Meeting Lucy Again

Silver Leaf City's Commercial Street is bustling with business filled with vibrant energy and glowing colors. The street stretches out before visitors, lined with an eclectic mix of shops, stalls, and roadside vendors.

As the fire Kirin gracefully landed on the ground, the blazing fires that once surrounded her extinguished, leaving behind a sense of awe and wonder among the bystanders. Teenagers and children passing by stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening with amazement as they pulled out their sky orbs to capture the magnificent creature before them.

Kent, undeterred by the attention, strode towards a towering structure that dominates the skyline of Commercial Street. The structure, resembling a stadium-sized open store on the ground floor, hovered in the air.

"Sun Shine Store..."

Kent stared at the name of the store as he approached the entrance. The calligraphy of each letter was shaped like an animal pet and was glowing in blazing neon lights.

Inside the store, the atmosphere is bustling with activity as people and their pets browse through the hundreds of stalls that line the ground floor.

While staring at different types of pets and tens of food stalls, Kent entered the pet store. His companion, the lady Kirin, followed him closely as she sniffed the air in search of her favourite foods.

At the entrance of the store, a single large stall is managing the needs of regular customers, offering food to common pets like house eagles, sparrows, and doves. However, it's the VIP stalls that catch Kent's eye, each one housing a rare and exotic collection of food items specially placed in the back with eye-catching decorations.

Kent doesn't know much about what Fire Kirin eats. So, he began moving from one stall to another, asking Kirin whether he liked the food item or not.

Sunset herbs, volcanic grass, algal sprouts, elemental feathers, jelly crystals... Kent showed all types of food to the Fire Kirin. But Kirin denied everything by turning her head away.

Kent sighed disappointingly and moved forward to other food stalls. But even after checking 84 stalls out of 108, Kent did not find anything liked by Fire Kirin.

The salesgirls inside the store tried to spend more time with Kent by showing him all types of food items.

Wherever Kent passed, the onlookers began gathering around to see his new pet. Some people even dare to touch it. But the lady Kirin, breathed fire occasionally to fend off the onlookers.

Kent felt a headache dealing with the onlookers, and the salesgirls also began asking annoying questions about his background and identity. Controlling his frustration, Kent continued his hunt for food.

Just as he was feeling the urge to place the Fire Kirin in his bracelet, Kent heard a soft feminine voice calling from his back.

"Young master Kent... Is your pet a wild Kirin?" A lady wearing beautiful white clothes and elegant matching jewelry asked Kent in a respectful tone.

Kent instantly recognized the dashing beauty before him. She is Lucy Gray, the heir of the Gray family. Like a drowning kid who grabbed a wood piece, Kent hurriedly moved towards Lucy.

"Yes… yes… By any chance, do you know what type of food Wild Kirin likes?" Kent asked while staring at her beautiful face of Lucy, which is glowing under the shade of neon lights.

She smiled at his question and replied, "Follow me. I knew where to find good food for your pet."

While Lucy is speaking, Kent stared at her baby pink lips in a mesmerised state and followed her like a baby kitten.

After coming out of the big crowd, Lucy mounted her White Swan and gestured for Kent to follow her closely. Kent, with his fire, flew beside her to the 13th floor of the Sun Shine store.

"Young Master Kent, I humbly welcome you to the SunShine store. Tell me, what type of food do you want to buy for your pet?" Lucy Gray asked, expressing her cheerful smile.

Kent felt surprised after seeing her change of attitude. "Miss Lucy, does this store also belong to your family?" Kent asked while observing the food items placed in separate containers all around the 13th floor.

"Yes, young Master Kent. Usually, I will spend most of the time here, as I like seeing different types of pets and treating them in emergency situations." Lucy replied while walking in front, and Kent followed her closely.

Kent tried not to stare at Lucy's swaying long legs, as her every move was breath-taking to watch from such a close distance. "Ms. Lucy, don't call me a young master. I feel very foreign." Kent replied, trying to act casual.

"Then you should also stop calling me Miss from now onwards." Lucy smiled gently and continued. "First tell me, what type of foods do you need for your pet?" she questioned before approaching the Fire Kirin, which is hiding behind Kent.

"I don't even know what type of food a Fire Kirin eats. I really need your help in this matter." Kent replied, facing Lucy, who is trying to approach his pet. But for some odd reason, the Fire Kirin moved away from Lucy and hid behind Kent.

"It seems your Kirin didn't like me." Lucy said as she stopped her act of touching Kirin.

"Please don't mind its behavior. I just got this Kirin in the morning, and it still needs time to adapt to our environment." Kent replied with an awkward laugh.

"Then at least you should command your pet to obey me... I want to examine its body to assess its age and health condition. It's okay if you don't want me to do it." Lucy asked Kent pleasingly, as she really liked the Fire Kirin and wanted to touch it dearly.

Kent rubbed his head with an awkward laugh. "Sorry, Lucy, I can't do it." Kent replied with a helpless smile.

"Why…? You don't like others touching your pet." Lucy asked with a confused look.

"That's not it. I don't have absolute control over its behavior as it is not linked to me through a blood contract. It just acknowledged me as its master." Kent replied while controlling the Fire Kirin, which is rubbing its head on his back. 

"What?!" Lucy exclaimed in a shocking gaze as she couldn't believe what Kent just said.