As Lazarus caught up to Shion, a small chuckle could be heard as the kitsune queen stifled a small laugh. "What the heck was that? That was so painfully dramatic." Shion teased. "It's like you were in love with him or something." She said while hiding a smirk under a cupped hand.

"N-no! That man.. Irwin-dono saved me on multiple occasions. I owe him my life." He announced as he straightened his posture in front of her new commander.

"Hmm.. well you work for me now, so you better forget about him as soon as possible. We're going back to our base to relay and compile the information we've gathered." Shion turned towards the temple. "In the meantime, why don't you ask me about myself?" The fox queen suggested.

"Huh?" Her frankness caught Lazarus off-guard as formalities between the superior and underling differed in respects of authority. "...May I ask the reason for this?" An eyebrow was raised.

"Why it's simple really. An effective relationship between partners can only come to fruition if they have a healthy understanding of one another. If a human and a fox's thoughts collide as master and servant, that would cause more trouble than it's worth."

Her words brought clarity to Lazarus' mind. He knew full well between the cultural differences between two races, especially when races are natural enemies. Miscommunications could very easily turn into conflict, in which the kitsune queen wanted to avoid.

"Of course capt-" the former vice-captain then stopped mid-sentence. "Uhm.. how should I address you as now?" He idly waited as he walked closer along with Shion, Ni following behind in silent strides.

"Ah, sorry I haven't introduced myself properly have I? I am Hitomu Shion, the Kitsune Queen, but you may call me Hitomu-sama from now on."

"A queen!?" The man exclaimed.

"Yes. Exactly that."

"B-but I've never heard of such things among beastmen. To think they would have a queen just like ours..."

"Yours?"

"Ah! Y-Yes. The Draconic Queen. The one that rules over the kingdom to the east. She commands the highest authority even amongst the Wyvern Riders."

"Huh... interesting..." Shion brought her hand to her chin, pondering the new info gathered. "And how would you say the relationships between you humans and all of beastkind?"

"Pardon?"

"You see.. your fellow men seemed very afraid of my presence since I first appeared. If it was my powers I would have understood, but they were scorning me as if I was the devil itself."

"Well.. you did capture all of us. As for the captain-"

"Well yes I can understand that part, but it's not just that. Other humans we've encountered have brought fear at our very presence, even if we had done nothing. Are beastmen considered enemies among humans?"

Lazarus was silent. This answer was obvious, even common sense. He debated whether or not it was a trick question before answering. "That is common knowledge, yes."

Shion was silent for a moment as she continued to walk. Demi-humans and humanoids being enemies weren't all that strange to see in Yggdrasil, however for it to be the same in this world it brought the fox queen to turn her gears. "I see.. so it is the same here as well."

"W-What do you mean by that cap- Hitomu-sama?" Lazarus asked.

"Hmm?" Shion stopped, facing back at the wyvern rider with discerning eyes.

"Well, anno... how do I explain it....?" She cupped her chin, grasping at what little lore she knew of kitsunes and how they fit into Yggdrasil's. "Beastmen.. is usually a general term to describe demi-humans with animal-like features. Is that correct?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Then I have you know that where I'm from, some beastmen managed to coexist with you humans."

"!!!"

"As for my race, we are known as kitsunes."

"Kit-sunes?"

"Yes, we are all foxes that have reached enlightenment. We have transcended onto a higher plane of existence of power and wisdom than what a simple beastman could know. We are a species of youkai, spirits if you will."

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"Youka- Spirits!? Please don't jest Hitomu-sama."

"Then explain my multiple tails and human attributes more than the typical beastmen would have. Not to mention the magic I wield." Shion countered, tails unfurling with increased volume and fluff.

Lazarus was silent again. All the oddities that didn't align with his perspective on beastmen made all the more sense. But a spirit? That was an anomaly hardly any human ever came across. However after the events today, Lazarus had no choice but to accept the shift of view presented to him. "My apologies for doubting your words."

"It's fine." She replied.

"Anyways, as I was saying... Kitsunes are a sort of spiritual guardians if you will."

"Wait, you mean your kind are allied to humans?"

"Well only a handful of them are. They are known as Zenko Kitsunes. Sometimes said kitsune would devote their eternal lifespan to protect a specific family and provide service to the head of that family."

"And why would they do that?"

Another pause lingered for a while before Shion answered. "Love."

"Love?!"

"Is it not obvious?" Shion sighed, really racking her brain for more lore surrounding kitsunes. That last bit was made up, and so she would have to bullshit the rest of the way through. "Let's say a kitsune loved a human very much, so much so that they would be bonded forever in marriage. What would happen if a kitsune had offspring and outlasted that human's lifespan?"

"She would be a grandma right?"

A chuckle stiffened from Shion was she held in her laughter. "Well yes, but she would also protect her offspring within all her power, from the first generation to the next."

"Hold on, to the next generation? Just how long are you saying can kitsunes live?" Lazarus spoke. He simply passed 'eternal' in eternal lifespan as an exaggeration, for believing it was too much for his mind to bear.

"Anno..." Shion delved deep into her thoughts.

Just how long did kitsunes live? I know that Yggdrasil was 10 years old at the time, but I can't say that I'm 10. If I go towards the thousands, I could be digging my grave as I obviously don't have multiple decades of knowledge in my head.

"Hey, Ni-san," Shion asked towards the back.

"Eh?" A small mutter was resounded back as the fox assassin stood up straight, hardly expecting a reaction from her mistress as she observed the area for hostiles.

"Do you remember when and where were you born?" Her mistress questioned, expecting some answer that she could ride on.

"...Can't say... It's all hazy... Only memories are fighting monsters and other hostiles that threatened your existence." She bowed apologetically.

"I see..." Shion signaled her to resume her constant scouting, before walking again.

So I can't rely on them to remember much. Disappointing, but fuck it.

"Well, there's your answer. We've existed for so long that we cannot even remember when our place of birth, but I have never met another kitsune that have died permanently as long as I've known. Let's just say that we kitsunes by themselves cannot perish permanently under only natural causes. Have you ever met a spirit that died before Lazarus-san?"

Lazarus took a sudden step back in awe and slight mental shock. However, from the events that occurred only a few moments ago, the mental impact was much less than he would have thought it would have been. It was actually quite concerning to the wyvern rider in terms of his mental state.

Ah, that's right. These foxes are spirits. Just what ludicrosity have I willingly stepped into?

"Ah... no, I have not. Sorry for asking such a silly question. Does that mean that your kind isn't exactly mortal?" The wyvern rider spoke fearfully. If he were to suddenly realize that he's in the company of beings almost on par with immortal gods, he would lose it.

"Well, it's not like we can't die. Ni-san has died plenty of times, and so have I. You've seen it happen to your friend back there haven't you?"

"Ah!" Lazarus' mind then came into clarity once again at the mention of his former captain.

Of course! With a wand like that, anyone can overcome death like nothing more than a mild cough. Hold on, didn't that wand break?

"H-Hitomu-sama! Didn't that wand break? If you happened to use the last two charges on flight captain Irwi-"

"Don't worry about that. I only used that artifact it because I have run out of MP- er, magical energy. You know of magic casters in your world do you?"

"Ah.. yes."

Amazing... So she could resurrect others like no problem, even without that item.

"Anyways that's not my main point." Shion interrupted Lazarus' thoughts of amazement and awe. "Not all kitsunes are good. Some of them can just as well be bad."

"You mean..."

"Yes." The queen fixated her eyes upon Lazarus, the shift in her tone lowering to something more serious in nature. "The Yako Kitsunes, evil fox spirits, whatever you would like to call them. At best they only prank humans and disguise themselves among them to cause misfortune."

"Well, that doesn't sound that ba-"

"At worse, they devour humans that come across their path."

"O-Oh..."

"Yako can just be bad as beastmen, or even worse. Imagine one with my powers that decided to become enemies with your kingdom."

"Dear Gods..." The feeble soldier stopped at the thought of such a thing occurring. If an evil kitsune queen were to appear, then only a short of a catastrophe would happen. A being that was able to bring back their dead and spread discord through magic and illusions, the mere thought shook the very bones in his flesh. "T-Then are you-"

"I'm neither." Shion cut him off.

"...W-What?"

"I am nor evil or good. I do not care for the state of humanity, only for my own kind and well being. You should do your best to do the same, as you already accepted to be under my rule."

Lazarus was speechless. Being told to discard his humanity, it was ridiculous- no even insane. However, he couldn't say anything when the woman in front of her locked eyes with him so severely.

"I'll repeat it again. I am Hitomu Shion, the Kitsune Queen. Your will is already my own, for you have accepted the price for bringing back your fellow man. Now best remember that for it is the last time I will say it." Her words scorched into his ears as she turned to leave.

"Now go get your wyvern." Shion finished.

Lazarus was suddenly forced back into the reality of his situation and was met with a direct order from the being that he sold his very soul to. Standing up straight, he could only reply "Yes mistress!" Before running off in the forest behind him.