20 Questions for My Werebeast Companion

Ian casually tosses his towel back into his dorm just before the door slides shut behind him. With a subtle fist pump he turns his attention to the hallway. A sharp contrast to the warm, steamy cocoon he’d just left. The building had always felt like something out of a dystopian movie to him—clean, impersonal, and built to resemble functionality more than comfort. He sighed.

“I really should have allowed Markus to hire the interior designer.”

The hallway stretched ahead in its typical gleaming white monotony, the harsh artificial lighting overhead accentuating the perfect shine of the walls and floor. It wasn’t just that everything was white—it was that everything looked too new, too perfect. Like someone had erased the very idea of imperfections. There was an oddly sterile energy to it all, though it didn’t bother Ian too much. He’d spent enough time in the assessment center to stop noticing the unnerving silence at the very least.

He started walking, his bare feet making gentle taps softly against the smooth floor as he passed a series of potted plants, strategically placed for some semblance of life in this otherwise emotionless place. Thankfully plants looked healthy and provided a nice subtle earthy scent to the facility.

As Ian walked past a few rooms one of the floor projectors embedded in the tiles, a soft whirr of its activation barely registered to him as It hummed to life, projecting the familiar figure of A.D.A.M. into the air, its neutral voice filling the space.

"Good afternoon, Mr. F’talis. It is highly unusual for you to be en route to Exam Room 22 at this hour. Shouldn’t you be engaged in Applicant Moonshadow’s training, as per your schedule?”

Ian couldn’t help the small grin that tugged at the corner of his lips. A.D.A.M. had always been polite, always on point. The AI assistant followed his every movement, its holographic body flickering in and out of sight depending on where Ian turned. It was loyal, almost annoyingly so. But, since Ian was the creator, he never felt uncomfortable with it.

“Well Kiara insisted on spending extra time in the bathroom today. And personally, after what happened at her family’s home I wasn't gonna get in the way. We had a long discussion about Authority types earlier and she took a nap after. I’ve learned the hard way not to wake her from these naps.”

“I’ll commit this information to memory as to avoid my own personal equipment from potential harm. It is appreciated that you took the forefront of the consequences as always Mr. F’talis. Your risk taking endeavors in the field of discovery are an inspiration to me and the staff at this facility.”

“Yes Yes, you’re welcome.” Ian muttered, his tone dry as he continued down the hallway. The hum of the projectors behind him softened as they faded from view, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

“I have about ten minutes before Kiara wakes up and honestly I am looking forward to the break.”

“Then if i’m not required i’ll be on standby. Enjoy your break Mr. F'talis.” With a soft whirr ADAM faded from sight as Ian entered Exam room 22 the Cafeteria.

When the door slid open to the room, he was hit with the same wave of weirdness. Except this one he couldn’t get used to. The room stretched out in front of him—football field-sized, but it wasn’t the scale that caught his attention. It was everything inside.

The floor was black, covered in tiny hexagonal tiles that glowed faintly blue underfoot. Each tile had a soft, pulsing light beneath it, adding to the sense of sterile, clinical precision that dominated the room. The micro-pores in the tiles, barely visible to the naked eye, worked silently to collect any scraps of food or waste and convert it into fertilizer, keeping the place spotless while allowing students the freedom to be as messy as they wanted. They could toss food anywhere, and the sanitation crew only needed to clean the vacuum-sealed crates that contained the leftovers.

Potted plants, varying in species and size, lined the walls, offering some comfort and color amidst the cold surroundings. Their vibrant greens stood in stark contrast to the pristine white of the walls and the futuristic tech scattered around. Along the far wall, a series of high-tech food stations were stacked in neat rows, each encased in shimmering aerogel glass. The buffet-style spread offered everything a student might want—from protein-packed meals to the more decadent snacks. There were no trays or plates, just sleek, high-tech delivery systems that popped up at every yard of length. The students could make their selections from the panel, customizing their order as they watched it get packaged before their eyes.

Instead of tables, the cafeteria was dotted with booths—some had tops, others didn’t. The booths were large, cushioned, and surprisingly comfortable, with heated seats that had built-in massage functions for those long study sessions. The holo-tables embedded into the seats offered entertainment options for the bored or restless, with simple games like digital chess or simulated sports.

As Ian slid into the corner booth, the heated seat molded comfortably to his back. He didn’t touch the holo-table yet—better to avoid wasting time. Instead, he pulled up his Ordo to check on his project.

“ADAM?”

The AI materialized beside him. “Yes, Mr. F’talis?”

“Make sure my lunch is delivered, I’ll have the usual.”

“Mr. F’talis,” ADAM began, its tone unwavering, “I understand you have admin privileges; however, I must insist you manually collect your tray in the future unless you wish others to think you receive favoritism.”

Ian glanced around the cafeteria, seeing other students engaged with their own holo-screens and varying instances of ADAM next to them conversing. Before settling back to his own instance of ADAM.

“Picky ass AI if I can't abuse your functions as your creator, when can I?” Ian muttered under his breath, his eyes flicking upwards as ADAM’s holographic head nodded in response.

“Understood, Mr. F’talis. Your order is now being processed.”

As Ian settled in, waiting for his food and Kiara to arrive, he let his mind wander, vaguely aware of the hum of activity in the large room around him. Before putting all his attention onto his Ordo's screen.

In the few minutes Ian managed to sink into his project, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a female staff member, one he couldn’t quite recall by name, though she always delivered his food with a wink and a silent nod. She left quickly after setting down his meal, and Ian wasted no time digging into the pound of salmon before picking at the mashed potatoes and carrots. His eyes remained glued to his ordo as he scrolled through the latest updates.

Just as he bit into his vanilla cream danish, something warm covered his eyes. A low voice, playful and mischievous, whispered in his ear.

"Hey, dude, I’m Mike. If you give me a quarter, I’ll show you a magic trick."

Ian exhaled through his nose, voice deadpan. "Kiara, as much as I enjoy your company, the deep voice thing doesn’t work with your cute face. I’m busy right now."

The hands disappeared, and Ian turned to face her. She wore a snug sienna racerback tank top and durable black leggings, perfect for both agility and resilience. Her dark chestnut skin glowed under the cafeteria lights, and on her feet were Nanotech Fótaskórs.

"Are you wearing the same outfit you wore for your assessment?" Ian asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kiara shrugged, unbothered. "Not all of us can rock the same black shirt and pants made of nanotech hyper-weave composite mesh—"

"Okay, okay, I get it," Ian interrupted.

Kiara pouted dramatically, grinning. "Aww, boo, you’re no fun. I just wanted to play a little with my ‘master’ before combat practice."

"There’s plenty of students here for you to entertain yourself with."

Kiara shot him a sharp look. "Ian, that’s a little—"

"Dehumanizing right Ms. Moonshadow?" a new voice said, cutting her off.

Kiara turns to see a studious looking young man with glasses on. He wore a Diamond patterned Beige Sweater vest with a white button up collared shirt, fine pressed slacks and a pair of black Fótaskórs. His face was plain but the glasses gave a certain charm toit while his hair was cut low to his head in a caesar style. He adjusted his glasses on his pale face while Ian replied ignoring the jab directed at him, his head still buried in his ordo's screen. 

"Soaryn perfect timing. Would you mind playing with my little apprentice?"

"There's that L word again Ian." Kiara said with a sharp tone.

"Uh . . . sure, I guess. Ms. Moonshadow, how about twenty questions?" 

"Oh, sure Sor- I mean Mister . . . . "

"Blitz. Soaryn Blitz. I'm the helium tuner who got here yesterday."

"And failed his assessment twice but managed to get perfect scores on the written assessment. you earned just enough to pass given you specific authority type. The full scholarship is out of reach, but you earned free lodging for Saint Firebrand's institute for 4 years."

Kiara places her hands on her hips and turns to Soaryn "Sorry about him he really means well. but I'm ready to play now!"

"No offense taken Ms. Moonshadow . . . I promise. . . .  Is Mr. F'talis joining us?"

Nope, much too busy but I'll allow her to consult me if that's fine?"

"Perfect . . .  Just perfectly acceptable Mr. F'talis, alright the topic is a large thing" Soaryn says with a smile.

"Alright, question one: Is it a Ghost thorn?"

"No" Soaryn takes out his ordo and marks something down. "19 questions left."

Ian speaks without looking up, "Too specific. Start broad, narrow it down. For example: ‘is it a living thing?’

"No" Soaryn marks something down again "18 questions left."

staring at Ian, unamused Kiara pokes his side, "Oh, thanks, genius. Let me just consult Ian’s Guide to Playing Twenty Questions Poorly—oh wait, I already have the author right here."

Ian shrugs, still scrolling "Not my fault you suck at this game."

"Oh Ha Ha. I thought you weren't playing, Hero."

"I'm just teasing Kiara. Besides, I asked a good question. Right Soaryn?"

"Yes. 17 questions left."

Kiara's eyes go wide "Wait, WHAT?!"

A large grin spread across Ian's face as he leaned back smugly "Told you it was a good question."

"And now you have 17 left."

"Wait . . .  you're actually counting that?

with a deadpan expression and tone Soaryn replies "Yes. 16."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Ian, stop wasting my questions!"

"Wasting? I’m not even playing! Sorry about that. Soaryn, can we ignore my question?"

Shaking his head, perfectly calm, "No. . . 15 questions left now."

Ian slowly places his ordo on the table and turns glaring at Soaryn "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

Soaryn blinks and a calm smile appears on his face. "A little. and since you need the handicap, I'll let you have that one free."

Sighing, Ian cracks his neck with a stretch and gestures to Soaryn to have a seat. "Kiara, go grab us some juice. and snacks."

Kiara places her hands on hips. "Why?"

Ian's eyes narrowed at Soaryn "Because now I’m playing. And I'm going to make sure we win."

"Don't worry Ms. Moonshadow We won't begin without you, also here take my Celestial Card. Go get some items from the expensive menu for yourself. I know your mentor here only feeds you the standard array of delicacies."

"Wow really? Thanks, Soaryn" Kiara says before happily hopping off.

"Soaryn, I see—" Ian began, but Soaryn interjected.

"Ms. Moonshadow is the only one who's earned the privilege, Mr. F'talis. . . Call me Mr. Blitz if you please."

Ian stares at Soaryn in shock while Soaryn offers a gentle smile in return as he adjusts his glasses. 

"You're leaning quite heavily into this movie like ‘gentlemen super villain’ role. And honestly. . . I cannot wait to pull your smug head out of your ass."

"How vulgar. Goodness me Mr. F'talis I'm merely just trying to enjoy a game with my future classmates. Being Crass will only make the next 4 years a bit uncomfortable for Ms. Moonshadow, won't they?"

Ian goes silent as Kiara Skips back happily with three large containers. the scent of food and drink wafting from them. Immediately she casts a mischievous smile toward Soaryn before setting the containers down.

"Soooooooo. I decided to get us all something from the expensive menu Soaryn. I hope you don't mind. If you do, I'll have Ian pay you back, he's actually loaded believe it or not. Probably the richest man in this facility. In fact, I see you wearing the shoes he designed. . . You must be a fan. Right?"

Soaryn's smile fades a bit, he adjusts his glasses while Ian Gives a smug smile.

"Thank you, Kiara, and yes don't worry, 'Soaryn'. I'll be sure to reimburse you my portion of the bill if anything."

" . . . Thank you . . . Mr. F'talis, but that won't be necessary. It's my treat. Let's finish the game. Let me remind you the topic is a thing, a very large thing."

Kiara slid in next to Ian, balancing a container in each hand. She set them down with a practiced flourish, revealing their contents. Her container showcased gleaming slices of yellowtail, rich red skipjack tuna, and delicate pink salmon arranged artfully on a bed of shaved ice. A small mound of glistening black caviar nestled beside mother-of-pearl spoons completed the luxurious spread. To the side, a bowl of dried squid added a playful touch.

Ian's container, in contrast, overflowed with brightly colored dinosaur-shaped cookies spilling from tiny dessert bowls. These were surrounded by saucers of neatly arranged danishes and brownies. Nestled between the plates and bowls were several vanilla protein shakes, giving the whole display an unmistakably personal touch.

Soaryn's container stood as a middle ground—neatly arranged pinwheel sandwiches, the fillings a pale blur of cream cheese and thinly sliced ham. These were accompanied by small ceramic containers of dipping sauces ranging from bleu cheese to marinara to wasabi. Two bottles of oolong tea sat beside several packs of sugar and cream on the side.

Ian blinked at his cookies. "Kiara... why are my cookies dinosaur-shaped?"

"Because they’re cute," she replied without hesitation, as if it were the most natural explanation in the world.

Soaryn eyed his sandwiches with a faint expression of disappointment before turning his gaze to Kiara. "Um, not to sound ungrateful, Ms. Moonshadow, but while I appreciate the effort put into selecting items for me, I find myself disinclined towards stratified farinaceous compositions."

Ian and Kiara both stared at him for a beat before speaking in unison. "What?"

"Apologies—bread-based comestibles," Soaryn clarified, the faintest hint of irritation in his voice.

Kiara chuckled and waved it off with a grin. "Oh, my bad! I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I went with the default option. Don’t worry, me and Ian can finish it for you. I’ll grab you something else if you want."

Leaning in slightly, she rested her hand gently on Soaryn’s. "Just let me know what you’d like, and I’ll take care of it. Wouldn’t want you to go hungry."

A faint blush crept up Soaryn’s neck, his usual composure faltering as his gaze darted to where her hand rested on his. Clearing his throat, he shook his head. "No, no. That won’t be necessary. I’ll… ensure your consideration doesn’t go to waste. Shall we continue? Feel free to take all the time you need to consult while I… indulge in these... sandwiches."

Ian began biting the heads off his dinosaur cookies as he tapped his Ordo screen. A list of all the questions they’d asked so far flickered up. Beside him, Kiara struggled with her chopsticks, slowly ferrying cuts of fish into her mouth.

"So," Ian whispered, "we know it’s not alive, and it’s not a ghost thorn. Basically useless info except my question."

Kiara pinched his leg under the table, making him wince. "Hold the fuck on, WE?. Don’t forget the ‘amazing’ three questions you asked after that. Huge help by the way."

Ian smiled through the pain. "Okay, fine. But I still think going broad is our best bet."

Kiara raised an eyebrow. "How do we know it’s not some stupid thing he made up just to mess with us?"

Ian’s eyes lit up. "Actually, that’s a perfect angle. Establishing if it’s corporeal or not will drastically narrow things down."

Kiara smirked. "Praise me more, good sir."

Ian chomped another cookie’s head off and gestured toward Soaryn. Kiara took the cue, her tone turning sugary sweet as she asked, "Soaryn, is it a tangible or observable thing?"

Soaryn hesitated before replying, "Well, technically that’s two questions, but as a thank-you for the food, I’ll allow it. No, it’s not tangible. Yes, it’s observable."

When Kiara glanced back at Ian, she caught his deadpan expression. "W-What? What’d I do?"

"You’re laying the manipulation on a little thick," Ian muttered. "But hey, we got two answers out of it, so we’ve only wasted two questions now."

"Excuse me," Kiara shot back, "There’s this ‘we’ again, Your screw-ups are not my responsibility."

"If we’re in this together, we share the wins ‘and’ the losses."

"Yeah, no. If we lose, it’s your fault. If we win, it’s our win."

"How is that remotely fair?"

"It’s not. But if we win, I promise not to complain about training all day tomorrow."

"Deal. Anyway, if it’s observable but not tangible, it’s potentially an element we can manipulate."

"Your turn, Mr. Fox."

Ian turned to Soaryn. "Is it an element?"

Soaryn’s expression brightened slightly, and he leaned back. "Ah, such simple binary thinking, Mr. F’Talis. A deconstructed yet admirable prediction. Alas, the answer is no. Thirteen questions left."

Ian muttered under his breath as he reached for another cookie. "Could’ve just said no…"

Kiara jumped in. "Is it something we can use?"

Soaryn nodded. "Yes, Ms. Moonshadow, it’s absolutely something we all can use."

Ian and Kiara huddled.

"You’re on a roll," Ian admitted. "That really narrowed it down."

"What if it’s something human-centric?"

"Good angle. Let’s try that."

Ian grabbed one of the shakes and downed it before turning back to Soaryn. "Is it a human function?"

Soaryn adjusted his glasses. "Yes. Twelve questions left."

Kiara followed up. "It’s not locomotion-based, is it?"

Soaryn paused before answering carefully. "Yes, It’s not locomotion-based, Ms. Moonshadow.”

"Yes it's not locomotion. 11 questions left."

"Wait huh...Is that a yes or a no Soaryn?"

"It's not locomotion Based Ms. Moonshadow. sorry i was answering based on how you phrased the question. sadly I must retract a question. 10 left."

Kiara huffed before grabbing Ian's shoulder and returning to the huddle. "Sorry Ian He tricked me."

"Don't worry it's fine, I think I know what it is. and your question actually eliminated almost all bodily functions meaning it's possibly a behavior or mental process."

"What? How the fuck was anyone supposed to guess this on their first go?"

"That's why you have me here. I'll leave the next 5 questions to you. Let me brainstorm with EVE for a bit and I'll snatch the win."

Kiara smiles and Gives Ian a thumbs up. before returning her gaze to Soaryn who has fished his snack and is not sipping his tea. 

"Soaryn...Is it a behavior?"

Soaryn raises an eyebrow and rests his head in his chin in contemplation. "No, nine questions."

Does it influence Behavior? "Yes, Eight questions."

Kiara pauses a bit glances at Ian who is reading several lines of text at a speed she can't comprehend before turning back. "Is it a personality trait?"

Soaryn Pauses as a grin tugs at the edge of his lips "Yes Ms. Moonshadow. Seven questions remain."

Ian glanced up from his Ordo and blinked at Soaryn in disbelief. His mouth opened, then closed as he exhaled sharply through his nose.

"You smug bastard."

Soaryn took an unhurried sip of his tea, not rising to the bait. "Mr. F'Talis, there's no need for crass language. You still have questions remaining. I’d advise making absolutely certain before committing to an answer."

Kiara tilted her head, watching Ian’s expression before leaning in. “You sure you’ve got it?”

"Thanks to your last question, I have very little doubt…” Ian murmured back, though his ears twitched in hesitation. “But just to be sure… Soaryn, is it related to me specifically?"

Soaryn's smile lost some of its shine. He clapped his hands together, the sound sharp, his voice laced with reluctant approval. "I suppose you’re every bit as erudite as you are beastly. My father always said werebeasts were simple creatures—I suppose I should tell him he was mistaken. However I doubt you’ll narrow it down before the game’s end."

Ian felt heat creeping up his neck, and his tail twitched once in clear discomfort. He exhaled, bracing himself. “A very large thing,” he said, voice quieter than before. “Mr. Blitz has chosen… my ego as the subject of these twenty questions. Am I right?”

For a beat, Soaryn said nothing. His expression wavered—not in shock, but in something unreadable. Then, with a measured breath, he folded his hands in his lap. "...Tch. That is correct." He turned his gaze to Kiara. “Congratulations, Ms. Moonshadow. You win.”

Kiara was silent for all of two seconds before she burst into laughter, nearly doubling over in her seat. She pointed at Ian, but whatever words she wanted to say were lost in her gasping wheezes.

Ian groaned, ears folding back. “I knew you were going to react like this.”

Kiara managed to get enough breath to answer, still giggling. “I’m sorry, it’s just—your ego, Ian? That’s what you lost to?”

Ian let his forehead thump against the table. “This… This was a waste of time. I knew I shouldn't have played.”

Kiara grinned, finally reining in her laughter enough to pat him on the shoulder. “Hey, you still won. And for what it’s worth, I think your ego’s just the right size. Besides, for the next four or five years we’re sharing a room, right? I’m gonna know you pretty well in that time. Flaws and all.”

Soaryn, mid-sip, sputtered violently, setting his teacup down with an audible clink. "I'm sorry. What? Did I hear correctly that you, Ms. Moonshadow, are cohabitating with this—this smelly, shedding, dander-generating vulpine?”

Kiara waved a hand dismissively. “Hey now. He is smelly and he does leave hair everywhere, but he’s my smelly, sheddy vulpine.”

Ian stiffened. "Kiara, you don't have to—"

"Nonsense." She booped Ian’s nose. "You're a monkey in my circus whether I like it or not. Of course I’ll defend you."

“I’m not sure I need that kind of defense…” Ian muttered, rubbing his temple.

Soaryn shifted his food container aside and tapped a button in the center of the booth, activating the small compartment that revealed biodegradable towelettes. He carefully cleaned up the spilled tea, his fingers moving with precision as he muttered, “My sincerest apologies, esteemed Mr. F'talis. I must offer the rather unfortunate circumstance of my father’s… vocal interjection. Please be assured that those sentiments were his own and not reflective of my own, shall we say, nuanced perspective. Though, I daresay, my own, perhaps subtly communicated, reservations regarding your person may have, inadvertently, come to your attention.”

Kiara, without missing a beat, interrupted, “Yeah, no shit.”

“Kiara, shush. Let him apologize,” Ian said, keeping his tone calm but tinged with a bit of exasperation.

“He’s still speaking in a way he assumes we don’t understand,” Kiara muttered, raising an eyebrow. “Verbose and pretentious. Just because we understand him doesn’t mean it isn’t condescending.”

“Kiara—” Ian started, but Soaryn cut him off.

“No, no, Ms. Moonshadow is entirely correct. I often find it difficult to admit to my shortcomings in various fields of erudition. When it became apparent that I was, shall we say, suboptimal in the application process, I opted to externalize my less-than-positive expressions upon the architect of said examination. Upon the revelation of your identity, a student a mere two years my junior, my own ego found itself in a most uncomfortable juxtaposition with yours. Needless to say, it was a lamentable projection of my own insecurity. As such, my vernacular choice, I concede, reflects that. I shall endeavor to modulate my locution to a more... colloquial register for both of your benefit.”

Kiara smirked, shaking her head. “How about instead of ‘me and Ian,’ you do it for everyone. If you can manage that, I’ll forgive you.”

Soaryn’s eyes widened in shock. “Pardon? I don’t ever recall offending your beautiful visage in any conceivable scenario, Ms. Moonshadow.”

Kiara sighed dramatically and pointed to Ian’s face. “You see this face right here? This uncaring, apathetic glaze over his eye? He’s not offended in the slightest.”

Ian let out a sigh, his voice muffled as he raised his hand, “Uh, Ki—”

“HOWEVER,” Kiara cut in with a fierce tone, “even though he doesn’t give two shits, he’s my best friend and master for the next four years. If he’s being disrespected, I’m being disrespected. And I won’t stand still for it. I’ll protect him the same way I protect myself.”

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, both Ian and Soaryn exchanged a look. Ian cracked a smile, clearly amused. “Tread lightly before you assiduously malign the veracity of my etymological prowess, Mr. Blitz.”

Soaryn’s tense expression softened, and he let out a light laugh. “I’m truly sorry, Ian. I was upset. I failed a test you designed twice. I got insecure and took my frustrations out on you.”

“No worries, Soaryn. I’m not bothered by it,” Ian said, his tone casual. “In fact, this would be the second time a test I designed cau—Ugh!”

Kiara swiftly elbowed Ian in the ribs, cutting him off. “If I recall, that information is need-to-know, master.” She then turned her attention back to Soaryn. “Thank you, Soaryn. No need to be so uptight. When the semester starts, we’re all gonna be equal anyway.”

Soaryn nodded, looking somewhat relieved. “Indeed... Ki-ara... By the way, if I may. I mean, if you’d be so inclined... would you be unbothered to accompany me on some nightly excursions later next week?”

Kiara raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. “Sorry, Soaryn. I’ll have to decline. I have a very packed schedule thanks to my master here.”

Ian, still hunched over the table, raised two fingers in confirmation. “That’s correct. I have the next month of training packed pretty tightly for her. Plus, tons of traveling around upgrading other schools with the A.D.A.M. system.”

Soaryn gave them both a long look, then nodded, his shoulders dropping slightly as if accepting defeat. “Well then, Ms. Moonshadow, Mr. F'Talis, I’ll take my leave for now. We’ll speak again soon.”

With that, Soaryn collected his things and left, but not without a lingering glance back at Kiara, his eyes betraying something more than mere politeness.

Kiara watched him go, then turned her gaze back to Ian, her expression softening. “You good, Mr. Fox? I barely tapped you.” she asked quietly, her teasing tone replaced with a quiet sincerity.

"Just remember, Kiara—you promised no complaining about tomorrow's training."

"OOOOOOO, I'm so scared. I know you won't hurt me if you can help it."

"You forget, I'm not your only opponent in this facility. Where I have shortcomings in combat, so do you. And I need to expose yours to curb some of that confidence." Ian replied as he collected the food containers and stacked them to the side. "But for today, you can take a break. I need to find the perfect opponent for you."

"Aww, but I got all dressed up."

"I can call Soaryn back here, and you can go on that date."

Kiara's expression sank before she stood up and began to head out of the cafeteria. She shouted back at Ian, "I'm gonna go study the Mammalia today."

Ian buried his face in his ordo, letting out a long sigh as he took in her retreating form.