Hours past, the head of the small Fox-Plushie i'm making is nearly complete, just as i wanted to start working on the body, a knocking sound wakes me up from my concentration.
Just before Uncle Black steps into the room, i hastily hide my little project under the bed-sheet.
Looking at the me who is conspicuously sitting on his bed, Uncle Black asks a question.
"Little One, what are you hiding?" (Uncle Black)
So he knows i'm hiding something, might as well be honest.
"A Suprise, but you'll have to wait, it's not complete." (Arin)
Saying so with pride, he just nods and speaks up afterwards.
"Come outside with me for a moment, i want to test something with you." (Uncle Black)
Beckoning me by pointing his head to the stairs, he starts walking outside. Jumping from my bed, I follow after him quickly.
Outside the House, he seats himself in something like a wooden Garden-chair. Opposite of his was another chair, extra prepared for me. As i take a seat, Uncle Black suddenly askes a Question with a very serious face.
"Arin, have you ever wondered what you are?" (Uncle Black)
I'm confused, what is with this question?
"I am a fomer Human who now also has the inheritage of the Royal fox, i think?" (Arin)
"Have you ever counted your tails?" (Uncle Black)
Surprised at the sudden retort, i awnser immidiatly;
"Of course, i have ten Tail~s... Wait, don't Royal Foxes only have nine..." (Arin)
Reacting to the unnerved me, Uncle black regains his usual smile and starts to speak with me in a softer tone.
"Calm yourself little one, It's true that you have the Inheritage of a Royal Fox, but it seems you evolved into a Sage-Fox, or Mystic-Fox, depending on who you ask." (Uncle Black)
Shocked at the sudden revelation, i'm frozen in place. Undisturbed by my sudden silence, Uncle Black keeps explaining...
"The mystic Fox are said to have originated from another dimension, or even a god. There are many theories of their origin, but the only things we know is that they are the ancestors of the Royal-Fox and that they vanished more than 100 millenia ago. Where they went, no one knows." (Uncle Black)
Hearing this Explenation, i once more freeze. I am even more rare then the Royal Foy of ancient times... what? Beeing unable to process all the info from the shock, Uncle Black just pulls me into a hug and carasses my Head until i calm down a bit.
He then explains to me his future plans and what i should look out for;
"You know, after you appeared inside the Crystal, i informed the Dragon Mountains Guardian, Scyrra Snowfall, of your existance. I'm sure that she will welcome you heartily, but there is a problem. The Fox-Clan elders might try to utilize you for their own greed." (Unce Black)
"What do you mean by that?" (Arin)
Slightly anxious about the words coming from Uncle black, i continue to listen.
"Its the Bloodline. About 20 years ago, i received a letter that a seven tailed Fox was born between two five tailed ones. It was a female and they tried to find a good partner for her in the last twenty years, hopeing to ressurect the bloodline of the Noble Fox. Sadly, until today, there was no good candidate to be her partner, so you appearing would be like placing a meal before starving foxes, literally." (Uncle Black)
Hearing Uncle Black's words, im shocked. Though i can understand that they would like to have powerful decendents, i don't understand the Principal behind it. I know what sex is, it is for reproduction. But Maria said that this is something that should be only enjoyed when one is older and has a partner they truly Love. I may be a fox now, but i still decide myself who i love, and who not!
Seeing my resolute Face, Uncle black seems to understand. He ruffles my hair and speaks calmly;
"You don't have to worry about such idiocys, me and Scyrra will look after you. You should enjoy your Childhood toghether with the other kids, you're way to young to care for something like that, so leave it to us." (Uncle Black)
Uncle Black made this statement with a wide smile. Let's trust him and just keep playing around. Actually, i want to race with others my age, i couldn't do so in the Orphanage...
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As i fall deep into thought of what i want to do, Uncle black suddenly grabs the Orb that was laying beneath his chair since the beginning. I look at the transparent Orb in his hands, the size of my head, curiously as he awnsers my pretty obvious question before i could even ask.
"Fufu, this is a Propertie-Stone. When infusing ones Mana into it, it identifies the elemental affinities one has. I am actually quite curious what your magical properties are. Also, the brighter it shines, the greater your mana pool." (Uncle Black)
Oh, magic? The Thing Uncle black used to dry my hair? Can i actually do that too?
My Exitement suddenly reached a new peak when hearing the word magic. I am Very curious how it works as my infused knowledge doesn't tell me about it.
Seeing my overly exited face, Uncle black puts me down from his lap and seats me into the grass. He instructed me to sit cross legged, which, due to my evolution, goes unexpectedly easy. I should really test once what my Body is capable of. While I am Thinking about my newfound agility, Uncle Black places the orb in my lap. Sadly, i doesn't do anything, do i have to touch it?
"Now, touch the Propertie-Stone and flow some mana into it. If you have problems doing so, try to look for some kind of Energie, hidden deep within your Body. It will feel different, depending on your element, but if you have a clear grasp on it, try to lead it through your arms into the Stone." (Uncle Black)
Listening to his explenation, i close my eyes and try to find this energie inside my body. Somehow, there was something hot and warm, yet at the same time cold and somehow freezing. This substance hiding inside my body was warm and cold at the same time. It felt harmonious and powerful, while at the same time comfortable. As though realising that i was conciouss of it, it suddenly burst open and stormed through my entire body, making me feel kinda fluffy. Right, it felt like a relaxing warm bath while outside in the snow. But even though this power was nonstop sending energie through my Body, there was something underneath it, as though trying to hide. It was Strong and sent out an aura that felt majestic and unbeatable, yet i couldn't touch it. Something inside me told me that i can't reach out to that yet, for whatever reason.
Feeling my own body like that, i didn't realize that Uncle Black started to scream not long ago. Opening my Eyes, i saw the orb in front of me, floating above my hands and Glowing brithly in a beatiful gold and silver color, even overshadowing the artificial sun on the roof.
Somehow, even then, the light didn't feel biting and one could look strait into it. But that wasn't what shocked me, it was Uncle Black who was staring at the orb with Wide open eyes. He had his Mouth wide open and was mumbeling inaudible words to himself. Actually, why do i know the local language? The Fused Memories?
Shaking my head, i look at Uncle Black who already started to sweat heavily. Suddenly he stared at me and exclaimed:
"Little one, how much do you still want to surprise me?!? First you claim my own mana to use which shouldn't be possible, and now you're displaying colors i've never seen before!! Additionally, the orb shines brighter than the sun in this Space!!! Seriously?!?" (Uncle Black)
Uncle Black lost it, it felt as though even his pitch black hair lost some of it's color.
"Crack, Peng!!!"
Not long after, a short explosion occures. The Item that exploded was the Orb that was floating above my hands just before. Looking down, i saw wounds on my hands and arms, even the clothes are partially ripped. Due to the suddenness of the event, i didn't really feel any pain. But as the shock died down, the pain became obvious and i tried to stop the bleeding somehow.
Seeing my wounds, Uncle black regains himself rather quickly. He comes right to my side and tells me to focus my energie towards the wounds. Doing as i was told, the pieces of the stone that managed to enter my body were pushed out and my wounds started to close at a extremely fast rate. It felt like watching a Video in rewind. Shortly after the last wound closed, uncle black took me into his arms.
"I'm sorry that this happened, i didn't mean to hurt you. I was too shocked to react. If only..." (Uncle Black)
Uncle Black starts to blame himself that i got hurt, he seems to tell himself that he should have instructed me better and stayed closer to intervene. But as i can't bear to see him blame himself like that, i just touch his arms that hold me tightly and tell him that i am alright. He seems to regain himself after hearing those words, so i tell him that it was not his fault that i got hurt, also that he did enough to help me by telling me the way to heal myself.
Honestly, i don't know how that power works, but i'm sure he will explain it when the time is right.
It didn't take long for him to completly regain himself, so he then thanked me while loosening his grip on me. I'm happy that he no longer blamed himself, but also because i could finally breath again.
Afterwards he told me that Even People can sense mana to a certain degree, and that it could be dangerous to let it out so freely like i'm doing right now. He then told me how to keep it hidden, which was actually just repressing the mana, thats the energy's name, back into the body using an Image. I imagined the isolated Orb from before, with the mysterious Core / Energie in the middle. It seems that i was successful, but Uncle black said that i still had much to learn.
Later, at dinner, he asked me what kind of weapon i would like to train in. As i didn't understand his question, i just tilted my head. Uncle black sighted, then repeated his question with a bit more detail.
"This world is dangerous as you probably already noticed youself. It is easy to die and Life doesn't mean much. The world you might come from could have been a peaceful one, but this one isn't as friendly. I don't want to force you to kill, but you will have to learn how to defend yourself." (Uncle Black)
Understanding his reasoning, i agree, But i'm reluctant to Kill. But beeing able to defend myself is important, so i'll learn how to use weapons, but which one?
"But what should i choose?" (Arin)
Asking this question, Uncle black just shows a smile and says that we can just test my compability with them all. Luckily, we would do that tomorrow, because after the Magic-Experiment i am really tired. We kept talking about the world and it's inhabitants for a bit longer, but it didn't take long for me to yawn and stretch myself. Using this as a signal, i was moved to bed where i past another comfortable night of sleep.
--- Few Hours before; Alare Empire ---
In a brigthly lit room, a man and a woman were confronting each other. The man wore gaudy clothes, had white, kept back hair and a fat face with slitted eyes that seemed to scream the word greed. He was Minister Slunt, a rather cunning man. He was known as a mercilessly greedy man, that had even control over the current King Arlarn the third. But at the moment he showed his most sincere respect, as the woman across him was actually the Head of the Macigian Guild, Sanera Fanor.
She was a talented magician that was capable of both fire and Light magic. Normally, Humans only have one element, but she was one of the so called blessed Children of Magic. Anyway, she was known as Crimson Rose in Public, both because of her looks and temprament.
Looking at each other, Minister Slunt spoke up first.
"So, is it true? Could it really be possible?" (Minister Slunt)
Awnsering the Hoarse voice of the minister, Sanera started to talk.
"Yes, without a doubt. The Mana reaction i felt was completly pure and overflowing with power. I don't know what or who could release such an amount of Mana, but whatever it is, it could be a curse or a blessing. Because really, if that being is hostile were screwed, but if we could contol it somehow..." (Sanera)
Sanera showed a disgusting smile with a hint of curiosity that made even Minister Slunt back away a bit. But receiving her awnser, Slunt immidiatly reacts and asks another question.
"Do you think you could do something about this? Of course, the materials and Magic Items will be organised by me amd the payment will be half upfront, I can even add a few of "them"." (Minister Slunt)
Hearing the offer of the minister, Sanera's eyes begin to shine. "Them" reffered to the Slave-Collars which were Illegal since at least 300 years ago in this country. Of course she was accepting the proposal, but there was one more thing...
"Of course i accept, but i want to have a chance to play with this creature for a bit okay? It is rare to see such a rare specimen. Also, because the Reaction came from the Abryssal Canyon, i'll need a flying ship." (Sanera)
Hearing her demands, Minister Slunt was taken aback. Leaving the specimen to her for a while would be alright as long as she returns it alive and functional. But a flying ship is extremly costly as they can only be found in ancient ruins, a Technologie long lost.
But the Gains had enourmes Potential. With a bleeding heart he agreed, but she had to leave the usage of said ship to the Imperial Soldiers and Commanders on board.
When Both sides agreed, they both signed a sealing-contract and began preparations.
But that would be the last time that Minister Slunt would see the crazed researcher and magician, as well as his Flying ship.