Blue rings flared to life around Reiji's eyes, but apart from that, Bobbin saw micro-reactions on his body.
"Something is different about him..." Bobbin stepped back instinctively.
"Bobbin!" The little girl called out for her.
She immediately stepped back in after hearing the little girl's voice. "Tatiana!"
Tatiana began reciting her spell, reacting to Reiji.
"Sekhemu Netjeri, shamru Ani'i–"
In a blink of her eye, Reiji closed in to Tatiana.
She grasped for air.
"Tati!"
Before her reflexes could kick in, Reiji had already pulled and shoved a chunk of meat straight into Tatiana's mouth, cutting her off mid-incantation.
*GULP.
She screamed in her head, worried sick about the little girl. "NO!"
"That's a special grilled meat recipe no. 1—bon appétit!" Reiji announced proudly.
She shot a glance at Tatiana before turning at Reiji.
"Hey, rabbit. Relax," Reiji commanded.
"He's moving with unnatural precision!" Her fluffy ears lay flat against her head.
In response, her paws automatically raised up in the air, claws extended as she hissed exposing her teeth.
But before she could pounce, Reiji had countered her attempt by just tripping her in perfect timing.
*THUD!
She hit the ground hard.
"I told you to stay put," Reiji said, voice calm, gaze unwavering.
She was stunned.
"I'm not the same punching bag you beat up yesterday." Reiji exclaimed.
Bobbin realized how much dangerous Reiji has become.
"If I wanted to hurt anyone, I would've done it already." Reiji stated, giving a smile about the statement.
She felt threatened, so she held herself still, her nose quivering with anxiety.
"What happened to him? Tati– I have to do something!" she told herself.
With Bobbin paralyzed, Reiji had the opportunity to turn to Tatiana.
"Little girl," Reiji called while he pressed his feet to hold Bobbin down. "I need some answers."
Bobbin quietly observed Reiji as he tried to strike a conversation with Tatiana.
Bobbin held on for as long as she could.
Understanding the difference in terms of raw power between her and Reiji.
"The flow of his dark aura has more control now. If we make a mistake, we might lose Maestro's Ibilamesh again."
As she tried to comprehend, Tatiana suddenly dropped to her knees.
She turned towards her.
Tatiana's usual deadpan expression had melted into pure bliss as the flavor exploded on her tongue like fireworks.
Tatiana's demeanor completely changed. She cupped her cheeks with her hand and let out a suppressed squeal.
"Was that food laced with suppressive magic?" Bobbin tried to comprehend.
Reiji who was holding her down, chuckled at Tatiana's reaction.
She looked at them deeply confused.
"Look at your boss, rabbit. She has fallen to the flavor." Reiji leaned towards her.
Bobbin was totally lost.
Although it was alarming, it was also a rare, precious moment for her where Tatiana showed a cheerful, embarrassed reaction.
It felt like the first time she had ever seen Tatiana like this.
"How could someone be able to do this to Tatiana without using a powerful magic?" Bobbin remained unsure how to react.
Reiji pointed at her. "Hey, red-eyed, white rabbit."
Her fur bristled.
Her crimson eyes dimmed under the sophisticated, strange aura surrounding Reiji.
She panicked. "Why do I feel like he knew where everything is, and would be?"
Staring straight in to her eye, Reiji asked, "Do you have any idea where this power, this curiosity, hope, and this behavior I suddenly felt came from?"
She struggled but it was pointless.
"Stop, please." Reiji said. "I know you can see it. My precise perception of your movement."
"Your balance."
"Your intent."
He continued quietly.
"I didn't even need to look to feel your killing instinct. But I guess that's only natural, so I'll let this slide."
"Did he just say he has precise perception of movement & balance? That is Maestro's strongest ability!" Bobbin's breath hitched as realization hit her.
"T-Tatiana… this one's a monster! We need to run!"
Before she could scramble away, Reiji shoved meat into her mouth.
"Dig in, rabbit," he said with a grin.
"Huh—?"
Her ears shot straight up.
Flavor erupted across her senses.
"YUUUUUUUMY!"
Bobbin melted onto the floor, drooling, legs sprawled, eyes unfocused in food-drunk bliss.
Her fear was interrupted by the burst of flavor she had never experienced before.
"That's just something I whipped up from whatever looked edible," Reiji explained. "Plus leftover meat from yesterday."
She should be escaping but she could not help herself.
"What is this feeling…?! So delicious!" she moaned.
She couldn't hear anything Reiji said.
The flavor drowned out her every thought.
She didn't even notice Tatiana recovering beside her.
When her awareness returned, she heard the exchange between the two.
"Ask nicely next time." Reiji asserted.
Tatiana did not say anything.
"But It is made from those small disk-shaped harvests, and that violet bulb in the corner."
Tatiana squinted.
"Those are Rocallini and Cipombole. We use them for everything except cooking. Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying," Reiji replied. "They taste like a stronger version of something from my world. But the high-quality meat you fed me balanced it out."
She over heard and gripped her stomach.
"Did he just say it was made from Rocallini and Cipombole? They're horrible. I couldn't eat for three days because of its strong smell and taste."
Tatiana scowled.
"It's toxic to humans. What did you really do?"
"I know. But with it, I was able to test my power." Reiji insisted.
Tatiana crossed her arms, unconvinced.
"That's definitely dark magic."
Reiji tilted his head, "It's not. I could show you."
"No," Tatiana replied bluntly. "You don't have to."
"Did I convinced her?" She heard Reiji whispered.
"You didn't." Bobbin wanted to tell Reiji.
Then she looked at Tatiana trying to communicate with her eyes. "Tatiana, stop!"
Tatiana didn't respond to her and she started preparing for combat.
"Your trick is not going to work on us twice."
Bobbin tried to get out of Reiji's control. "Nooo. Tati!"
Reiji exhaled slowly then lifted his foot off of Bobbin.
"You don't think I can't see the illusion?" Reiji asserted himself.
Tatiana's eyes sharpened.
Bobbin crawled back in shock. "He knew?!"
Tatiana began chanting her boosting spell. "Sekhemu Netjeri, shemsu Ani sagkot kawsara. Halekin!" (Hasten)
Her body glowed, yellowish-white energy swirling around her limbs.
"Bobbin!" Tatiana called her.
Her thoughts raced.
"We should run… we have to run…"
In a blink.
Tatiana vanished.
With hesitation, Bobbin followed suit with Tatiana and she shrieked.
A deafening cry that made Reiji clutch his ears as blood immediately leaked down his neck.
"This bunny." He wiped the blood away, lips forming a cold grin.
The glass window shattered.
"I tried to be friendly. But if this is how you want this to go."
His aura exploded.
"I'll give it to you."
blue light pulsed around his eyes.
Dust lifted from the floor, and the air felt heavier.
Bobbin put all of her strength and shrieked again.
The hut shook its every corner as if it will collapse at any moment.
The sound was even stronger that it made Reiji down on one knee.
As soon as he fell, Bobbin straight away propelled towards Tatiana.
"No!" She cried out.
Tatiana was already chanting an attacking spell.
She grabbed her.
"Kick him out of the rift!" she pleaded. "You haven't fully controlled your Ibilamesh!"
Tatiana's eyes widened.
"Bobbin. What are you doing?"
She didn't slow.
She held Tatiana tightly.
Bobbin wasn't trying to fight Reiji anymore. She was focused on running and protecting Tatiana.
Tatiana inhaled.
Then she thrust her palm forward, light spiraled up her arm.
"Sekhemu Netjeri, tahara'e nga'ri hiwaga sagkot Ma'ati."
Bobbin turned once more.
Her final glance met Reiji's.
"Unravel."
Then the world flickered.