Chapter 24 (1/2)

Chasing, but can’t catch up…?

Orte was the capital planet of the Kuhti people and it was definitely worth visiting.

The sky there was of a dark blue shade and the air seemed to always have a faint scent of flowers and plants. From above, the planet looked full of life and verdant.

It was currently spring and the sunlight was just right. It was not as hot as it was in the summer, but still provided a comfortable warmth and it was exceptionally pleasant.

Since the nearest airport only had ordinary starship flights available at the time of the competition, Xie Tao and company had to take the little more than one day travel time into account and left two days before the competition.

They arrived at Orte in the evening of the following day and Xie Tao brought the four fluffballs to the hotel that had recently been built by the competition organizers for the participants and their families.

They rested there for the night and early the next morning, the venue for the flying competition opened. The competition would be held at one o’clock in the afternoon, but many parents who bought their tickets at the site could not wait to enter the arena.

“Thank you for getting them places in the competition as well.” Xie Tao glanced down at the Cotto and Kuwei cub sitting in his arms and politely bowed his head to the Kuhti woman in front of him.

In order to limit the amount of contestants, the cubs participating had to go through a qualification. After being selected they would also be screened by the committee and only the best got to participate.

The qualification had been held half a month ago, however by the time Xie Tao learned about the contest, the selection had already ended two days prior.

“Don’t mention it, it’s actually I who should thank you.” Fuya smiled, her face showing genuine gratitude as she said this.

Some high ranking nursing clubs and families could skip the selection process and easily acquire places for their cubs in the competition.

Originally, Fuya only had one place but after receiving a request from Xie Tao, she managed to win over two more.

“Peipei, mommy will be watching you from the audience.” Fuya carefully arranged the feathers of her cub who was sitting in her arms, the tender movements revealed the obvious love she held for him.

“Tiuh!” Raising his head, the red fluffy cub looked up at his mother and answered her in a clear voice.

After hearing his response, Fuya stroked his little head and held onto him for a bit longer, she then put him in Xie Tao’s embrace and left for the arena.

“Yes, we will be watching you from the audience.” This sentence was directed to all of them, but as he said it, he moved his hand and started to arrange the Cotto and Kuwei cubs’ feathers.

These two cubs had no parents and as Xie Tao did not want them to be sad or feel a sense of loss, he tried his best to take on the role of a parent.

The two cubs’ eyes were bright and they happily let the youth arrange their feathers. When he was done, they affectionately stroke their small head against his hand.

Seeing as it was almost time, Xie Tao left the hotel with the three cubs in his arms and one additional on his shoulder and entered the arena arranged by the organizer.

But the scene Xie Tao was met with when he entered made him abruptly stop.

“Tiuh!”

“Tiuh, tiuh-tiuh!”

“Tiuh, tiuuh-“

Red, yellow, grey. The arena stands were already nearly filled and in the arms of almost every person was a fluffball of varying color. Wherever you looked you would be met with a cute fluffball and the air was full of the cubs’ adorable voices.

Xie Tao glanced at the three cubs in his arms, he then looked at all of the surrounding fluffy cubs. At this moment he couldn’t help but think of something..

This… must be a paradise for fluff lovers.

This year’s flying competition was held at Orte’s famous Cerda canyon. It was several kilometers deep, with a rushing river at the bottom and towering peaks on both sides.

The starting point of the race was at the bottom of the canyon and the end was set at the top of a very tall and precipitous mountain in the distance.

The gigantic arena was built to be suspended in the air next to the finish line.

Before the race began, an opening ceremony was held. Right after Xie Tao had found a seat, the doors closed and a powerful cry rang out. Three fierce creatures soared through the air.

With fiery red feathers and a beautiful long tail, one of them cut through the air like a majestic Phoenix. By its side flew two others, one who resembled a Goshawk and one who looked like a golden Peng. These three pretty and fierce looking creatures demonstrated in a beautiful performance how to do innovative maneuvers and control oneself in a small airspace.

It was to show the cubs that their races were the rightful masters of the sky and that they could become that too.

This was the first time Xie Tao witnessed the Kuhti, Kuwei and Cotto’s adult beast forms, and he could not help but be somewhat entranced by it.

When he later came to his senses, he looked down at the three cubs in his arms and noticed the longing in their eyes. Xie Tao raised his hand to touched their soft back feathers and with a warm voice encouraged them. “When you grow up, you will definitely become just as powerful as them.”

“Tiuh!”

The three cubs proudly called out at almost the same time and lifted their small chests to show their pride and confidence. It was an action Xie Tao had seen the Kuhti cub do before and he highly suspected that the other two had learnt it from him.

After the opening ceremony, the cubs who were going to participate in the competition had to go to the waiting area near the starting line.

Using a communal air car, Xie Tao took the three cubs there.

Originally, after making sure that they were in the right place and everything was arranged, Xie Tao had turned around to leave. But after taking two steps he hesitated and turned around in order to get one last glance. What he discovered then was that the three cubs had not moved and their eyes had anxiously followed his back.

“As long as you remember the things we practiced before, there will be no problem.” Understanding the nervousness they must be feeling, Xie Tao walked back and squatted down in front of them. With a soft expression, he added. “No matter what the result may be, you will always be winners in my heart.”