For all of her stolen memories and skills, she could not relate to this beastchild.
This raw, unfiltered sorrow hit her like a crashing wave.
She bit her lip, taking a few unassertive steps forward.
The beastchild’s ears perked up, flinching from the sound.
They stared at each other for what seemed like minutes.
Her face, a mess of snot, her lips quivering, letting out a choked sob.
Eris stopped a few paces away from her, raising her arms in submission.
“Your mother… She’s gone, isn’t she?”
Eris looked up at the sky.
The wind howled even louder.
She sighed softly.
“While she may be gone, she will remain forever in your heart. You have to carry on. You have to fight, for yourself, for her.”
She cocked her head to the side, staring at her quizzically.
“I had- no, we had lost parents,” she placed her hand over her chest. “But, I know that they would want us to keep living. Live on, not just for yourself, but for them. To carry their hopes and dreams with you.”
“...”
Sniffle.
“While I may not know you, or what happened to you, will you share your burdens with me?”
Eris reached her gloved hand.
The beastchild hesitantly reached out a hand, then pulled back, looking down at her mom laying limp on her lap.
She grasped the body tightly.
“I can help you with that.”
Eris used her wind magic to blow a section of snow away, digging out a grave with her earth magic.
They laid the body to rest, with Eris producing her old white cloak, now cleaned, to cover her body.
Finally, she let go of her mother.
Eris used her magic to cover the grave, making a small mound of dirt.
Bending down, she produced a few flowers from an earlier collection quest, planting them around the grave.
Clasping her hands together, she spoke a silent prayer.
‘May the goddess be with you.’
The child sniffles.
“My name is Yuki,” she said. “Yuki Vulpine.”
Eris took off her cloak, enveloping Yuki, then pulling her into a tight embrace.
“I’m Eris. And I, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“No last name?”
“...”
Eris has all types of thoughts swirling throughout her head, but she cannot put them into words.
So they stood, quietly watching the snow gently blanketing the grave.
“Goodbye mama.”
She wiped away a tear with the back of her hand.
Eris handed her a handkerchief, which Yuki loudly blew her nose into.
Walking away together, Yuki threw one last glance behind her.
After a moment, Eris heard a growling sound behind her.
She looked back, spotting Yuki hesitantly trailing behind.
“Hungry?”
She nodded.
Eris produced her uneaten rations from the dungeon dive. Originally, she had planned to share with her party members since she did not need to eat, but they were past that now.
She blew the snow away from under her, sitting down cross legged.
Producing an assortment of preserved meats, dried fruits and nuts, and some water, Eris watched Yuki pick at the food, then quickly wolfed down the meal.
‘Poor child, what a voracious appetite,’ she thought.
Yuki has pristine white fur, with fox ears and a small, bushy white tail.
Eris thought that her lavender eyes were quite pretty.
She took off her blindfold, and looked somewhere far off.
“I am an adventurer from the city of Wesclim. I will protect you, but you have to trust me.”
Yuki quickly nodded her head in agreement.
After she finished eating, Eris began to princess carry her, making her way back to the gate.
“Hang on tight!”
“...”
After a few hours of travelling…
“Wake up, we are almost there.”
With a yawn, she blinked, and got off.
Multiple beastmen could be seen talking to the guard.
Yuki visibly tensed up.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Eris focused aura into her ears, straining them to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“We are looking for a beastchild, about this tall, white fur, with lavender eyes.”
“Yeah yeah, she ran away from home, you know what it is.”
The guard shook his head and shared a chuckle.
“Alright I'll look out for one.”
“Thanks man, have a good day!”
And so they departed.
Eris looked down at her, and Yuki met her, seemingly pleading for help.
“[Illusion Magic].”
Yuki’s figure warped and distorted, now appearing as a non descript middle age.
“Halt.”
Eris presented her adventurer’s card.
“And you?”
“I’ll vouch for him. He came from the neighboring city and lost his card to a pickpocket. Very unfortunate. He is a family friend.”
The guard sighed.
“Alright then, be more careful next time…”
First, they visited the Arcane Emporium. Selling a wide variety of magical items mostly to nobles, Eris mostly avoided that place as it was way out of her budget.
“I’ll take this for 5 gold coins.”
[Magical Contact Lenses]
Enchanted and created by an artificer, you can modify your eye color to your liking! How fun!
+10% accuracy
“Works great! Very stylish! 5 stars!” - anonymous noble lady
It’s an expensive yet necessary purchase. Yuki’s eyes stand out too much.
‘I should buy a pair for myself, no?’
And so they both put on their new contact lenses and changed the color to black.
Next stop, the tailor.
“I don’t get many clothing requests from beastmen,” the tailor exclaimed as she measured her proportions. “I think I’ve got just the thing for you.”
[Perception Distorting Cloak]
Imbued with perception altering properties by an advanced illusionist.
“However, you have to sign your name here.”
The tailor handed her a clipboard.
“Unsavory people in the past began to use this for heists, so we need to keep track of who we sell these to.”
Eris groaned.
‘10 gold coins?? What kind of introverts?!?’
She hesitantly paid.
“Here's your new cloak, give me back mine.”
Her tail and ears seem to melt under the cloak.
“Perfect.”
“Welcome to the adventurer’s guild! How may I help you today Eris? Oh and who is this?” inquired Mina.
“She is my…. Apprentice. Yuki.”
“An apprentice?”
“My apprentice.”
“...”
“Can I purchase a room and board for 1 week?”
“2 silver coins and 1 copper coin.”
Clink. Clink clink.
“Here's your key, attached is your room number. Enjoy your stay!”
Over the next few days, it was relatively peaceful.
It turned out that Yuki is a talented mage, specializing in water and recovery magic.
Although not able to use aura, she could utilize basic self defense with a dagger.
At night, Eris would sit in the corner of the room quietly, focusing on her aura and magic training, listening to Yuki’s quiet moans.
“Run.. Away…”
“Mama! Mama please don’t leave me!”
“Why…?”
A tear streamed down her cheek.
Eris can’t even begin to imagine what kind of nightmares she's having.
Months pass by in this way.
One day, Yuki resolved herself. She will not let the past drag her down. She will back down, for her mom, and for herself.
The next day, Eris volunteered to supervise Yuki for her test to gain her adventurer’s license, and she was successfully promoted to E rank.
Later on, Eris was tested by guildmaster Enzo.
“Your magic control and swordsmanship is fantastic,” he commented. “However, your mana pool and experience leaves much room for growth. I believe you will be ready for a promotion to C rank in a few months or so.”
He firmly shook her hand.
“I approve. Congratulations on your promotion to D rank.”
She nodded and smiled politely.
Today, she felt comfortable enough to bring Yuki to hunt monsters.
Although Yuki was a bit nervous, she got around it.
Working together, they dug out traps, covering the bottom with sharp icicle spears.
Eris worked to push arctic bisons towards the traps using the amulet.
[Arctic Bison Pelt acquired!]
[Thick hide obtained!]
Decreased damage against fire and ice attacks.
+10% defense against blunt weapons
“Great job, let's eat lunch. A few more and we can head back home.”
“...”
They sat down together, with her watching Yuki eating a sandwich.
“How come you never eat? Never sleep? How the monsters magically disappear into you?” she prodded curiously.
“Don’t speak with your mouth full. Also, I don’t question you, you don’t question me.”
Silence.
“Fine I guess…”
“...”
“You know, the first time I met you, I didn’t know what to think,” Yuki said. “I just lost my mother. She told me to follow my instincts. And I did. You found me, but maybe I found you. Maybe we found each other.”
“...”
Yuki glanced at the serene winter landscape.
Birds are chirping off in the distance.
“Do you believe in fate?”
“...?”
“Let me rephrase this. Is it fate that brought us together?”
Eris stared at Yuki.
“I would like to believe that it wasn't that we had control over our destinies. But a small part of me wants to believe that it was fate.”
“...”
Yuki dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
“Okay i'm finished, before we continue, let me show you my status.”
They both stood up.
Race: Snow Fox
Title: [Hidden]
Level: 6
HP: 300
MP: 245
ATK: 12
DEX: 28
Favored by the goddess
[Bond]
You feel a faint attraction to those similar to you.
“We share an attraction deeper than blood” - unknown
“Check out this skill. No wonder we met each other, right?”
She let out a short laugh, then paused.
Yuki grabbed her arm, going on her tippy toes and poking her cheek.
“We both lost loved ones,” she whispered. “So how do you move on?”
“...”
Eris couldn’t tell her that she is a monster wearing somebody else’s skin. So she stopped, standing in silence.
“And what is this? Favored by the goddess? In what way? My mom is dead and now I’m stuck with you in a foreign city barely making a livable wage.”
Eris frowned.
“Oh but no offense to you,” Yuki corrected herself quickly. “But I wonder…”
She stared far off into the sky.
“Anyways, let's continue hunting.”
Time passed quickly, with the light fading from the sky.
They sat down, propping their arms behind them, stargazing into the night.
Stars are twinkling, with a comet blazing through the sky, leaving a trail of light behind.
“In my family, we would wish upon a comet,” Yuki commented.
Fingers outstretched and trembling, she attempts to grab it to no avail.
“I wish that I can find a place I can call home…”
There is a somber look in her eyes.
“And I want to be a writer,” she said softly. I want to write fairy tales. I want to write about adventures. I want to write and write and write and write and….”
She trailed off.
Taking a deep breath, she asked :
“What’s your wish?”
Eris thought to herself for a moment.
“I wish… This time we spent… Together…. Would never end…”
“...”
Letting out a soft sigh, Yuki sat up.
“C’mon, it's getting late. Let’s go.”
She grabbed Eris by the arm, pulling her to her feet.
‘Her hand is so small.’
Yuki pulls her hood back, staring into Eris' eyes.
Her fox ears reappear.
“Why can I only be me, when I’m alone with you?”
Her gaze was soft and curious, as if she already knew the answer.
“From now on, you are my family.”
Yuki gave Eris a long hug.
“I’m Yuki Vulpine!!” she shouts. “And she is my family!!”
The voice echoes through the dark forest, causing nearby critters to scatter.
Rustle.
“...!!”
Rustle rustle.
Eris drew her rapier, motioning to Yuki to get ready.
Yuki jumped back, getting ready to cast a spell into the darkness.
“Wait.”
Several figures emerge from the bushes.
“We’ve finally tracked you down.”
The leader got down on one knee.
Eris lowered her sword and Yuki stopped chanting her spell.
He pulled out a scroll, and began reading.
“Lady Yuki. By imperial decree, you are ordered to return back to the United Federation of the Beastkin. Your father… Greatly missed your presence.”
Eris looked at Yuki, dumbfounded.
“You.. Are you a royal?”
Yuki tersely nodded.
She tensed her jaw.
“You may bring your friend. Please do not add random adventurers to the royal family. We will escort you to the teleportation array in the city cathedral.”
He snatched her arm, pulling her along.
“Now let’s go.”
Yuki, with her head down in submission, obliged.
“I’m sorry for not telling you,” she mouthed, unable to meet her eye. “Please come with me.”
Reluctantly, Eris followed.
“Halt.”
The leader pulled out a badge.
“We are the envoy of his imperial majesty Felix Vulpine.”
The guard glanced at Eris and Yuki, then paled.
“Ri- right this way.”
“...”
Passing the town square, it was still densely populated.
Merchants and passing adventurers stole quick glances at them, avoiding eye contact.
Mina went outside, to see what all the commotion was about.
“What have you done,” she hissed. “You better tell me what’s going on as soon as you can.”
“...”
A group of beastmen was already present near the cathedral.
‘They must’ve notified the others somehow.’
She had never been inside the cathedral before.
While she does believe in the goddess, Eris is unlike the other residents of the city who flock to the church daily for prayer.
Stained glass windows, a long hall lined with pews, leading up to the lectern in the center.
Candles burn daintily, casting long shadows.
“Let us depart.”
With a wistful look in her eyes, Yuki grabbed onto her hand.
They stepped into the array together, tightening their grip on each other.