NOVPUB
Chapter 61: Stay At Home (IV)
It slithered through the air, steady and controlled, before wrapping around the window’s handle.
With a simple tug, he pulled it shut. The lock clicked into place.
Zayn let out a slow breath, watching as the energy slowly retracted back into his palm before vanishing completely.
Simple tasks were easier.
It wasn’t like he could suddenly form a Rasengan out of thin air — he chuckled at the thought.
But this? Small manipulations? He could do this.
Progress.
And that was enough for now.
His throat felt dry.
He ran a hand through his hair before making his way toward the door.
Might as well get some water.
Zayn walked past Elisse’s room and caught a glimpse of her sleeping soundly, curled up beneath her blankets.
Her steady breathing filled the quiet air, and the way her hair splayed over the pillow made her look even more serene.
A soft smile tugged at his lips — she looked so peaceful that he made sure to close the door as quietly as possible.
The last thing he wanted was to disturb her rest.
Descending the stairs, he moved lightly, careful not to creak the wooden floorboards.
The inn was quiet — eerily so.
Unlike a public guild hall, this place was their private sanctuary, home only to him and his party members.
That was one of the things he liked about it — there was no need to deal with nosy strangers, just his own little dysfunctional group.
As he neared the kitchen, the faint sound of movement caught his attention.
He rounded the corner and was met with the sight of Kara standing at the counter, a knife in hand, her brows furrowed in deep concentration.
A vegetable sat in front of her, completely untouched, like she was still trying to figure out how to start.
Zayn leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Didn’t know you cooked."
Kara glanced up at him, and for the briefest moment, guilt flickered across her expression before she masked it with her usual bravado.
"I kind of told Elisse I’d fix lunch while she was sleeping," she admitted, voice laced with mild annoyance. "So I’m doing that."
Zayn’s gaze flickered down to the way she was gripping the knife.
She held it like a weapon, fingers too tight around the handle, as if she were about to stab the vegetable rather than chop it.
He had seen her wield a blade and staff in battle with absolute precision, but here in the kitchen?
She was completely out of her element.
He sighed, pushing himself off the doorframe. "Move over."
Kara frowned. "I know what I’m doing."
"No, you don’t." He stepped closer, nudging her to the side. "You’re about to chop your fingers off."
She scowled but let him take over, watching as he picked up the knife with practiced ease.
He adjusted his grip and started slicing, the blade moving in a smooth rhythm against the cutting board.
"You hold it like this," he explained. "Don’t try to stab the vegetables — slice them. Think of it like... cutting through an enemy’s defenses. Precision, not force."
Kara snorted. "I don’t think about vegetables when I fight."
Zayn smirked. "Maybe you should. It might help."
She rolled her eyes but leaned against the counter, arms crossed.
As he worked, he caught her scent — earthy and warm, like fresh soil after rainfall.
It was different from Elisse, who smelled like lavender, but just as distinct.
After a moment, Kara bumped her shoulder against his. "You look like you just came out of hours of meditation."
Zayn blinked, glancing at her. "How do you even know that?"
She gave him a knowing look. "I’m a damn earth mage. Concentration is part of the job."
He chuckled. "Fair enough."
He continued slicing, and Kara watched closely.
It was a rare moment — her actually paying attention to something that wasn’t combat-related or magic related. 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
Maybe she wanted to learn, even if she wouldn’t admit it outright.
After a moment, she huffed. "I could have done that."
"Yeah, but then we’d be eating bandages for lunch instead of actual food," Zayn teased, flashing her a grin.
Kara scoffed but didn’t argue. Instead, she grabbed a bowl and started arranging the ingredients as he chopped.
It was a small thing, but it made the process easier.
As Zayn chopped the vegetables, his knife moving in a steady rhythm, he glanced at Kara.
She was standing near the counter, arms crossed as she watched him work, her golden eyes flickering with amusement.
He had always known she was beautiful, but seeing her up close like this, without armor or the usual scowl she wore in battle, was something else entirely.
She was almost as tall as him, her frame slightly muscular yet feminine in all the right ways.
Her dark skin reminded him of the models he had seen back in his world — smooth, rich, and glowing under the warm runic light of the kitchen.
The world outside was black.
The tight-fitting tunic she wore accentuated her curves, her ample chest rising and falling with each breath, her posture relaxed yet confident.
"Checking me out?" Kara’s lips curled into a smirk, her voice teasing. "I know I’m hot, Zayn."
Zayn snorted, shaking his head as he moved on to the meat. "I was just wondering... is this how all Black women look like?"
The teasing glint in Kara’s eyes dimmed slightly, replaced with something softer, something unreadable.
She tilted her head at him, her full lips parting slightly before she let out a slow breath.
Then, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
"Instead of wondering how all of them look," she murmured, her voice low and sultry, "why don’t you focus on the one in front of you?"
Zayn felt his throat go dry.
Kara wasn’t just close — she was right in front of him, her body practically pressing against his.
He could feel the warmth of her skin, the strength in her arms as she moved with the grace of a warrior.
One of her hands reached up, fingers lightly grazing his shoulder before securing around the back of his neck.
Her other arm draped lazily over his shoulder, her fingers brushing against the nape of his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.
He gulped. "Kara, what are you — "
Before he could finish his sentence, she pulled him into a deep kiss.
[Authors Note]
[Character panels are there for a reason fellow brothers of culture, like the personalities, give Zayn a personality and support with points hehe]
