KamiKowa: That Time I Got Transmigrated With A Broken Goddess-Chapter 37: [] The Honest Con

"Home sweet home," Xavier muttered as he unlocked the door to apartment 1103.

The familiar scent of their shared space greeted them—a mix of Calypso’s perfume and the lingering aroma of this morning’s coffee. Xavier dropped his bag by the door and immediately headed for the bedroom.

"I’m changing into something that doesn’t make me feel like I’m playing dress-up," he called over his shoulder.

Calypso kicked off her shoes and put both hers and Xavier’s up. "Same. These uniforms are so restrictive."

Xavier emerged a few minutes later in gray sweatpants and a black tank top, rubbing a hand through his white hair. He found Calypso already sprawled on the couch in tiny black shorts and an oversized t-shirt that slid off one shoulder. She’d pulled her hair into a messy bun on top of her head, with several strands escaping to frame her face.

"Much better," Xavier said, dropping onto the opposite end of the couch and closing his eyes. "Fuck school. How do people do that every day?"

"It wasn’t that bad," Calypso replied, shifting to place her bare feet on Xavier’s lap. "I thought it was interesting."

Xavier cracked one eye open to look at her. "You would. You’ve been processing souls for centuries. This is probably the most excitement you’ve had in years."

"Many years," she agreed, wiggling her toes. "And yes, it is nice to experience something new. Even if that something is sitting in classrooms listening to humans explain things I already know."

Xavier let his head fall back against the couch cushions. "Speaking of things you know, you promised to explain the Soul Bond system properly."

Calypso sat up straighter. "I did, didn’t I? But first, tell me what you remembered. I want to see how much you’ve understood on your own."

Xavier sighed but complied, organizing his thoughts. "Soul Bonds are connections between people that somehow fuel my abilities. We currently have an 18% bond, which you said is minimal. Meaningful power enhancement requires at least 60%, and the theoretical maximum is 100%."

He shifted slightly, adjusting to the weight of Calypso’s legs across his lap. "The bonds develop based on shared experiences, physical proximity, and interaction intensity. And apparently, I need to form deep connections with multiple people for my power to reach its full potential."

"Good summary," Calypso nodded approvingly. "But there’s more to it than that."

"Of course there is," Xavier muttered.

"The Soul Bond system is tied directly to your Input Buffer," Calypso continued, ignoring his comment. "Think of it as two parallel power sources. Your meter builds through combat actions—that’s the active component. But Soul Bonds provide a passive enhancement to everything you do."

She held up her hand. "At your current bond level with me, you get a small boost to your basic stats. Your strikes are slightly stronger, your reactions marginally faster."

"As the bond grows stronger, those enhancements increase. At 30%, you’ll notice a significant difference in your physical capabilities."

Xavier leaned forward, studying the diagram with interest. "And at 60%?"

Calypso smiled, her eyes gleaming. "That’s where it gets interesting. At 60%, you begin to access some of your bond partner’s abilities."

"What?" Xavier’s eyebrows shot up. "I could use your abilities?"

"Not exactly," Calypso clarified. "It’s more like... an echo of my abilities, filtered through your own power system."

"At 80%, the echo becomes stronger. And at 100%—a perfect bond—you can temporarily channel a significant portion of your partner’s power directly."

Xavier ran a hand through his hair, processing this information. "So if I reached 100% bond with someone like Dominic Black..."

"You could potentially tap into his abilities during critical moments," Calypso confirmed. "Though I wouldn’t recommend trying that particular bond. There’s something off about him, as we’ve already discussed."

"And what about the other direction?" Xavier asked. "Do my bond partners get access to my abilities too?"

Calypso shook her head. "No. That part of your ability is one-way. You gain power from connections, but don’t share yours in return."

Xavier frowned. "That seems unbalanced. What do others get out of bonding with me, then?"

"The pleasure of your company?" Calypso suggested with a smirk. When Xavier didn’t smile, she sighed. "The system isn’t designed to be fair, Xavier. It’s designed to make you powerful. Your bond partners benefit from your protection, your loyalty, and whatever else you choose to give them."

"So I’m essentially using people," Xavier said flatly.

"Only if you approach it that way," Calypso countered. "Bonds don’t form through manipulation—at least, not deep ones. Surface-level connections might reach 30% through charm and calculated interactions, but anything beyond that requires genuine emotional investment."

She pulled her legs off his lap and tucked them under herself, leaning closer. "Think about it. The strongest bonds in your system come from romantic connections. Love, trust, vulnerability—those aren’t things you can fake long-term."

Xavier stood abruptly, moving toward the kitchen. "I’m making dinner. What do you want?"

Calypso watched him retreat, her expression softening. "You’re uncomfortable with this aspect of your ability."

He set a pan on the stove with more force than necessary. "It’s like the universe is playing some cosmic joke on me."

"Or giving you a chance to use your skills for something better," Calypso suggested, moving to lean against the kitchen counter. "You know how to read people, how to make them feel special. But this time, it has to be real."

Xavier began chopping vegetables. "What’s on the menu tonight?" Calypso asked, changing the subject.

"Stir-fry," Xavier replied, focusing on his task. "Simple and quick."

They fell into silence as Xavier continued preparing dinner, the rhythmic sound of the knife against the cutting board filling the apartment. Calypso watched him work, occasionally reaching over to steal a piece of bell pepper or carrot.

"Stop that," Xavier said without looking up, swatting her hand away when she reached for another piece.

"Make me," Calypso challenged, snatching a slice of red pepper and popping it into her mouth.

Xavier shook his head and continued cooking, adding oil to the pan and tossing in the vegetables. The sizzling sound and aromatic steam filled the kitchen as he worked.

"So," he said after a while, "our bond is at 18% after just a few days. How long would it take to reach higher levels?"

Calypso hopped up to sit on the counter, swinging her legs. "It varies. Some bonds grow quickly, others take months or years. It depends on the depth of connection, shared experiences, and compatibility."

"And we need to stay within two hundred meters of each other," Xavier mused, stirring the vegetables. "That should accelerate things."

"Proximity helps," Calypso agreed, "but it’s not just about physical closeness. Emotional openness matters more."

Xavier added sliced chicken to the pan, the meat searing with a satisfying hiss. "What about the other students? Any potential bond candidates there?"

"Several," Calypso said, her tone carefully neutral. "Margaret seems nice. Sayuri has a gentle soul. Even that loud Russian boy has potential—he values friendship highly."

Xavier nodded, focusing on the food. "And Ashley? The blonde girl with the pink-purple eyes?"

"She’s... interesting," Calypso said slowly. "Very protective of those she considers her people. I sensed something familiar about her, but couldn’t place it."

"Familiar how?" Xavier asked, glancing up.

Calypso shrugged, the movement causing the oversized shirt to slip further down her shoulder. "Not sure. Just a feeling."

Xavier returned his attention to the stir-fry, adding sauce and giving it a final toss before turning off the heat. "Dinner’s ready. Grab some plates."

They ate at the small dining table, the conversation shifting to more mundane topics—their classes, the other students, the academy itself. As they finished their meal, Xavier found himself studying Calypso’s face in the warm light of the apartment.

"What?" she asked, catching his gaze.

"I’m just thinking," he replied. "About Soul Bonds and connections and all of it."

"And?" Calypso prompted.

Xavier set down his fork. "And I’m wondering if I can actually do this. Form real connections, I mean. In my previous life, everyone was either a mark, a target, or a temporary ally. I never let anyone get close."

"You’re not that person anymore," Calypso said softly. "Or at least, you don’t have to be. This is your second chance, remember?"

Xavier nodded slowly. "I guess it is."

He stood and collected their plates, carrying them to the sink. As he rinsed them off, he felt Calypso put her arms around him.

"For what it’s worth," she said, her voice unusually gentle, "I think you’re capable of more than you realize. You died protecting someone, after all. That’s not the action of someone incapable of genuine connection."

Xavier turned to face her. "Thanks," he said simply.

Calypso nodded, then her expression shifted back to its usual playfulness. "Now, we get to deal with the wonderful benefits of being a student—homework!"

Xavier groaned. "Now? I just ate."

"Excuses, excuses," Calypso teased. "Fine, we’ll wait an hour. But then we’re hitting those books Xavi."