers the promise of fresh produce to anyone daring enough to marry flavors within this very room. The window allowed easy access to the garden surrounding the manor. Vines could be seen tending the fruit and vegetables directly outside.

On one wall, an ornate oak door connected the kitchen to the rest of the manor, allowing the enticing aromas to waft through the endless hallways, calling everyone to share in the joy of mealtime. It was how Kyo could detect cooking occurring from almost anywhere, even when training with the Blue Demon!

The manor kitchen, as described by Talos at one point, is a place of creativity, warmth, and love, where the rhythm of life is dictated not by the ticking clock but by the simmering pots and the baking bread. It's where the essence of the Manor truly resides - in each spice, each utensil, each recipe passed down through generations, continuing to weave the rich tapestry of the Manor's history.

The process for binding to the Summoning Codex was remarkably easy for Kyo.

A drop of blood.

A signature scrawled with a fingernail claw.

Once those two items were completed, the Summoning Codex link was secured.

Kyo was now at eight space-layer cubes around the strange book. Holding the Summoning Codex in place was challenging because the creature book was tricky. Space currents bent and twisted around the enigmatic tome like fish swirling in a pond.

"Now that the easy part is done. Here is a [Soul Page]," said Big Sis Nota. The item Kyo received looked like a typical piece of parchment, but the moment her hands touched it, the object vanished.

"Gone?!" Kyo exclaimed. Vanishing pages were terrible; how much would something like that cost to replace? A glance at Big Sis Nota, though, made her relax.

"Nothing to worry about, munchkin. That piece of parchment is now hiding in your soul. Calling it out requires an act of will. Go ahead, try it out." Big Sis Nota said with a smirk.

Kyo scrunched her face up and pulled the [Soul Page] out with an act of will. It was almost like teleporting, but not entirely.

Name: Kyo Smith

Age: 10

Pact Entity: Kudzu

Primary Affinity: Plant, Space

Mind: 7

Body: 7

Soul: 7

Spirit Talents (5/7): Green Mana, Green Sight, Space Sight, Space Mana, Eternity Armor

Physical Skills (5/7): Scented Fur, Colored Fur, Regeneration, Running, Wood Blade

Mental Spells (7/7): Plant Manipulation IV, Teleportation, Space Slice, Space Cube, Space Storage, Floating, Telekinesis

Green Mana

Able to use Green Mana present in the World.

Green Sight

Able to see Flora in the World.

Space Sight

Able to see using senses attuned to space.

Space Mana

Able to use Space Mana present anywhere.

Eternity Armor

An adaptive armor made to combat things from Beyond the Crystal Walls.

Scented Fur

Generate scents like flowers that lure insects.

Colored Fur

Generate colors like plants that entice insects.

Regeneration

Regenerate cells with Green Mana.

Running

You have learned to run. Fast.

Wood Blade

A blade of poisoned wood was granted to Kyo by her pact entity.

Plant Manipulation IV

Manipulate plants up to one hundred meters away with Green Mana for various effects.

Added effects due to Scented Fur.

Added effects due to Colored Fur.

Added effects due to Regeneration.

Cost reduced due to Green Mana.

Cost reduced due to Green Sight

Manipulation difficulty is reduced due to Space Sight.

Range increased by Space Mana.

Able to use Plants to assist in Alchemy.

Plants will naturally view the bearer of this Skill as an ally unless action is taken against them.

Teleportation

Using space mana, you can move from one point to another when the target is a fish, extra range.

Space Slice

Your claws cut through space itself. When used against FISH, effectiveness is 1,000% more.

Space Cube

You place a cube of space around an object for easy carrying or sealing. No fishy odor can escape the box. Ever.

Space Storage

You can put things in your endless pockets. The things you put inside your pockets cannot be alive. No fish, cheese, or milk can be stored.

Float

You can float, hover, and so forth.

Telekinesis

Nothing is out of reach, even if you are short. Especially not fried fish, or any fish, to be honest.

Pact Blessing (Food): Three times per day, you may sacrifice a piece of Plant matter to Kudzu to gain three large Meat Buns of random delicious.

“Eeeeehhhhh!” Kyo exclaimed in shock. The numbers were more extensive, and there were way more things than she remembered!

“Ah, that’s right, we haven’t let you look at your status in quite some time.” Big Sis Nota said with a slight look of guilt.

“The Blue Demon, Felix, said it would distract me and make training harder. He claimed he would remove all meat for a year’s worth of meals if I checked.” Kyo said, her ears drooping in horrified remembrance.

Talos rolled his eyes as his hands continued to clean. It was clear the Butcher thought the training methods were extreme. They did give results, but that wouldn’t stop Kyo’s crystal poison plan.

“Quite a lot there.” Big Sis Nota said.

Xeraphiel, the demon’s eyes bulged as they muttered, “Another monster in the making, ugh.”

“That little piece of paper will make it easier to see progress. It is customizable and can be configured how you wish to present the information.” Big Sis Nota said with a casual hand wave. “Now, let’s send you off.”

“Place your hand on the Summoning Codex, please,” Xeraphiel said. The demon was suddenly far more respectful than before.

Kyo removed the space cubes she had placed around the book, quickly slapping her right hand on the cover. Holding the Summoning Codex in place was hard.

Big Sis Nota’s hands blurred to the side as she spat a string of words that made no sense.

Kyo immediately felt the twist of space magic as the tome vanished in a burst of silver lights. The world around darkened for a moment. Before she could process the darkness, she was standing on an unknown island. The plants before her swayed as Plant Manipulation IV took hold, welcoming her. The flora told her she was within the first half of the Grand Line, surrounded by a vast ocean that stretched infinitely toward the horizon.

Ocean? Kyo said, turning away from the green foliage of the inner island to look behind.

The kitten’s eyes grew huge as she witnessed the most incredible sight she had ever seen.

Water.

Water forever.

It was an alluring spectacle of tranquility, a sharp contrast to the endless sand ocean of her home. Kyo couldn’t even begin to fathom where so much water came from. There must be a massive oasis that had overrun the world somewhere on the horizon!

The beach Kyo was on was a long stretch of dazzling white sand, untouched by civilization. It gleams under the warm sun, reflecting the light like millions of tiny diamonds are embedded within. Natural rock formations, worn smooth by the relentless touch of sea waves, break the uniformity of the beach and provide a subtle, rugged beauty.

Beyond the sandy expanse was an emerald-green palm forest. The tall trees sway lightly with the gentle sea breeze, casting playful shadows that dance across the soft sand. Their thick, leafy canopy is home to a symphony of birds whose songs echo with an enchanting melody, the only sound to break the silence of the deserted beach. Kyo could hear the conversational murmur of the plants at her appearance.

The turquoise sea, though, was a mesmerizing spectacle. Its waves rolling softly onto the shore, whispering secrets of the vast ocean it represents. Beneath the crystal-clear surface, she glimpsed the vibrant coral reefs, teeming with various colorful, exotic sea creatures.

Yet, despite its serene beauty, an air of mystery shrouded the place. It remains untouched by the rampant chaos of the Grand Line, a silent observer waiting patiently for an adventurer brave enough to discover its secrets according to the palm forest.

“Grand Line?” Kyo muttered as she looked out at the vast watery domain. “What is that?”