Shiori raced through the dawn light of Forest's Edge Academy, her black fur easily blending in with the long shadows cast by the buildings and landscape. Shiori didn't need to worry about being seen, not that she would worry even in the middle of the day with the entire Academy out.
Her kitten, disciple now, had taken her first true step on the Path. An exciting time for any new ascendant, and a sensitive time as well. Jun grasped the technique far quicker than Shiori expected. The invisible pressure of a newly realized Step 1 Ascendant's aura was barely noticeable. Certainly not noticeable enough for the backwards brutes that called this place an Academy to feel it.
Shiori slowed as she passed the Administrative building like a ghost, her steps silent. While the Academy was backwards, there were a few worthy of notice. The Headmaster was one of them, his tightly restrained Diamond aura still noticeable even while restrained. Passable control, still sloppy, but by far one of the most skilled practitioners she'd seen since her return.
The first meeting had been surprising, the man's aura perception sharp enough that he had noticed the void left by Shiori's presence, if only barely. His aura had followed her around his office as she investigated, at least until the messenger appeared in his aura and shared the message from Deedee. It seemed the man knew enough to respect her messengers, and the quick retreat of his perception had earned him some respect from Shiori. Better late than never, but some kittens needed to make mistakes to learn. Her latest was proof of that.
Shiori chuckled to herself as Jun struggled to clean the impurities from her uniform as she watched her kitten with her aura perception. She was lucky Shiori was a benevolent master and bothered to enchant all of her uniforms equally. Good armor was important for a growing kitten, though she'd left the underthings untouched. Shiori had never had a taste for them even the few times she'd used her human form. Too restrictive and clingy. What use did she have for modesty when she was magnificent regardless of form, and everyone knew it. Her kitten would learn to do without, or she would replace them by her own efforts. Shiori wouldn't force her preferences in clothing onto her kitten, but she wouldn't provide unnecessary things.
To walk the Path is to overcome after all. Shiori may be her guide, but she couldn't walk the Path for her.
As a certain bug who thought itself a bird came into her aura perception's range, Shiori smiled to herself. She could have some fun though.
Shiori watched from beneath a bush, her tail silently swishing, as Sean walked up a secret path and through a hidden door into the Administrative Building. The Building's wards reacted to the detection of an attuned aura and let him through. If he hadn't been attuned, they would have burned him to ash on the spot. Shiori casually followed him through the ward, the ward ignoring her existence. "Good prey, you remembered," Shiori thought at the ward spirit, chuckling to herself as it sent back feelings of submission, obedience, and fear.
It had tried to stop her when she first entered the building with Jun, but it quickly learned how shallow its understanding of power was. The only reason it lived was that replacing the building's wards would have been expensive, and those resources were better spent on her kitten and her friends. Cecilia always snuck her the tastiest of morsels when she thought no one was looking, and Sara's ability to know exactly where to scratch was rare. The boy Gareth was protective of Jun, and his servant Lane as well, while the other boy Corin was kindly if far too naive, much like her kitten. They would be good companions for her to grow up with, and so Shiori intended to make sure they received the proper resources from their school.
If that meant cowing a few unruly ward spirits rather than consuming them, well Cecilia's snacks were satisfying enough for her to let them live.
Shiori quietly padded after Sean as he went to his true office. The fool thought himself powerful with a platinum rank, but his shrieks of terror every time he found a dead rat in his office revealed his weakness. Luckily for him, the privacy wards on his office were strong enough to keep even Shiori's senses out, at least without her destroying the wards. It just meant she got to enjoy his shrieking first paw. Shiori chuckled as the last of the headless rats were incinerated. "Shame he didn't find the heads yet," Shiori chuckled to herself. With a casual flex of her will, she phased several more headless rats into hiding places throughout the room, and even a few into the man's inventory rings. Both the one on his finger and the one he must think well hidden between his legs. Shiori glanced up at the ceiling where the still phased rat heads lay suspended out of step with reality. Perhaps she'd wait until the rat of a bureaucrat had another dalliance with that pet Professor of his. The one that thought it wise to encourage a kitten just a year older than Jun to play far too rough during Jun's test.
The kitten was innocent at least, despite bad guidance from the uppity fools that thought themselves nobles. But if the so called nobles of this Academy thought themselves untouchable, Shiori would enjoy this little cat and mouse game for as long as Jun wanted to attend this Academy. While Shiori could teach Jun far better magic, the Academy at least served to ensure her kitten was properly socialized. Another flex of her will saw the hidden lockbox in Sean's desk emptied of coin and replaced with an especially plump headless rat. As foolish as the man was, he at least had some thought for security, though it was nothing to Shiori. Wiping the tracking spells was as simple as overloading them with her aura, and then the coins scattered across the campus, finding their way into the purses of various malnourished kittens, though a few choice bits Shiori held onto. They would be useful to motivate her kitten to work harder.
Her fun done for the morning, Shiori casually let herself out, the ward spirit sighing with relief as Shiori left its domain. Leaving the Academy Campus, Shiori strolled through the waking city, jumping from rooftop to rooftop and wandering as she pleased. Soon, she found herself in the Delving District where she and her kitten first entered the city, and Shiori stopped on a rooftop across the street from a certain store to watch yet more entertainment. The thieves were out in force already, the well trained and experienced pickpockets scurrying like mice as they plucked choice morsels. Several fell prey to traps and were hauled away in iron manacles by hidden guards, and some of the greedier little mice found their prey far more than they bargained for.
Shiori watched as one such mouse, a tiny waif of a girl, was capture by a human with a silver aura. The girl squeaked in the man's hands as she struggled to escape his grasp, but she was still young and weak, even weaker than Shiori's kitten. The man's aura control was terrible and displayed the man's cruel and dark intentions. Amusement against worthy and deserving prey was fine, but the man's intentions crossed a line. A flick of Shiori's will was all it took as the man crumpled to the ground. "Pathetic," Shiori said, willing her voice into the man's ears as he faded into unconsciousness. The opportunistic mouse seized her chance and fled, though not before swiping the man's full to bursting purse. Shiori followed the girl for a time, watching as she weaved her way through back alleys and out of the district, not stopping until she crawled into a shack deep in the slums where a sick boy lay unconscious. The girl opened the purse, cheering quietly at the bounty of silver and gold within and whispered to the young boy that she could afford healing for him.
"The mouse has a littermate to care for," Shiori said, willing her words into the girl's ears. The girl leapt to her feet and looked around, but there was nothing for her to see. "One with potential no less. Serve well little mouse," Shiori said, gathering her mana, Shiori cast a spell and the two mice vanished from their run down shack.
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Across the city, a girl and boy appeared in the lobby of a bathing house as a note fluttered to the desk in front of Grandma Deedee. Reading the short note, Grandma Deedee nodded and smiled at the young girl. "Welcome dear, you may call me Grandma Deedee," she said, approaching the girl and her brother.
"I ain't got nuthin'! Leave us alone!" the girl yelled, taking a fighting stance between Grandma Deedee and her brother.
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"Now now dear, that's not a polite way to greet an old woman, now is it?" Grandma Deedee said, shuffling closer.
"I said leave us alone! Stay ba—aaah!" the girl screamed as one of Grandma Deedee's attendants appeared behind the girl and put her in an arm lock.
"Ah Sophia, right on time dear," Grandma Deedee said, approaching the struggling girl and her young brother. Crouching down in front of the sick boy, Grandma Deedee placed a hand on his forehead and injected some mana into his body, frowning at how warm he was to the touch.
"Anton, dear," she said to the empty air, only for a young man to appear a moment later with a bow.
"Yes Grandma Deedee, you called?"
"Be a dear and look after this young man for me? I fear he has a fever and could do with some medicine," she said, standing back up.
Nodding, Anton crouched down and pressed his hand to the boy's forehead, muttering under his breath as his hand began to glow. The girl started to struggle and squirm even more as Anton cast his spell.
"Leave me brother alone! Whaddya doin' to Kai?!" she screamed, struggling to break free from Sophia's iron grip. The boy's breathing eased as Anton's spell took hold, and he seemed to relax, though still remained unconscious.
"Oh calm down dear, let little Anton take care of your brother, Kai was it? Yes, Kai will be in good hands, Anton is a certified healer after all. Graduated from that fancy school and everything!" Grandma Deedee said, bragging like a proud grandmother. The girl's struggling stopped as she noticed the color returning to Kai's cheeks, only to begin thrashing again as Anton picked the unconscious boy up in both hands and started walking away, deeper into the bath house.
"Where are ya taking him?!" she screamed from the floor.
"Calm yourself dear, Anton is just taking young Kai to rest in a bed. Let the girl up, Sophia."
Sophia nodded, releasing the girl's arm and moving to stand next to Grandma Deedee. The young girl pushed herself up, wincing at the pain in her arm, before turning to chase after Anton and her brother. Following close behind, Grandma Deedee kept pace with the young girl as she caught up with Anton and threw a punch at the young man, only to wince as her punch didn't even cause the man to flinch. Ignoring the girl, Anton continued to walk deeper into the bath house, the girl in his footsteps and Grandma Deedee and Sophia close behind, until he stopped in a well lit infirmary and placed the young boy on a clean bed.
As the girl moved to throw another punch at Anton, he turned and caught her hand, muttering another spell as his hand glowed, healing the girl and releasing her as she stumbled away from him in confusion. Hearing footsteps behind her, the young girl whirled around to see Grandma Deedee and Sophia entering the infirmary. Grandma Deedee smiled warmly at the girl, while Sophia stood next to the elderly woman and frowned at the girl.
Whirling around to the door, the girl confronted Grandma Deedee. "Whaddya want wit us? Ain't no way ya just treating Kai for free!"
"My my dear, of course it's free. Once little Kai is all better, you may take your brother and leave if you wish. Or..." Grandma Deedee paused and smiled at the girl. "You are welcome to join our little family," she said, gesturing at Sophia and Anton.
Suspicion and hope warred on the young girl's face as she glared at Grandma Deedee. "Why would ya take us in? We ain't got nuthin' for ya," she yelled.
"Family doesn't demand anything in exchange for caring for one another. Besides, a friend of the family sent you here. Now, you look hungry, why don't we get you some nice stew while Anton cares for your brother. Wouldn't that be nice deary?"
Glaring at Grandma Deedee and Sophia, the girl sighed, her empty stomach growling at the thought of free food. "Fine... but I eat here where I can keep an eye on Kai, make sure there's no funny business," she said firmly.
"Of course, of course, it's important to look after family when they're not feeling well. Sophia, why don't you bring young... What's your name dear?"
"...Kaya..."
"Young Kaya here a bowl of stew while we make sure her brother is taken care of?"
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Shiori watched through her aura perception as Sophia grabbed several bowls of stew and brought it to the little mouse. The family of foxes would care for the little mouse and her brother if they wished it, or they could pursue their own path. Perhaps they would remain mice, or perhaps they would become foxes. It would be up to them.
A presence to the West drew Shiori's attention away from the foxes and mice in the bath house and she leapt across the rooftops of the city, arriving at the top of the wall between the city and the forest. A white fox with a tuft of black fur on its chest sat on the wall waiting for her and nodded as Shiori landed atop the wall.
"Wind Blown Messenger Heralding the End greets She Who Paints the Sky Black," the white fox said, nodding her head at Shiori. The world seemed to still, as if Merinthia itself held its breath.
"She Who Paints the Sky Black greets Wind Blown Messenger Heralding the End," Shiori said, completing the old greeting, as everything began to move again.
"So, you're back Shiori," a beautiful woman with silver hair and white robes said, lounging where the fox had been sitting on the crenelations of the wall, nine fox tails lazily swaying behind her. A pair of fox ears twitched in amusement as the woman smiled at Shiori.
"As are you, Inari," another beautiful woman appeared in Shiori's place, her hair black and robes black as night. A pair of cat ears on her head twitched as the woman watched the kitsune's tails swish. Gracefully, Shiori hopped up to sit on the crenelations of the wall, her legs casually hanging over the edge as she stared out at the forest, a single ear turned to face the kitsune next to her.
"How could I not return as soon I felt your presence again after so long?" Inari flexed her will, summoning a clay bottle and two small cups. Pouring a measure of clear liquor into each, she deftly floated a cup over to Shiori, who snatched it out of the air with her hand and downed it in a single motion before holding her cup out for more. Refilling Shiori's cup, Inari slowly sipped her rice wine, savoring the smooth sweetness and harsh burn of strong alcohol.
Wordlessly, Shiori summoned two bowls of soup and floated one over to Inari, steam curling up from the thick broth. Grasping the bowl in one hand, Shiori took a large gulp of the steaming broth, savoring the complex flavors of meat and various herbs. The kitsune set her bottle and cup down in the air and took the bowl in both her hands, inhaling the aroma before copying Shiori and taking a long drink of the soup.
No one stopped to acknowledge or confront the two as they relaxed companionably upon the city's fortifications, sharing food and drink in silence as the guards upon the wall patrolled, their eyes trained on the forest for signs of danger. The city gate slammed shut as darkness fell, sealing the city for the night. Across the wall, glow stones activated, illuminating the surrounding area as the guards changed shifts, the night watch taking up their duty of watching for danger.
As the sun set, Shiori broke the silence as she raised her glass again, signaling for another refill. "Your wine making skills have improved," she said as Inari poured her another drink.
"I found a new species of rice that makes an especially delicious wine," the kitsune said as she took another gulp of Shiori's soup, chewing a piece of meat. "Your soup making skills are wonderful as always, though your choice of ingredients remains questionable."
"There's nothing questionable about my ingredients, it's just an acquired taste."
"The poor things would disagree with you on that."
"If the uppity lizards don't want to be soup, they shouldn't break the rules," Shiori said with a vicious smile.
"Fair, they have been pushing it lately," Inari said, finishing another bowl of Shiori's soup. "Still, dragon meat has never been the most appetizing."
"That's the taste of bitter defeat," Shiori said, emptying her wine cup again. "They still haven't given up their grudge."
"What did this one do?" Inari said, gesturing to her empty bowl as she willed the wine bottle to refill Shiori's cup.
"Crowned himself the 'Forest King' and tried to take control of the Core."
"To the victor goes the spoils," Inari said, raising her cup in a toast.
Mirroring Inari, Shiori toasted and drained her cup again before leaning back to stare at the night sky.
The refreshments vanished as Inari joined Shiori in leaning back, her eyes glued to the side of Shiori's face as the other woman watched the stars.
"So, you've taken in a new kitten," Inari said, her tails flicking as she watched Shiori's face for any emotion.
Shiori was a blank slate, giving away nothing. "I have," she confirmed with a slight nod.
"I've taken in a kit of my own," Inari said with a smile, savoring the small victory as Shiori turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"You? Raise a kit? That poor cub."
"Yup, but the kit needed help. Lost her family to an uppity dragon."
Shiori's eyes narrowed at the mention of a dragon. "Oh? Where's this dragon? I could use more soup ingredients," she said with a fang filled smile.
"How do you think I fertilize my rice field?" Inari returned Shiori's vicious smile with one of her own before letting out a full-throated laugh as Shiori joined in. After a minute, the laughter died down to snickers as Inari wiped a tear from her eye, then made a serious face at Shiori. "As fun as catching up has been, we have some business to attend to. Can you spare a few days?" Inari said, transforming back into a white fox.
Shiori cast her aura perception back to Jun, watching as she talked with her new friends. "I can spare a few days, what's going on?" Shiori said, returning to her true form and flicking her tail.
"There's been another incursion."
"Lead the way."