Questions with no answers

"And that's how we'll do it" Kurtis said, the slideshow finally finishing as the room darkened. "Any questions?"

Everyone was silent when Kai raised his hand.

"Go ahead Kai."

"What exactly are we stealing?" Kai asked curiously.

"I've told you, information from their personal data storage" Kurtis replied calmly.

"Yeah, I understand that part, but what's so important about the data" Kai continued, not satisfied with the brief information he had been given. Hearing this even the others grew interested, Gu Yue's brows raising as she turned to Kurtis.

"It has information linking them to a group of Dark Spirit Masters, that's why we're retrieving it" Kurtis responded curtly.

Kai rolled his eyes hearing this, Kurtis was just repeating the same things he already knew. He shifted in his seat frustratingly as he asked another question.

"Then how do we know that it'll link them with the Dark Spirit Masters, what's in the data?"

"Because that's what the Pagoda has told us" Kurtis said furrowing his brows and crossing his arms. "And like I said, the files in their storage will link them to Dark Spirit Masters; as for how it links them, I don't think it really matters."

Kai grumbled as he leaned back in his seat. Crossing his arms he glanced at Sandra and Charles who quickly avoided his gaze, hoping they'd help him out a bit here.

"Look, Kai we're the good guys here." Kurtis' voice was warm as he spoke. Kai didn't respond as he continued to grumble in his seat. Kurtis soon continued, "If that's all then you all can go for the night, preparations and practice for our 'performance' will begin tomorrow."

Gu Yue quickly got up from her seat and left the room without saying anything. Kurtis went to clean up the projector while Sandra, Charles and Kai got up and left together. The entire walk back through the Pagoda Kai continued to complain about the mission.

"How do you guys continue to agree to missions like this?" Kai asked, his arms crossed as he walked ahead of the Wife and Husband. "We don't even know what we're stealing!"

Sandra and Charles glanced at each other and smiled wryly, Charles speaking up. "Kai, it's the Spirit Pagoda not some random organization. I have no doubt that this mission is fine, you're thinking too much."

Kai turned around, a frown on his face. "You two work for them all the time, are all missions as vague as this?"

"Every once and while, yes" This time it was Sandra who answered. "You need to understand something, Kai. Sometimes knowing less is better than being in the know."

Kai clenched his fists and turned back around in anger, not wanting to look at Sandra and Charles. Kai suddenly felt someone ruffle his hair making Kai wave his hands around frustratingly to get rid of the hands.

"We understand your frustration" Charles said, chuckling slightly as he pulled his hand back. "But what can we do? Sandra and I are just normal people, we have no way of going against the Pagoda."

Sandra checked the watch on her wrist before pulling at Charles clothes. She whispered something in his ear, Charles pausing for a moment and nodding. Sandra then turned to Kai, "We've got to go pick up some materials for tomorrow, we'll be going now."

Kai sighed and bade them farewell, watching them silently as they left the Pagoda. Kai stood for a few moments in thought before shaking his head and leaving the Pagoda himself. The setting sun dyeing the city in a gorgeous and orange glow.

Kai pulled out his phone, seeing that he had racked up quite a few messages from his friends and Oscar. Apparently, they had found a nice little restaurant on the beach and were waiting for him before ordering. Checking the time, he realized the message had only been sent 15 minutes ago, giving him time to make it before it would be too late.

However, before Kai could take his first step he heard someone calling his name.

"Kai!"

Turning around Kai was surprised to see Gu Yue approaching him, her same cold and uncaring expression etched on her face. She stared at him for a moment, looking him up and down before speaking.

"Where are you from?" She asked, her tone demanding. Kai tilted his head in confusion, surprised by the question.

"Gria City" Kai answered anyways, finding no issue in telling someone where he was from. "I'm from the Draken Clan."

"Draken? Your family's Spirit is a dragon?" Gu Yue gave him a strange look, wondering why he had awakened Spirit Ears instead. "What were your parents Martial Spirits?"

"They're…" Kai paused, realizing that he never knew what his parent's spirits were. He had always assumed that his father had one of the Clan's hereditary sprits, but he had never seen him use it. As for his mother, he had so few memories of her in the first place. None of which had her using her Martial Spirit. "I don't know."

Gu Yue rolled her eyes and scoffed, clearly not believing Kai's answer. She kept staring, her eyes growing sharp as she hoped Kai would break under her gaze. Kai checked his phone again, paying attention to the time.

"What about you?" Kai asked, trying to change the subject. "I've never head of Elementalist before, what exactly can it do?"

"It lets me control the elements" Gu Yue responded tersely.

"Which ones?" Kai continued, surprised to hear that Gu Yue's martial spirit was so strong.

"Who knows?" Gu Yue said, still under the impression that Kai had lied to her earlier. She quicky turned and walked away, not giving Kai a chance to respond.

Kai shook his head and sighed. He couldn't help but think back to the first time he had met Jax, she and him gave him similar vibes; both were cold and arrogant but at least Jax and Kai had become friends rather quickly.

Shaking himself from his thoughts Kai jumped on a nearby bus, checking the map and making his way towards the beach.

…

It didn't take long for Kai to find the restaurant. It was a small seafood restaurant with a patio that had a stunning view of the ocean. Oscar and the others had been lucky enough to get a table on the patio, letting them spend the last little bit of sunlight outside.

Kai sat down next to Oscar, the others giving Kai simple greetings before returning their own conversations.

"What's up?" Oscar asked, seeing Kai frustrated look.

Kai looks up to Oscar before shaking his head.

"I've just got to spend the next couple days preparing for the performance, so I won't be able to hang out with you all" Kai said.

"I'm sorry Kai" Oscar said, a sympathetic look on his face. "This was meant to be a vacation for you, but you've ended up doing all this work."

Kai smiled wryly hearing this. "It's fine, I'm working with Sandra and Charles this time. Not only that, but another girl my age is joining us; so it could be worse."

Oscar nodded slowly. He opened his mouth to respond but before he could Jax was yelling out in excitement.

"Guys!" Jax shouted, standing up quickly and startling the nearby tables. "She's here!"

Everyone looked to each other strangely before Ashe spoke up, asking what he was talking about.

"It's only Anna Morozov, the leading Actress from 'Invited By the Storm'!" Jax responded.

Bjorn and Kai quickly swerved their heads, trying to see exactly where she was. To their disappointment they couldn't spot her. Looking to Jax confusingly, Kai spoke up. "She isn't here, what are you talking about?"

"No, wait!" Ashe interjected. "Who's this Anna Morozov, and why does Jax care about her?"

"She's only the best looking girl that I've ever seen" Jax said, rolling his eyes. "I'd give anything to talk to her…"

Jax's voice trailed off as he drifted into his imagination. Ashe scoffed, finding it unbelievable that Jax could act like this.

"You still didn't answer the question" Bjorn spoke up. "Where's this princess of yours?"

Jax quickly pulled out his phone, turning the screen so everyone could see it. Even Oscar leaned in to get a better look.

On the screen was an article talking about how Anna was in East City for vacation and would be doing a couple fan meets while she visited.

"We have to go to one of them" Jax pleaded, pushing his hands together.

"Sure, whatever" Oscar said waving his hands in the air. He couldn't really care too much about something like this.

A moment later the waiter returned with their meals. The group ate as they chatted, enjoying their first meal in East Sea City.