> I'll be there when the world stops turning
> I'll be there when the storm is through
> In the end I wanna be standing
> At the beginning with you
> -“At the Beginning,” Anastasia
Anand found the king in his study, scowling over a stack of maps sprawled across his desk. Something about the distracted look in Eric’s eyes told the fox angel that the king was not thinking about the war to come, but worrying about Anand’s mistress instead. Sighing inwardly, Anand slipped into the office and nudged the door closed behind him. “Your majesty.” He spoke with a smooth, rich voice, in the polite tones of a perfect nobleman, and his eyes shone with intelligence and compassion. “It is late, and you have a meeting with your advisors first thing in the morning.”
Eric frowned and glanced up, then turned back to his maps. “There is still a great deal of work to be done.”
“And you will accomplish none of it while you are worrying yourself sick about Huli.”
At that, Eric stopped flipping through a book and looked up. He started to protest, then just sighed and lowered herself into the chair behind his desk. “She’s fine. I would be able to tell if she was hurt.”
It wasn’t a question, but Anand nodded anyway. “She is fine. And she will be fine. You have to trust in her abilities.”
“I do! I just...” Eric sighed again and shook his head. “I’m not sure how to handle it. It’s weird enough to fall for a goddess, but someone who puts herself in danger repeatedly… how am I supposed to not worry?”
Anand tilted his head and sat down on his haunches, studying the king. “She wasn’t always a goddess, your majesty.”
Eric’s brows furrowed. “I know that.”
“Indeed,” Anand inclined his head. “But do you know what she was before? Who she was?”
“She was – is – a powerful sorceress. She…” he trailed off, frowning slightly as he considered. He didn’t, he realized, know much about Huli’s past. “Does it really matter?” He asked. “Whoever she was, she is the Everblossom now.”
“Our past always matters,” Anand replied smoothly. “They define that which makes us. The Everblossom is just a title, one which comes with great power, and great responsibility. But her personality, her character, her priorities. They come from her roots.” The fox paused a moment, then asked, “Has it ever occurred to you to wonder, your majesty, who Huli’s parents were? She is the only woman of her kind in Highcrest.”
Eric stared. He had not considered it. Huli was special, of course. But to question where she had come from, how she could be the only of her kind… “No one ever has. Not in my hearing. Everyone just accepts her… unique nature.”
“Indeed,” Anand nodded. “And yet, she is unique. Why? How?” He gave a small smile. “You are the scholar king, your majesty. You may not have wondered before, but you will now.” As Eric remained silent, brows furrowed in thought, Anand dipped his head once more, then turned towards the door.
“Anand.” Eric’s voice stopped him and caused him to look back. “You say our past defines us. What about yours?”
Anand gave a small smile of amusement. “I am, perhaps, the exception to the rule, your majesty. My identity IS my purpose – to serve my goddess.”
Eric frowned slightly, then shook his head. “I doubt that,” he mused, but he turned away, thoughtful as he moved to the wide bookshelf that lined the far wall. Anand’s smile turned to a soft chuckle, then he turned away once more. He slipped out of the study and nudged the door quietly shut behind him, leaving the king alone with his thoughts.
***
That night, Eric dreamed. Actually, it was Huli’s dream, but as she slept, her mind opened and Eric found himself immersed in the goddess’ vision. In the morning, she would not remember it. But the king would remember.
Through Huli’s eyes, Eric stared around at a wide, flat landscape of light so bright that it hurt the eyes. In the far distance, small buildings and jellyfish-like-trees rose up in what appeared to be a small settlement, though it was too far away to pick out any details. The rest of the world was barren, save the brilliant light and an older woman who knelt a few feet away, meditating. With every breath she exhaled, a tiny dragon made entirely of fire and light spiraled into existence then darted off into the sky.
Huli watched the woman for a time, then turned and walked away. Not towards the settlement in the distance, but in the opposite direction. As she walked, she monitored her own breathing, exhaling the light with each breath rather than let it overwhelm her senses. Whatever this place was, Eric could assume that most people would find it instantly deadly. The power that emanated from everywhere wasn’t just light, but energy. Pure, positive energy. Somehow, Huli had learned how to protect herself from the energy, or rather, how to channel it.
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“I think I know why you can do this.”
The woman had fallen into step beside Huli. Through his connection to the goddess, Eric was able to place a name to the woman. Kali. The Serpentcaller.
Huli shot Kali a glance, eyebrows arched. “Channel the light?”
“Yes,” Kali nodded. “When I was dead,” she continued, “they took my blood. They used it to plant into a small group of people, people who could not defend themselves. Over generations, they slowly built up my own blood inside these people… these kitsune.”
Huli stopped suddenly and turned to face Kali, her eyes narrowed. “You are telling me that the legacy of the nine-tailed scions – kitsune heroes who only appear every 9 generations… is just a product of your blood and an ongoing experiment?”
Kali simply nodded. “Yes.”
Huli looked away, brows furrowing. “So, the kitsune… all of us are…”
Kali nodded again. “My children.”
Huli turned and slowly started to walk away, but she didn’t get two steps before turning back, her eyes flashing with temper. “Wait. Khem. This is his doing, isn’t it?”
Kali chuckled. “You are to be his weapon against Necros, and possibly the old gods as well. He would create you and hold your leash.”
“Over my dead body,” Huli growled before growing thoughtful again. “There’s something I don’t understand. If he can see the future with perfect clarity… why didn’t he see Anand?”
Kali’s smile was both gentle and wry. “Anand was impossible. You should have suffered loss. Instead you came away with a great blessing.”
“He’s just a child, though,” Huli shook her head, “Why is he important?”
Reaching out to pull Huli into an embrace, Kali sighed. “Because he proves that you are the master of your own fate. Don’t ever forget that… my daughter.”
***
The view of the palace gardens filled Huli with a great sense of relief as she stepped through the shadow between trees, out of the underground troglodyte city and into the heart of Highcrest. It had been a worrisome fight, and the danger was not yet passed, but she had made it back home, along with most of her team and their prize – Thufkuler, the Demonslayer. At the moment, however, the spear was not the most important thing on Huli’s mind as she turned to face King Eric, as he and his men gathered to welcome the returning adventurers. Eric met Huli’s gaze and in his eyes, she saw what she had been looking for – a spark that matched the immense relief she knew shone in her own eyes. As she stepped forward, he opened his arms and drew her to him in a warm and passionate embrace. The public show of intimacy caused several guards to shift uncomfortably, but Huli no longer cared. All that mattered just then was that she was back in the arms of the man she loved.
It took time to get everyone settled, of course, but eventually, Huli found herself alone with Eric, curled up on the couch in his study with a book on her lap and a glass of wine in her hand. “I sent Anand to meet with Akkenje. We’ll eventually need to help her reclaim her temple, but for now Anand should be able to maintain a positive relationship with her. I’d like to ensure that there will be peace between her people and ours.”
Seated in an armchair nearby, Eric nodded, though mention of Anand had him growing quiet for a time. Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke up. “Huli… would you tell me about your past?”
Surprised, Huli turned to blink up at Eric. “My past?”
Mildly uncomfortable, Eric shrugged. “I really don’t know much about you. About who you were before we met. And I’ve never seen another fox child.”
“Hmm…” Huli grew quiet for a time, then shrugged. “There’s really not much to say. My father was Master Genario.”
“Genario?” Eric perked up. “I know the name. He was a powerful wizard during my father’s rein. But… he was a human. So, who was your mother?”
“I don’t have one.” When Eric frowned, Huli chuckled. “Master Genario wanted a child, and a student who could follow in his footsteps. He created a spell, similar to the one I use to summon my angels. And he created me.”
Eric hesitated. He tried to fit this information into the framework of the dream he still remembered, though he knew Huli had no recollection of the vision. “Then… your people… fox people…”
Huli smiled and shook her head. “I am one of a kind. A creation by a powerful mage who desperately wanted a family.”
Again, Eric paused. “Who… who is Kali?”
Now it was Huli’s turn to be confused, and she blinked. “Who? I’m afraid I don’t know that name.”
Eric opened his mouth to reply, then thought better of it. He studied Huli’s face, then finally shook his head. “No one. It’s nothing.” He managed a smile and leaned forward, reaching for the bottle of wine to refill both of their glasses. “I’m sorry that I never got a chance to meet Master Genario. I’ve heard tell of his research.”
Huli’s smile was warm and reminiscent. “He was a good man. He expected me to study hard, to excel in both the arcane and divine arts, but at the core, he loved me and always put my safety and well-being first.” She paused, studying Eric, then gave a small, timid smile. “You know, I had a crush on you as a child.”
Eric jerked in surprise and he almost spilled the wine from the glass that he had just refilled. “You… what?”
Huli laughed, her eyes dancing. “Oh, come on, your majesty. I doubt there was a girl in the whole city who didn’t fantasize about catching the eye of our cute prince. But most of us grow out of such fantasies when we grow up.”
Leaning forward, Eric arched an eyebrow. “Did you?”
“I thought I did.” Huli was still smiling, amused. “But I guess a girl’s first crush is never completely forgotten.”
Now it was Eric’s turn to chuckle. “Lucky me.”
----------------------------------------
Huli laughed softly, replacing the magical crystal on the cushioned shelf. “I had forgotten about that. One of the few times that you sent me out without our bond. I didn’t know who I was. I couldn’t hear you. And yet, some part of me still remembered.”
Do you miss them? Eric and Anand?
Sobering, Huli sighed. “A little. I’m glad you returned this story to me. A memory that I had misplaced. Perhaps we could…”
Find them again? Yes, we probably could.
Smiling, Huli nodded. That was a story she wouldn’t regret seeing continued.