Chapter 180 - The Fox Maid and the General
Kinue:
It was morning, and I had woken up early to prepare breakfast for Chloe and Nathan. It had been a few days since we spent that weekend at our family mansion in the city. I always got up early to fulfill my duties—a habit I had acquired working as a maid at the castle. I was thrilled that they came to the academy; sometimes, I’d run into Natty and Catty, but they were a bit... different.
Whenever I encountered them, our conversations revolved around torture instruments and methods of inflicting pain. I guess it runs in the family, since Miss Martha is the same. A shiver ran down my spine as I remembered when she tried to give me a lesson about torture.
I spend two years away from Nathan and Chloe, training with Professor Adrihna to become a great light mage and with Headmistress Victoria, who helped me control my beast form. I am a rare demi-human who can transform, but I need rigorous training to maintain my sanity. It is too dangerous to use this power without total control, as I could harm someone.
Demi-humans who possess a beast form have this ability dormant until they turn 15 or 16. Usually, the transformation happens involuntarily the first few times, which is risky because the demi-human could hurt someone. That’s why I had to stay away from Nathan and Chloe and couldn’t visit them during the academy breaks. I might have transformed accidentally in the underground transport to the duchy.
In the demi-human kingdom, people are used to it, but in the human kingdom, there’s a lot of fear and unpreparedness to handle such situations. That was one of the reasons I had to remain at the academy. Only Professor Adrihna went to the Evenhart territory, and Headmistress Victoria, my master, guided me through this process, which would normally be led by a demi-human's parents.
Even with my beast form… I think I’d still be afraid of the Carnellian, I thought, watching the gray kitten staring at me while I prepared breakfast.
"Good thing you’re just a little bird, right?" I said to Cylla, who continued to watch me. I leaned closer to the panther cub and asked, "Are you really Cylla?" She nodded.
"That's good," I said, relieved. "I know you’re less dangerous than a panther." But she shook her head in disagreement.
"No? What do you mean?" I asked, confused. "Are you more dangerous than a Moon Panther?" Cylla nodded again.
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"Alright, silly. I believe you, hehe."
It’s just Cylla, and I know she’s harmless. The worst she could do is burp a fireball.
"Meow," she said, pointing with her head.
"You're the same Cylla I know. Always asking for meat."
I grabbed the meat from the pan and tossed it to her. Leaving Cylla to eat, I left the apartment to fetch some eggs from the dormitory kitchen. The academy stocked the pantry, and we could take whatever we needed.
"What are you doing here?" a voice asked, startling me.
“H-hello," I turned to greet.
It was a uniformed student, and I felt confused about how to address her. Everyone living here was a high noble, and there were even two princesses in the dormitory.
"La-Lady...?" I asked, unsure.
The student laughed.
"Don't worry, you can call me by my name. I'm Melina. I hope no boy broke the rules by bringing a girl to spend the night in his apartment."
I blushed.
"N-no, it’s not like that. I received special permission and moved into this dormitory."
"Oh! I get it! You’re like Thyra, then. I also live with my cousin Alice, so I understand you."
What a relief! I managed to avoid a misunderstanding.
But then I thought a bit more.
Maybe I should’ve let the misunderstanding happen—might’ve eliminated some competition...
Nathan Evenhart:
We were in class when a strand of my hair fell in front of my eyes. I brushed it aside, feeling relieved to see that my hair was once again completely black. I thought back to what Professor Adrihna explained about my condition, though I still felt frustrated with the limitations of my Aspect of the Soul. It doesn’t allow me to see my own mana or uncover the true nature of a certain annoying woman.
“What is it? Lost something here?” asked Goddess Athena, sitting beside me with a teasing smile.
My ability doesn’t let me analyze myself or this cursed presence next to me. If only this power worked for that, I’d know exactly what she is.
Athena placed a hand on my shoulder, her voice laced with malicious amusement. “Tough luck, Icarus,” she laughed.
I ignored the Goddess, trying to focus on my thoughts.
My hair is turning silver because it’s absorbing elven mana from my mana gem. Every human, demi-human, and elf on this continent has mana within them, making us magical beings. Those with a high concentration of mana develop a Mana Gem and become mages. The concentration is so intense that the mana condenses into a gem, which then generates and circulates magical energy throughout the body, like a second heart.
My Mana Gem likely awakened due to the elven blood in my veins. This phenomenon granted Kinue and my mother the elemental abilities of high elves. In me, the elven mana concentration was even greater, and upon awakening my Mana Gem, it began to affect my hair, which also acts as a mana channel.
I grabbed a strand of my hair, continuing my analysis.
My hair should’ve started turning silver as soon as I awakened to magic. This didn’t happen immediately because I started cultivating my Special Eyes. Back then, my mana was defective and didn’t circulate properly through my body. As I adapted to my Special Eyes, my hair began changing color since it was now free to absorb my elven mana.
I sighed, remembering how Kinue and Chloe seemed quite intrigued watching my mother dye my hair.
They were so attentive that they even insisted I keep my shirt off to avoid stains and stayed with me the entire time. At least now I know I can ask for their help when I need to do it alone.