The teleportation caused Eris to feel queasy.
Stumbling outside, they appeared in the imperial plaza.
Rows of buildings reminiscent of late Edo period architecture.
People milling about, throwing a couple curious glances their way.
They were led quickly to the palace, Yuki’s face downcast.
Soon, they were led to a door, with the 2 opposing guards pushing the doors open.
The grand doors swing open, revealing an opulent throne room bathed in golden light.
Windows of intricate stained glass cast a kaleidoscope of colors across the walls, with a blood-red carpet leading up to the throne, the room lined with portraits and statues carved of black marble, bearing ceremonial banners of crimson and gold.
The king sat upon the throne with a regal glare, staring down on them.
The royal guards slam the door shut behind them.
Eris looked around, eyes wide with wonder.
“Greetings father,” she said as she performed a curtsy.
“...”
Eris sloppily attempted to copy her movements.
Felix nodded.
“Have you been well? And I presume this is the adventurer Eris they spoke of?”
“Yes your majesty,” Yuki replied, a face of stone.
“No need to be so formal with me,” he said, waving his hand dismissively. “Your room has been prepared. Eris, you may choose to stay as a guest if you so wish. Tomorrow will be the long overdue celebration of her bestowment ceremony.”
“Bestowment ceremony?” Eris asked, tiling her head slightly.
“Our society functions a bit… Differently from human society. Here, one receives their class at the age of 10, rather than 15. It is a long lasting tradition filled with celebration,” he said, his tone calm but proud.
“Ahem, your room has been prepared. Be prepared for the party, everyone will be attending.”
With a slight bow, they left.
Eris trailed behind Yuki, silently waiting for an explanation.
They entered her chamber and shut the door quickly behind them.
Her room was enormous.
Bookshelves lined the wall, a queen sized bed adorned with a canopy stood in the center.
The bed is lavender. The walls are lavender. Even the bookshelves were lavender. Everything was lavender.
“The maids did a good job. It’s exactly as I left it.” she said, her gaze lingering on the framed family painting on the bedside table.
Her fingers hovered over it for a moment before gently placing it face down.
“The dream is long gone,” Yuki murmured, a tinge of sadness in her voice, her eyes glistening with tears.
Guiding her to the bathroom, Eris began to tenderly massage her fur, rinsing it clean of blood.
‘Even the shampoo smell of lavender,’ Eris thought.
“Did you know? Lavender was my mother’s favorite color,” she paused, wiping away a stray tear. “It reminds me of her. Calms me down.”
“…”
“I’m the first princess of the United Federation of the Beastkin. When you found me, the faction of the first prince was hunting us down,” she said, her voice quivering, a despondent look in her eyes. “My fath-, I don’t know if I can even call him that anymore. He didn’t do anything to help.”
Her shoulders heaved with sobs as tears stained her face.
Eris began to wash her face, quietly listening.
“I know it’s hard for you,” she began. “But what is it that you truly wish for?”
Yuki closed her eyes, lost in thought for a moment.
“I will give you an answer tomorrow. At the celebration. Promise.”
They stared at each other in silence.
“Actually, I have a secret of my own that I’m keeping. I know it’s hard to believe,” she began, her voice steady but resolute. “I’m not who you think I am either.”
Eris’ form began to waver and distort, revealing a formless black blob, then reverting back to her humanoid form.
“You see, I am a shapeshifter. This is just one of my many forms,” Eris admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
Eris casted her gaze on the floor, unable to meet her eye, tensely waiting for a reply.
Suddenly, Yuki stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace, taking her aback.
“I don’t care!” she exclaimed. “You are a true friend.”
“Fri- end,” Eris repeated, tasting the word in her mouth.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
She at first tentatively hugged her back, then tightening her grip, breathing in the soothing lavender scent of her fur.
Yuki giggled softly, breaking the tension in the air.
In bed, unable to sleep, Eris lay quietly, gazing silently at Yuki’s serene face. Yuki clung to her arm tightly, as if afraid to let go. She felt the steady rising and falling motion of her companion's breathing, offering her a sense of comfort.
The next day, it was a blur of preparations. They rushed from place to place, getting ready for the big celebration.
Felix was nowhere to be seen.
Maids rush to prepare the both of them for the celebration.
[Beaskin’s Ceremonial Suit]
Simple, yet elegant.
+5% defense
+5% dexterity
+10% charisma
“Your hair is so messy,” the maids chastised. “So silky, you should use a better comp. Stay still.”
Yuki rambled on about important people and proper manners.
Soon, the hour of truth is at hand.
With her sword at her hip, Eris leaned against the wall, arms crossed, patiently waiting for the arrival of Yuki, absentmindedly listening to the idle chatter of nobles.
The tables are adorned with food and drink, but Eris has no interest, rather, she starts to impatiently tap her foot, wondering what's taking her so long.
A small foot silently stepped into the room.
Yuki, wearing a lavender colored ceremonial kimono, decorated with jewels, slowly walked down the hall, appearing to look straight at Eris, giving her a slight smile.
Nobles dropped their fork, turning their heads.
The room died down to a quiet murmur.
‘So pretty,’ Eris thought.
“Silence! I demand silence! The king is about to make his speech!” shouted the royal heralder.
The king, looking down from above, watched as Yuki made her way to the podium, housing a magic orb used for class bestowment.
“This is the long overdue celebration of my daughter, Yuki Vulpine. May she lead the federation to success.”
Nobles slowly clap, seemingly more interested in their own conversations.
Yuki gently placed her palm on the crystal.
Felix hesitated, waiting nervously to see if the voice of the goddess would ring out.
Suddenly, they heard a disembodied voice.
“By the will of the goddess, I bestow upon you :”
“...”
“[Class : Emissary of the Goddess].”
A collective gasp echoed throughout the room.
Hushed whispers between the nobles filled the room.
A few start to clap, then a thunderous applause.
“May the will of the goddess be with you.”
Near the front, a snow fox beastman stood up.
“I will ask you once again. Will you marry me?”
Before the celebration, Yuki mentioned her 2 other siblings. Currently, the first prince is in attendance and her other brother is on an excursion to trade with the elves, and will return soon.
First prince Rodney.
He killed her mother. Even since Yuki was young, she was inundated with many marriage proposals, especially from Rodney.
A talented mage is uncommon in the royal bloodline filled with aura masters and swordmasters, and she was praised for her exceptional beauty and magical aptitude.
Rodney reached out his hand.
Yuki, visibly distressed, wrinkled her nose and took a half step back, eyes darting around the room, searching for someone—anyone—to intervene.
“Yuki, would you join the battle for succession?” inquired King Felix.
The room fell into silence, with everyone seeming to hold their breath.
This event is the perfect place to search for allies to build up your faction.
While participation is expected, it is not mandatory.
Rodney, his hand outstretched, silently awaited her answer.
“I renounce my name. I renounce you,” she said, with a mixture of anger and defiance.
She looked at Rodney, then at her father.
“Good. Bye.”
A couple of nobles stood up.
Yuki spotted the earl and duke among them.
“This is outrageous,” he spat. “You ungrateful wretch.”
Murmurs of agreement filled the hall.
Rodney’s face darkened, his eyes narrowing like a snake.
Felix raised an eyebrow.
“You will be mine,” he hissed, seething in anger. “You will have no say in this. If you had just agreed, your mother would be here watching today. If you had just obeyed me, none of this would’ve happened. We could’ve ruled together.”
He balled up his fist.
“We could’ve been happy, but instead, you choose defiance. Just like her.”
Yuki froze, his words cutting deep. The room seemed to close in around her, as the memories of the events rushed through her mind.
Click.
“Activate [Beserk].”
Eris’ aura flared, dashing towards Rodney, severing his right arm at the elbow, blood spraying across the newly polished marble floor. His piercing screams echoed throughout the hall as she then crashed into Yuki, using the momentum to sweep Yuki into her arms.
Yuki started to chant a spell, causing glass to shatter.
Eris leaped through the window, tightening her grip on Yuki, engulfed by the brisk evening air.
Nobles became visibly panicked, shouting and footsteps echoed throughout the hall.
Guards rush in, their armor clanking as they run, scanning the room for threats.
“A doctor! A doctor!” he screeched, clutching his shoulder. “After them!!”
The blood began to pool in the floor, creating a grotesque contrast with the sleek marble.
“Do what you must,” Felix said bluntly, his tone void of emotion, while taking a long sip of his wine.
Deep down, he felt relieved.
He felt proud of his daughter who stood up against his son, being chosen as an emissary of the goddess. Felix hopes that they got far, far away. As he turned to glance at the direction they fled in, he offered a silent prayer to the goddess, knowing that she had not abandoned him.
“My people,” he continued, his icy voice cutting through the chaos. “No word of this shall leave this room! Your livelihoods depend on this!”
Felix snorted in derision.
‘I’ve always told him to stop pestering Yuki. Now I know you killed my wife, your time of judgement will come.’
“Yes your majesty!” the voices of the nobles and guards chorused.
Eris checked her status : 54 seconds remain on [Beserk].
Transforming into a hawk, she carried Yuki on her back, her wings cutting through the air.
“We’re really flying,” Yuki exclaimed excitedly. “We’re flying!”
She smiled dreamily to herself.
“I’m so glad. I finally worked up the courage to stand up to them,” she continued. “Thank you. I’m so glad I met you…”
“...”
“Do you think my mother is looking down on me? From the stars, alongside all of the other ancestors?”
“Without a doubt. I bet she's probably just as proud of you as I am,” Eris said, scanning the trees for an appropriate landing spot.
[Beserk] has ended. Inflicting exhaustion.
“Ughgh,” Eris groaned, as her body distorted and warped back into her humanoid form.
Catching Yuki, she cautioned her to hang on tight.
Falling amongst the canopy of trees, she braced for impact.
Blessing of the goddess is active.
Tumbling down, disoriented, they got off with surprising light injuries.
Before they left, Yuki brought a bag of holding, containing useful items for traversing the outdoors.
“Here Eris, a mana recovery potion and antiseptic.”
She nodded and gratefully accepted the items, tossing back the potion.
Mustering some mana to create water, she cleaned her wounds while Yuki applied antiseptic and bandaged her wounds.
She remained unharmed.
They hastily slip on their gear, changing out of their ceremonial attire into their usual adventurer equipment.
[Emissary of the Goddess]
As the emissary of the goddess, she will not let harm befall her child.
-Manipulates causality in your favor up to 3 times a day
Resets every new moon
Since the dawn of mankind, the goddess sat watching in silent vigil among the stars
[New title obtained! Replace [The Enforcer] with [Scourge of Tyranny]?]
“Accept.”
[Scourge of Tyranny]
Awarded for gravely injuring a tyrant.
+10% party damage against people of a higher “status”
+5% party damage resistance
+5% damage resistance from people of a higher “status”
+30% damage against tyrants
-10% charisma against nobility
As the bane of evil, you are naturally resistant to metal attacks
Since time innumerable, people would brandish their pitchforks, uniting to overthrow tyranny - unknown
While it may not completely outshine the power of [The Enforcer], it offers considerable boons for the journey ahead. Working with Yuki, she can take better advantage of this title.
Straining her eyes, she believes to have spotted a shadow darting amongst the trees.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Who goes there?”
Yuki readied her staff, tensing her muscles.
The figure hops off the tree into the bush below, brushing off the fallen leaves.
“Greetings, travelers. What brings you here to our humble forest?”
Eris and Yuki exchanged a brief glance
They’ve landed on the edge of elven territory.
“...”
“Your holiness.”
Blessing of the goddess
You radiate an indubitable aura of divinity
Before being the children of the forest, they are first and foremost the children of the goddess.
First doctrine : The goddess created all. Her hands shaped the earth, mountains, and people, while her tears filled the oceans. All existence is the work of the goddess.
Second doctrine : The goddess blesses all. She guides the lost and unfortunate to the right path, and blessed the land with trees and an abundant harvest.
“It’s rare that we have guests. Please follow me.”
With a flourish, she beckoned them deeper in the forest.