Now at eight years old, Nyx was beginning to grow more and more independent. She had reached the point where she didn’t want help from Len and the other Aetherlings anymore—not that she received a lot of help from them recently, but they still aided her with little things from time to time.

“Len, I can bathe by myself,” she huffed, crossing her arms as she stood beside the deep waterfall pool in Drac’s cave.

Len raised an eyebrow, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “You’re too small to reach the edge, Nyx. I can’t have you drowning because you want to do things alone.”

“I won’t drown! I’m strong now,” she puffed her chest out in defiance. “And I can get my own food, too!”

Nabi fluttered nearby and chuckled softly. “No one’s stopping you from growing up, Nyx, but we like helping you, you know. It’s our job.”

Nyx glared playfully at them all, determined to do things on her own. “I don’t need any help anymore! I’ll hunt and gather, and… and… I’ll go to the dungeons by myself too!”

Despite her protests, they couldn’t help but find her attempts at independence endearing.

Ryu patted her on the head gently, his voice teasing. “Alright, alright, Miss Independent. We’ll let you do as you please, but we’ll be close by. Just in case.”

Nyx rolled her eyes, a small grin forming on her lips. She appreciated their care even if she wouldn’t admit it.

As the days passed, Nyx took her independence to heart. She no longer relied on the Aetherlings for food or help in her daily tasks. She ventured into more dungeons by herself, gaining treasures and experiences with each successful raid.

One day, after a particularly fruitful dungeon raid, Nyx approached the Nine-Tailed Fox, who lounged lazily near his usual spot.

“I have something for you,” she said, her tone a little shy.

The Fox raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “For me?”

Nyx pulled out a delicate necklace she’d received from the dungeon—a silver chain with a small, radiant stone embedded in the center. “I thought… you might like it.”

The Fox looked at the necklace, clearly surprised. He hadn’t expected a gift from her. With a grin, he accepted it. “Thank you, little one. I must say, I’m touched.”

“Don’t think too much of it,” Nyx said quickly, her face reddening. “I just figured… well, it’s nice to give things sometimes.”

The Fox chuckled. “You’re becoming quite the thoughtful one.”

But despite her growing independence, the one thing Nyx looked forward to the most was the chance to finally leave the forest. The thought of venturing out into the wider world excited her beyond measure.

She stared at the horizon one evening, her thoughts drifting. “I wonder what the outside world is like,” she murmured to herself.

Drac’s deep voice echoed from behind her. “You’ll find out soon enough, little one. But don’t rush it. The world outside is far more dangerous than the dungeons here.”

Nyx nodded, her excitement tempered but not diminished. “I’ll be ready, Drac. I want to see everything.”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Drac watched her, his gaze softening. “Just make sure you’ve learned everything you need to. That’s more important than any treasure you could find.”

Nyx nodded again, determination blazing in her silver eyes. She couldn’t wait to leave the forest—but when she did, she knew she would be prepared for whatever awaited her.

Anubis Blessing- ??

EXP- 500EXP

MP- ?

*******************************************

One Month Later

Nyx wasn’t going to a dungeon today. Instead, she was heading to Peacock’s territory, eagerly awaiting his return from outside the forest. She couldn’t wait to hear all the stories of what he saw during his trip.

After finishing her morning routine, she put on Airy, Rion, Ori, her Starweaver, and the necklace Peacock had given her. She told Drac where she’d be going.

“Be careful out there,” Drac’s voice rumbled with concern.

“I will, don’t worry,” she said, grinning up at him. “Where are you going?”

Drac hesitated for a moment. “I’ve got a matter to attend to as well. Don’t be too long.”

Nyx raised an eyebrow—Drac rarely left his cave. It was a bit odd, but she was too excited to question it. “Alright, you too. Be safe.”

With a nod, Drac took off into the skies, and Nyx started her journey toward Peacock’s territory. Along the way, she passed by the Fox, who was lounging near his usual spot by the boulder.

“Hungry again?” Nyx asked teasingly, tossing him some fruit she had packed for him.

“You know me too well,” the Fox said, catching the fruit with his paw. “Thank you.”

“Just don’t eat everything,” Nyx said, half-serious, half-joking.

The Fox chuckled as she continued on her way. After a pleasant walk, passing small critters darting through the underbrush, she reached Peacock’s domain.

As expected, he wasn’t there yet, but he had told her to wait for him. Nyx, being early as usual, decided to entertain herself by looking through some of the trinkets he always left out for her to explore.

She fiddled with a strange, intricate device, trying to figure out how it worked. She was so absorbed in it that she eventually fell asleep on a seater, the device resting on her lap.

When Nyx woke up, Peacock was standing nearby, watching her with an amused smile. “Had a good nap?” he asked, his voice light and teasing.

Nyx rubbed her eyes and stretched. “It was fine. How was your trip? I want to hear everything!”

Peacock chuckled at her enthusiasm. “All in good time, love. But first, I brought you something.”

Nyx’s eyes lit up as Peacock handed her a pink box with a delicate white bow. “Go on, open it,” he encouraged, clearly enjoying her anticipation.

Nyx carefully undid the bow and opened the box, gasping in delight. Inside was a pair of stunning silver boots.

“These are Featherlight Boots,” Peacock explained, watching her reaction with satisfaction. “They’ll make you faster and more agile. And, of course, they match your Starweaver.”

Nyx stared at the boots, enchanted. They shimmered softly in the light, with delicate peacock feather motifs along the sides. “They’re beautiful,” she whispered.

Peacock kneeled in front of her and gently took off her old boots, replacing them with the new ones. “Stand up,” he said, taking her hands and helping her to her feet. “Let’s see how they fit.”

Nyx spun around, feeling lighter than ever.

“You look like a magical princess!” Peacock whispered to her.

Nyx beamed. “What’s a magical princess?” she asked, curious.

“A magical princess is like a regular princess,” Peacock began, his voice warm, “but with special powers and a deep connection to magic. She can use spells, talk to magical creatures, and protect her kingdom using her abilities. She’s brave, kind, and often has a magical item, like a wand or enchanted shoes, that helps her. A magical princess isn’t just about her power—she also uses her magic to help others, protect her friends, and make her world a better, more enchanted place.”

Peacock smiled, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear. “ Every princess needs a crown, and while we work on that, these boots will do for now.”

Nyx blushed, looking down at her boots. “I guess I am a magical princess,” she said softly.

Peacock chuckled, gently patting her head. “Of course you are. And now, I’ll tell you about my trip, as promised.”

Nyx perked up instantly. “Yes, please! What did you do? Where did you go?”

“Well,” Peacock started, guiding her to sit down, “I went to a grand ball. We had drinks, danced to beautiful music, and spent the night in elegant conversation.”

“What’s a ball?” Nyx asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

“It’s like a big party, but grander. There’s music, dancing, and everyone is dressed in their finest,” he explained with a soft smile.

Nyx’s excitement grew. “What kind of dancing? What kind of music?”

Peacock stood, holding out his hand. “I’ll show you.”

He led her to the center of the room, where there was plenty of space. Taking her hand in one of his, and placing the other gently on her waist, he began to guide her through the steps.

“Step forward with your right foot when I step back,” he said, leading her gently. “Now, the other foot.”

Nyx followed, giggling as they moved together, side to side. Peacock twirled her around, lifting her off the ground as she laughed, her boots sparkling in the light. He hummed a soft melody as they danced, and for that moment, Nyx felt like she was truly in another world.

Afterward, they sat down to enjoy the snacks Peacock had brought for her, chatting about everything he had seen outside the forest. Nyx listened intently, her eyes gleaming with wonder as Peacock described the vast cities, the strange foods, and the endless sky beyond the trees she had known all her life.