Warm sun rays reached my face, gently waking me up. I tried hiding my face to rest a little longer, only to realize I was still in my fox form, and my feet were doing little to block the light. Reluctantly I gave up, not bothering to try to use my tail for the same purpose.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself near the giant statue I had at the center of the future town. It took me a moment to remember, but I was sure I had prayed to Cilia and had talked to her for hours, trying my best to soothe her after realizing just how shocking this whole ordeal had been to her.
Sure, that woman attacking me was scary. I had feared for my life. And all the things she had done to the shrine were horrendous. But for Cilia, this wasn’t her first time. She didn’t reveal much about her past, but I could easily read the story out of the few things she exposed unwillingly. Apparently, it had started just like this back then, with her shrines being targeted without warning, so naturally seeing this happening again, even on a smaller scale, was more than enough to force those memories back to the surface.
When I reached Cilia, she was in tears and was looking awfully pale, as if she had just woken up from a horrible nightmare. The next thing I knew, I was already in her arms, both of us trying our best to make the other forget. I don’t remember how it came to be, but halfway into my visit, she was already grooming my fur, with me being reduced to a mere pet in her care. Though she was no longer crying, and that was all that mattered.
Seeing her like this made me feel horrible. It made me feel like I failed her even. Not only had I built the shrine in such an accessible place; but I’d also failed to protect it. Sure, the Steam Fox, one of my strongest monsters, was tasked with guarding the room; but he had other things to deal with that kept him from stopping that woman in time. I already had a good idea as to why he was unable to intervene…
Thinking about this, I made the decision to both visit the Nursery and take a look at the prayer hall, just to make sure it was really back to its original state. My gut told me that it was, as there was no longer a feeling of wrongness and danger assaulting me. There were delvers currently in the dungeon as it was time for the morning prayer. Any of them pulling something similar to what had happened yesterday was unlikely with that many people watching. As such, I lifted myself to my feet and made my way over to Myra’s workshop, barking at the nearby foxes as I passed them by.
By now, the Clay Foxes had long finished their homes; the rounded, fired clay houses had earthy tones decorating the otherwise grayish-white exteriors. Not a single house looked identical, not even the ones further away at the miniature town set up for the Heat Foxes. The second town featured much smaller doors and windows, apparently in an attempt to trap the heat inside. This actually made this settlement look like an assortment of giant, weirdly designed cooking pots; a fact that wasn’t helped by the large pan–like community bath in the midst of the houses.
The foxes, who had apparently all woken up way ahead of me, happily greeted me back but were unable to answer my curiosity. As such, I carried on, following the gravel paths.
Between the size of the room and my fox form’s smaller stature, it took me a few minutes to make the trip to the workshop. But once I had slipped through the metal bars separating her hobby room from the actual boss room, I immediately found Myra and the foxes she had taken under her wing. All seven of them, Liri Foxes and Flash Foxes, were now doing their best to help her finish the sword Myra had used to defeat the bereaved woman with. While the flaming blue bodies of the Flash Foxes were back to being used to heat the forge, the Liri Foxes were using their magic on both Myra and the other working foxes to keep them all energetic and encouraged. The sword was by now looking far more complete, its curved blade was looking a lot more recognizable now that she had spent more time working on it.
Myra herself didn’t even realize I was there. It was only after sticking the sword into a nearby water barrel and producing a lot of noise and steam that she noticed I was around. She gave the blade a few more moments to cool down before she placed it on her working table. Only then did she greet me.
“Good morning,” she said, before reaching out for me.
She lifted me up with one hand while she used the other to empty a spot on her table, and placed me down upon it. I now sat right next to the sword she had just worked on; the mithril blade looking even better up close. I didn’t know much about swords. All I knew was that it couldn’t possibly look any more different than the ones Aspen and his men carried with them. Instead of having two edges, it only had one of its sides shaped into a proper blade, one that hadn’t yet been sharpened going by the dull edge. I knew once it was complete it would make for a threatening weapon; especially as it had been forged with mithril if the dark gray color was anything to go by.
“Do you like it?” She asked, to which I could only nod. “Should be able to finish it today, if everything goes okay.”
“If everything goes okay…”
I couldn’t help but look towards the doorway that led to the tunnels, the storage hall, the nursery, and ultimately the prayer hall, where there was currently an uncomfortably large number of strangers doing their business. Just thinking about what they could be doing was enough to fluff my tail. Naturally, Myra immediately noticed my discomfort. She reached out to pet me, her voice gentle enough to calm me down.
“How about I go with you?” She offered. “I can still sharpen this thing whenever.”
She didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she walked over to one of the other tables that held a sword sheath still waiting to be used. She picked the scabbard up and attached it to her belt. Once her yet–to–be–finished work was safely secured, she took me into her arms, carrying me off toward the tunnels before I could even think about telling her I would walk on my own.
With the help of Myra’s magic, we quickly made our way through the tunnels and storage, not even stopping once before we reached the Nursery. She carried me past the still unused second Vulpine Circle, before placing me down right in front of a familiar place. It was the home of the Steam Fox couple.
I looked up to Myra to confirm my guess, though the Foxkin’s gentle smile was all the answer I received. Knowing it was finally time I barked joyfully, not understanding a single thing of what I had just ‘said’. Despite this there was an immediate response in the shape of a billowing cloud of steam which grew out from the house only to take a familiar form soon after.
The Steam Fox looked between Myra and myself confused. Driven by curiosity, he sniffed at me, his three tails wagging once he realized who I was. After the introductions were done with, he walked back into the empty door frame, only glancing back at me once he was already in the house. It took me a moment to recognize this for the invitation it was, an invitation I wasn’t about to refuse.
I began strolling towards the house, making sure not to walk too fast and spook the two foxes. Once I had made my way inside, I immediately found my guess confirmed. On the left side of the house, waiting on top of the white fur I had gifted the couple, laid the female fox with five little kits at her side. The little ones had only a single tail, compared to their parent’s two and three, and they could also easily rest in my hand if I was in my real shape right now – they were just that tiny.
I couldn’t help but sit down and watch the young family for a while. Their mother was currently grooming the sleepy little bundles of joy, who were seemingly only kept awake by the gentle application of her white tongue, which somehow seemed to be able to touch them despite the lot of them being shaped out of thick steam.
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For minutes, I just watched, feeling warm and fuzzy all over at the portrayal of motherly love. But when their father suddenly laid down right next to them, blocking the small ones from view, I took that as my cue to leave. It wouldn’t do to overstay my welcome, even though I believed the foxes wouldn’t mind my presence overly much so long as it was only me.
I made my way outside and was already halfway to Myra when I thought of a gift to offer the young family. I turned around and summoned a large dish in front of the house's entrance. The wide wooden bowl was filled with an assortment of meats, cheeses, berries, and fruits for the foxes to find after their shared nap. They would surely appreciate the gesture.
Satisfied, I walked back towards Myra, not thinking twice as I jumped into her waiting arms. And, just like that, I found myself being carried off towards the passage leading to the prayer hall.
“They are cute, aren’t they?”
I barked in reply, causing Myra to laugh. But her amusement was short–lived, as we were already reaching the metal bars separating the two rooms. Now, she looked much more stern, as if preparing herself to fend off an attack.
Luckily, it wasn’t needed. Not a single one of the visitors was vandalizing the place, that much I already knew without looking. If anything, they were carefully watching their surroundings, as if keeping themselves in check.
Myra watched them for a moment, then suddenly she spun around, causing blue flames to spring forth from her tails. She swung them through the metal grates, where they formed a carpet a few meters into the Prayer Hall.
Naturally, this caused the men and women to start; the supplicants immediately turned around, looking for the supposed danger. But Myra didn’t give them the chance to prepare, as a sudden flash of blue light blinded me.
I opened my eyes after a few seconds, still trying to understand what had happened, only to realize that the two of us were now standing on the other side of the metal barrier with dozens of gazes glued to us. Some of those unfamiliar to me and Myra prepared their weapons and magic, but luckily didn’t start attacking us just like that. Instead, they just stood there, waiting, hoping for Aspen who was nearby to make his move.
Needless to say, I was rather uncomfortable about being at the center of all of their attention. Things only got better when Aspen, the leader of all of these strangers, finally approached us, both Alfred and Marisa right on his heels.
“Good morning,” he sheepishly greeted us.
Myra answered in kind, before greeting the other two as well. She explained that she came here to ensure I was feeling safe, conveniently leaving out that I was right in front of them, listening to everything she said. Instead, she introduced me as her ‘little friend’, even naming me ‘Koko’ as she gently stroked along my back. Both Marisa and Alfred bought it just like that, only Aspen mentioning I looked similar to a fox he had seen in Cilia’s realm. Naturally, this got me curious, a fact that Myra luckily noticed.
“The Heavenly Mother answered your prayers?”
“I have failed her,” Aspen answered after a moment of silence. “I should have protected this place and ensured it would remain unblemished and yet…” Aspen hesitated. “She simply answered my prayer, as if that travesty had never happened. She treated me as if I had been a devout believer my entire life; as if I had spent every day honoring her. She even allowed me to dedicate my sword to her, despite my failure.”
Hearing this, Myra’s hand that had been gently caressing me all this time stopped – she was surprised by this, even more so when Aspen explained what else had transpired during his visit to Cilia’s heavenly realm, what had caused him to make his decision in the first place.
Apparently, he, who he himself described as an insignificant man, had met three goddesses at once, all of them working together to allow him to change his oath to serve Cilia instead. As for the reason for the change of heart he had experienced?
Aspen listed some of his reasons, like his resolve to cut ties with his family, Cilia gifting him a new body, or her being far more ready to answer prayers as compared to the goddess his family traditionally served. But it was the last of his reasons that sent cold shivers down my spine and had Myra hugging me close, almost making me cry out in pain. The Foxkin became progressively angrier as his story went on.
“She escaped?!” Myra raged.
Her undisguised fury caused Aspen to take a step back. He hastily apologized before explaining that his men had been ambushed, leaving his best fighters dead; all but a single survivor who managed to escape back to the camp and inform him.
The fact that Aspen had tasked capable men with bringing the woman to justice left Myra with nobody to complain to. He had acted in good faith, his men fell victim to an ambush which neither he nor his men could have predicted. As such, Myra could only swallow her anger for now, or at least I thought that would be her reaction right up until she began making her way towards the dungeon’s entrance, suddenly stopping after only a few rapid steps.
Myra was actually trapped in this dungeon, the same as me. For as long as I didn’t build a second floor or the Obsidian Fox that was carrying Shael back to the Great Forest hadn’t returned from its task, I couldn’t really select another gatherer. If she really tried to escape regardless, she would just end up running into an invisible wall just as I had before.
Aspen tried to calm Myra down, promising her that they were doing their best to hunt down both the woman and those who had helped her escape. He even told her that Veritas, the goddess he had once sworn his sword to, had confided in him that Omos, Father of All, was on the move, taking both Cilia’s and my side in this matter.
Hearing this, Myra could only let out a frustrated sigh, resigned to leave this matter to those who could actually do something about the situation. She didn’t look satisfied with this at all, as she was obviously more than ready to hunt that woman down on her own, but sadly, things were not meant to be this way. Still, Aspen was trying his best to ensure she knew the whole ordeal was in good hands. He then apologized to her, for not protecting me and Cilia’s honor, and even for only changing his vow now that he had failed us.
Hearing all of this, something inside of Myra seemed to change. She let Aspen finish his explanation, before, after a moment of contemplation, choosing her answer to all of this.
“Aspen,” she began, her voice filled with conviction, "I think it's time you received proper armor. Something more befitting your new position."
I looked at Aspen, who seemed even more surprised by her suggestion than me. He had raised an eyebrow but looked rather intrigued.
“New armor?”
Myra nodded. "Yes, made of mithril.” She suggested, before explaining. “It's lightweight yet incredibly durable. Should serve you well.”
Aspen's eyes widened in surprise. “But mithril is rare and expensive…”
Myra waved off his concern. “Don't worry about that. I have a little stash just waiting to be worked with. Just give me your measurements or, even better, take off that armor you are wearing.”
It would be an understatement to say Aspen was taken aback. He looked at her, then at the men and women surrounding us, who found the whole situation rather amusing.
“The– the measurements should suffice.” Aspen finally answered after a long moment of silence. “I will give them to you as soon as I can.”
Myra shrugged. “Sure. I’ll be waiting.”
“And… Thank you. Receiving such a boon would be incredible."
Myra smiled, before balancing me onto her left arm. She now placed her other hand on his shoulder, as if they were old friends.
“Consider it my way of ensuring you're properly equipped for the challenges ahead. I am kind of stuck here, so this is my only way to assist in putting that wretch where she belongs.”
Hearing this, Aspen almost immediately answered. “I swear I won’t fail again.”
“I will make sure you can keep your word.”
After this exchange, Aspen excused himself, promising he would soon return with the measurements. Myra made sure to call after him, advising him to note them down on scraps from the wooden crates I had gifted the camp, likely because these wouldn’t be absorbed by the dungeon, but Aspen didn’t turn around. Instead, he waved his hand, showing her that he got the message, before disappearing into the darkness, only his faintly glowing sword lighting his way.
Seeing their leader had departed, the strangers surrounding us soon followed after him, with Alfred and Marisa being the last to make their way back to the camp. The latter of the two made sure to say her goodbyes to me in the form of a few gentle pets. She had likely recognized my fox shape from before when she had tried to tame me with meat, but, luckily she didn’t seem to have a single clue as to my real identity, even now.
We watched the two disappear into the darkness, their silhouettes finally being swallowed by the shadows a few moments in.
Myra shrugged, before carrying me to the statue, allowing me to ensure everything was in place, and it very much was. There wasn’t a single mark to be found on the marble pedestal, nor was Cilia’s hand damaged. It had fully regrown, as if it was a living, breathing being.
I had found out that my dungeon was able to heal after everything that had happened during the exploration raid, and the feeling of wrongness that came with the statue being damaged was also entirely gone, but seeing the once again pristine condition of the prayer hall was an entirely different thing. It felt as if a heavy stone was being removed from my chest, allowing me to breathe freely once again. Still, I wanted to protect this place. It was special to me, a precious symbol of Cilia becoming my mother, capturing the very moment she had saved me while standing for her decision to build a shared future. I wouldn’t allow anyone to touch it.
Never again…