It was a pink little flying pig.
About one meter three or four in length, it had a rather plump and delicate appearance. Its pink skin was incredibly smooth, not only round and glossy but also quite elastic, making one irresistibly want to give it a rub.
On its back, there was a pair of very small, pure white wings, with a total length of no more than thirty centimeters. Despite the wings being completely disproportionate to its body, they fluttered and managed to keep it flying in mid-air.
One could say, this was the most adorable and girlish Wind Spirit Angel had ever seen.
However, this pink little flying pig, which appeared innocent and cute on the outside, was now full of grievances, hovering at the palace gate.
When it saw Angel and the others arriving, the little pig hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly flew over.
"Mr. Pat, this is the Wind Spirit I mentioned before, the one I adopted." It was Kamil speaking, introducing the little pig’s identity. However, when mentioning the word "adopted," there was a slight change in his pupils, which quickly returned to normal.
"I remember, it’s called Cubic?" Angel said, taking a deep look at Cubic. He had once seen Cubic from afar outside Wind Island; back then, Angel didn’t notice its appearance. All his attention was on Cubic’s terrifying escape speed. He marveled that, although still in its elf phase, its speed was astonishing, as expected of a wind-element creature.
Now, seeing that Cubic’s form was actually a little flying pig made him take a second look. He really couldn’t understand how such small wings could make it fly so fast.
"Yes." Kamil nodded and then glanced at Cubic. His tone suddenly raised, "Aren’t you going to come over? Did you forget what I told you earlier?"
After hesitating for a while, Cubic, full of grievances, flew in front of Angel, slowly descending from mid-air to the ground under Kamil’s gaze.
Seeing that Cubic wasn’t making any moves after landing, Kamil couldn’t help but remind him, "And then?"
Cubic then lowered its head and said in a mosquito-like voice, "Re-Respectful Mr. Pa...t, I shouldn’t have encouraged my partner to grab your clothes. I have deeply realized my mistake and hope you can forgive my ignorance."
Finishing this unemotional, clearly memorized line in one breath, Cubic finally breathed a big sigh of relief. It furtively glanced at Kamil, wondering if Kamil was satisfied with its words.
However, Kamil’s response was, "Why are you looking at me? Are you apologizing to me?"
Cubic immediately withdrew its gaze and looked at Angel with expectant eyes.
Angel was silent for a moment, not responding to Cubic, but instead said to Kamil, "I’ve said before, there’s no need to apologize specifically for a trivial matter."
Cubic’s eyes, resembling two black beans, instantly brightened, following Angel’s gaze toward Kamil.
Kamil also noticed Cubic’s gaze. He ignored it and instead sighed deeply, "In my view, it’s not a trivial matter. I seldom accompany Cubic, leading it to act more willfully. That’s why it offended you this time. I also hope to use this opportunity to teach it a lesson."
Kamil didn’t say this directly but wrapped it in an invisible wind that blew into Angel’s ears. On the other side, Cubic couldn’t hear these words.
After listening, Angel roughly understood Kamil’s intention was to discipline his perpetually naughty child.
Although it sounded reasonable, upon further consideration, something felt off.
Since you already know Cubic acts willfully, there are countless opportunities to discipline it; why seize this chance in particular?
Moreover, it seemed like having Cubic apologize to him was ultimately about making him play the villain and using this opportunity to punish Cubic.
Putting an unrelated guest, whose relationship is yet to be defined, in the role of the villain seemed a bit unreasonable.
How could Kamil, as the Sage, engage in such "wise" operations?
Or does he really think he has a way to instantly teach a perpetually naughty child to behave?
Multiple thoughts flashed through Angel’s mind momentarily, but he chose not to express them for now.
Returning to the current situation, responding yes or no to Kamil’s request wasn’t important. Regardless of the answer, it seemed like a trap.
Instead of being confused in a murky loop, he might as well directly ask about Kamil’s thoughts.
"I understand what Mr. Kamil means..." Angel pondered for a moment and transmitted his voice, "But what punishment do you want me to give Cubic?"
Kamil: "Why not just follow what you previously mentioned?"
Previously mentioned? Angel didn’t react immediately to what he had said before.
Kamil: "The Dingyuan Merck Oath."
Angel suddenly realized, recalling that he had indeed mentioned that had it been anyone else but him, a complete Dingyuan Merck Oath would have been required; otherwise, the matter wouldn’t be considered resolved.
"Mr. Kamil, you wish for me to scare it with the Dingyuan Merck Oath?"
Kamil: "Don’t scare it, just have it sign the oath directly."
Angel: "..."
Kamil’s voice remained gentle and calm in his ear, but the content expressed left Angel utterly shocked.
He wasn’t punishing Cubic; he wasn’t intending on keeping this troublemaking child!
Angel: "Are you joking?"
Kamil had a serious expression: "This is not a joke. I’ve thought about it for a long time and feel that since Cubic indeed made a mistake, it should be punished according to what you mentioned."
Angel was utterly baffled, wondering if he had approached Wind Island the wrong way. Even if you didn’t want this kid anymore, couldn’t you just leave it somewhere? Why thrust the responsibility onto him?
Moreover, just a moment earlier, the gentle breezes shared that signing a full Dingyuan Merck Oath would lead to depression or even self-destruction for freedom-loving wind-element creatures. In the next moment, Kamil wanted to impose it. To Angel, it all seemed utterly inexplicable.
Facing Angel’s prolonged silence, Kamil noticed his hesitation and approached Cubic, who was still completely oblivious, "What you did this time is very serious and may even damage our entire Wind Island’s reputation, so you must face severe punishment. As for how you’ll be punished, Mr. Pat and I will discuss it, and you’ll know later."
After a pause, Kamil waved at Cubic, "Alright, you go back to your room first. I’ll come see you later."
Cubic was completely confused. Wasn’t the purpose to apologize? Why had it turned into a punishment now, and it was even sent away first? What exactly is going on?
Cubic didn’t quite understand, but Kamil’s words held great sway over it, so it nodded before obediently heading home.
After Cubic fluttered away on its scrawny wings, Kamil finally turned to Angel and said, "You seem a bit puzzled, sir."
"Indeed, there’s something I don’t understand." Angel replied, "Why did you do this?"