Nox lay on his back, sprawled out like a dying fish on a patch of grass as he panted heavily. Sweat soaked through his black sportswear, and he looked as though he were on the brink of death, gasping desperately for air.
The two had just finished the morning routine and were resting in a quiet corner of the park. Zayne sat beside him, holding two bottles of chilled water. He placed one next to Nox and drained the other before speaking.
"That was great work today, Young Master! I thought you'd faint for sure, but you're still conscious."
Nox didn't respond. He was entirely focused on breathing nothing else mattered. Seeing this, Zayne thoughtfully cracked open Nox's bottle and poured a bit of water over his face.
Nox sighed in relief. After taking a few deep breaths, he slowly sat up and drank the rest.
"I'm not... doing this again…"
"Ahahahahaha! Young Master must be joking. You still have several months to get into sha—"
"You'll have to kill me before I do this again!"
Zayne snorted softly. "Yes, yes, Young Master."
Nox huffed and turned his gaze toward the horizon. The sun was slowly rising, painting the once-dark sky in hues of blue and orange. The colors reflected in his silver eyes, leaving him momentarily stunned. Zayne followed his gaze and smiled.
"Young Master, though it is difficult to wake up so early, I think a view like this makes it worth it. Improving is difficult - whether you are at the top or the lowest of the low, you must suffer to better yourself."
Nox listened to Zayne's rare moment of wisdom and fell into deep thought. As he gazed at the sky, he mused, 'It's not that bad after all…'
Then he glanced at Zayne and immediately felt annoyed. Zayne sat facing the rising sun, its light basking his caramel skin and making it glow. He looked entirely too good after such intense exercise, and Nox was livid.
"…Let's go inside. I want to see how you plan to poison me today."
Nox stood up shakily. Zayne followed, already rambling about a vegetable smoothie concoction that left Nox horrified.
Meimei's POV
*Ding!*
My ears perked up at the sound, and my nose twitched. I heard my Master's grumpy voice and the butler's cheerful laughter. I stood up and stretched.
"I slept so much without Master… I hope he doesn't mind. Well, even if he does, he can't hurt this cat! Hehehe."
I meowed in delight, jumped down from the couch, and trotted toward the front door. As I rounded the corner, I saw Master bickering with the butler. Joy filled me, and I burst into a run.
"Meow!"
Master paused and looked toward me. A small smile curled at the corner of his lips as he bent down to scoop me up.
"Meow!"
The butler patted my head.
"Sausage?"
Immediately, I leapt into the butler's arms. 'As expected of the butler - you truly know me best!'
"Young Master, let's get breakfast, shall we?"
Master shivered. The butler moved toward the room they call the "kitchen," though honestly, I think it's a magic food room! I was placed gently on the counter as the butler retrieved sausages from the metal cabinet.
'It has been a week since Master and the butler started going out at dawn and dusk. I wonder what they're doing.'
Sausages were placed before me, and my eyes lit up. I glanced at Master's plate and felt pity. His food was mostly leaves, a few measly pieces of meat, and a suspicious green liquid in a tall cup.
I felt bad for him. I nudged my sausages toward him, but he simply pushed them back with a calm, watery-eyed smile. I waited for him to start eating before touching my own meal. He looked conflicted, but eventually began to eat so I did too.The butler just snorted at us.
'What does he know? I support my Master forever!'
--------------------------
Nox lay like a dead fish on the large white leather couch. Outside, heavy clouds cast an ominous atmosphere over the city. He stared at the weather through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
He pulled out two thin silver rods joined together. As he separated them, a flexible screen unraveled between them. It was his phone. He quickly opened the weather app, staring at the display as if it held all the secrets of the universe.
After a moment, an evil smile spread across his face, and he cackled wickedly.
Zayne walked in and found his Young Master hunched over the device like a gremlin. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he debated whether to approach or retreat.
"Hehehehe… Finally… a rest day!"
Zayne breathed a sigh of relief. As if to affirm Nox's joy, rain began to fall lightly at first, then steadily increasing.
So that's why he's happy, Zayne thought. Oh well, I suppose he can rest today.
With that, Zayne left.
Nox felt like he was on cloud nine. He stood and headed for his room, ready to sleep or play games but suddenly, his heart clenched. Dark spots danced across his vision and his breath shortened. A sudden surge of hunger racked through him.He knew this feeling— the Devouring.
He needed to eat.
He stumbled into his room and collapsed onto the bed.
"…Huff… huff… Meimei…"
A black head poked out from his walk-in closet. Seeing her Master crumpled on the bed, Meimei's pupils constricted into sharp slits. She bolted like black lightning, arriving at his side instantly. Placing a paw on his forehead, she eased his pain. His dazed eyes focused on her deep blue gaze.
"…Meimei," he rasped, "I need to eat…"