When she returned to the School of Good Books, Grimhai greeted her enthusiastically—but when she asked him about her graduation, his smile faded a little.

“Ah, yes,” he went, pulling out what looked to be a letter. “Arrangements have been made, but I am afraid that your graduation cannot be held here at the school. It seems that you have several very—unusual—friends.”

“Then...?” Guin inquired.

Grimhai stood and directed her to the door. “Walk with me.”

Following Grimhai out of the school, her heart soared. It must be the spirits! She thought in her excitement, a thought that grew stronger as they entered the forest and headed toward the crossroads where she had first met Wise.

As if by magic, Jormund, the spirit of Melora, Dawl, and Alta Noin were already standing, waiting for her, even though it had only been a short time since she had left most of them with the Dragon King.

“Master Hunter, what is that look on your face?” Grimhai asked. While Jormund and Melora were standing together, smiling at Guin, Dawl was looking at the two of them as if he had seen a ghost. Which, Guin supposed, he was—though Grimhai probably didn’t know.

At Grimhai’s question, Dawl looked between everyone and answered, “N-No reason...”

“Mr. Dawl,” Guin ginned, guessing what gift the Dragon King had bestowed upon him. “How many people are standing here?”

“People...” said Dawl in a weak, uncertain voice.

“Jormund has told me all about it!” Mrs. Noin exclaimed happily. “Melora is here with us now! I bet you can see—isn’t she lovely! If only Rew were still here! He would be so happy!”

With a pale face, Dawl took his grandmother’s arm and patted her hand. Looking at Guin, he said, “The world is... an interesting place. It seems I have more to learn than I thought.”

“Interesting indeed,” Grimhai agreed, unfazed by the revelation. “And it’s about to be even more so! There should be three more meetings here...”

Liorax appeared and floated in Guin’s face. “I have something to offer my Che-child pet. That isn’t against the rules, is it?”

Grimhai shrugged. “I see no reason for it to be.”

“Liorax...” Guin said, affectionately patting him on the head. She hadn’t even thought of him as a possibility. “Wait,” she went, turning to Grimhai. “Teacher, you can hear him?”

“I am a key instructor,” Grimhai told her. “I have access to everything I need to guide you properly.”

While Guin mocked herself for not thinking about that before, a soft, feminine voice came into her head. “My webs have shown me that I am to offer the child a boon,” the voice of the Webspinner said. Guin couldn’t see her anywhere, but it made her happy to know that she would send her off.

“Very well,” Grimhai said. “And the last?”

“Would be me, I suppose,” came a new voice.

Guin spun around, jumping back when she turned to see a horse-sized fox with cream-colored fur, nine tails flickering at its back like seaweed in the tide. The eyes that stared into Guin’s were a soft, cherry-blossom pink, filled with brilliance and wisdom. The large fox began to circle Guin as she grabbed Liorax from the air and hugged him tight.

“Tethaigou has told me of you, fox-child,” he said in a threatening voice. “He told me of how you aided Reili and her kit. For that, my thanks be given, but now that I see you, I see that there were... other motivations. You are not just any fox child. You are one of my blood. How rare.”

“W-Who...?” Guin tried to ask, though she was pretty confident that she already knew the answer.

The fox raised its beautifully shaped head proudly. “I am Amikavi,” she said. “Reili’s child was the kit of my kit Gomi—as are you, if my nose is trustworthy, and it is. Reili’s trust in you was not so blind, it seems.”

“G-Gomi!” Guin exclaimed, blinking. “Wait. Then. Tik-Tak and I are—We’re...” Looking down, she fought her tears. What is wrong with this stupid game? Not to mention Gomi being a part of her character’s story! He was the one who had given it to her!

“I hate to interrupt,” Grimhai said, clearing his throat. “It is such an honor, Lady Amikavi, but it is time to let Guin graduate.

“Very well, teacher,” Amikavi sat on her haunches. “I shall be here to represent Reili, Tik-Tak, Gomi, and Tethaigou. Be honored.”

The eight of them gathered around her. Jormund and Melora, Dawl and Alta Noin, Grimhai with Liorax on his shoulder, Amikavi, and—Guin assumed—the Webspinner.

Stepping forward, Grimhai said: “Guin Grey. Student. Candidate. I, Grimhai Kidalmar, pronounce you as a graduate of the School of Good Books and the tutorial of TheirWorld!” Guin bowed as the others applauded at his words. “Before you now stand eight masters and friends who will help prepare you for the journey ahead. Each, in turn, will offer their boons to you, and then, we shall send you to the Second Fate!”

Grimhai came up to her first and handed her a large pouch. “This pouch will double your inventory size. It isn’t much, but it should help you on your journey. Fare thee well, Miss Guin.”

Next came Jormund and Melora. Jormund pat her on the head. “Truly, there is nothing I can give you that will ever pay you back for what you have given me. You have given to me my life, my love, and my family,” he told her, then lifted his spear. “I never was a fighter,” he chuckled. “For all the warnings I have given you, you have proven that you have spirit—more than I ever had. Perhaps this spear will serve you better than it ever served me.”

Accepting it, Guin reached up and hugged him.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Melora laughed beside him. “Candidate!” She said, leaning forward and kissing one of Guin’s cheeks. She took out two books and said, “These are for you. One is a history of the Compasses. The other shall give you a great stat bonus. Thank you for saving this forest.”

Guin thanked them both again, and they stepped back to their places. Dawl stepped forward then with Mrs. Noin...

The Master Hunter mussed Guin’s hair as she huggled little Alta Noin tightly. “You are a good girl,” Mrs. Noin told her as they pulled apart. “As dear to me as any. There is a part of me that wishes you wouldn’t go, but I know you must. You have your own adventure to come! Here, I’ve made something for you,” The old grandmother handed her a small bag. “Some bread, and cheese, and cookies. Make sure you eat them! Keep your strength up! Also,” Mrs. Noin slipped a necklace from around her neck and handed it to Guin. It was a piece of blue jade carved into a tree. Guin took it gingerly and looked at Mrs. Noin with tear-filled eyes. “Rew gave this to me not long before he proposed. It carries all of our hopes and wishes for your safety! Make this old woman happy and wear it well!”

Guin gave up on trying not to cry and equipped the necklace. Alta Noin gave her another tear-filled hug and kissed her on the cheek.

Dawl rubbed his grandmother’s back and said, “It looks good on you!”

Guin looked up at him but gaped in shock. “Your eyes!” she exclaimed as she saw that his eyes were completely different than they had been. They were no longer the dark green they were before. Now, they were a bright, icy blue.

“Ah, yeah,” Dawl scratched the back of his head. “I’ve been told they are different—haven’t had much of a chance to figure things out yet,” he said and pulled out a bag. “This isn’t much, just some leather armor and tools. I figured you might find them useful. You’ve done well—for a kid!” Guin hit him in the stomach, causing him to chuckle.

“If you are finished, move,” growled Liorax, climbing onto Dawl’s head. Dawl looked up at the cat with great uncertainty but said nothing. As he helped little Alta Noin go back into line, Liorax hopped off his head and floated before Guin with wide eyes. “You,” he started. “You belong to me anyway, so I will make this short,” he told her. His eyes glowed, and in the air appeared a... large black cat pelt?”

“What is this for?” Guin asked, taking it. “Please, don’t tell me...”

“The foxes left theirs for you, so I thought you could add mine to your morbid little collection,” Liorax mused. “I mean, you get to keep me anyway.”

“Gee,” went Guin, not altogether happy as she plucked it from the air. “Thanks.”

Amikavi came up and snorted in Liorax’s face. “Don’t waste time,” she said. “Daughter of Gomi, so afflicted with Che blood, as you are, you are weak. My gift to you shall also be the gift of Reili and her kit. Pass your cloak to me that it may receive my blessing.” Frowning, Guin took her cloak off and held it out to her. The great fox opened her mouth wide and chomped right down on it.

“What the—!” Guin shouted, tugging to get it back.

Snarling, the Amikavi tore it out of Guin’s hands, and smoke began to rise from her paws as they began to glow like embers. Guin fell back, the combination of the fox’s nine tails swirling around with the smoke snakes obscuring her vision. When the smoke dissipated, the great fox spirit spits the coak out onto the ground without any ceremony at all. Somewhat hurt by the treatment of her friend’s skin, Guin scrambled to pick it up.

“Yes, take it,” Amikavi told her. Irritated, Guin glared at her, but she was quite unimpressed. “Go on,” she said.

Guin looked at the cloak. Though she couldn’t approve of how Amikavi treated the pelts, it seemed she hadn’t hurt them. In fact, she had identified it.

<<[ Guise of the Untailed ]>>

<< Bound - Armor - Robe - Rank -- >>

<< Armor +2 >>

<< It appears to be a cloak made of two fox furs. Gives the wearer the ability [True Form].

This item can be upgraded.

This item activates a quest. (Level 10) >>

<< Required Level: -- - Rarity: -- - Class Requirements: -- >>

<>

<<[True Form]>>

<>

<>

<< You take the form of your sires. Can only be used with a proper catalyst. >>

<< Catalyst Requirement: Unknown >>

<< Your senses and abilities are heightened according to your blood. >>

<< Cast Time: -- seconds - Duration: -- Seconds - Cooldown: -- Second >>

“What...?” Guin started as a boatload of questions rose into her mind, but Amikavi just stared down at her haughty.

“Come to me when you are... not quite so... hopeless,” the fox said, flicking her tails. “I shall teach you about what you can be. Farewell, child of Gomi.”

“Ah-But-What-This is—!” Guin tried to shape her flurry of questions into something intelligible but failed as the fox dissipated into a wisp of pink flame. “...Huh.” Looking at the cloak, it seemed unchanged, so she re-equipped it. An upgradable item? An ability that requires a catalyst? A quest? What is all this? She wondered, her shock quickly turned into excitement.

“Candidate?” came the voice of the webspinner. She would be the last of the eight, Guin remembered. “Candidate, if I may—you have come far. If, however, my webs speak true, then you must know: this is only the beginning. Friends will come. Friends will go. You will meet many who pretend to be things they are not; what you do with them, that choice falls to you,” her soft voice told her. “Remember that memories from the past can influence your choices for good—and for ill. The choices you make are yours, but this does not mean you must make them alone. You have your own strength, but be not afraid to borrow the strength of others. This is my boon to you, Candidate: These words and the weavings of past and future. Believe in yourself and dare to believe in others. The answers that you seek are there, within you.”

Guin furrowed her brow. “What answers? What weavings?”

“Everything as its time,” the Webspinner told her. “The web of fate is woven, and it is time for you to go on and meet the Second of the Fates. Say now, your farewells.”

“But, I have questions...” Guin started, but Grimhai came up to her.

“Your questions will be answered in time,” the earar teacher told her. “This is only the beginning of your journey. I am quite confident that you will find you will make your own story out there, just as you have here,” Grimhai pat her on the shoulder and went back with everyone else.

Sighing, Guin looked up at all her friends’ smiling faces, as tearstained as her own. Bowing deeply, she said, “Thank you! So very, very much!”

“Be well, darling child,” Alta Noin, told her, waving. “Remember, we will always be thinking of you! Next time you come, let’s bake sweets again!” Guin nodded enthusiastically.

“Take care of yourself!” Dawl said, with the others nodding.

“I’d tell you to stay out of the woods, but...” Jormund started, and laughed.

While she hit Jormund’s shoulder, Melora gave Guin a sweet smile, “We shall all await your return, Candidate!”

Making her fingers into a frame at eye level, she took a handful of screenshots of them as they waved at her. It may just be a stupid tutorial, but... somehow, these NPCs had come to mean more to her than most real people did.

Her heart sank as the mist began to flood the area, a spring-like breeze brushing against her skin.

“Goodbye!” Guin waved, jumping up and down. “I’ll come back! I promise! Goodbye!”

Then, as she rubbed the tears off her face, she found herself in a world of white.