"Yes," she said simply, meeting my eyes. "Why?"
"Because I am keen to learn it. But I can't infuse without freezing my wires solid. My natural mana is ice. I can't project my other elements more than a few meters." Frustration bubbled up inside me, causing my words to come out harsher than I intended.
Kayda tilted her head thoughtfully. "Your sister struggles too. But with lava."
"I see..." I muttered, though my mind was already spinning elsewhere. Always elsewhere. "I'll cut this short. There's something I need to check."
"Tomorrow, then," she said, unbothered, her patience a strange comfort I didn't deserve.
"Thanks. But-at least give me your contact info." I pulled out my scroll.
She handed hers over without hesitation. "I apologize for leaving so soon after we reunited."
"It's fine," Kayda said, then pressed a small metal sphere into my palm. Her hand lingered, warm against my skin. "For mana control practice."
Her warmth clung even as she pulled back. Without thinking, I smirked, patting her head. "Still shorter than me." I ruffled her hair lightly, more intimate than I intended.
Her eyes flashed with indignation. Before she could retaliate, I darted away, her faint growl chasing after me. And beneath my own smirk, a question echoed: Why does it feel so easy to breathe around her when it shouldn't?
[20 minutes later]
The new barracks loomed before me, wood beams still smelling of fresh-cut lumber, plaster not yet dulled by time. My chest tightened with unease. "Why... why am I worried about her?" I muttered under my breath, the words hollow as I stepped inside.
The room smelled of wood and faint oil. Ten beds lined the walls, five on each side. There was a kitchen in the back, with a small bath tucked behind it. Too quiet.
Two beds were empty-Sirone and Brenda weren't back yet. But curled up on the opposite side, Apricot whimpered in her sleep.
"It was good I came," I whispered, moving closer, boots silent on the floor. Her cries grew clearer, small broken sounds escaping her throat, her body trembling under the thin blanket. Even in her dreams, her face twisted in pain.
How do you even comfort someone like this? My mind scrambled. Don't touch. No touch. Be there. Don't be there. A memory surfaced-a film, a mother's hand brushing her son's hair. Simple. Gentle. Something I'd never had.
I sat on the edge of the bed, hesitating before laying my hand on her head. Heat burned my palm. "You're burning up, doggie... sick already?" I murmured, half to her, half to myself.
Her arms flinched, reaching blindly. I dodged at first-instinct. Always instinct. Then froze. She just wants a hug.
I glanced at the counter-a towel lay folded neatly. I meant to grab it to keep the distance. But before I moved, Apricot's arms locked around me. She dragged me into the bed, surprising strength born of desperation.
"Hey-what are you-" My protest was cut off as she buried her face in my chest. Her grip was iron, shaking but immovable. I sighed, the sound heavy and resigned. Damn it... I can't use ice. Can't wake her either.
Struggling was useless. Her breathing evened out against me, her body trembling less with each exhale. I stilled, listening to the fragile rhythm. I felt the heat of her cheek seeping through my shirt, causing my face to burn. My throat tightened, caught between comfort and shame.
"I muttered, teeth gritted and voice low, 'Dammit... that place is for my wife one day, you damn dog.'" Yet my hand hovered, betraying me, brushing her hair back gently as she slept, the way I wished someone had done for me long ago.
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Chapter 59:
Waking up to the sound of footsteps crunching over grass and fallen leaves, I sighed inwardly. I didn't bother to shift from where I was sprawled, back against the base of the tree. The air inside the training grounds still carried the chill of dawn, a damp coolness that clung to skin and fur alike. The bark at my back was cold, rough enough to dig faintly against my shoulder blades, but I had grown used to that long ago. Nights spent outside had long since hardened me to small discomforts.
The footsteps came closer, cautious but determined. I flicked an ear lazily in that direction. Whoever it was, they were still learning how to move quietly.
"Are you sure the fox won't do anything to us?" Brenda's voice, sharp with unease, broke the quiet. Her tone was always edged, like she was waiting for betrayal.
"Yeah, don't worry," Apricot answered quickly, her tone far too chipper for the circumstances early in the morning. The girl's optimism grated sometimes, but it was also... strange. Warning. Her steps quickened, pattering like rain on grass, and then she broke into a run. Before I could move, a shadow leapt toward me.
"Wha-"
Apricot landed on me with all the grace of a sack of flour, sending a dull thump through my ribs and forcing a grunt from my throat.
"Apricot, what are you doing jumping on her!?" Sirone's voice rose in alarm behind her.
I blinked at the ridiculous girl now sprawled across my chest, her cheek pressed against fur I hadn't even brushed after sleeping outside. "Seriously? One day. It's only been one day and you're already this bold!" I barked at her, eyes wide.
Apricot buried her face deeper into my thick fur, utterly unfazed. "But come on, Kitsu, you're so fluffy..." she mumbled, her voice muffled but brimming with delight.
The nickname made my ear twitch. The way it rolled from her mouth dragged my memory back to yesterday morning-the memory I least wanted to replay.
[Yesterday-Crazy Headed Barracks]
Apricot had clung to me then too, arms wound tight as though she feared I would vanish if she let go. Her face pressed against me while she slept peacefully, ignorant of the mortification flooding me. I'd tried to shove her off at first, but the girl had a death grip, murmuring faint nonsense until she drifted deeper into slumber.
I fiddled with the smooth, pale-blue sphere Kayda had given me. Supposedly a tool for mana control. At the time, I thought I understood mana, but the way this orb rejected nearly everything I poured into it proved otherwise. I pushed, forced, and even coaxed, but only a thread-less than one percent-passed through.
'Damn, I suck at this,' I thought bitterly. At this rate, Rachel's treatment is going to be delayed. And here I am, pinned down by a puppy that refuses to let go...'
I looked down at Apricot, who was murmuring softly in her sleep, with her fingers twitching as though she were chasing something in a dream. Against my better judgment, a strange warmth stirred in my chest. I told myself it was nothing. Just squad loyalty. Just responsibility.
I guess it's fine. My squad comes first... She's one of them now. That's all it is.'
The thought made me smile-an absent smile I hadn't felt in years, one I'd seen on worn-out parents watching their children sleep. That smile no longer felt like it belonged to someone like me.
An hour and a half later, after more stubborn attempts, I finally managed to push over ten percent of my mana through the orb.
"Finally!" I exclaimed loudly and carelessly. "Double digits! Haah-"
The sound stirred Apricot. She shifted, arms tightening briefly before she blinked herself awake.
My heart stopped. "Shit," I muttered under my breath.
Her bleary eyes met mine, confusion giving way to surprise. "Mmm... Kitsu? What are you doing here?"
I coughed, trying to keep my voice calm. "Well, little doggie, I came to check if the dumbos were back. Instead, I found you twisting in a nightmare. Being the kind person I am, I decided to comfort you-until you dragged me into bed."
Her cheeks burned crimson as she realized her position. "Wha-Wha-I'm sorry, commander!" She scrambled back so fast she nearly tripped, her hair a mess, eyes wide.
"Don't worry too much about it." I rose to stretch, brushing dirt off my clothes. "We'll talk later. Your two bimbos are on their way anyway."
But her eyes, wide and nervous, followed me. Then, without warning, she knelt stiffly on the floor in full seiza, bowing her head.
"I understand. You may punish me as you want."
"What?" I blinked at her. "Get up. I'm not going to punish you. Ever."
Still, a mischievous thought tugged at me. I smirked, shifting into my fox form, tails swaying lazily. "Or... will I?" I let my voice drop, low and menacing.
Her head snapped up, eyes wide. "Who are you!?" she shouted.
"Oi! No shouting," I snapped, my tail swiping her head with a dull thump.
Her shock melted into disbelief. "That's... you, Kitsuna?"
"Yes," I said simply, eyeing the door. "I am a fox. But don't tell them, okay? For now, say I'm Kitsuna's pet fox, Nova. I came to check on you guys."
"I understand!" Her eyes sparkled, fixated on my tails now, like some child spotting candy.
The door handle rattled. I slipped past her. "See you tomorrow."
The door swung open to reveal Brenda and Sirone.
"Aah! The fox is in our barracks!" Brenda yelped, dragging Sirone behind her like I was a rabid beast.
I ignored them and padded past, tail flicking dismissively.
[Present-Under the Tree]
I shook myself out of the memory, narrowing my eyes at Apricot as she burrowed deeper into my fur. Why was I so open with her? Is it because of what she's been through? Or... am I falling-no. That's not it.' I shoved the thought away. I'll think about it later. Kayda... I know why I'm open with her, but two days? Even that feels far-fetched.'
I sighed, annoyed by my spiraling thoughts. Then I leaned close to Apricot, lips curling into a grin. "Haha, you guys are going to suffer today."
With a flick of my hand, ice rippled across the ground, forming a dome that sealed us beneath its crystalline surface. Light filtered through faintly, tinting the air in shades of pale blue.
The others froze, mouths hanging open.
"You two," I said dryly, "are going to catch flies like that."
"It can talk!?" Brenda and Sirone shrieked in unison.
I ground my teeth. "Oi! What was that!?"
Standing, I shook Apricot from my lap. She landed with a small yelp as I shifted smoothly back into human form.
"Young Miss!?" Both shouted again, equally shocked.
"Didn't I tell you yesterday not to scream like that?" I said this while walking toward them, with my steps echoing in the ice chamber.
"Actually... you didn't," Apricot piped up, brushing leaves from her hair.
I paused, then shrugged. "Didn't? Oh well. Remember it for the future. My ears are sensitive." I tapped one of my fox ears, making it twitch. Then, reaching into storage, I pulled out three sets of mana-dampening restrainers.
"Put these on. Training starts now."
Brenda frowned, suspicion sharp in her eyes. "I wanted to ask this yesterday-how are you supposed to train us when you're inexperienced yourself?"
"Restrainers. Now." My tone cut her off like a blade.
"Fine." She slipped them on reluctantly, muttering curses under her breath.
"You're right, Brenda," I admitted, arms folding loosely. "I am inexperienced. But when did I ever say I'd teach you anything? I told Sirone and Apricot I'd help them learn. For you, there's nothing I can teach. Not directly."
Brenda considered that, lips pursed. "True. You never said you'd teach me something specific. So why am I here? Teamwork?"
"In a way." I smiled faintly, then blurred forward with Flash Step. My foot slammed into her side before she could blink. "But the main point is..." She hit the dirt with a grunt, breath leaving her lungs. "...to boost your base stats."
"Big sis!" Sirone cried, rushing toward her.
I appeared in front of her in a blink, chopping her lightly on the head. "Don't get distracted so easily."
Movement pricked at my senses. I twisted away as three humanoid puppets slashed at me with swords.
"You should watch out for friendly fire, Apricot."
"I know," she answered, smirking as more puppets materialized at her side, threads of mana visible around her fingers.
I glanced back-Sirone had already been snatched away by a fourth puppet. "Ooh. You used your fourth puppet to pull her back. Not bad."
Apricot tilted her head, smug. "Five seconds. It took you five seconds to realize that."
"Tsk." I clicked my tongue. "First time fighting a puppeteer. Don't get cocky."
Brenda groaned from the ground, clutching her side. "I could see you coming... but my body couldn't react."
"Those are the restrainers." I eyed her coolly. "They strip everything away except your mana pool."
"Damn..." Brenda muttered. "So this is what being at base feels like."
Sirone fussed over her with healing magic, far more dramatically than necessary.
"Oi, Sirone, don't waste mana like that. You will use bows until I can provide you with a gun." I tossed her a temporary weapon.
"Yes, ma'am!" she said stiffly.
"Kitsune," I corrected sharply.
"My bad, Kitsuna!"
"Good." My gaze slid to Brenda. "Your katana's length?"
"One hundred and eighty-six centimeters. One centimeter thick. Forty-two wide."
I winced. "Length is fine. The rest is garbage." With a flick, I conjured a thinner blade, three millimeters thick, three centimeters wide, and the same length. I held it loosely. "This will be my weapon. No tricks, no other tools. Just an odachi. If you can push me beyond this, then maybe you'll earn my respect."
Brenda squinted. "I can't tell whether you're arrogant or not."
"Neither. I'm showing you levels mean nothing. If your base is strong, you surpass anyone." My smile grew sharper. I pointed the odachi at them. "Come. Try to force me to use more than this."
"Now that is arrogance," Brenda snapped, charging.
"Apricot," I added lightly as our blades clashed, "there are about a hundred puppets behind you with two weapons each."
Her head whipped back in shock.
Sirone gasped, staring. "When did you-"
"Don't get distracted," I warned coldly, shoving Brenda back toward her.
The battle erupted in chaos. Puppets swarmed, Brenda swung wildly, and Sirone's arrows clattered harmlessly. I cut through metal with lazy sweeps, my movements precise but almost bored.
Apricot's brow furrowed as she poured mana into her creations, their frames thickening under reinforcement.
"Better," I acknowledged, cleaving one in half regardless. "But still brittle."
Arrows whistled-finally one came close. I glanced at Sirone. "Not bad. You missed sixty-four times out of ninety-seven shots, but at least you are still firing."
"Please stop talking like that!" Sirone cried, voice trembling with frustration.
"Why not? You need to be hardened. Reincarnations will be far worse than me-full of arrogance. If you can't stomach me, you won't last."
