“How much further is it?”

“A few days away.”

We had only walked for half a day before Auden anxiously asked. Of course he’d be nervous. From what I knew, neither of the twins had left Karinth since they were young, so the idea that people would live so far away was probably unnerving for them.

My answer didn’t seem to be what he wanted, as he quietly whined to himself.

“Auden, stop,” Elaze demanded. “If we’re going to spend the next few days together, no one wants to hear you cry,” She spouted out, clearly irritated by the long walk till now. The road was wet and muddy, insects flew about, and the only home they ever knew was now the den of their enemy.

It’s no wonder the twins were on edge.

“If we’re stuck on this journey till Ohen, how about we chat,” I say enthusiastically. “You two worked under smith, no? What did you do exactly?”

Auden hesitated, nervous about what to say. “W-well, we weren’t really apprentices or anything,” He admitted. “We just helped keep his shop tidy while he worked,” he explained.

“So you didn’t learn anything about crafting weapons, huh?” I asked, a bit disappointed.

“We learned the basics,” Elaze answered with a shrug. “Most of Ol’ Gren’s orders were done in bulk by recurring customers. We were just there to greet and educate new customers, and to do that we had to understand the craft and how different items were forged.”

I hummed in acknowledgement, as I thought it over. When I remembered the two worked at a smith’s shop, I thought perhaps one of them properly knew the craft, or were at least in training. However, they were basically just salesmen, who had to have a basic understanding of their product.

I considered throwing Auden with Mr. Aliuen to learn proper blacksmithing, but he has his son to worry about. Come to think of it, I wonder if I should have a weapon forged for me? All the great legends have a great weapon they’re known for. My current “combat style” favors the dagger, but I think it’ll be a good idea to learn how to fight with a proper weapon.

Jenn, he uses a spear, right? That could work…

“Hey Yenna, do you think I’d be good with a spear?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder.

“A dagger would suit you better,” She said. She thinks so too, huh…

“Why a dagger?” Elaze asked, apparently curious.

“Because Toya’s power lets her be sneaky,” Yenna explained. “And fast. A sword or spear would only keep the enemy on guard around her.”

“Please. Even if they have the perfect defense, I can take ‘em,” I boast.

“Do you know for sure? You can puncture a Spirit Cloak, but what if they have protection much more powerful than that?” Yenna lectured. When it comes to fighting, I guess she’s learned a lot from Jenn.

“But I wanna look cool, like those heroes of legend!” I complain, throwing my arms out in the air.

“What are you, a child?” Elaze asks, mildly baffled by my display.

“You should keep the advantages you have. Not throw them away just to look nicer.”

I shrugged, and acknowledged she had a point.

I wasn’t that desperate to look cool or anything. I’ll just have Mr. Aliuen make me a nice sturdy dagger for me, and be done with it.

----------------------------------------

The majority of the trip was like that. We bickered and complained, had a few interesting conversations, and then we set up camp to sleep. The following two days weren’t very different, but I got the feeling that Yenna had become slightly more accepting of the twins.

However, on the final day of our trip, with Ohen village just a few leagues away, Elaze asked a question neither of us were expecting.

“Why does Toya pretend to be a girl?”

Yenna had immediately dropped our luggage in response to this question, and had reached for Elaze’s throat, presumably to tear it out. However, I had enough sense of mind to stop Yenna. Before our luggage had even hit the floor, I grabbed onto her hair, and pulled back on it.

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“What are you doing, dear sister?” I asked, as her hand halted, inches from her target.

“She’s not supposed to know,” Yenna said curling up her fingers, as if giving up on strangling Ela.

Elaze on the other hand had a delayed reaction. She hadn’t even noticed Yenna turning around and aiming for her. When everything had registered, her eyes widened. She hiccupped, as she tried to step backwards, as if dodging Yenna’s hand that had already stopped. With a frightened look on her face, Elaze lost her balance, and fell onto her bottom on the dirt road.

As she looked up at Yenna and me with a scare look, she stuttered, “I-i was just c-curious. Y-you don’t ha-have to answer me,” She managed to say.

Auden on the other hand looked between the 3 of us, completely confused, wondering what just happened.

“How long have you known, Ela?” I asked, looking down at the poor girl who looked about ready to soil herself. I couldn’t blame her; she had never been in a real fight outside of blacking out a few days ago, but she just came inches away from losing her head because of a bad question.

“I-I, don’t know,” She said, averting her eyes from me, as if I wanted her to play dumb.

“I’m serious. When did you figure out I was a boy?” I asked.

“A-a boy?” Auden asked in amazement, his eyes showing exaggerated shock.

“When we met. I just kinda… knew, you know?” Elaze finally said, as she looked down. “Y-you’re not gonna kill me because I know your secret, are you?” Her voice seemed to carry a trace of resentment, as she remembered the promise I made to her in the rain.

Of course she would assume that. Yenna nearly killed her without asking a question.

I sighed, and kneeled down to match Ela’s eye-level.

“What do you know about Fox Spirits?” I asked her seriously.

“I… They’re… long-lived, and are said to be beautiful. And, they have great powers and many tails,” She said, looking up to me, but avoiding eye contact.

“But have you ever heard of a Fox Spirit that wasn’t a woman?” I asked.

Her eyebrows furrowed. She went into deep thought, as if looking for an answer, but… “No. In fact, Fox Spirits are only women,” She said, as if coming to a realization. “Then, what are you?” she asked, the previous fear having nearly washed away, replaced by curiosity once more.

“I’m pretty sure I’m a Fox Spirit,” I said with a shrug. “I just happen to have been born male,” I said. “Now, when you take in consideration the superstition of the masses, what do you think they will assume about a boy, found in the woods with ears and tails that mimic a Fox Spirit’s? Especially people who look up to Fox Spirits? Won’t you think they will see me as some sort of imposter?”

She looked at me for a moment, as if digesting what was just said. Surely she understood. People were irrational; especially uneducated people. Something that falls out of the norm is more often than not seen as bad, by the uneducated.

“And thus, you two will remain silent about this subject. Understand?” I said, glancing over to Auden to see him nod hurriedly. Ela tilted her head in a careful nod. “Good. Let’s go,” I said, jumping to my feet, and holding a hand out for Ela.

As she pulled herself to her feet, Auden spoke up.

“You were a boy the whole time?” He asked, his face turning red, as he remembered my previous actions, especially with Ezder.

“So what if I was?” I said with a smirk, as place my hands on my hips.

“But you’re into…” Auden seemed to stammer, not sure how to put it into words.

“What’s it matter what I’m into?” I asked with a chuckle, as Elaze got onto her feet, and let go of my hand. “If it makes you feel better, I’m into girls,” I said with a grin, before slapping Elaze’s ass, “Like your sister here,” I added.

Ela didn’t quite see my joke as amusing, so I ducked my head as she swung her arm to hit me, and then I stepped back and away from her, just as she tried to throw me a second punch.

“No, that doesn’t make me feel better,” Auden said with a deep frown. I laughed at the two’s expense, before carrying on with the journey.

Yenna seemed bothered by just letting the two know my secret, so I walked closer to her and asked curiously. “Did someone tell you to kill anyone who finds out about my secret?”

She didn’t answer for a short few moments, before giving me an answer. “Mother said that if people found out you were a boy, that they would try to hurt you. So…”

“I see. Well, I appreciate your willingness to protect me, but not everyone is an enemy. Not yet anyways,” I say, and pat my sister’s back.

Taking an anxious peek at me, she asked, “Then when will they be?”

“Soon,” I sighed out. “Very soon…”

I knew the time was approaching when Aniel would send for me. At that time, I will have to travel towards Senha, the capital of Senilea. I will capture the praise of Princess Aire’s followers, possibly gain more power in the process, while providing the needed moral to resist Lein and Arnne..

Despite that, I will be surrounded by potential enemies. People who can’t be trusted, and who want the throne to go to someone other than Aire. I’ll be seen as a political tool.

Honestly, it might just be simpler to declare Senilea itself my domain.

Or something like that…?