Walking around, Karma was practising what to say. She was thinking about all that she had done for him. And after all the work she had done so far. Everyday she has been practising with her shadow as well. Not to mention at times when she needed help, she never asked for it. This was because she knew that Leonora needed it. But still….after the last training day they haven’t been able to do anymore as it seems like he has been working day and night. They haven’t been able to have a good conversation because of the numerous attacks in the city. It was mostly soldiers but still, karma wanted some attention. But now today she will for sure get his attention.

  “Oh hey Karma!! Did you see my flowers? It was..uwahh.” Leonardo popped up as he was looking rather stylish today for some reason. Ignoring his appearance, Karma grabbed his coat to bring him along for some reason.

  “You are coming with me!!”

  “Wait, where are we going?” Leonardo didn’t know what was going on but he was still going nonetheless. Then, when heading to the direction he knew it was a bad idea.

  “Wait wait Karma, you can’t go in there. They are doing a physical inspection.”

  “I don’t care!!”

  “But they are doing other things as well.” Continuing to ignore his words, Karma wasn’t actually picking up to what he was inferring too. In fact, she was filled with so much rage that it didn’t cross her mind what physical inspection meant.

  “I don’t care!!” Upon getting to the door, there were two guards who were refusing anyone from entering no matter what.

  “Only…” Karma then put Leonardo in front of them. It was weird that it was him but he sighed as he didn’t want to go against her.

  “Let her through.” Hearing that, they let her go inside. The guards were two ladies as they were really trying to hint at Karma without saying a word. Using their eyes, they signal to Karma if she was to enter the room, she would see some nightmares. But Karma was again...so emotional that it prevented her from seeing those gestures. She then forcefully opened the door.

  “Fausto!!!! I need to have a word with you!!! You…AHHH!!!!!!” Karma then quickly turned her face around as she had to cover her eyes. She then got embarrassed as it was surprising to see a whole host of men who were almost practically naked.

  “Oh Karma, good timing. I need help recording some information. Would you like to help?” Faust said as he was rather surprised by her. But seeing how amusing her facial expression was, he played along.

  “No No I think I will go outside and wait.” Though red in fury, it cooled down in embarrassment.

  “Oh but we are getting to the interesting part. Why not join us for the very last part?” Faust continued. The other guys were laughing as well as they were flexing just for the fun of it. But then Leonardo got in.

  “Hey stop it guys, you can’t do it in front of a lady!!” But Faust countered.

  “But she isn’t like any other person. She is in fact, a doctor. So she should be okay with this.” Karma still looked away as she didn’t want to do it at all.

  “Nooo...I will wait outside.” Karma quickly left the room.

  “Wait Karma, wait for me!!'' Leonardo then closed the door as he left, as many people outside were peeking inside. Seeing the fleeing, embarrassed Karma, Faust was finding that rather cute. “Well guys let's hurry this up….bro really in a time like this…” Faust scratches his head as he finishes his work.

  A half hour later, Karma was still sitting on a bench as she was trying to get rid of the image out of her head. What the hell was she thinking going in like that? She thought he was checking on a patient. Never thought he was doing physicals.

  “Dame that Livia, should have said something!!!!” Karma said even though she was impatient. Still, she was going to make Livia pay later.

  “Here,” Leonardo said as he handed a cup of tea. “Sorry you had to see that?”

  “No, it was my fault… I shouldn’t have bothered when they were doing their physical. ha..I wish I didn’t see them.” Even the tea wasn’t making it better. Leonardo was stumped as even he didn’t know what to do. This is his first time talking to her about these things and he didn’t know why she got this mad. Did she not like the flowers? He took a note that he shouldn't but flowers for her. Next time, something more expensive. Maybe that was the key.

  “I..if you...want...I can….” Leonardo was trying to say something but he was rather embarrassed. But then Karma said something.

  “Haaa...men they always drive me nuts. Why can’t they be more understandable?” In disgust, she was massaging her head to erase her dirty memories. Thankfully, she seen many more so it was very easy to get rid of those images. The cruel life of working in the hospital.

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  “Yeah..I mean we try.” Leonardo try to reason with her. He was going to comfort her by handing her an A game to play. ….ring ring ring he got a call from headquarters. “Yes what is it...I see...I’m on it….” Leonardo switched gears as this was actually serious. Karma was actually surprised because around her he didn’t seem to be his age. But when he is dealing with other things, he looks focused.

  “Guess he actually is a Cleanser,” Karma whispered.

  “Sorry, I have to go. There is something urgent going on. I will come by tomorrow.” Leonardo yelled as he soon left in a hurry. He then activated his glasses as he then looked like he was about to head for combat.

  “Cleansers these days. They really have been busy.” Faust joined in as he was walking by. Well it just so happens it was perfect timing as it was another bomb that Fausto had timed to be ignited around this time. Using Fausto’s shadow, he has been running around planting time bombs so that they would constantly activate at random times to keep the city alert. Making it so that Faust can always be here while all the cleansers go away. Especially Leonardo, who has gotten rather chummy as of late.

  “I could be saying the same as you were avoiding me these days.” Karma complained as she ignored him while turning her head away.

  “Hmm I thought I would check on you when you were working,” Faust recalled.

  “But compared to Leonora, you never seem to care for me as much as her.”

  “Was it that important? I recall that Leonora was needing more help than you. So I should help the one that needs improvement right?”

  “And you haven’t trained me ever since a few days ago.”

  “Is it me who needs practice or is it you who needs practice? And I recall you never asked me if you needed help at all, right?”

  “But you could at least talk to me...or give me a better gift…” Karma was starting to whisper. Faust then got closer as he was amused.

  “Oh so you both got my gift, then that's good. I hand-picked it myself. I wanted to give you both personally but as you saw, what came up.” Faust smiled as he enjoyed the expression. To be honest, he was rather shy, so he didn’t give it personally, so he give it to Livia to handle. “I thought each gift suited each of you pretty well.”

  “How does a RIB….bon!!” Karma then quiets down as she realising she was drawing quite the attention. “How does an old ribbon suit me?” Faust then gestured to her to come walk with him into a quiet hallway to have a more private meeting.

  “Seems like you are not just happy about the gift. You seem to be thinking about something else.”

  “No I’m not…” Denying it slowly, it was clear as day that she was unsatisfied. But the next few words Faust said were words that she absolutely wanted to deny.

  “Oh really...Cause I think you..are….j.e.a.l.o.u..s. Am I correct?”

  “No I'm not!! I just….” Karma was trying to think of an excuse. “It's just… you don’t treat me the same. Yeah, I need fair treatment.” Justifying herself, she thought this was her right. Laughing, Faust didn’t think that Karma was the one to care about these things. He thought she was the one who cared about the effort than the value.

  “I see…. not the same treatment...hahaha.” Faust put his hand out. “Do you have the ribbon?”

  “Yeah, but what's so good about it?” Karma presented it. He then grabbed her to a separate room as she made her sit. She didn’t know, but she then realized that he was combing her hair. He was gently combing her hair again as he redid her hairstyle.

  “You are right, I don’t give the same treatment to both of you. Because I don’t do this for her.” Faust said as he then made Karma red. Faust then gently used the ribbon to tie her hair into a ponytail. “And perfect!!” He said as he then showed it to her with a hologram mirror. “What do you think?” Seeing it, it was done perfectly to look like a bow that worked well with her long hair. But there was one problem.

  “It's still old and…” But as she said that, the shadows from her body then flowed to her bow, as it then, like magic, made it look like a brand new bow with very reflecting neon purple colors.

  “Old and what? I don’t see anything.” Faust said as he was waiting for it to happen.

  “But but...this is…”

  “It's a ribbon specifically for those who are shadow dwellers. It used to keep you in stealth against other shadow dwellers.”

  “From them…” Strange, wasn’t Shadow Dwellers supposed to be all allies? But unfortunately, Faust reminded her.

  “Unfortunately, things could happen. It is possible that a shadow dweller might attack you from the dark. You still can’t fight against them yet. So, better not interact with them.” Wanting to protect her, he thought the perfect gift was something that would look nice while also protecting her from outside enemies. “Shadow dwellers that are strong, can tell instantly if you are a dweller or not, just by touching your shadow. So this ribbon at least makes them unaware you are a shadow dweller when they come into contact with you.”

  “I see I will take note of that.” Hearing that Karma was actually nervous as she didn’t want to imagine. But on the other hand, she was smiling as she figured that he really does care for her. “So…”

  “Hmmm….” Faust said as Karma was looking as she wanted something else as well. Another answer to make her happy with the gift. Something to make her gift feel better.

  “About Leonora’s gift, was it also…” Karma wanted to ask as well because she was curious as to what the gift was.

  “That gift will allow her body to contain the energy so she doesn't have that sporadic conundrum like before. It also has other features as well to make sure she doesn't burn anyone. It will also absorb excess energy and make sure her body can adapt to energy it can’t control.” Further explaining, it made Karma sulk more as she listened.

  “So I’m not special after all….” Karma said in frustration. While her gift was good and beautiful. It still looks like a cheap ribbon.

  “Well yeah, that is how diviners make their jewelry. While for you, they don’t try to have too many stylish things.”

  “But why??!!” She was complaining because that wasn’t fair to her. Faust was confused as to what she wanted. She had already gotten a gift. What does it matter?

  “But don’t you like my gift?”

  “..It's not that...it's just I….mmm.. never mind.” Karma said as she was walking away. But Faust stopped her.

  “Wait.”

  “I don’t want to hear it!! I have work to do!!”

  “That is just it...Uhm its that way??’ Faust then pointed out to her that they were going the wrong direction. Karma then realised how childish she was acting.

  “Oh….ah...well..lead on…” Faust then led the way as he was confused. He then looked at the notes he took with the girl's advice. One, make sure you spend time with other women to get her jealous. Two, show up more often for her to be more aware of you. Third, give her a bad gift but then realise it is an amazing gift when she comes to you. Everything was working. But what was the problem…..was the fact that her gift was used to control her power?? Leonora's was the same as well. And since Leonora was there, he gave both their gifts as well. Still...what was the problem? That ribbon is a really nice gift as it looks good on her. Though yeah jewelry far outstrips a ribbon but he thought Karma cared that he was worried for her protection.

  “What went wrong…..” Faust wondered.

  “Do I have a say in it?” Fausto said in his mind. But Faust brushed him off as he didn’t need it.

  “You barely understood women at all. You rarely interact with them well. So no…” Fausto then feels insulted as he has nothing to say, but as the same time couldn’t stand the sight of Faust making him a target. But the good news is that Fausto was going out in a few hours.

  “I need to visit the ladies again. Women are really difficult people.” Faust whispered as he was looking at his notes again. Karma was looking at him as he was wondering what he was doing. But looking at herself, she then looked at her ponytail. Was it that good? Though she was mad, she did like the style as it was rather nice.