With a step forward, flames immediately surrounded me.
Like a shell, I had no where to escape to, so I activated my trump card.
Time Re-Calibration.
I became aware of this ability some time before I turned 8. I was amazed, but my ability to use it seems to be innate. Natural. This was the magic granted to me by my tail.
The ability felt like a cheat. I could do whatever I wanted, and no one could feasibly stop me.
Still, I restrained myself—at least a little.
Remembering the various stories involving superpowers, I tested my ability, learning of its capabilities and limitations.
The first thing I learned—I can't go backwards through time. At most I can only stop it—or so I think. It's possible that I have a maximum "time frame", and it's just so slow that time may as well be frozen. If it takes years for just a single microsecond to pass, then I wouldn't be able to tell if time is frozen or not, and I don't have the patience to wait millennium to measure the distance a coin fell.
Next I found out that I don't really get any stronger. If I punch something while time is going slow, it's not like it'll go flying off at the speed of light. My punches still hold the same strength. Like only my frame of reference was changed. It's strange. What sort of physics are going on that I can move faster than sound, but when I run into something, I carry the momentum of a little child? However, the worst part about this, is the backlash from prolonged use of this ability, if I'm not careful.
On the other hand, it does not take additional mana to sustain a time-frame, but it does take mana to change it. I didn't quite understand this point either, but it seems the larger the change in time-frame, the more mana it cost. So constantly starting and stopping time was exhausting, but I could just stop time, and live my entire life like that.
—Ah, about that, it seems the processes of my body run at "real time", rather than at whatever speed I'm shifted into. So just fast-forwarding through time would starve me to death, but slowing it down will let me live hundreds of years without eating, as it would only be a few hours in real time. But my mana won't recover very much in that time.
Because of those same reasons, sensations such as pain take quite a while to travel up to my brain, and with time stopped, it's not like this fire will even burn me. The heat won't have time to conduct onto me.
As I easily walk through the white flames that I have to push through, I decide to take this time to look at all of the children.
As I expected, these were certainly noble children.
The girl I spoke to earlier bore a necklace with the mark of the Royal Family of Senilea.
Meaning this girl was one of the Princesses right?
What was her name? Ah, whatever. I don't keep up with the Royal Family.
She was a pretty girl though, perhaps about 13 or 14. He brunette hair was long and wavy, however it showed some signs of abuse, likely from how often she tied or coiled her hair. Her body was... developing I guess.
She was covered in dirt like the rest of the kids, but still looked determined despite that.
Responsible even. I want her. But...
Still, for her to be out here. Does that perhaps mean that Senilea was invaded? News hasn't made it to the village yet, so these kids probably used a special mode of transportation, but had to travel the rest of the way on foot. Or news probably just propagates slowly in this world. That would make sense too.
So this lot—a collection of noble children and the royal princess running away from an enemy that's looking to end the royal family. A scenario like that, right? Or is the enemy related to the royal family? Something like a power struggle? No, why would it only be this bunch of kids? What about actual retainers and guards?
Anyways, what of the rest of the group?
Almost all of them are humans. Kids, similar to my group, I guess? But almost all of them seem to wear expensive clothes, made of fabric that I couldn't even find in this far off village. Much of their clothes is worn and torn though, and some of the kids you could barely tell are wearing something so expensive.
But—there were two more.
These two, they were fay, correct?
One of the girls seemed to be about 14 years old. She had a somewhat developing figure, and wavy black hair. Her skin was silky white, if you ignored the dirt and grime, so I'm sure she could be quite a beauty. However, she had a tail. A long, black tail, that seemed to flail outwards at the end, giving it a heart-shaped tip. If I had to describe it, it reminded me of a tail you might draw on a devil, or even a succubus.
The other girl was a bit more eye-catching—mostly because she looked much less human. Her skin was a pale blue, and carried a tint of red. Her ears were pointed and narrow, and by the looks of them, she could probably control their direction with ease, letting her pinpoint the direction of any sound. Her eyes bore a pitch-black iris, and they seemed to expand out larger than normal eyes, as if to catch as much light as possible. She looked to be about 8 or 9, and I would probably consider her face adorable, if her eyes didn't weird me out.
Both girls had hid themselves, obviously not wanting to be seen, even if their group was already spotted. Of the entire group, these two looked the poorest and most out of place, seemingly not having eaten very much for a while, and wearing rags that even a commoner wouldn't be caught dead in.
If I had to guess, they were slaves. Their wrists and neck seemed to show signs that they use to wear a collar and cuffs—but it was removed? I wonder why?
Freed slaves walking amongst runaway nobles.
What a bizarre bunch.
Well, whatever.
I look back to the boy controlling those flames. Aniel, was it?
This boy—he looked quite handsome, with short black hair, and a look that was confident in his ability, if not in what he was doing. Like the rest, he had a face full of grime, yet somehow he gave off a mysterious atmosphere. In many ways, he gave off the impression of a protagonist, with his seemingly unwavering will.
Following his gaze, I could see the spectacle of dancing flames, which spiraled around my previous location. He had taken great care to not burn down the forest, and looking at the movement of the flames, I surmised that the magic he was using earlier was isolating the oxygen to keep his fire from spreading. Has chemistry in this world really gotten that far?
I wondered for a moment if striking him might send the flames out of control.
Well, no use worrying about it—if I sneak up behind him, and threaten him, he might end up burning me anyways. Remembering a character from a show I watched, I realized that I don't know how precise his control is, so I just struck at his neck as hard as I could.
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I don't have much physical strength, so I actually hit his neck about 3 or 4 times. With that, I returned to "normal" time.
The flames evaporated rather quickly without this boy to control them.
He on the other hand immediately fell to the floor, but I grabbed his collar so he didn't hit his head, and only fell to his knees.
My other hand—the one I used to strike him—was in quite a bit of pain, but I hid it in my long sleeves.
"Now then, Princess. We should have a talk," I spoke up maintaining my smile from earlier.
However, I was not her first priority
"Aniel!" She shouted, as she came running to the boy's side frantically.
Giving a sigh, I explained, "He's not dead. Just gave him a bit of a beating. Don't think I'd be able to talk some sense into him. Now explain yourselves, human," I spoke up with the same haughty attitude I carried since arriving on scene.
She grabbed onto Aniel, tugging him away as she checked his pulse and made sure he was breathing.
Hmm? Did people in the middle ages know much about a person's pulse? Well, it is another world.
As she looked back at me, she introduced herself, "I am the Second Princess of Senilea, and likely sole survivor of the royal family. Princess Aire. I know not what a divine spirit would wish with us, but we don't have much to give," she pleaded with hesitant yet desperate eyes.
As she spoke, her guard came to her side, and watched my with attentive eyes, clearly worried for his master. He was about twice my height, but still had quite a youthful face. In a physical fight, I'm sure he could beat me into the dirt, and if I didn't use my Time Re-Calibration, I'm sure he could even beat me in a race. But I have no need to compete with him.
Turning my eyes back to Princess Aire, I made my claims.
"I merely want those two human boys freed safely." I pointed over towards Ken and Rojji. I could have freed them—maybe—but even with my ability it would be hard without killing the others.
The princess cast down her eyes as she considered her options, before quickly looking back up at me.
"We cannot."
"And why is that?"
"We cannot risk being followed by Lein's Forces. Even if Aniel was being violent, it's true we cannot just let them go," She pleaded, as she lowered her head to me, "I'm sorry, Esteemed Spirit, but I cannot risk the lives of my comrades!" As I expected, she seemed to treat me with quite the bit of dignity, huh?
Going by her attitude, it doesn't seem like I'm considered a risk. Well, I guess it is weird for a Fox Spirit to be raised by a human village, so she probably just believes that I'm fulfilling some duty as a guardian of this area. Despite that, her guard is still vigilant.
"Hoh~" I let out an amused tone, as I mulled over the bit of information I was presented.
Lein Empire. Lein... Was that not the nation a few border over to the east? Did they somehow invade our neighbors to the east and make a move into Senilea?
Hmm. With news spreading at the speed of horseback, I guess it's not impossible for us to be caught unaware, here in an isolated village where news travels slowly towards, to begin with.
"So you intend to cross this great forest in order to escape the pursuit of Lein Empire," I stated. "From there—where would you go, I wonder? You could have fled west to Kiitland? Surely they would protect you."
"Kiitland would much rather fork me over to Lein Empire, once they learn how our capital was taken in a day!" She shouted desperately.
"So instead you head south, abandoning all responsibility as royalty,"
"We have no other choice. Even if Aniel's magic is powerful, he cannot take on an army of Dragon Riders alone!"
Oh? So Lein has pet dragons, huh? I can see how that could make conquest easier.
"While I understand your struggle, I cannot simply allow you to hold my precious playmates, you see?"
"P-playmates?"
"Yep—those two are my toys, you see?" I figured that if I gave the impression that Rojji and Ken were "mine", she would consent. If they were merely stray village kids, that would be one thing—but it's a different matter if they are belongings of a Kitsune. Aniel wouldn't be willing to let me go regardless, but this girl hesitated knowing this fact.
"I... Then, if you can promise me that they won't speak of us..."
"It's fine," I shrugged. I really can't refuse this girl when she looks at me with such a determined look in her eyes. "Let the boys go," I called out to the people in back, who were holding them down.
They hesitated for a moment, but as Princess Aire nodded to them, they ended up letting go of Rojji and Ken. I motioned for the two to come over, and as they scurried to my sides, I gave the brats pats on the head—though Rojji is a bit older than me, but that's fine.
"Now, I want you brats to head back home, and speak of this to no one,"
"But—"
"If you tell anyone, I'll get Yenna on you," I said cheerfully, which caused the two to flinch, before nodding vigorously and running off.
"Now then... about you lot," I turned my gaze back to the group, before looking down at the unconscious Aniel.
With a grin, I looked over the group, and pointed towards the older of the group—the man who seemed to be Aire's special guard.
"You, carry this bit of luggage," I ordered, before turning about on my heal, and walking off into the forest.
"Wh-where are you going?"
Not even bothering to see who asked, I answered with a calm an calculated voice.
"If you don't follow me, your group will end up dead. Now hurry up," I spoke up.
The majority of these noble children didn't interest me in the least.
That Aniel fellow was the only individual I cared for.
A magic I've never heard of. How did he get it?
I figured, if I save his miserable life, I can coerce him into spilling all of his secrets.
If not... maybe I should try seducing him?
...
Ugh... I think I died a little inside...
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Author Notes:
And we're back.
I actually did spend the whole weekend writing, and ended up with 5 chapters. Of course, because I'm a meany, I'll be pushing them out one day at a time.
Though, I'll probably be rewriting parts of the chapters, if I feel I did something wrong, or if I want to change the direction.
As always, Feedback and Suggestions are appreciated and encouraged.