ã€ŠTales of Ayreã€‹


 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter One

    It was a cool summer¡¯s morning in the middle of January. A crisp twenty-seven degrees celsius on the platform in the centre of the suburb. The air was thick with the smell of wet foliage and fertiliser, with a hint of burnt oil and grease. Far in the distance, a horn blared and brakes whistled as a kilometre long cargo train began its slow task of coming to a halt. Closer and muffled behind concrete sound deflecting walls, hybrid cars and SUVs along with diesel powered trucks tore through the freeway to get their occupants and cargoes to their destinations.

    The platform was a buzz. People looking down at their smartphones that were blaring advertisements and cringy music videos. Others looked at displays on their arms. And others still preferred to socialise, chatting about the latest gossip and current headlines. All waiting for the public train so they could get to the inner city.

    The local council had just renovated the station. Cool light blues along the walls and maroon tiling for the floor. Still shiny with their factory coatings. Above, long planters that stretched from one end of the platform to the other. They misted every so often to keep plants hydrated and the awaiting passengers cool. But it just made the air thick and humid.

    He adjusted the collar of his shirt. The weather forecast said it was going to be forty-two today. So he continued to stand there, waiting for his train. Then the rails clacked as the six car passenger rail crested around the bend, coming into view. It was grey, yellow, and green. The city public transport colours. Jace took a step up closer to the edge of the platform. The steel tires made their characteristic screech as the train came to a halt.

    With a hiss, the doors opened. Jace stood aside to let the off going passengers leave, then he and a small crowd funnelled into the passenger cars. Jace was lucky today. There was an open window seat for which he dove. He then rested his arm up against the windowsill. The doors closed. A halting shift occurred as the train took off again.

    Despite powerful air conditioning. The interior was musty and thick with the body odours of thousands of people. At least the seats were comfy and in good condition. Jace could deal with that.

    It was several more stops before Jace could reach his destination at the heart of the city. His body being jostled by the trains rocking as it sped along the track. Cars honk and truck horns blared as the train emerged from a recessed tunnel. Taking to the centre of the freeway.

    Jace had leant his head on the crook of his arm, watching the mixture of green and red roofs behind dull concrete walls as they flew by. Many people have taken it upon themselves to cover the walls in displays of paint. Each mural blurred into each other as the walls rolled past.

    <hr>

    The central station was underground. Loud with the bustling of morning crowds as the people rushed to get to work. Jace put his hands in his pockets and ambled his way out to the chattering escalators. No need to make eye contact with strangers, as all he wanted to do was make it to the city library to check out its endless hoard of hardback books.

    The walk was short, the noise of the crowd dimmed by a thicket of rustling trees. It smelt cleaner here, but still the thick scent of dew. The wind carried a strong smell of hot waffles and steaming coffee. Jace¡¯s shoes scraped lightly across the pavement as he continued to walk along. Paying no mind to the small line of cargo container sized food stalls.

    The library building itself was a modern construction with many stories forming a flat ziggurat. Its first skin being a bare smooth yellow tinged concrete. Attempts to beautify the imposing structure, both to soften its appearance and to reduce the cost of cooling the building. The result of which was each of its stepped layers had greenery overhanging the sides, giving the mock look of a hanging garden.

    Jace climbed the steps up and reached further into his pocket to pull out his ID card. A simple yellowed card with his full name, home address and birthday. He presented the piece of plastic to the receptionist as he passed through the lobby and scanned it against the door. The door simply chimed and let him in.

    The interior of the lobby was plain and modern, with glass walls and white laminated floors, which were marked with streaks of black from the shoes of many library goers. There were even simple blue upholstered seats around the ground floor. Jace journeyed deeper.

    The air was clean and smelt of old paper and splashed cheap coffee. The carpet was a dark red and hard-wearing to survive the many shoes that would stamp across it. Jace stretched his arm up as he walked by the rows upon rows of categorised and alphabetised shelves. His fingers lightly brushed against the old hardwood, feeling its lacquered texture. Where were the fantasy books? Jace wondered.

    Despite the availability of audiobooks and digital books. Jace still preferred a nice hefty hardback in his hand to read. The feel of the paper and the smell of it. And it also helped that his eyes didn¡¯t hurt as much after reading.

    He turned down an aisle, following the directions to the fantasy fiction section of the library. The first set of shelves were marked ¡®Fantasy, A¡¯. Jace began slowly combing through the aisle, scanning the various books. Many of which started with The.

    He stopped. A single book caught his eye. The spine looked old, and the edges were flaying. He reached up to the book and dragged it out from between two larger octavos. Once the book was in his hand. The leather felt was rough and well used. With The book itself smelling of stale ink. The writing on the spine was impossible to read, and the title, with only the word "Ayre" discernible, had also suffered damage.

    ¡°This is new.¡± Jace eyed the cover of the old book. He opened the cover carefully. The text on the inside title cover read ¡°Tales of Ayre.¡±

    Jace flicked the page and began reading. The world shook and rocked! Everything in Jace¡¯s vision went dark.

    <hr>

    Jace, for the longest time, felt as if he was floating. An infinite darkness obscured his vision as he continued to float at the edge of consciousness. Was he dead? Jace tried to shake his head. Everything felt stiff, like a dreadful night¡¯s sleep. He tried to suck in a breath of air, and his chest barely moved. There were no sharp pains. He felt nothing broken as far as he could tell as he tried to shift his heavy feeling body. He tried to flex his toes and fingers, but they refused to move.

    The fog covering his mind cleared. His senses slowly crawled back to clarity after being knocked out so thoroughly. He tried to blink open his eyes. They refused to open. He took in a sharp snort through his nose. He could smell the telltale sign of soil and the thick, humid scent of woodland. As he stretched, he felt odd, with something seeming to flick far out of place. He wiped his eyes from sleep and groaned aloud. His voice felt hoarse.

    Blinking his eyes for a moment, he looked around him. Ancient trees loomed overhead. They had thick green canopies which let very little light filter down towards the forest floor. The forest echoed with the sounds of frogs and chipping insects. He could easily hear a stream of water gurgling and weaving through the root knotted surroundings.

    Jace reflexively shook himself. He immediately looked down in surprise. He saw the backs of paws. Covered in a patchwork of both grizzled and fiery orange fur. He wiggled the toes, claws shot out at the slight movement. He could feel the forest floor with its loamy, twig filled soil. What was he? Jace wondered to himself. Turning his head to look at his side, he saw haunches that were also covered in salt and pepper fur. And Jace also spotted the part of him that felt out of place, a similarly furred tail with a black strip rubbing down the back of it.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I hope I¡¯m dreaming,¡± he thought to himself. ¡°Or this is going to be a huge problem.¡± His heart rate lifted and he could hear it in his ears.

    Jace tested the flexibility of his new body. He sat and tried to lift an arm to scratch at the back what were clearly pointed ears on the sides of his head. He could barely reach and had to lean his head down to scrape his forelimb across the back of his head.

    Jace squinted as he looked down at his now naked and white furred belly. ¡°Oh.¡± Jace let out. He was clearly some sort of canine, but he definitely wasn¡¯t a dog.

    Jace sauntered carefully around. Surprised by how easily he could walk around on all fours. ¡°This can not be happening.¡± He said to himself in mild panic. ¡°This has to be a dream.¡± He reached up to pinch his cheek. He yelped in pain as the claws were sharp and drew a tiny amount of blood.

    ¡°Okay, it¡¯s not a dream. I¡¯m whatever this is, in the middle of a forest somewhere.¡± Jace tapped his forepaws against the crest of his head. ¡°Think, Jace, Think.¡± He looked up at the canopy. ¡°If I¡¯m going to find my way out of here, I need to get to higher ground.¡± He thought. So He sat on his haunches again and raised a paw. He flexed it lightly, claws pushed out. ¡°Maybe these would allow me to climb the trunks?¡±

    He walked up to the trunk of a tree that he thought was the tallest, with some apprehension. ¡°At Least it¡¯s at a slight angle.¡± He placed his forepaws against the rough bark of the tree, which smelled heavily of sap and tannins.

    The ease with which he climbed up through the tree and its branches surprised Jace. As if he had been doing this for years. The last time Jace climbed anything was the rock face of a sheer cliff, being guided by his father and siblings. He wasn¡¯t exactly a mountain goat of an individual. The leaves brushed past his rough fur as he climbed up further and further. More and more light filtered through as the canopy thinned out.

    The wonderful view of a sea of leaves delighted Jace¡¯s eyes. Each leaf being a different shade of verdant green. He could see further, noticing a range of tall mountains stretching off into the distance. He turned his head around. The sky was an overcast of grey clouds. The wind was stiff and bracing against his rough, dark nose. He saw yet more mountains around him. There were, however, signs of fires burning. And as he squinted his eyes. He could barely make out the dark tops of roofs past the tree line.

    ¡°I guess I¡¯m in a place where people regularly burn wood, I guess.¡± Jace mentally shrugged. ¡°Maybe there is someone there that could help me?¡±

    It was likely, Jace thought to himself, that he¡¯d lose the direction of where he¡¯d need to go once he got back down to the forest floor. So he did his best to keep his head faced toward the rising smoke. With such sharp senses, Jace could barely pick out the smell of smoke and what was cooking on it. The smell made him salivate. Climbing back down was a chore. At least the claws made the climb easy.

    <hr>

    Jace had to pace himself carefully as he trekked through the forest. He first had to find a stream of water to sip from before he travelled any further towards his chosen destination.

    Luckily, his ears could direct him to the closest source of water. All he had to do was listen, tilting those ears toward the sound of splashing and crashing waters. He followed through the knots of roots and climbing vines towards the sound.

    He brushed past some blackberries along the way. Tempted, Jace wished to take a bite, but he didn¡¯t know if the berries would poison him or not. So he avoided them, however tempting it was.

    There was a break in the forest, opening up into a pool of water that had reeds and cattails growing out of the centre. The area smelt of dead matter and felt humid. The water streaming into the pool was stirring up the silt, making the pool look filthy.

    Jace took his chances by taking a drink of the stream directly. Jace regretted that decision. The water had a brackish taste, making him want to throw up. But water was water, and he needed to quench his thirst before he moved on. The taste was lingering. He spat at the floor a few times as he reorientated himself. He closed his eyes and sniffed the air again, looking for that scent of smoke.

    Something Jace noticed about this body was the skin seemed to be anchored at points instead of being attached to the muscle, so as he brushed past bushes and branches. He would get caught and had to stop and back up slightly to get free.

    Trudging, trudging, trudging. Jace kept his direction, following that wisp of scented smoke.

    He had the feeling of being watched. The light of the day was fading as the fireflies came out to dance. The Tree seemed to arch in. Jace could feel the claustrophobia building up inside him. Feeling his breaths become harder as the light faded. His movement slowed to a measured crawl. Jace couldn¡¯t understand why he felt like this. Why was he crouching to the ground as he got closer to the source of the smoke?

    Jace heard the impact of something on the tree next to him. So he bolted fast the way he came. He could hear the barks and howls of dogs behind him as he ran as fast as he could.

    <hr>

    Jace was breathing hard. His body was hot from the work of running. He needed a safe spot to rest. Whatever was stalking him from far away would not stop coming after him. That he could die, again at least, panicked his already tired mind.

    The dogs had given up the chase a while ago, but he could still hear something or someone was still stalking after him. Jace needed to slow down and breathe. He couldn¡¯t figure out why he was so hot and so tired.

    He looked around and ducked under a bush. The ground felt inviting and soft. He stretched out and curled up. The sounds of the forest became louder. The insect chirping and frog songs constantly ringing in Jace¡¯s ears. His breathing was ragged and hot, but he tried his best to keep his quiet. Something snapped a twig as it stepped through the foliage. The crack caused Jace to jerk and hold his breath for a moment.

    He nearly gasped.

    A hulking individual stepped out from the brush, with the darkness concealing much of their features. He could tell the individual was tall, even with the loss of height Jace was currently suffering. Thick set and heavy musculature. But the head was definitely not human. They had a substantial jaw. Was that a glint of a fang? And the smell. Jace had to cover his nose. It was like he walked into a gym¡¯s locker room after a team went in there.

    The ground was crunching beneath the pursuer¡¯s feet. They stood there and snorted the air. They turned and stared Jace directly in the eye. Jace bolted away yet again. Only this time, Jace felt as if death was really upon him. Despite how fast he ran, bouncing over roots and dashing under branches, he couldn¡¯t achieve any sort of separation from the immense humanoid monster.

    Jace broke out into another cleaning of the forest, and panting heavily. The figure behind him trailing close behind. He could hear their guttural breaths. Jace looked back at the pursuer and tripped hard with a yelp. Tussling over onto his side.

    This. was his fate now. He was going to die¡­ The world was slowing down as the figure stepped towards him. Then a growing darkness approached from the corner of his eye and scooped him up.

    Jace struggled weakly against his captor.

    ¡°Do not struggle, pup. Do you want to be taken by the Kith?¡± The cloaked and cowled figure said in a feminine voice.

    Jace ceased his squirming. ¡°What¡¯s a Kith?¡± the question rang out in his mind. However, that quickly slipped out of his thoughts as he noticed the speed at which his now saviour was carrying him. ¡°Eeek!¡±

    ¡°Pipe down.¡± The figure growled. ¡°Let me concentrate on getting you as far away from here as possible.¡±

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Two

    The stranger had travelled for a while. Jace couldn¡¯t track how far they had run. Every step from the stranger was a leap sending them metres forward. They ducked and dodged through branches with Jace, occasionally getting a face full of wet leaves.

    ¡°Can we stop?¡± Jace spoke between bounces. He was not feeling well continuingly having his stomach pressed.

    The stranger stopped near a large rock surrounded by old growth. ¡°Well, this is a good place to stop, anyway.¡± She put Jace down onto his haunches and stood back up, crossing their arms under the voluminous cloak she wore. The forest lit up with fireflies and luminous fungus as the sun set.

    Jace tilted his head up and blinked at the figure. His saviour wore a dull grey cloak. The cowling hid her face except for a single glowing sapphire coloured eye. But because of the lack of light, Jace could not make out much else.

    They stared at Jace as if to pierce right through him. ¡°Do you have anything to say for yourself?¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Jace leant back, alarmed.

    ¡°Why were you out here? Where are your parents, pup?¡± The sapphire light seemed to narrow. ¡°Why were you so far into the Deep Weald?¡±

    Jace felt he was locking up at the rapid questioning. Being put on the spot was disconcerting. ¡°I.. uhh¡­ I.¡±

    The sapphire light momentarily disappeared, and an audible sigh came from the mysterious stranger. ¡°Fine, one thing at a time, then. Where are your parents?¡±

    ¡°C-c-certainly not here.¡±

    ¡°Do not play coy with me.¡± The stranger leant back, looking Jace up and down. She muttered something Jace couldn¡¯t quite hear. He tilted his head and ears forward to listen. ¡°Why are you here in the deep weald?¡± her cowl shifted imperceptibly.

    Jace looked at the forest floor and rubbed his forepaws against the soil. ¡°I was in a library, and everything went dark¡­¡±

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    Jace gulped and let out a small whine. ¡°Then I wake up here in this forest, looking like this,¡± He wondered what the stranger was thinking. Because of the lack of light, Jace couldn¡¯t tell what his saviour looked like, and it was frightening him.

    ¡°Library huh?¡± Evaliena thought the strange spat the words out. ¡°Did you read something you shouldn¡¯t have and ended up here?¡±

    ¡°No, I had barely started reading¡­¡± Jace paused as a thought struck him as he sat there. ¡°I¡¯m no longer in my world, am I?¡±

    The figure paced impatiently, or maybe it was thoughtfully, back and forth before Jace. ¡°Pup, could you please release your glamour. I¡¯m not going to continue this conversation looking down at you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡­ What¡¯s a glamour?¡± Jace tilted his head back to look at the stranger.

    ¡°I said don¡¯t play coy with me. You should know perfectly what glamour is. Your parents should have taught you.¡± The stranger growled.

    ¡°A-a-as I told you, I woke up like this. I wasn¡¯t originally a fox!¡± He struggled to put the words together.

    ¡°You must have hit your head pretty hard back there when you tripped.¡± The stranger grumbled. ¡°Bloody ki¡­ Wait, you said you weren¡¯t originally a fox?¡± The stranger stopped in her pacing.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Jace said with a smile.

    ¡°A fox¡­ Not a Reynard?¡± The stranger clarified.

    ¡°Yes! Wait what?¡± Jace became confused.

    The stranger shrugged, having made up their mind, walked away from Jace. ¡°This was a damnable waste of my time.¡±

    ¡°Hey, no wait!¡± Jace dashed over in front of the stranger, stopping her in her tracks. For a moment, he thought he saw the outline of a tail tenting the back of the cloak the stranger wore.

    ¡°Pup, if you know what¡¯s good for you.¡± The stranger twisted and a brown furred hand emerged from the cloak to hold up two fingers. ¡°You will either, Leave! And find a way out of this forest.¡± One finger curled down. ¡°Curl up and die like you are supposed to!¡± The other finger curled down. ¡°I do not have the patience to play childish games.¡±

    ¡°But, I¡¯m not playing games.¡± Jace stood on all fours and shouted up at the stranger. ¡°I was human! I was in a library! And I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m here!¡±

    ¡°Human, not Hume, not Kith?¡± The stranger muttered. She halted. The slight movement of the cloaked figure suggested to Jace that they were thinking. ¡°Tell me everything.¡± The sudden change in personality was jarring. But told his story to the stranger.

    <hr>

    The stranger was pacing back and forth again. She was trying to digest the information Jace had told her.

    Part of her cloak pressed up against the high collared section. As if one was holding their hand up and rubbing one¡¯s chin. This exposed the legs slightly, despite the lack of light. He could see furred paws? Or were they walking on their toes?

    Jace was sitting there watching this and was coming uncomfortable. He hadn¡¯t had a chance to relieve himself since waking up in the forest. And the idea of doing so in this four-legged form was¡­ disconcerting.

    The stranger stopped. ¡°You¡¯re squirming about. What is it?¡±

    ¡°I need the toilet¡­¡± Jace muttered.

    ¡°Speak plainly.¡±

    ¡°I need to pee,¡± Jace clarified.

    ¡°Then go piss then. I¡¯m not holding you here against your will.¡± The figure shrugged. ¡°If you¡¯re concerned, if I care, do not be.¡± She paused. ¡°And no, I¡¯m not going to help you either. I¡¯m not your mother, Pup.¡±

    Jace guessed he didn¡¯t have to worry about being stared at and wandered a short way from where the stranger stood, who continued to pace back and forth. The process was embarrassing. He felt like an animal. For all he knew, he probably was an animal, considering he walked on all fours and had a tail. He was not entirely comfortable knowing he was naked. And it did not take him long before he was back in the same spot with the stranger. The bitter smell was not helping either. Having a good nose may not be that much of a perk.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t asked for your name.¡± The stranger asked Jace upon his return.

    ¡°And I haven¡¯t seen your face,¡± Jace retorted. A light grunt of amusement came from the stranger, with that blue glowing eye staring at him again.

    ¡°Fair, tell me your name first. Then maybe I¡¯ll tell you mine, since you clearly are not from around here.¡± She whispered.

    ¡°It¡¯s Jace¡­ Jace Carr.¡± He answered.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s not a Therian name.¡± The stranger stated. ¡°Not that I was expecting one. How old are you, pup?¡±

    ¡°Hey one thing for another.¡± Jace felt cheated.

    ¡°You¡¯re not the one in control here.¡± She spoke flatly. Jace rolled his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m about fifteen years old¡­¡± Jace answered again. He could hear the stranger¡¯s mouth move and then a slight curse.

    ¡°I guess a trade is a trade.¡± She conceded. Using her brown furred hands, she turned down the high collar, and pulled back the cowl, releasing large pointed ears that were black and tipped with brown. Her face was vulpine. A pointed muzzle tipped a dark nose. The yellow cheeks were fluffy. The top half of her head was yellow that blurred into a red mane that loosely hung down the back of her cloak. She had expressive blue sapphire eyes that glowed with otherworldly power. ¡°I¡¯m Evaliena Sandalwood.¡± She smiled softly.

    ¡°Y-y-your a Fox!¡± Jace exclaimed.

    Evaliena rolled her eyes and leant against a tree. ¡°I¡¯m a Reynard, you¡¯re a Reynard too. Remember that.¡± She pointed to herself and then pointed to Jace. ¡°But I¡¯m¨C¡± ¡°You¡¯re not human anymore.¡± She said firmly.

    Jace sat there silently, looking at the floor again. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have my books, so it¡¯s hard to explain to you the situation you¡¯re in.¡± Evaliena told him. ¡°That¡¯s if you can read our script at all, that is.¡±

    ¡°So now what? What should I¨C?¡± Jace turned his head to the vixen for answers, only to notice the cloak had parted. Her belly and chest have white fur, with the sides being yellow. She planted her hand, covered in brown fur, on her hip. That was about as much as he took in before he noticed she lacked clothing. Jace immediately looked away as embarrassment filled his mind.

    Evaliena let out a mocking laugh. ¡°What pup? never seen a woman before?¡±

    ¡°What kind of a question is that?¡± Jace shielded the side of his head. ¡°Who walks around naked?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re one to talk,¡± Evaliena countered. ¡°Well. Boy, you¡¯re going to have to get used to it. There aren¡¯t many clothes that fit well over fur. Especially when winter is around the corner.¡± ¡°I may have something. Give me a moment.¡± Jace could hear a rummaging sound, then the rubbing of fabrics. ¡°You can turn your gaze upon me if you want, or keep staring out into the woods.¡±

    Jace reluctantly turned his head back. The vixen was wearing a skirt? ¡°Where¡¯d you get the skirt from?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a secret for later.¡± She smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of the forest, then.¡±

    Jace¡¯s belly growled loudly.

    ¡°And I guess you haven¡¯t eaten at all.¡±

    Jace gently nodded.

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll take a shortcut. Come here.¡± Evaliena patted at the side of her thigh.

    ¡°Why do I need to be near you?¡± Jace creeped on over to Evaliena¡¯s leg. The Vixen had the most intoxicating scent¡­

    Jace yelped as Evaliena scooped him up with one yellow and brown arm. ¡°Because I can not bring you through the shortcut if I¡¯m not in contact with you.¡±

    ¡°This is teleportation?¡± Jace asked innocently.

    Evaliena then stepped. The world went sideways and turned a spectral cerulean blue.

    <hr>

    When reality snapped back into place. Jace squirmed out of Evaliena¡¯s grasp and emptied his stomach across the mossy wet rock the pair appeared on. A hand patted along his upper back as he kept gagging.

    ¡°Taking the first step usually ends up like this. You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± Evaliena spoke warmly as Jace slowly recovered himself. ¡°I would say clean yourself up, but you don¡¯t have any hands for that.¡±

    ¡°Very funny.¡± a bit of acid dripping in his voice. He shook his head vigorously and licked his muzzle. His tongue carried a lingering, disgusting taste. Wind was blowing hard in his ears. Jace looked around. All he saw was rock and a structure? ¡°Where are we?¡± Then he saw the forest below, lit up by a moon¡¯s pale light with the reddish glow of a setting sun. He skittered back. ¡°We¡¯re so high up!¡±

    ¡°Welcome to my home.¡± Evaliena raises an arm towards the structure. ¡°Come along.¡± She stood up.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°I¡­ nevermind.¡± Jace looked around the area one more time. He saw the top of the mountain he was standing on. It was snow capped, but Jace could judge he wasn¡¯t all that high up. ¡°Who would build on the side of a mountain?¡± he mumbled to himself.

    Jace quickly ran up along Evaliena as she walked up the rocky path. The ground sodden and the wind was harsh with a distinct smell Jace couldn¡¯t put his tongue on. He looked upon the building, with it so windy he couldn¡¯t quite see the outline. ¡°It looks like a ruin?¡±

    ¡°Oh, this old place used to be a watch keep a very long time ago,¡± Evaliena told Jace as they continued walking. ¡°Such a long, long time ago. But it¡¯s good enough of a shelter for a few.¡±

    A question popped into Jace¡¯s head. ¡°May I ask how old you are?¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe me if I told you.¡± Evaliena waved away the question.

    ¡°I could guess?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll never get close to an answer.¡±

    Jace decided on a wild answer. ¡°Seven hundred years.¡± He said proudly.

    Evaliena was silent for a while. ¡°You have the correct number of numbers.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t possibly be over a hundred years old¡­¡± Jace couldn¡¯t quite believe it. She had to be pulling his leg. ¡°Not that you don¡¯t look more than¡­ thirty?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll humour you, so you stop guessing, pup.¡± Evaliena sounded miffed. ¡°Six hundred and sixty-two .¡±

    Jace stopped. ¡°You can not be that old¡­¡±

    ¡°I assure you, Jace.¡± Evaliena addressed Jace as she was still walking. ¡°There are going to be a lot of things your weak stomach and soft mind are going to find rather uncomfortable.¡± Jace started walking again, coming back up alongside Evaliena. ¡°Let¡¯s just get inside from this wind.¡±

    The gate of the keep as they approached was missing and looked as if it had not been there for a very long time. Whatever hinges the door had were little more than rust spots on the stones. Evaliena was right that the place was old, parts of the masonry had collapsed in places around the outside. Jace wondered if the place was safe.

    The pair pass through the stone archway into the keep¡¯s courtyard. The inside was mostly gravel and cobblestone paths, with a large garden and greenhouse tucked away in the corner. Along with what appeared to be several large wooden compost bins and a pair of collapsing outhouses. Jace even spotted a few beehives.

    Evaliena guided Jace to the main building, a large circular structure that stood several stories tall. Made of the same stone as the decaying curtain walls attached to it, and he could feel the weathered gravel crunching beneath his feet as they walked through the courtyard. The building was in surprisingly good condition on the outside and he could smell, among other things, the burnt wood scent of tar.

    ¡°Does anyone live with you?¡± Jace asked as they came up to the wooden door of the keep.

    ¡°Oh, there are spiders, worms, maggots, other critters, a cat, a few ravens and some owls.¡± Evaliena stated in a deadpan tone. Jace had second thoughts about going inside the keep now, taking several steps back. Evaliena shrugged vainly and shook her head. ¡°Oh, little lordling, I¡¯m sorry if my home isn¡¯t up to your cleanliness standards.¡± Moments passed. ¡°I bathe every week and use cleaning spells.¡±

    Jace let out a sigh, but his head popped up at the statement. ¡°Every week?¡± Jace didn¡¯t even register the idea of cleaning spells.

    ¡°So soft. So, so, so soft,¡± Evaliena mused as she pushed the door of her home open. ¡°In you go. It¡¯s getting dark and the mountain side gets chilly at night.¡±

    Between exposure and a nice warm bed offered by a total stranger, Jace braved going inside.

    <hr>

    Jace didn¡¯t know what to expect upon entering the building. It was so much darker inside than out, with only the light of the doorway and what was creeping through boarded up arrow slits. Evaliena clicked her fingers. Crystals that hung from the walls lit up with a soft yellow glow.

    Jace looked around in awe. It was like clapping to activate the lights. And suspected electricity did not power those.

    ¡°Done gawking at the lights?¡± Evaliena closed the door, then slipped the latch to block it. Jace shook his head and looked at Evaliena. ¡°If you have nothing to say, head up the stairs and curl up next to the hearth.¡± She gestured at the wooden staircase. ¡°I¡¯ll be with you in a moment.¡±

    Jace nodded to Evaliena and climbed the stairs up to the second floor. The boards creaked with his steps. While the ground floor had a few doors, burlap sacks, wooden barrels and a bare central pillar. The second floor was more expansive with many homely things. Chairs, skin rugs, cabinets, trunks, workstations. A hearth with a grilling rack and so many pots, pans, and cooking utensils. There was garlic, onion, herbs, and what looked like carrots hanging from the vent. So many scents and textures.

    He trundled around the donut shaped room and found several bookcases that caught his eye. Some had crystal windowed doors for each shelf of the case all the way to the floor. Others had full wooden doors. Many of the shelves contained books of different sizes and colours in good condition, while the remaining shelves held odds and ends. If Jace had hands, he¡¯d want to take one and look at it, if he could. He was sure he couldn¡¯t read any of them.

    ¡°Do you enjoy reading?¡± Evaliena spoke from behind Jace.

    He bounced nearly five feet into the air. ¡°Ahh!¡± ¡°How did you creep up on me so easily?!¡±

    Evaliena put a finger to her muzzle. ¡°That¡¯s a trade secret. And hush, pup, there are others sleeping.¡±

    ¡°You said nothing about other people being here.¡± Jace spoke in a hushed, annoyed tone.

    ¡°Well, there is. I just didn¡¯t want you to run into any of them yet. Especially if you¡¯re stuck.¡± Evaliena gestured to Jace¡¯s form. ¡°Anyway, do you enjoy reading?¡± Evaliena walked up to a bookcase.

    Jace watched. ¡°I do. It¡¯s one of my favourite pastimes. Though it¡¯s mostly fantasy books.¡±

    Evaliena opened a case, the door creaking on its hinges. She crooned as she tapped along the spines of the books. ¡°Hmmm, there it is.¡± She pulled a folio from the shelf.

    ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± Jace tilted his head.

    Evaliena turned around, holding the book to her body. ¡°Oh, it might help you, if you could read it?¡± She leant down on one knee. She opened the cover and showed Jace the title.

    Jace squinted at the ¡®lettering¡¯. it was a series of illegible squiggles to him, there was a certain pattern to them. He shook his head. ¡°No, I can not read it.¡±

    Evaliena frowned slightly. ¡°Well, that will be an issue. Can you count?¡±

    Jace thought for a moment. He covered this in his classes. ¡°I can tell you the angles of a triangle if you give me the lengths.¡±

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re not all that helpless.¡± Evaliena got to her feet. She clicked her fingers once more. The hearth roared to life. Filling the room with heat and dancing light. ¡°I¡¯ll make us some supper. You can tell me about your world, and maybe a bit about yourself.¡± She carried the book with her to the side of the room with the hearth.

    ¡°What about my condition? Me being stuck like this?¡± Jace asked as he followed the vixen.

    ¡°That can wait until tomorrow. Some preparations need to be made first so I can help you. If only for you to stand on two legs again.¡± She put the book down on a table before opening the lid of a trunk. The smell of raw meat permeated the air.

    ¡°And sending me home?¡±

    ¡°I can not help you with that.¡± Evaliena said flatly. ¡°Frankly, I don¡¯t know if anyone can help you with that.¡± She pulled out a slab of meat from the trunk and dropped it onto a cutting board with a wet slap. It looked chilled.

    ¡°This place is a house of wonder and horrors.¡± Jace commented.

    Evaliena reached for a knife and steel and began honing the knife¡¯s blade. Each movement scratching metal on metal. ¡°Oh, it is my suspicion that we will horrify and awe each other in equal measure.¡± She told Jace with amusement. ¡°I¡¯m taking my travel cloak off. Would you mind?¡±

    ¡°I, uh¡­ It¡¯s your home, not mine¡­¡± Jace conceded. Being told that wearing clothes was an issue with fur, and now that there was a fire going, any mask of decency was going out the window. He knew someone like himself was going to have¡­ issues.

    Evaliena put the knife and steel down. She grabbed her cloak, pulling it off completely and hung it on a rack attached to the wall alongside the others that hung there. Luckily, she had the skirt on. The tail she was hiding under the cloak was large, yellow, bushy and tipped with brown. Draped over her shoulders was a kind of patterned tippet or shawl? It came down to her elbows and mostly just covered her¡­ Jace became embarrassed again and looked at the fire, which was warm and comforting. He could feel his heart rate rise slightly.

    ¡°Trust me pup, it is not going to get any better.¡± She chuckled softly. She tilted the knife towards Jace, then to the cloak on the rack. ¡°Most Therians would at least be expected to wear that travel cloak. What I¡¯m wearing now is usual for a fully grown woman of the clans.¡± She began cutting away the slab of meat.

    ¡°No underpants are all?¡± Jace asked innocently as he curled up with his head towards the fire. The position felt oddly natural.

    ¡°Well, if I was planning on visiting a Kith city, I¡¯ll wear undergarments and more covering clothing out of courtesy or they have a hissy fit about us being uncivilised and indecent. Most Mer look down on us anyway, so we don¡¯t bother.¡± Evaliena spoke casually. Jace didn¡¯t understand any of the distinctions. What are Kith? What are Mer? Therians were apparently people like Evaliena. She stopped chopping. ¡°Sorry, you probably didn¡¯t understand any of that¡­ But you will in time,¡± a sympathetic tone in her voice said.

    ¡°What are Therian children expected to wear then?¡±

    Evaliena was doing something to the meat. He could hear salt and pepper cracking and the rustle of leaves as they snapped off the stem. ¡°Ponchos, cloaks, smocks. Their coats aren¡¯t thick enough for the winters just yet.¡± Jace still couldn¡¯t believe a group of people could wear so little.

    ¡°What about pockets?¡± Jace probed.

    ¡°We have bags, satchels and sashes.¡± Evaliena finished her preparation of the meat and carried the board to the Hearth. She reached up for a skillet and rested it on the grill. ¡°You¡¯ve got your questions, pup, now answer mine.¡± Jace could smell butter. Where did the butter come from? What do your people look like?¡±

    Jace thought for a while about how to answer. Evaliena threw a pad of butter into the metal skillet. It sped around the pan with a crackle and hiss. ¡°We don¡¯t have fur. It¡¯s considered rude to walk around nude. We have a mop of hair. We don¡¯t walk on our toes. There are girls and boys¡­¡± Jace rattled off the descriptors. Tossed into the pan, the meat sizzled, filling the air with an aroma of pepper, butter, thyme and gamey fat.

    ¡°That sounds awfully a lot like the Humes Kith.¡± Evaliena interjected. ¡°But I guess they are not the same temperament as your people.¡±

    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Jace looked at the vixen, then immediately looked back at the fire.

    ¡°Tell me more first. Of your world.¡±

    <hr>

    The meat was¡­ Honestly, the best meat Jace had ever tasted. His tongue drenched in the flavour of carefully seasoned meat, the chew, the juice, how each bite slid down his throat was heavenly. The smell was incredible. It was certainly better than what his family cooked and definitely better than the fast-food places. And he whimpered as the experience ended all too soon.

    Jace had answered Evaliena¡¯s questions about his home. The technological wonders she could glean from Jace¡¯s inadequate explanations. Intrigued and sometimes took her aback by what she heard. He guessed that a smartphone in one¡¯s pocket was a curse as well as a blessing. In hindsight, the suggestion that hundreds of thousands could be watching your every move like capricious gods was frightening to consider. It just never really crossed his mind. Then he asked. ¡°So, what is this world like?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better if you saw the world with your own eyes,¡± the vixen answered sincerely. ¡°My account wouldn¡¯t prepare you for the shock you¡¯d encounter.¡±

    ¡°I think being turned into a fox and chased across the forest by, whatever that was. Is shock enough.¡± Jace grumbled. ¡°Why do you have to lie and keep secrets?¡±

    ¡°Depends. You¡¯re still young. We tell lies to children so as they age we can peel them so they can understand why we told them those lies.¡± Evaliena continued. Then she laughed.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±

    ¡°The amount of knowledge crammed into that head of yours. I¡¯ve never met a child like you.¡± Her tone changed to a more serious one. ¡°It¡¯s also very dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Is.. is schooling not normal here?¡± Jace glanced to his side only to see Evaliena¡¯s yellow furred knee. He kept his head looking at the fire, slowly dying with cracking logs and fizzling embers. Cogs clicked in Jace¡¯s mind as the realisation slowly came to the fore of his mind.

    ¡°Outside of letters and simple counting?¡± Evaliena answered. ¡°You¡¯ll be hard pressed to find a scholar or a journeyman outside of a monarch¡¯s court, a city or monastery. Less you visit the Mer, in which case they¡¯re a dozen a bronze piece. The point I¡¯m getting too is, most people aren¡¯t going to engage with the level of conversation you¡¯re capable of, nor will they care to.¡±

    ¡°So most people are stupid?¡± Jace assumed.

    ¡°Lack of education doesn¡¯t equal stupidity. Pup.¡± Evaliena growled at the comment. ¡°Some of the wisdom they have to say can surprise you. Many have loose lips and love to gossip. It would be advantageous to keep an end open.¡± Evaliena patted Jace¡¯s back. ¡°But for the time being, keep your own mouth shut. For your own safety.¡±

    Jace yawned widely and licked around his mouth. He was having trouble keeping his eyes open now. The boards creaked as Evaliena stood up. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jace tiredly asked.

    ¡°To get you some water and a basket to sleep in.¡± She replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a dog,¡± Jace barked unhappily.

    ¡°And yet you have no choice in the matter, unless you wish to sleep on the floor tonight?¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I sleep with you?¡±

    He could feel Evaliena¡¯s eyes burn a hole in the back of his head. ¡°Because I don¡¯t want your stench in my bed and I don¡¯t trust you not to wet yourself either.¡± Jace became silent after that. ¡°Try to sleep. I¡¯ll tuck you in, carry you up and keep you close by. You are safe here.¡±

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Three

    Evaliena was true to her word. Despite the tiredness, Jace was feeling. She gingerly grabbed and lifted him into a linen filled basket. His body refused to let himself fall into a deep sleep, with every sound pricking his ears and stabbing at his mind to wake up and check. Boards cracked and creaked at random intervals while winds howled at the keep¡¯s structure. Sleep soon took him.

    The wind never stopped howling. It was still dark the next time he woke. His ears perked to voices echoing through the stone building. Voices he did not recognise. He raised his head to check that Evaliena was still in the room. Her bedroom had very few amenities. A circular futon like bed with piled up covers, a trunk, a pot? And a large bookcase of fashion to the ones he saw before. The place smelt of her, a soft floral scent that pervaded the senses. There was also a pungent, burning wood smell he couldn¡¯t describe.

    Jace rested his head back down, closing his eyes and pretending to be asleep, focusing on the voices below. There the clacks of metal on glass and wood mix in.

    ¡°Is that the heart of it?¡± A younger feminine voice spoke. ¡°You found a kit just wandering around the forest?¡­Cinnamon will not be pleased.¡±

    A mature feminine voice spoke. ¡°Cinnamon is never pleased with anything. These oats are good, by the way, Sandal.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll have to accept that someone younger than himself will be around for a while.¡±

    ¡°Brought another stray home with you again, Sandal?¡± An old masculine voice articulated. ¡°Tell me the story later. I need some food in my gut first.¡± A chair scraped, and a pan sizzled.

    The younger feminine voice spoke again. ¡°And another male being here is just going to make things worse.¡±

    ¡°Girl.¡± The masculine voice spoke again. ¡°You are here at Sandal¡¯s discretion. You¡¯re quite welcome to go back home.¡± The younger voice grumbled before quieting down. ¡°So, is this stray of yours still asleep? Where are they?¡±

    A sudden pressure swept across Jace¡¯s body, causing the hairs along his back to prickle, then it went away. ¡°He¡¯s sleeping like a lamb, Cedar.¡± Evaliena responded. A kettle whistled, and the sound died down.

    A scream of frustration sounded out. ¡°Here comes the storm.¡± The older feminine voice dripped with sass.

    ¡°Where is he!¡± a mature masculine voice shouted out. The heavy stomps on the wood came closer and closer. ¡°Where is he!?¡±

    ¡°Boy! Do you have to shout every time?¡± Cedar spoke.

    ¡°Where the hells is he, Sandal?!¡± Cinnamon spoke.

    ¡°You Will Calm Down.¡± Evaliena responded.

    ¡°You know what my situation is!¡±

    ¡°Who I bring into my home is my business, Cinnamon. Don¡¯t strut around like you own the place.¡±

    ¡°Bah.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in your room, isn¡¯t he?!¡±

    Concern grew within Jace. There was a scuffle down below.

    ¡°You do not dictate the rules here.¡± He heard muffled gags and choking. ¡°You are stretching my patience, Pup. If you don¡¯t control your rut, I¡¯ll send you back to your clan.¡± Someone or something slid and hit the floor. ¡°Now, do you want breakfast or not?¡±

    The older male laughed heartily.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Cinnamon spoke with a venom tinged tone.

    The older female spoke once more. ¡°Well, now that you¡¯ve been thoroughly put in your place, the little one upstairs is an orphaned pup.¡± Cinnamon cursed and profusely apologised. ¡°So you were saying earlier, Sandal?¡±

    ¡°Well.¡± ¡°The kit is still in shock. He hasn¡¯t quite understood the immensity of his situation yet.¡±

    The older male coughed. ¡°If they¡¯re orphaned, it¡¯s better to be honest with them or..¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m well aware, Cedar..¡± What did Evaliena mean by still in shock and orphaned?...

    An overwhelming dread fell upon Jace¡¯s mind. What colour was in the world had drained. The sound deadened. The questions tumbled through thick and fast. His heart rate raised. The tears welled. Is he stuck here forever? Is he stuck like this forever? Will he ever see his family again? He felt¡­ small¡­

    And

    He

    Couldn¡¯t

    Hold the tears

    Back.

    <hr>

    ¡°He wasn¡¯t really asleep, was he?¡± a voice he couldn¡¯t make out spoke.

    Evaliena had Jace cradled and tucked against her. He sobbed incoherently as the emotions flowed to dampen Evaliena¡¯s shawl.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a conversation he should have heard.¡±

    The vixen was bouncing and patting his back, trying her best to soothe the pain. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re not alone, little one.¡± She repeated occasionally.

    ¡°Ancestors, you think?¡± Evaliena barked softly at someone. ¡°Just go do your chores. I need time here. It might take most of the day. To calm him down.¡±

    ¡°Why is he glamored?¡±

    ¡°One issue at a time, Baysil. Go.¡± Evaliena said sternly.

    The sobbing continued for a while. Jace¡¯s voice was hoarse as he coughed out every tear now. The flow slowly stopped as he exhausted his built up emotions.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just let it all out.¡± Evaliena cooed softly.

    ¡°Oh, is it fine?¡± Jace said quietly, as his voice was raw. ¡°I¡¯m never going to see my family, my friends, the games I played¡­¡± His tears had long run dry. ¡°You told me to go die in the forest¡­¡±

    ¡°That last one. I may have chosen my words poorly.¡± The vixen continued her almost motherly cooes. ¡°While you¡¯ve lost everything. You¡¯re still here, you have time, you can rebuild your ties anew. A whole other world to explore. And you won¡¯t be alone.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean that?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Evaliena affirmed. ¡°You¡¯ll need to accept the new reality you find yourself in. You have all the time you could possibly need. Within reason.¡±

    ¡°B-but who would look out for me?¡± Jace whimpered.

    ¡°If you want, I can fill in. I¡¯m not so heartless to leave a pup or a child to face the world alone until they are ready themselves.¡± Evaliena reassured. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s been a while since I had someone to teach and watch grow.¡± She let out a soft laugh.

    Jace wiped his face against Evaliena¡¯s fur and sniffled. ¡°Thank you.¡± He wheezed out.

    ¡°Now I¡¯m going to have to teach you how to shift your glamour.¡± Evaliena spoke softly. ¡°Can¡¯t have you walking around on all fours, lest that young man down stairs thinks you¡¯re a wildling.¡±

    Jace was still shaking. The only words he could process were shift and glamour. His throat was raw. ¡°What¡¯s a glamour?¡±

    ¡°Will you be fine if I set you down?¡± The vixen asked. Jace softly nodded. She put Jace down in the basket he slept in the night before and put her hands on her hips as she turned around. ¡°It¡¯s better if you see for yourself. Fair warning, my clothes won¡¯t stay on.¡± She stepped away a few paces.

    Jace watched Evaliena¡¯s yellowed furred back. The shift was eerily quiet, apart from the light bristling and brushing of silken fur as her form shrunk. Her curves flattened and her limbs thinned while she slowly dropped onto all fours, keeping the same yellow, white, and brown fur pattern. She turned her head to Jace and sauntered over with only the bare hint of a smile. The change dampened any facial expression she wore. She had left her shawl on the floor where she transformed. She looked regal and majestic.

    ¡°That is¡­ unsettling¡­¡± Jace coughed.

    Evaliena strode around Jace¡¯s bed and laughed. ¡°You have quite the vocabulary, little one.¡± She was bigger, much bigger. ¡°The last time anyone had seen me like this¡­ and knew that it was me was centuries ago.¡± She purred proudly and gave her body a thorough shake, then a four-legged stretch with her forelimbs pushing forward.

    ¡°But enough prancing through the hills and fields.¡± She jumped up and transformed back into her original anthropomorphic state. Her brown socked feet landing with a thump. Jace thanked that he was too tired to register just what he was staring at. ¡°I hope you¡¯re ready for breakfast, unless you¡¯d prefer to sleep in all day?¡± The vixen reached down and gingerly picked up Jace. She felt soft, like a fluffy blanket.

    Jace¡¯s stomach growled.

    <hr>

    Evaliena¡¯s bedroom existed on the second floor. Its door opened into another donut styled room with a fireplace built into the central pillar. The same wood as the living area covered the floor. Dusty, Canvas covered furniture filled one side of the floor. Evaliena moved and slowly took the wall hugging staircase down to the first floor. The smell of burning wood, old tobacco, cooked porridge, and seared meat pervaded the air. Gently lit by the soft orange glow of the crystals.

    There was a person wrapped in several layers rocked in a chair next to the hearth. All Jace could see was a pair of fading to grey black ears perked and moving. As if to listen to Evaliena¡¯s footsteps on the stairs. They were wearing a collection of coloured garments. Far too many from what Evaliena told Jace that was considered usual.

    A voice erupted from the figure in the chair as they rocked. ¡°Is the pup becalmed now?¡±

    Evaliena kept walking. ¡°He¡¯s here now, Cedar.¡± She responded. ¡°How was your breakfast?¡±

    ¡°Wonderful, as always. I wish my mate could cook half as well as you do.¡± The old male lauded. Jace kept his quiet. Cedar raised an arm, which was mostly covered by fabrics. The black furred paw looked frail as it held a dark wood smoking pipe. He took a deep puff and smoke blew out soon after. ¡°Sandal, you said he¡¯s stuck in his travel form?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡± Evaliena glanced down at her cradling arms. ¡°It will not take me long to get our little guest out of it. But first he needs food.¡±

    ¡°You have ample mammaries, Sandal, use them.¡± Cedar seriously intoned. Or was it a jest?

    Jace hid his face so that one could see the fluster on it. He also felt the subtle motion of a shrug from Evaliena, the likes of which one would do if they heard a terrible pun. ¡°It¡¯s been centuries since the last time I nursed any children, and he¡¯s too old for that.¡± Jace curled up even tighter. Cedar let out a low chuckle.

    The yellow vixen laid down near the hearth and moved up to prepare Jace¡¯s breakfast. The old fox sitting in the rocking chair leant over to examine Jace. ¡°A grey fur? You didn¡¯t say they were a grey fur. Say boy, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    Jace raised his head and looked over his side at the old fox. ¡°It¡¯s just Jace, sir.¡±

    ¡°Sir? My, you have manners. Townsfolk?¡± Cedar interrogated. Jace didn¡¯t understand the slang. The old fox stroked their chin with their free hand. ¡°If it helps, pup, I can tell you¡¯re clearly learned.¡±

    Cedar looked old. His movements at the moment were slow and deliberate. Fur that was a silver black that was fading in colour, and it was quite limp and frail looking. His brows were thick and shaded by his old pinprick eyes. If the old fox had a mane, there were bare wisps of it left. The chops on his face were skinny and his muzzle was narrow. Cedar looked and sounded every minute of his age, but there was a practised elegance to it.

    ¡°I¡¯m Cedar of the Silvers. Spellblade extraordinaire.¡± Cedar spoke and politely bowed from their chair.

    ¡°Pleased to make your acquaintance, I guess..¡± Jace mumbled.

    ¡°You are long past your prime as a spellblade, and you gave up winddancer to your last apprentice decades ago.¡± Evaliena said as she began chopping and seasoning away at a small piece of meat.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t make it any less true.¡± Cedar responded smoothly. ¡°Boy, I slayed many men and monsters in my time. And laid quite a few vixens, too.¡± Evaliena groaned and Cedar let out another crude chuckle.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think talking about your exploits is appropriate right now.¡± Evaliena walked on over to the hearth and threw the meat into a hot prepared pan.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Jace rested his head on his flank.

    Cedar tilted his pipe excitedly to Jace. ¡°See. see?¡± he cackled at Evaliena. ¡°I also understand what you¡¯re going through, boy, waking up one day with suddenly everyone you knew is just gone and being in a strange place.¡±

    ¡°In your case, it was because you bedded a clan leader¡¯s daughter. It was Chief Willow¡¯s, if I remember correctly.¡± Evaliena jabbed. Cedar just scoffed and brushed it off cheerily. Clearly, they both went far back together. ¡°You were extremely lucky nothing became of that.¡± She flipped the piece of meat over.

    Jace was all too clued in from the amount of fantasy books he had read. Some of which he should not have had.

    ¡°Anyway, just let him eat. I don¡¯t want him choking on his food, from you regaling everything that happened in your youth.¡± Evaliena spoke sternly as she slid and sliced the cooked meat into a wooden plate to serve to Jace.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Cedar took another long puff of his smouldering and pungent pipe. And ignored Evaliena to spill his story.

    <hr>

    Jace took his time, chewing up the pieces of the perfectly seared meat with his teeth before gulping them down. Cedar rambled on about his various adventures and conquests as a travelling spellblade. Protecting those too weak to fend for themselves on the road, or slaying a monster or two. And in one instance, participating in a feudal lord¡¯s war as a mercenary. All the while Cedar down a cup of pungent floral tea, Jace not being allowed a sip. Being stuck on four legs.

    Jace didn¡¯t understand half the things Cedar was talking about. ¡°If I may ask, why are you wearing so many layers?¡± Jace was genuinely interested, as it was the opposite of what Evaliena told him to expect.

    ¡°Pup, when you get my age of frailty. You sort of stop being warm.¡± Cedar spoke plainly. ¡°I don¡¯t have Sandal¡¯s lineage, so I¡¯m not immune to the effects of getting older.¡± He cuts a glance at Evaliena, who was washing some dishes. ¡°And it¡¯s been a good run. I can still kick your backside in scrap if you push it.¡± Cedar¡¯s smile allowed his teeth to glint.

    Jace finished his meal, got up on all fours, and stretched. ¡°A few more decades and you¡¯ll finally be out of my fur,¡± Evaliena quipped.

    Cedar slapped the armrest of the rocking chair and snorted. ¡°You will not get rid of me that easily, Woman! Ah.¡±

    ¡°Jace.¡± Evaliena called him to attention. She had a tall mirror standing beside her. ¡°Would you come over here? I¡¯m going to teach you how to release your glamour.¡± she gestured to the window.

    ¡°Well, Don¡¯t let this old man keep you here.¡± Cedar waved his hand dismissively.

    Jace padded over to Evaliena. ¡°What¡¯s the mirror for?¡±

    Evaliena looked at the mirror. ¡°Oh, this is just a normal mirror until I cast a spell on it.¡± Spells, leaping incredible distances, the glowing crystals, so much magic and wonder in this place.

    Jace peered into the mirror. There was an orange and grizzled coloured fox staring back at him in the mirror. He noticed there were differences between that of a usual fox. As if that mattered to him now¡­

    ¡°Ready little one?¡±

    Jace nodded softly. Evaliena clicked her fingers and tapped the mirror. Its reflective surface shimmered like quicksilver. The ripples eventually stopped, and Jace became surprised by what he saw. The imposter in the mirror made a similar expression. ¡°So, weird¡­¡±

    Evaliena raised a brow, and an ear as she watched Jace¡¯s interaction with the mirror. ¡°First time seeing your other self in the mirror?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like a funhouse mirror¡­¡± Jace¡¯s impostor was standing on two legs, standing on their toes. An anthropomorphised appearance compared to his current form.

    ¡°There¡¯s two options.¡± Evaliena added. Jace looked up at her. ¡°I could throw you in the mirror and fix you that way. Or.¡±

    ¡°Or?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll teach you the traditional method.¡± Cedar who was still looking at the hearth¡¯s fire. ¡°You¡¯re not one of us. But for every step in our world you take.¡±

    ¡°The further I step away from mine?¡­¡± Jace felt his feet go cold.

    ¡°Cedar, not now, please.¡± Evaliena let out a tired sigh and rubbed her cheek.

    ¡°It¡¯s only the truth, old girl.¡± Cedar took a puff of his smoking pipe. ¡°But if it¡¯s as I suspect, that door home has already been closed.¡±

    Jace took an audible gulp and looked back into the mirror with his imposter staring back at him. ¡°What¡¯s the traditional way?¡±

    ¡°Take a good look at your reflection in the mirror.¡± Evaliena told Jace. her tone taking on that of a one skilled at teaching. ¡°Then close your eyes and imagine that form.¡± Jace followed the instruction. ¡°Picture it as a winch or a tapestry, and grab that loose thread with your mind.¡± Jace tried to imagine grabbing a loose thread from the image in her mind. ¡°Now pull it.¡± Evaliena spoke firmly.

    Jace gripped and pulled at that thread. ¡°And keep pulling.¡± Jace listened. His body started shifting ways he couldn¡¯t describe. Feeling both unnatural and natural at the same time with the ease with which he pulled the thread. A hand pulled into his two back feet him from behind as changes spread. The hand held him firm as his balance adjusted. The changes stopped, the picture in his head gone. Jace blinked open his eyes and looked around. Everything felt smaller.

    But he was still short, as he was now looking straight at Evaliena¡¯s belly. ¡°Ack!¡± Jace jumped back and fell on his backside. Cedar let out another laugh. ¡°He¡¯s gonna need some pants made.¡± Cedar teased.

    <hr>

    Despite the teasing and saying it was unnecessary. Jace did not feel completely comfortable unless he had clothes for both his top and bottom half. Evaliena hemmed to size a temporary kilt, small clothes and a simple poncho for Jace to wear. Another display of the yellow vixen¡¯s skills as she worked with needles, thread, and a thimble.

    Jace sat on the floor next to the hearth as he waited for Evaliena to finish her work. A heavy blanket over his legs and belly.

    ¡°Fussy, townie child.¡± Cedar commented, he had put his smoking pipe away.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to stay here all day, Cedar.¡± Evaliena pointed out. ¡°I distinctly remember you had business to take care of.¡±

    ¡°What, and miss out on the entertainment I received today?¡± Cedar chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the sapphires tomorrow. They won¡¯t complain if I¡¯m a few days late.¡± Jace, intrigued, wanted to ask the old fox what it was. ¡°And you, boy, before you get your hopes up. It¡¯s none of your business,¡± His inquiry immediately shutdown

    With nothing to do. Jace watched the fire burning in the hearth as the winds howled against the keep¡¯s walls. His eyes became heavy. He could barely stay awake as he slumped to his side.

    The nap was peaceful. However, he had his sleep interrupted as someone was fawning over his side. Jace slowly cracked open an eye. His sight was hazy at first, then sharpened. The individual crouching at his side had black socked arms, with chestnut and white fur. They wore a simple shawl, not the dyed and embroidered fabric that Evaliena¡¯s had. Jace¡¯s eyes wandered down before he closed them. He sat up and wiped his face with his forearm. The stranger¡¯s arms retreated behind their back.

    ¡°What.. are you doing?¡± Jace spoke groggily.

    The stranger spoke with a certain lightness in her voice. ¡°So this is what you really look like, huh? You¡¯re quite cute.¡±

    ¡°Uh, thanks?¡± Jace pulled up the blankets.

    ¡°Don¡¯t harass him, Baysil. You still have your chores and studies to finish.¡± Evaliena reminded the younger vixen. Baysil stood up and turned to Evaliena, harrumphing and crossing her arms. ¡°I don¡¯t run a hospice, young lady. Now go.¡±

    ¡°Oh, fine.¡± Baysil stomped off. Her bushy tail raised with irritation. Reminding Jace of Evaliena¡¯s warning about her people. Jace sniffed the air. Cedar¡¯s scent had left. There was the smell of fresh bread and beer? And there were other scents in the air. Two of them inviting and the other musky and provoking. That last one probably belonged to Cinnamon.

    ¡°Pah.¡± A voice he heard earlier in the morning. It dripped of sass. ¡°She¡¯ll learn.¡± Jace blinked at the other female fox in the room that wasn¡¯t Evaliena. She had a fiery orange coat with white. She was curled up in a heavy blanket near the hearth. Sitting on a fur skin rug. She looked and winked at Jace. ¡°Name¡¯s Burr. it¡¯s nice to meet you Jace.¡± She greeted him kindly.

    Jace scratched his arms and groaned. ¡°How many more am I going to meet today?¡± ¡°And it¡¯s nice to meet you, too. Burr.¡± The mature vixen nodded.

    ¡°There¡¯s a few more. They rarely come up here though and prefer to stay in their dens.¡± Evaliena explained. Jace didn¡¯t look, but he could hear the faint scratching of a pen on rough paper. ¡°Your clothes are ready, by the way. I thought I just let you sleep.¡±

    ¡°Say Sandal, how old did you say he was? He doesn¡¯t look and smell much older than seven.¡± Burr commented.

    ¡°I¡¯m fifteen years old.¡± Jace shook the rest of the sleep from his mind.

    ¡°You¡¯re not fifteen, pup,¡± Burr said as she teased him. ¡°Baysil was sitting next to you for a while and you had no reaction. Slept like a log.¡±

    ¡°His mind is fifteen, but his body is definitely younger. Such an odd case.¡± Evaliena spoke absently. ¡°But it¡¯ll make my job easier.¡± Jace wanted to argue, but he couldn¡¯t argue with someone that was six centuries old. The gap in experience was simply two wide. So he conceded.

    ¡°Will I also be put to work as well?¡± Jace asked earnestly.

    ¡°Oh. most certainly, a young, strong lad such as yourself will be clearing latrines, tarring up the roof and pulling the vegetables out of the patch, readying them for winter storage.¡± Burr happily expounded. Jace felt like he was going to hurl upon hearing he was going shovelling waste. ¡°Oh, Have I said too much?¡±

    ¡°Please Burr, don¡¯t make the pup sick in here. And you won¡¯t be doing any of that, Jace. I have spells to deal with those. Besides, I need to teach you letters since Burr here certainly can not do that.¡± The yellow vixen assured.

    ¡°The cheek.¡± Burr snorted derisively to almost laughing. Something told Jace that Burr has had children of her own.

    ¡°But anyway, yes, you¡¯re physically younger than you suggest you are, Jace.¡± Evaliena said, clarifying.

    Jace cursed and then felt ill at the suggestion he¡¯d be going through growing pains again. Burr cackled. Jace asked why that was a good thing. Evaliena responded. ¡°It gives me time to prepare you for the world.¡±

    <hr>

    It was the end of the day. Evaliena had forced Jace to run around the interior of the keep for several laps. He didn¡¯t like it. Unlike when he was on four legs. On two legs, his fur got damp and heavy with sweat instead of him baking from the inside out. Therians were a strange chimaera of concepts in Jace¡¯s mind.

    The clothes she adjusted fitted Jace adequately. But he had to admit defeat on the small-clothes. They were grabbing and yanking at the fur across his lower regions. He¡¯d just have to get used to it. He ran into the last Reynard that slept in the Keep. Cinnamon, a red furred individual wearing a simple undyed kilt, gave him a courtesy nod of acknowledgement and did not say a thing to Jace.

    Evaliena forced Jace to help with laying out the supper for the night. To watch a two sectioned enamelled pot come to boil with the help of a small cluster of orange crystal. ¡°Why not boil the pot above the hearth?¡± Jace asked.

    Evaliena walked on over, carrying two wooden bowls filled with various whole spices, salt, herbs and aromatics. ¡°Because we want to be sitting around it.¡± She replied with a smile. The two were the only ones in the living area. ¡°It¡¯s an occasion. For you, I might add.¡± She poured the bowls deftly into the two separate sections of the pot.

    An ever so inviting set of smells emanated from the pot as it bubbled. He smelt smokey, peppery and sweet scents from the broths as the flavour leached out and clouded the water with a deep red and a pale cream. There was also a subtle onion and garlic scent in there, too.

    ¡°I¡¯ve had¡­ a similar meal before.¡± Jace leant back, watching the glowing crystal spark and stutter.

    ¡°I guess this would feel comforting?¡± Evaliena walked away to cut up various accoutrements to go along with the meal. Meats, leafy greens, mushrooms.

    ¡°Where¡¯d you get all these spices? And the meat.¡± Jace wondered aloud. ¡°It mustn¡¯t be easy keeping regular supplies of these?¡±

    ¡°Jace.¡± Evaliena kept expertly chopping along. ¡°What would you do if you could go wherever you want in a single step?¡±

    ¡°Shopping, I guess?¡± Jace answered in an idle tone. ¡°See the sights?¡±

    Evaliena snickered. ¡°Then you know how I maintain my stash. Also, it helps that I have a wide knowledge of herb lore. Jace, could you grab those cushions over there and place one down for each of us?¡±

    Jace does as asked. Getting up from the floor and returned to the pot with six well used cushions that, in his mind, stunk. ¡°I guess it explains some more expensive looking things¡­¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t find flavours like this outside of caravanserai, ports, and cities.¡± The yellow vixen added. ¡°But that¡¯s not to mean the food in other places is bad.¡±

    ¡°You have to teach me how to cook, please.¡± Jace gave Evaliena a pleading look. She laughed and teased a promise that she would.

    The rest of the evening. Jace was a new member of the hermitage¡¯s supper meal. He was quiet, as he had nothing to add to the conversations spoken around the pot. Cedar told a few stories, not his, but of legends of this new world. Jace got a taste of a common beverage called small beer. It offended his taste buds. Much to the amusement of Burr and Cedar. The drink tasted mildly of honey and strongly of hops and malt. Apparently, small beer was what most people drank alongside tea instead of water.

    The older three were making Jace feel welcome. Cinnamon and Baysil, however, felt as if they were trying their best to ignore him. Cinnamon¡¯s scent was offensive, as if hostile specifically to Jace. He put on his plainest face to ignore Cinnamon for now.

    With the meal over, Jace climbed back upstairs to Evaliena¡¯s room. He didn¡¯t have a proper bed, just a basket to sleep in. Wanting to test his ability to glamour. He forgot to rebalance himself, landing hard on his hands? paws? He grunted, slumping on the cold wooden floor as a painful jolt that went through his forearms. A few thoughts crossed through his mind. Could he adjust other things about himself with this ability? Maybe another day. He didn¡¯t want to get stuck while experimenting.

    Climbing into the basket. He tucked himself in the folds of linen. The winds outside howled loudly. Breaking against the study walls of the keep. The wooden beams creaked and cracked with their natural expansion and shrinkage. He tucked head in. Covering his nose so the air took his body heat as he breathed.

    Something interrupted his sleep. His body paralyzed as something¡¯s teeth grabbed the back of his neck. The scent pervading his nose was familiar and calming. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping with me tonight.¡± Evaliena¡¯s muffled voice said. She shifted and placed Jace in her bed. It was soft and smelt of down and of her. She curled her larger four legged form around Jace.

    ¡°Why?¡± Jace didn¡¯t open his eyes, too tired to wake up.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be cold tonight.¡± She purred and wrapped her arm around his side. ¡°It¡¯s my wish that you feel welcomed here.¡± She cooed softly.

    ¡°Can I ask a few questions?¡± Jace yawned.

    ¡°A couple, then it¡¯s off to sleep with you.¡±

    ¡°Why does Cinnamon stink so much?¡±

    Evaliena rumbled a chuckle and stifled herself. ¡°Cinnamon is in a rut. His body is yearning for a mate, and he¡¯s lost control of his scents. With no suitable partners around, he¡¯s understandably irate.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. He¡¯ll be moving on from here soon.¡±

    ¡°Why is he even here in the first place?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s between me and him.¡± She responded softly. ¡°Any more questions?¡±

    Jace wondered if he would go through the same thing, then mentally hit himself for thinking that. Of Course he would, why wouldn¡¯t he? So he changed to his other question. ¡°Can you do other things with glamour?¡± At least he could have his questions answered now, he thought.

    ¡°You can.¡± She explained as she yawned. ¡°But by the time your body fully matures, what forms you come up with will eventually fix in place.¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°But that¡¯s partly a lie we tell youngsters, so they don¡¯t completely break themselves with experimentation. ¡±

    ¡°Break Themselves?!¡± Jace exclaimed concernedly.

    ¡°It¡¯s not pretty and often not survivable.¡± She spoke gravely. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it happen a few times¡­ The kits weren¡¯t quite the same after I helped reverse the damage they caused to themselves. I don¡¯t think any of them ever used their glamors after that, either.¡± Jace could imagine the permanent scarring that must have caused. It made him feel sick.

    Jace audibly gulped. Evaliena pounced on the implication. ¡°So, you thought you would want to try playing with your glamors?¡± Evaliena smiled. ¡°Tempted by what the other side feels and offers, huh?¡± she gently nudged.

    Jace¡¯s body warmed, and he hid his head under his arms. ¡°No, no, nothing like that at all!¡± Unfortunately, that only made him curious about what she meant, on top of feelings of embarrassment.

    Evaliena let out a long laugh at Jace¡¯s expense. ¡°You¡¯re not the first or the last. It¡¯s more common than you think and highly discouraged, but most kits decide they just like being the way they were born.¡± She nuzzled the back of Jace¡¯s head. ¡°Now rest you. I¡¯ll give you a fortnight to settle in. Then I¡¯m handling your education and putting you to work.¡±

    Jace could barely sleep that night, suffering nightmares of ¡®breaking¡¯.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Four

    Little more than a week passed. Settling in was easier than Jace thought. They hadn¡¯t given him his own room yet. As they needed to clear out a place for him to sleep. And Evaliena¡¯s hospitality suffocated him. He thought his palette was being spoiled by good food. Also, he¡¯s never felt this refreshed before, usually still feeling sleepy. He knew this feeling wouldn¡¯t last long.

    Sitting at a table with a set of wax tablets and a blackboard in front of him. Evaliena scrawled various collections of characters across the powder matted surface with yellowed chalk. The vixen turned to Jace. ¡°Now I want you over here.¡± She waved him over. ¡°And I¡¯m going to tell you each line, and you¡¯re going to write your mother tongue on here.¡± She tapped the chalk on the board.

    Jace wished he had his laptop or his phone. But¡­ he hadn¡¯t been experiencing any sort of withdrawal. He took the chalk from Evaliena¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Now, this line says. ¡®Welcome to Ayre, Jace.¡¯ ¡®Today we¡¯re going to learn imperial common.¡¯ ¡®After that I¡¯ll test you on mathematics¡¯ ¡®Then we¡¯ll do some cooking.¡¯¡± Evaliena instructed as she pointed to each word. Jace wrote out each word. His lack of grace with the chalk resulted in the stick dropping chips on the floor. ¡°¡®Additionally, I might teach you how to repair your clothes.¡¯ ¡®And finally down the line, I may teach you herb lore.¡¯¡± Evaliena took a breath. ¡°We¡¯ll need to work on your writing.¡±

    ¡°I.. I never used a blackboard before!¡­My teachers never used a board at all¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh. What did they use? More of your fancy ¡®technology.¡¯¡± The vixen spoke with a bit of sass. ¡°You¡¯ll have to get used to using wax, charcoal, chalk, a slide ruler and an abacus then.¡± Jace became dejected not having something with a screen to make use of, something to fiddle with. ¡°One thing I have to beat into you, Pup. I¡¯ll be teaching you methods, not memorisation.¡±

    ¡°Not magic?¡± Jace looked up at the vixen.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get to that¡­¡± Evaliena put her hands on her hips. ¡°It¡¯s also not called Magic. That¡¯s for fools who don¡¯t know any better.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to learn¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, you can learn the arcane arts.¡± Evaliena stared at the stone vaulted ceiling in thought. ¡°Normally, we awaken kits when they reach their first milestone. You¡¯re a bit older¡­¡±

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be any different, right?¡± Jace sounded concerned. Evaliena rubbed her arm with her free hand.

    ¡°Look, Jace, just cooperate with me,¡± Evaliena placed a hand on his back and leaned down to look him in the eye. ¡°Your awakening will be a surprise. I need to make a few arrangements, though. Until then, trust me and also learn your letters.¡± She took the chalk from Jace¡¯s hand and flipped over the blackboard.

    ¡°Now I¡¯m going to write out each character and number of common uses.¡± She began writing out the script of her native language for Jace to learn.

    <hr>

    There were fifty characters in total; each representing a phoneme found in the imperial language and three different counting systems. The alphabet had special characters, a dot dictated nouns before them. At least it was an easy language to write as well as fast to write. Every letter needed only one stroke of the pen and could link easily to another letter. With every word written as spoken rather than as read.

    But it was all so exhausting. He had his hands on top of his head and chin to the table. He looked to the side at Evaliena. ¡°What?¡± She shrugged.

    ¡°There is no way Imperial common is this¡­ easy¡­¡± He looked at the board with everything written on it.

    ¡°And why does that make you think that?¡± Evaliena was laying down on a cushion as she read a large tome. Her palm against her cheek made her look disinterested.

    ¡°I dunno.¡± Jace shrugged. ¡°It feels off to me. Like it was made up.¡±

    Evaliena stretched her arms. ¡°That¡¯s because it is. And it was forced onto us by a brutally efficient empire. What used to be dozens of languages is now just a few.¡± Jace sat and leaned to listen. ¡°The court scholar that came up with the writing system has been forgotten by time, but that work continues to live on because it¡¯s just so¡­ good. The ability to write and describe any word in a few letters is just so hard to shake. So every Therian and Hume child knows and understands the script.¡± And likely everyone else spoke a common tongue.

    ¡°I would love to know about the empire.¡± Jace turned in his seat towards the vixen, resting his head on his arm against the back of the chair.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t love to know about the empire that ruined us.¡± Evaliena pointed to her lazy self and to Jace. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s downright depressing¡­¡±

    ¡°My world had its share of nasty regimes.¡±

    Evaliena relented and rolled onto her back, looking at the ceiling with a sigh. ¡°It was many millennia before my time. But the Empire of Orichalcum and Stars¡¯ wounds, which are still felt everywhere across Ayre. Like other Mer, the snake like Nagasii came from the stars. Unlike the others. They came in force in great black ships.¡±

    ¡°But they¡¯re gone now?¡± Jace listened intently. So Mer were peoples that came from outer space? That was interesting information to know.

    ¡°They were civil engineers and logisticians without peer. However, they saw our world, lush and green, and eyed it greedily. We were not unused to the dismissal and derision the other Mer gave us, bar one group, however. That was an incredible mistake of complacency.¡±

    ¡°What did the empire do?¡± Jace pushed for information. He wanted to know.

    ¡°They tried to subvert us,¡± Evaliena replied flatly, and she opened up into a tirade. ¡°They didn¡¯t want to just enslave us, they wanted to turn us into them. Entire generations stolen and forcefully educated in their ways. They called it a kindness. Called it civilising the savages. They were actively trying to wipe out our way of life. Entire clans destroyed and forcefully mixed together. Our beautiful argent souls, tainted forever. And anyone that resisted was simply put to the sword and cast aside.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s terrible¡­¡± Jace could not relate. From his world, history spoke of movements and regimes that did similar horrible things. After all, it was all recorded, so people remembered. ¡°What caused their downfall?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ they dominated our world for a number of centuries, then vanished. Leaving behind their ¡®domesticated¡¯ Therians and Hume servants.¡± The vixen intoned the word ¡®domesticated,¡¯ with a fair amount of acid. Jace made a mental note not to bring them up. ¡°Everything they had built decayed without the knowledge to maintain it. And everyone has forgotten them, save for a select few. All that¡¯s left now is their language.¡± The vixen slumped before letting out a tired sigh. ¡°Is your curiosity sated now, pup?¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ didn¡¯t know it was that bad¡­¡± Jace felt sick in his gut and looked away.

    ¡°Drop the pity. We don¡¯t need it. And don¡¯t talk about the old empire. It opens old wounds for many clans.¡± Evaliena warned. ¡°Now take a nap, then it¡¯s back to work.¡± She poked a cheeky tongue out at Jace.

    <hr>

    ¡°Yeah that¡¯s it, use your knuckle to guide the knife and keep the edge away from your fingers,¡± Evaliena coached Jace along, showing how he could adjust his grip on the knife. Jace helped to prepare supper again, with Evaliena making good on her promise. Jace didn¡¯t like the look of his cuts, both on his fingers and on the herbs and vegetables. She used her spells to seal up the wounds, but he still felt the pains. ¡°It¡¯s good enough for the broth. Besides, a bit of texture is fine and you¡¯ll get better with time.¡±

    ¡°As with everything else.¡± Jace rolled his eyes as he kept chopping up the rest of the pile. He had to peel the carrots and apples by hand. Evaliena managed it with a delicate spiral, Jace¡¯s was bits and pieces. The Vixen, however, kept the encouragement up.

    A question burned in Jace¡¯s mind. ¡°Where¡¯d you learn all this?¡± He asked regarding Evaliena¡¯s vast culinary knowledge.

    ¡°My Mentor¡­ was rather particular with food. The less said about my cooking skill around that time, the better.¡± Jace tried to stifle a laugh. The ideas of smoking and charred food ran through his head. Evaliena gave him a light nudge. ¡°When you burn your first loaf, I¡¯ll be the one laughing.¡±

    Evaliena dropped a mortar and pestle with a light thud on the table Jace was working from. He had gotten used to things just appearing from the yellow vixen¡¯s hands. It was like she had a personal bag of holding. A space where she could just summon objects from without feeling the weight. ¡°Mind if I ask where you got that from? You didn¡¯t exactly move very far.¡±

    ¡°No point in telling you what it is. You can not see the construct yet since your senses haven¡¯t been awoken, yet,¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure I could understand it conceptually,¡±

    ¡°Point taken. You did tell me the outline of a story about some dark lord¡¯s phylactery.¡± Jace had shared one of his favourite stories, about brotherhood, a ring, a dark lord, and a journey to save the world. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± She stood up straight, with the back of her hand curled against her hip. ¡°Do you have an idea of objects that are larger on the inside than on the outside?¡±

    Jace nodded. ¡°Like a bag of holding?¡±

    ¡°Bag of holding?¡± Evaliena looked thoughtful for a moment. ¡°Why did I not think of that?¡± She muttered. ¡°Well, anyway, there¡¯s a construct in my right hand I can summon. I can store items into it and take them out. It even keeps perishables fresh.¡± That would be useful, Jace thought. He kept chopping away. ¡°However¡­ You will not be getting one until I think you¡¯re ready.¡± A bit of snark in her movements.

    ¡°What would that entail?¡± Jace flicked an ear.

    ¡°You¡¯d have to wait.¡±

    ¡°Until I learn your letters?¡± Jace replied.

    Evaliena nodded. ¡°Now stop chopping.¡± She poured into the mortar black dry seeds that were long and had a rough skin. ¡°Grind up this pepper for me. I¡¯ll lead you through the motions.¡±

    <hr>

    He went to bed early. Just as the sun disappeared rather than staying up and sharing drinks with the older three Reynards. And the idea of snacking on pickled vegetables wasn¡¯t up to his palette. Yet. Something he noticed over the past week was the amount of meat they were eating. Bread and cereals were often only in the morning. Vegetables were little more than small pickled snacks or used for soup and broth base. And what little fruit he saw got turned into jam. Jam that was dangerously mild with its sweetness. He thought he could accidentally eat an entire jar without noticing.

    Jace threw himself onto a small bed next to Evaliena¡¯s. A nice fluffy new bed. He didn¡¯t know where they got the bed and sheets. But he¡¯s thankful for his own little round bed. He buried his nose into it and took a deep sniff. It smelt freshly cleaned, there were hints of other people deep in the down. He wondered how many others had slept on this round of feathers, reeds and fabric. Were they similar to him? Or were they just other Reynards?

    He also thought. That by now he should have gone stir crazy from the lack of entertainment and internet. What was so different about him now? Was boredom just the new normal? So many questions he may never know the answer to.

    ¡°Hey¡­¡±

    ¡°Somebody new¡­¡±

    He bolted up straight. He looked around the room carefully. Where did that come from? It was a very weak voice, frail and wispy.

    ¡°Are you there?...¡±

    Jace didn¡¯t answer. He tugged up a blanket over his back and head.

    ¡°Come and play with me¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so lonely¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been so long¡­¡±

    Jace felt something brush across his flank. He looked back and saw two faintly glowing yellow eyes that eerily glinted in the darkness.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you shy?...¡±

    Jace leapt and ran out of Evaliena¡¯s room, crashing to the ground just outside the doorway. Skidding along the floor into the rocky pillar. He looked back at the darkness of Evaliena¡¯s room as the faint outline of something on four legs slowly strode towards him. Those two eyes locked onto him. His heart raced. Then they faded away.

    Evaliena grabbed Jace¡¯s shoulder gently. He nearly screamed, biting back the urge as he saw the vixen¡¯s worried face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± Her breath smelt of alcohol.

    Jace didn¡¯t realise the pace of his breath. He looked back at the open door. ¡°S-s-something was in there with me!¡± He pointed his shaking hand at Evaliena¡¯s dark room.

    ¡°Did you hear a voice?¡± Evaliena asked as she looked at her room.

    ¡°Y-y-yeah.¡±

    Evaliena cursed quietly.

    ¡°Language¡­~¡±

    ¡°Aw, you¡¯re no fun¡­¡±

    ¡°Did you just hear that?¡± Evaliena looked back as her ears twitched.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Jace continued to stare at the dark space.

    ¡°It¡¯s a spirit¡­ That¡¯s trapped here. She comes along from time to time.¡±

    ¡°Is she dangerous?¡±

    The pair hear a loud groan faintly echo below. Cedar and Burr bellowed with laughter. ¡°No¡­ but she enjoys messing with people¡­ in less than wholesome ways¡­ Just go to bed and do the best you can to ignore her. She eventually runs out of energy.¡± She gently nudged. ¡°However, if she goes for your nethers, you might as well run to me.¡±

    Jace gulped and shook his head. ¡°Nah, I think I¡¯ll stay by you tonight.¡± His body shook with fear.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine¡­¡± Evaliena sighed. ¡°Now you think the place is haunted, ugh.¡± A roaming spirit makes the place haunted anyway, Jace dismissed. Just more and more things to look out for.

    ¡°Is there a story behind that spirit?¡± Jace curiously asked.

    ¡°Not while she¡¯s awake.¡± The yellow vixen told Jace, squeezing his arm tight. He held his tongue and nodded.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Five

    Months pass¡­ And it was the deep of winter with a thick blanket of snow outside the keep. Multiple fires were lit around the place to keep the space warm.

    Jace was reaching his limit. ¡°How does Cedar deal with this?¡± He asked himself as irritation built up in his system. He felt as if Cinnamon¡¯s ¡®stink¡¯ was deliberately targeting his nose. It lingered for ages every time the red furred Reynard passed through the keep. The Reynard had passed through the living area to grab a few things to eat recently.

    The quill¡¯s spine snapped in his hand. ¡°Faaak!¡±

    ¡°Language!¡± Evaliena shouted from the floor on a futon-like cushion.

    ¡°I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t take this anymore¡­¡± Jace growled, putting the pieces of the quill down. He placed both his hands on the table and got up. ¡°I can¡¯t. I need an escape¡­ If I have to smell his pheromones again, I¡¯m going to go insane.¡±

    ¡°If Me, Burr and Baysil can deal with it, you can deal with it.¡± Evaliena pointed out. ¡°We¡¯re suffering just as much as you are.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t grown up the way you have.¡± Jace scratched at the table with a claw. ¡°I never had to deal with any of this.¡± He put his head in his hands, scratching at the mane that was building on the top and back of his crown. ¡°I thought I could handle it. I can¡¯t. It feels as if he¡¯s targeting me specifically¡­ When is he supposed to leave?¡±

    Evaliena was silent for a moment. ¡°When this winter is over. His affairs should be in order.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I might just,¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡± Evaliena interrupted Jace. ¡°Actually, how about I take you somewhere tomorrow?¡± Jace¡¯s face lit up and looked at Evaliena. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you haven¡¯t been affected by cabin fever yet.¡± She cracked a smile. ¡°Not exactly the place I would raise kits, though.¡± She muffled her voice with her arm.

    ¡°Where?¡± Jace sat up. Wondering what another place other than this mountainous valley could be like. Not that any of the fables or stories he read over the last month gave him any ideas.

    ¡°I can think of a few places. Won¡¯t be the outpost down in the valley.¡± Evaliena looked thoughtful, her head shifting.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask.¡± Jace stretched. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t anyone come up here?¡±

    ¡°Oh that, the keep and its surroundings are obscured with a shrouding spell. There is also no reason for anyone to hike up a mountain and chance upon this spot.¡± The vixen explained. ¡°Now as for going somewhere. I guess one of the way towns or road inns.¡±

    ¡°Why not a city?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think your sensitive nose would survive any of the cities I can step to.¡± She chuckled. ¡°I guess tomorrow¡¯s settled then¡­ But you should get back to your letters.¡± She poked her tongue out of her upside-down face at Jace.

    <hr>

    ¡°Now here¡¯s your travel cloak and shirt.¡± Evaliena handed Jace a grey cloak similar to the one when he first met the vixen. The fabric was hard wearing and made of a felt-like material. He slung it around his shoulders over the shirt. He found out it could be a fully enclosing cloak or a cape if he required with an adjustment to the ties on the insides of the flaps.

    ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t expect it to be this¡­ so free¡­¡± Jace couldn¡¯t quite describe the feeling of wearing the travel cloak.

    Evaliena took the fold of fabric that now hung from behind Jace¡¯s head. Pulling it over his head and ears.

    ¡°This feels familiar.¡± Jace commented as he tested the feel of the fabric around his arms. There were hole pockets for his arms to fit through and reach the outside.

    ¡°Mmm, not bad for a first fitting. As you grow, I¡¯ll need to make another one, but this should last you a few years at best.¡± Evaliena sounded proud.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t remind me.¡± Jace gritted his teeth and tucked his cloak closer. The thought of him putting everyone through what Cinnamon did weighed on his mind.

    ¡°It really isn¡¯t as bad as you think.¡± She assured Jace. ¡°Though if you wanted to change your forms to something less offensive¡­¡± Evaliena cooed teasingly.

    ¡°Nope, nope, not thinking about it.¡± He held his hands up in the cloak.

    ¡°I only jest. Now here, take this.¡± She handed Jace a small satchel. It was heavy for his size, but smelled of baked pastries and cured dried meat. ¡°There¡¯s also a small gift for you in there, too.¡±

    Jace looked inside the satchel. Next to the wrapped supplies, there was a small bracelet of hemp with an orange gemstone anchored to it. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± He pulled the piece of jewellery out.

    ¡°Just put it on your wrist. It¡¯s helping me keep track of you.¡±

    ¡°Like a beacon?¡± He carefully slipped the bracelet over his left arm.

    ¡°Like a beacon.¡± She patted Jace on the back. ¡°Now. Where we¡¯re going, it¡¯s going to be warmer with no snow.¡±

    ¡°Wait, how far are we going?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± The yellow vixen urged Jace to get downstairs and outside.

    Once outside. The pair walked to the centre of the snowed in courtyard of the keep. Snow crunching beneath the pads of his toes and foot as he took careful steps down. The wind was bracing. Even more so being winter. He thought himself lucky that his body had acclimated to a thicker layer of fur. his feet became lined with insulating fur too. Which annoyed him slightly, as the fur often caught on things.

    ¡°How much warmer will it be again?¡± Jace asked as Evaliena held her arm out.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be cold, just no snow. I just told you. Now take my arm.¡±

    Jace took Evaliena¡¯s arm firmly. She turned and pulled him close to her front. Evaliena stepped. The world twisted sideways as his vision filled with that haunting spectral cerulean he witnessed months before.

    <hr>

    Jace fell to his knees and started hurling from an empty stomach. Good thing he listened to Evaliena about not eating this morning. The taste was still bitter, however. He wiped his mouth with the back of his arm and slowly got up. He could smell the earthy and dewy scent of a forest around him.

    ¡°Trust me, pup.¡± Evaliena spoke empathetically. ¡°It took me months to get used to teleporting without emptying my lunch.¡±

    ¡°Is there any way around it?¡± Jace spat the last of the phlegm out of his muzzle. Blinking his watery eyes as he looked around at the forested surroundings. It was certainly a different type of tree. He looked down and realised he was on stone bricks that were covered in wet moss. He got up. ¡°Where are we? I thought we were going to a town?¡±

    ¡°I took us to a beacon.¡± Evaliena explained. ¡°Taking us straight to town would upset people.¡±

    Jace looked around some more. They appeared to be in the ruins of a structure. ¡°I¡¯m surprised this beacon functions at all. Also, why would they be upset?¡±

    ¡°Most Humes don¡¯t like remembering the fact they can not step a thousand miles like we can.¡± Evaliena smirked. ¡°Also, look up.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± He looked up. He saw a floating diamond-shaped piece of stone just lazily spinning in the air. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not normal.¡± Jace stammered. It had rusted silver inlays on the carvings of the faces.

    ¡°That¡¯s the beacon. So long as that¡¯s still in good shape. It¡¯s possible to step here with little effort.¡± The vixen explained dryly. ¡°Now come along.¡± She waved Jace over. ¡°We have a long way to go before we reach the road.¡± Jace followed along.

    The forest differed from the deep weald. The trees here were tall and thin instead of wide and branching, collected in loosely scattered clumps across the hilly landscape with many open wildflower plots. Noticing the wildflowers, Jace thought he was going to be sneezing if he agitated any of the bushes.

    ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding that it was cold here¡­¡± Jace commented as his feet pressed into the cold, damp soil. He pulled his travel cloak closed. ¡°At least it¡¯s not blowing.¡±

    ¡°We get snow, they get mud and ice when the peak of winter hits them.¡±

    ¡°How far until we reach the road?¡±

    ¡°We get there when we get there.¡± She told Jace. So he kept quiet and followed behind the taller Reynard. Her yellow bushy tail was hanging out of her travel cloak. She was wearing the cloak more loosely than he was. He could not stop looking as it swayed. He suddenly lurched forward and bit the end of it. Evaliena let out a squeak. She immediately looked behind and scowled. ¡°Oh, not this¡­¡±

    Jace let go and stepped back. What was he thinking? The heavy brown furred hand came down on his head more gently than expected. ¡°Next time. Resist. Pup¡­ I know it¡¯s tempting, but don¡¯t¡­¡± her sapphire eyes looked Jace directly in his.

    He slowly nodded his head. Evaliena let out a sigh. And they kept moving.

    <hr>

    It was a long hike to get to the road. With the light chirping of forest birds and insects, along with Evaliena¡¯s muffled crunch of leaves under her feet to keep Jace company. When they finally broke out onto the road.

    The first thing Jace noticed was just how straight and level it was. Both sides had stacked slate walls to hold back against the forest¡¯s roots and soil.

    ¡°This looks recent¡­¡± Jace commented as he looked either way along the road.

    ¡°It¡¯s several centuries old.¡± Evaliena replied. ¡°This way now. Stay close. Least the bandits snatch you up as they gallop by.¡± Jace then held close to Evaliena, also getting underfoot and scanning his ears and eyes back and forth.

    ¡°How much further?¡± Jace asked.

    ¡°If my memory serves. Just past that mountain.¡± She pointed to the range that was before them, which the road went straight through the middle of two peaks.

    ¡°That¡¯ll take us all day.¡± Jace whined.

    ¡°Unless you want to shell out for the responsibility and cost of owning a mount, then you¡¯ll have to get used to walking so much.¡± Evaliena poked her tongue out at Jace. Jace could hear the rumbling of cartwheels and the heavy footfalls of whatever was pulling it coming from behind them. ¡°Well, we might have transportation after all?¡± Evaliena took a step to the side of the road, pulling Jace with her. ¡°Keep your hood up.¡± She warned.

    Jace saw a large, covered wagon some ways away. It was being pulled along by a large reptilian-like creature. Which had awnings providing a modicum of protection from the elements. ¡°That¡¯s a big lizard.¡± Jace exclaimed.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a ground drake. What are you expecting? Oh¡­¡± Evaliena thought about it for a moment. ¡°You don¡¯t have working animals in your world, do you?¡± Jace shook his head in acknowledgement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re usually friendly creatures.¡±

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    An instinctual need to close against the vixen¡¯s side crept up on Jace as the wagon approached. As much as he tried to bury the urge, he found himself creeping slowly behind Evaliena¡¯s side.

    The smell that hit Jace¡¯s nose was uncomfortable. A Mixture of scent the ¡®ground drake¡¯ gave off was akin to walking into a horse¡¯s stable. The scaly beast dragging the wagon came to a thudding stomp. It seemed to give Evaliena a respectful nod. The pair moved to the driver. A human looking individual wrapped heavily in drab winter clothes. ¡°Looking for a ride to town?¡± The driver said with a heavily nasal accent.

    ¡°If you¡¯re willing to take two Therians to inner fields near Bellac?¡± Evaliena spoke cautiously.

    ¡°Aye, I can do that. I just got done selling the last of my wares to the previous town. Mind, there¡¯s two other travellers in the back.¡±

    ¡°This should cover your expenses, then.¡± Evaliena pulled a small collection of silver strips from her cloak and left them in the driver¡¯s seat.

    The driver¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°Well, get on then. I won¡¯t ask questions.¡± He waved Jace and Evaliena down.

    Evaliena leant down a little to whisper in Jace¡¯s hood covered ear. ¡°I¡¯m going to say this once. Keep your muzzle shut until we get off.¡± Jace nodded slightly. ¡°Oh, and you should eat some of the stuff out of your pack. I can hear your stomach rumbling.¡±

    Evaliena helped Jace up into the back of the wagon. He unsteadily clambered past the thick, weatherproofed canvas.

    ¡°I thought I smelt something disgusting when we stopped.¡± A dismissive feminine voice spoke. Jace nearly stumbled back upon hearing the words. He also clasped his hands over his mouth so he didn¡¯t speak. Regaining his balance, he rolled himself against the wooden wall opposite the two over travellers.

    The first to catch his eye was the larger individual. An olive-skinned male with a shaved face and well groomed short dark hair. He dressed in a close fitting brown and red gambeson and woollen trousers. Beside the fellow was a longsword in its scabbard, round shield, and several bags. A mercenary maybe? ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that around a mage, woman.¡± The muscular man spoke with more warmth.

    The other traveller, wrapped up in a thick grey travel cloak, snorted. Jace could barely make out the face. She covered it with a hood and scarf. There was a bow, quiver, and a simple backpack at her side.

    It must have been his increased sense of smell as he could smell the body odours of the two. He didn¡¯t like it. Evaliena, more gracefully, climbed into the wagon and took her seat next to Jace.

    The man narrowed his eyes at Evaliena. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see one of your kind so close to civilization.¡±

    Jace started rummaging through his pack, and pulled out some wrapped pieces of dried meat and gnawed on them. He hadn¡¯t realised just how hungry he was.

    ¡°What, have you encountered Reynards before?¡± Evaliena spoke cordially as the wagon started moving. Rocking the occupations from side to side.

    ¡°A few. You¡¯re a skittish bunch.¡± The man crooked a smile.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m in no mood to socialise.¡± Evaliena replied.

    ¡°Makes two of us,¡± said the Hume woman.

    ¡°Just business, huh?¡± said the man as he leant back.

    Evaliena nodded. The rest of the ride was mind numbingly quiet, only broken occasionally by the mercenary trying to make conversation. Which Evaliena did not indulge and Jace remained dutifully silent.

    <hr>

    Jace had fallen asleep during the constant rocking of the ride.

    ¡°Right!¡± the driver shouted as the wagon came to a halting stop. This abruptly woke Jace up. ¡°Your stop is here, Therians.¡±

    The man waved while the woman said nothing as Evaliena and Jace hopped off the back of the wagon. The wagon immediately left off without a word of goodbye.

    Jace stretched and yawned. That was a good nap, he thought to himself. ¡°Why did we stop here?¡± He wiggled his toes against the compacted dirt road.

    ¡°To save that merchant a headache.¡± Evaliena shook herself out. ¡°Now come along.¡±

    Jace scouted his new surroundings. Both sides of the road had stone hedges, intermittently broken up with wooden gates. And as he looked at the mountain range, he saw the patchwork of stone and tree hedges circling fallow farmland, with farmsteads dotting the landscape. Then he looked ahead to the Town. Which had rather imposing defensive stone walls with towers regularly spaced as far as he could see.

    ¡°Why¡­ would¡­ you¡­¡± Jace wanted to ask why Evaliena wanted to save the merchant a headache. ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    He noticed the traffic jam before the town¡¯s probably one of many gatehouses. He could see individuals going from cart to cart, checking the contents.

    ¡°We don¡¯t want to sit through that.¡± She pointed towards the scene. ¡°We¡¯ll go through one of the other gates instead.¡±

    ¡°Does this road see a lot of traffic?¡± Jace asked as the pair started walking, finding a path heading around the town through the fields.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Evaliena happily admitted. ¡°Not my place to keep track of who is trading with whom. Besides, we don¡¯t need the extra scrutiny.¡±

    ¡°Why would that be?¡± He was curious what Evaliena would have to fear.

    ¡°I¡¯m a mage of not so inconsiderable power, Jace.¡± Evaliena looked to be searching for something along the top of the town walls. ¡°And I would rather not pay the not inconsiderable entry tax for being one.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an entry tax?!¡± Jace exclaimed.

    ¡°Remember when you asked about the spatial construct I hide things in?¡± She flicked an ear as she kept searching the top of the walls. ¡°They don¡¯t wanna bother searching through it, so they just lump a hefty tax on us. There are exemptions, but they¡¯re hard to get.¡±

    ¡°Okay, that somewhat makes sense¡­ What are you looking for?¡± Jace followed where Evaliena was looking across the wall.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a gap in the guards. Once we¡¯re in, no one is going to bother us,¡± Evaliena assured as she stopped to look closer. ¡°Well, I guess we¡¯ll have to pay up today. Come along now.¡± She waved Jace to follow.

    <hr>

    Jace was stepping side to side along the path, dodging piles of excrement while the vixen seemed completely unbothered. They took another junction into another road towards another of the town¡¯s gatehouses. It was an impressive sight. Fat rounded towers with machicolations and pointed roofs, flanking a large wooden gate. The entrance looked like a gaping maw with exposed teeth on the portcullis.

    There were a few carts and wagons passing through. Not as many as the traffic jam that was occurring at the other gate. Evaliena clicked her finger and a soft breeze fell over Jace. It was¡­ disconcerting. His fur felt refreshed, his hair felt well groomed. And his clothes, they looked freshly cleaned¡­ A mild amount of anger built up in Jace¡¯s mind.

    Jace leans round the vixen to look at her face. ¡°You had me washing my own sheets and clothes. Even taught me how to groom myself properly. And you could do this the entire time?¡± Jace said with a tinge of annoyance.

    ¡°It helps you grow.¡± Evaliena kept her eyes forward, laughing softly. ¡°However, there¡¯s a point to that.¡±

    ¡°Point is?¡± Jace tilted his head and ears.

    ¡°There are times and places where spellcraft isn¡¯t possible or wise, so knowing how to do things without mana helps.¡± Evaliena explained as she started working towards the gate. ¡°Also, it keeps you on your toes.¡± She tapped Jace on the snout with her hand. ¡°Come along.¡± Jace rubbed his nose with both his hands and growled lightly. ¡°Now you know how I wanted you to be quiet in the wagon?¡±

    ¡°You want me to be quiet again as we go through the gate?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡± As they approached. There were several guardsmen at the gate. They wore steel helmets, heavy gambesons whose purple dry was fading, and thick plain trousers. Most carried poleaxes in hand, often leaning on them, and others carried maces on their hips. The shorter individual standing next to what presumably was the Hume sergeant, with their slightly different helmet and fully armoured right arm. Was a Therian in a cloak with their hood up, dyed with the same fading purple as the guards.

    ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Jace murmured. Evaliena shh¡¯d him as they neared the guards.

    ¡°Halt, you two,¡± one guard spoke with a heavy accent. Jace and Evaliena stopped. ¡°Unless you have papers, mages must pay the entry tax. Wait here.¡± The guard lazily ordered. Jace wasn¡¯t a mage yet, but he guessed the guards assumed he was one.

    Jace stood silently. He noticed the guards were all taller than Evaliena and significantly taller than him. Are Reynards just naturally short? He could also smell of long unwashed clothes and the body odour of a long day standing guard.

    The sergeant and the cloaked Therian walked up to the pair. The sergeant spoke first with a more formal tone of voice than the guards did. ¡°Not every day we have a clanner turn up to our town, let alone two of them. State your business.¡± The sergeant didn¡¯t ask for papers.

    ¡°The younger one isn¡¯t a mage.¡± The cloaked therian told the sergeant before Evaliena could get a word in. Jace shuddered a little. Only now he noticed the slight pressure on his being. Where did he feel this before?

    ¡°What?¡± the sergeant said loud enough for several guards to turn their heads. ¡°Don¡¯t be pulling my leg here, Thornly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Cloaked, Therian spoke again, their voice clearly male. They shifted, turning their perception onto Evaliena. ¡°This one, on the other hand. You¡¯re veiling yourself Reynard.¡±

    Evaliena took down her hood, exposing her red mane and brown-coloured ears. ¡°I¡¯m not here to be interrogated. I¡¯m here to purchase some supplies and any items that may catch me or my ward¡¯s fancy.¡± Evaliena replied to the sergeant cordially, ignoring the cloaked therian completely.

    ¡°My acquaintance is not finished here yet¡­¡± the sergeant spoke back. Evaliena summoned a heavy sack from thin air that landed in her right hand. It jingled with the sound of coin and glass. The cloaked therian took several steps back. Jace couldn¡¯t see their eyes, but they were looking at a spot in the air above Evaliena¡¯s hand.

    ¡°I¡¯m not here to cause trouble. How much?¡± Evaliena focused only on the sergeant. As she started reaching inside the bag. Jace thought she was being rude.

    The Therian grumbled. ¡°She¡¯s clear, sergeant Gaven. Give her the highest rate.¡± They looked away. ¡°Bitch¡­¡± Jace barely heard the curse.

    ¡°Now hold on.¡± The sergeant blinked at his coworker for a moment.

    There was the clinking of coins from the sack Evaliena held. ¡°Five electrum strips should be enough.¡±

    ¡°Hey, we got a high roller.¡± One guard chuckled.

    ¡°You should be more courteous to your inferiors, Archmage.¡± The cloaked therian spat quietly.

    ¡°Hold on, we still have to check for contraband.¡± The sergeant insisted firmly. They were also leering at Evaliena. ¡°Also names. What kind of profession do you have that would let you own so much?¡± Evaliena poured the five green gold strips of metal into the guard¡¯s gloved hand.

    ¡°The boy has a simple beacon on his arm for his protection.¡± Evaliena stated calmly. ¡°My charge¡¯s name is Jace and mine is Evaliena. As for my source of income, the local lord would struggle to pay for my services.¡±

    ¡°Those aren¡¯t Therian names.¡± The cloaked therian commented, still sounding annoyed. ¡°She has just the one construct on her, the storage one.¡±

    ¡°No clan affiliation?¡± The sergeant inquired.

    ¡°The Citrines disowned me ages ago. And to be honest, I didn¡¯t care for clan politics either.¡± She said dryly and whisked away the sack of coinage. ¡°Is that all?¡± She kept her hand out.

    ¡°You can pass.¡± Sergeant dropped a pair of tokens into Evaliena¡¯s brown paw. Then waved them through. Evaliena tugged Jace to make him walk ahead of her. He did not look back as the pair passed through the gate. He could hear the sergeant and the cloaked therian arguing quietly behind them.

    ¡°Did you have to be so rude to him?¡± Jace broke his silence as he kept walking. Awning shaded the area ahead of them. He thought it was unfair.

    ¡°Acknowledging the townie would have just made things worse.¡± Evaliena sighed and pulled her cowl back over her head. ¡°I don¡¯t like doing it, but I want to avoid revealing myself as much as possible. Least the town mages start vomiting as I walk through.¡±

    ¡°Personal experience?¡± Jace remarked.

    Jace could feel the plotting smirk of his ¡®guardian,¡¯ had. ¡°Soon you¡¯ll witness my glory, and that nausea you experienced from the farstep. That¡¯ll be a picnic in comparison.¡±

    ¡°And about your clan disowning you?¡± Jace curiously asked.

    ¡°The less you know, the better.¡± Evaliena dismissed. ¡°Let¡¯s go haggling, shall we?¡±

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Six

    The constant trundle of carts rolling over stone tiled streets. The breeze whistled through the awning stretching over the sides of the streets. Laughter of children playing about without a care in the world. Crowds of voices chatting and dealing with one another. Tooting of flutes and horns and strumming of lutes and lyres by entertaining gleemen. All to a backdrop of yellowing white plastered apartments, hanging baskets dressing the windows with fragrant flowers and herbs.

    The place seemed to be a living anachronism. The garb of the guards suggested an older, more middle-ages style. While the people of the town wore more close fitting, modern style of clothing with buttons instead of ties along with many hats and head covers.

    The town was much cleaner than expected. The sound of rushing water ringed in his ears from a drain close by as the pair walked along the side of the street. However, he had to hold the collar of his cloak to his nose as the air was less than agreeable, even if there were inviting smells of freshly baked pastries, breads and roasted meats dominating the streets.

    ¡°Jace, could you stop holding up your nose? It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± Evaliena leant over the side of Jace¡¯s neck.

    Jace whispered back. ¡°I¡¯m not used to it¡­ my nose is just so sensitive.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t get used to it if you keep trying to stay away from the smells.¡± Evaliena spoke. Jace nodded and lowered the collar. The smells intensified, but not as much as he expected. If he focused, he could ignore the offensive smells if he wanted to¡­ Maybe this was how the others were able to ignore Cinnamon. Evaliena straightened up.

    ¡°What is there to see around here?¡± Jace whispered. He didn¡¯t know what the town offered¡­ at all¡­ He knew what the malls around his home city were like. Not an open air town like this.

    ¡°Good question. Let¡¯s head to the market square. I said we needed some supplies.¡± Then Evaliena pushed Jace forward. ¡°Then maybe we could scout out some of the shops.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to impose on you more than I should,¡± Jace said as the pair navigated the streets. Evaliena let out a worrying chuckle. Stalls crowded the streets, and it didn¡¯t take them long to walk to the market square of the town. Weren¡¯t they afraid of their stuff being stolen? The air was heavy with the scents of dried herbs and bags of spices. Peppers, Nutmeg, mace, turmeric, ginger, rosemary, thyme, so many others. There was leather, sheep¡¯s skin, wool, bolts of cloth. All sorts of raw products. Oils, butters, creams and milks. Jams and pickles. Live caged poultry. Cured and dried meats¡­

    Jace never saw so many people shouting about their wares, haggling, and bartering with each other. Evaliena kept a hand on Jace¡¯s shoulder so she wouldn¡¯t lose him in the crowd. The crowd, a mixture of human-like Humes with their tanned skins and dark hairs. The piebald and many-coloured coats, varied the appearances of the less numerous Therians. ¡°You might as well put a harness on me if you¡¯re gonna keep leading me about,¡± Jace muttered.

    ¡°That¡¯s an idea if I ever have any children again.¡± She mused. ¡°But no, I know you¡¯re more independent and responsible than that. Just¡­ there are many people here today, it must be market day.¡± Jace could feel the subtle movement of Evaliena scanning around through the arm on his shoulder. Then there was a tug. ¡°This way, Jace.¡±

    Evaliena guided them both to a stall racked with hanging sausages and other cured meats. There was also a large wooden pallet filled with fresh eggs. No fresh meat? No wait, it¡¯s winter. Jace corrected himself. The air was chilly, yet most people were wearing clothes as if it were a normal day.

    ¡°Ah, One Reynard and her¡­ pup?¡± The stall keeper examined as they both approached. ¡°You seem guarded today.¡±

    ¡°Oh, just keeping this one in sight.¡± The vixen replied.

    The stall keeper clapped their hands together, rubbing them eagerly. ¡°Well, what catches your eye, then?¡±

    <hr>

    Watching Evaliena haggle was something else. She willingly paid a heavy price to enter the town¡­ yet for getting a fair price, she was something else. A bit of arguing about the prices, Evaliena got some discounts, the stall keeper got some gains. By the end of the exchange, Evaliena had bought several legs of meat, ropes of sausages and two pallets of eggs, which she disappeared into that invisible construct over her hand. Jace couldn¡¯t help but salivate over some of the smells he was taking in.

    The clack and jiggle of a small pile of silver and bronze strips as the stall keeper wiped the currency into a sack and tucked it away into some strong box behind the stall. ¡°Pleasure doing business with ya yellow fur.¡± Half the stall¡¯s stock was just gone.

    Evaliena respectfully nodded her head and tugged Jace to follow her. This was an alien experience¡­ where he was just used to flashing a card over a scanner and a machine spitting out the desired object. This was far more personal and exciting! ¡°Got any other supplies you need to get?¡± Jace wondered.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna be roaming the market for a while, pup,¡± Evaliena explained. ¡°Need to get extra because I didn¡¯t expect to be looking after a growing lad such as you.¡± She lapped a hand on to the sides of Jace¡¯s arms. ¡°Now keep an eye out for anything you want in particular. But nothing too fancy now¡­¡±

    Jace rested his hand on his chin and rubbed it, supporting his elbow with his free hand. ¡°I wonder, do they sell precious stones? Minerals? Crystals?¡± He quietly listed. He used to have a few rock and mineral collections that were filled out by a fortnightly magazine.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that¡­¡± Evaliena looked around. They started slowly weaving through the crowds of the marketplace. Street urchins deliberately shoved their way past Jace a few times. He was sure they were trying to pickpocket him despite not having pockets at all. If movies and video-games taught him anything.

    They went from stall to stall, haggling and then purchasing various foodstuffs in bulk. But not any of the spices or herbs. Maybe they didn¡¯t need any of them. That construct was so bloody useful. Jace did keep an eye out, however few if any of the stalls were selling anything that wasn¡¯t perishable or disposable. He guessed anything worthwhile would be in proper shops.

    After stowing away so many sacks of flour into her invisible construct. ¡°That should be enough for a few more months.¡± Evaliena mentally checking off a list.

    ¡°My feet.¡± Jace whined, having had to stand on cold stones for what felt like an hour.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want to go home already?¡± Evaliena leaned down with a smile. A point made in her cloak as her hand leant on her hip.

    ¡°No, not that, just a lot of wondering about¡ª¡±

    ¡°We do have plenty of time. Wanna see the rest of the town?¡± Evaliena asked as she started walking. Jace followed by her side.

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°What else is there?¡± Jace was a little intrigued by what Evaliena meant. The town hall? The local pub? What was there to see in a town that didn¡¯t have electricity? Then, as they turned down a street with a large building, he heard running water, a lot of running water. And he saw clouds of cooling steam waft down. ¡°Is that a sauna?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Evaliena said flatly. ¡°That is actually one of a few public bathhouses.¡±

    ¡°Public bathhouses? Like swimming pools?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡± The vixen explained. ¡°Not everyone can get the water needed to bathe privately for themselves. So with one chipping in, they get the mana and funds together for one of those. Do you wanna go inside?¡± Evaliena teased softly, knowing how private an individual Jace was.

    ¡°Why is there steam?¡± He looked up, away from Evaliena¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s another part of it, that sauna, you said. Really opens the pores in one¡¯s skin.¡±

    ¡°Sounds fun¡­¡± Jace thought of another place they could go to. ¡°Are there any libraries?¡±

    Evaliena leant down. ¡°I doubt it. They may have a small book collection in the local adventurers¡¯ guild and town hall. But nothing on the scale you¡¯ll be thinking about in a town of this size.¡±

    Jace felt like a shot of energy went through his system. ¡°There¡¯s an adventurers guild?!¡± Evaliena just looked at Jace. Then he felt his spine wiggling as that tail he forgot about was wagging frantically. He immediately calmed down.

    ¡°Woah, woah, slow down.¡± Evaliena held her hands out before Jace. ¡°We are not going to that place. You¡¯re barely halfway to your second milestone.¡± Curbing Jace¡¯s enthusiasm. She thought for a moment. ¡°Ya know, you haven¡¯t noticed the tower in the centre of the town, right?¡± Evaliena gestured to her side.

    Jace hadn¡¯t paid much mind to the largest tower in the town, just assuming it was part of the town¡¯s defenses. ¡°Yeah, what about it? It¡¯s a tower?¡± Evaliena grinned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s just a tower¡­ right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an airship dock.¡± She stated.

    ¡°Air¡­ship¡­ dock?¡± Jace didn¡¯t quite believe or understand what he was hearing.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have those either?¡±

    Jace shook his head slowly, and his tail wagging.

    <hr>

    The aerial landing, as it was called. Written across the side in imperial common. A wide based tower with multiple large arches around the circumference, presumably for allowing for large amounts of cargo to be moved in and out. The walls had an inward parabolic arc to them, flowering out at the top of the tower into six ramps. Jace thought it was the town¡¯s keep when he barely saw the shape on the way in.

    Made of a combination of cement, black stone and painted metal struts. The inside had a collection of lifts of various sizes. Jace and Evaliena were climbing one of the ringing staircases up walls. The place had a collection of offices. They were heading to the observation deck, however. A bulge of stone work and enclosed by a cage of woodwork to prevent falls.

    This had to be at least thirty stories tall, Jace thought to himself as they turned off onto the observation deck. The wind was loud up here, but the hoardings deflected most of it. Jace raced up to the look. And got some vertigo when he realised just how high they climbed. The fact they were just allowed up here at all, surprised Jace.

    The view from the airship dock was breath-taking. He could see the entire snow-capped mountain range, the boundaries walls of the town and its surrounding patchwork fields. The trains of wagons and carts trundling along the straight roads that seem to cut straight through the mountains. He noticed there were recesses in the towers lining the wall. There was something like a crystal in those recesses.

    Jace looked around, then saw something was hovering, cresting past mountains further afield. A dark shape lacking definition from the distance.

    ¡°Spot something, Jace?¡± Evaliena looked in the direction Jace was looking.

    ¡°I think I see an airship coming here¡­¡± Jace pointed towards the incoming shape.

    ¡°You acknowledged that your world doesn¡¯t have airships? Then what do they use?¡± Evaliena inquired as she walked up to the parapet to be beside Jace.

    ¡°In what way?¡± Jace looked up to Evaliena, away from the sights.

    ¡°What aerial method do you use to get people and wares from place to place?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we use¡ª¡± Jace talked about helicopters and planes to the vixen. About the original airships, which were ditched because they were prone to burning down. And the somewhat off topic about cargo ships and trains.

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s something similar to trains here.¡± Evaliena pointed to a winding track that looked suspiciously like an actual train track. Jace leaned over the edge. He could barely see the outline since thick, tall hedges covered it.

    ¡°I need to see that.¡± A feeling of expeditious excitement welled in Jace. To see how their trains looked. He turned his gaze back to the approaching shape, however.

    ¡°Something that¡¯s bugging me, Jace.¡± Evaliena spoke up. ¡°If you speak of these wondrous things as if they¡¯re commonplace. How?¡±

    Jace stopped leaning on the wall and crossed his arms, thinking about it. ¡°Well, it¡¯s hard to explain, my world went through a lot of changes rapidly during four centuries¡­¡± Jace thought hard about the history of his home, he only had an overview¡­ ¡°We went from fighting with swords, arrows and horses, to artillery, rifles and warships, to missiles, tanks and planes¡­ all that technology came out of nations constantly fighting each other¡­¡±

    Evaliena was silent for a moment. Jace knew she was centuries old. She was blunt about that. Maybe she was looking over her own experiences? ¡°Just fighting each other, even without ¡®magic¡¯. Doesn¡¯t explain the advancement¡­ and the numerousness.¡± She pressed her hand flat against the railing.

    Jace thought about it again¡­ two words popped into his head. Industrial revolution. ¡°We did have a movement that happened just before everything. People started leaving the countryside to migrate to the towns and cities en masse. Food was easy to get. Not as many people needed to work farms anymore. It started with a thing called the steam engine and the factory¡­ people started to focus¡­¡±

    Cogs looked to turn in Evaliena¡¯s mind as she stared into the distance. Jace could see it on her face. Her head tilted side to side. ¡°... What makes us so different¡­¡±

    Jace offered an explanation. He had read so many fantasy books and listened to essays about world building. ¡°You have magic, or whatever it¡¯s called. We don¡¯t. And you told me earlier; you made me do everything manually because it was to my benefit¡ª¡±

    Evaliena remained silent for a short while. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Pup. If you can use mana, there¡¯s little need to build up the infrastructure to churn out so much raw material.¡± She leant on the parapet with one arm. ¡°In a world without mana, your limit is resources and bodies. In a world with mana¡­¡±

    You¡¯re limited to the amount of mages you can muster. Jace completed the thought in his head. No need to progress any further, only refine what you have. There was silence for a while as Evaliena processed. Jace watched the shape grow larger as it approached. He could see balloons. Rather than a large hanging gondola below, the hull was flush with the balloons, smaller pods with propellers spinning.

    ¡°Let¡¯s return home now, pup.¡± Evaliena held out her arm. ¡°We can explore more another time.¡± Jace somberly nodded and grabbed the vixen¡¯s hand. They could have stayed longer, but really, there was nothing Jace actually needed. The fact there were airships and trains in this world interested him a lot. He wondered how they worked here.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Seven

    Jace was messing with the back of a metal slide rule. There were bicoloured strips that went up and down for counting and subtracting numbers. He was using a stylus that came with it, as nothing else fitted in the slots. It was no calculator, but he¡¯s been using it for a while now and had gotten fast at solving the problems Evaliena was throwing at him. He thought he was getting better with maths.

    Jace heard the loud closing of a door. ¡°That¡¯s you¡¯ve had your time with him. Now I¡¯m taking my turn.¡± Shouted a familiar male voice.

    ¡°Cedar, we¡¯ve talked about this.¡± Evaliena spoke back as she was lying on the floor waiting for the water to boil. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re far too old to go gallivanting about hunting.¡± Cedar had been grumbling for a while about taking Jace out for some hunting. Jace was not keen about this. Though he had known how to strip a carcass, thanks to Evaliena cooking. After being queasy several times at the sight of so many organs, and becoming desensitised to the imagery after a while.

    Cedar waved Evaliena off. ¡°Bah. If he doesn¡¯t learn how to fend for himself, he¡¯ll starve.¡± The old silver fox lazily stomped across the wooden floor to his chair next to the burning hearth.

    ¡°You saw how weak his stomach is, Cedar.¡± Evaliena pointed out. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have the guts to be a hunter.¡± Jace remained quiet and focused on fiddling with the slide rule. The two Reynards argued like they were a married couple. Jace didn¡¯t quite understand the argument. He¡¯s going to be trained as a mage. The strips he could earn would easily cover his expenses. He thought.

    ¡°He wants to explore¡­¡± Cedar countered. ¡°Have you shown him yet just how sparse civilisation is?¡± He threw one arm wide, gesturing across the room. ¡°While we¡¯re well travelled and can far step wherever we wish. He doesn¡¯t have the built up knowledge.¡± Cedar raised a rather good point. ¡°He will be travelling on foot. While a boon for any caravan or party, he¡¯ll have to contribute to rations somehow,¡± which turned unreasonable.

    Evaliena leaned in the conversation. ¡°You do know by the time I¡¯m done with him.¡± And looked at her hand, counting off. ¡°He¡¯ll be a capable mage, a capable alchemist, a capable scribe, and a capable artificer. If he needed to know how to catch prey the traditional way, I would be a failure.¡±

    Cedar kept grumbling and huffing. Jace offered a compromise. ¡°You were a warrior¡­ Cedar? Why don¡¯t you teach me how to defend myself?¡±

    Cedar looked down at the fire for a while. Silent. Slight grumbles, umming and ahhing. The old fox came around to the idea. ¡°Just as a warning, boy. You will get hurt a lot.¡±

    ¡°Just leave me enough time so I can keep teaching him.¡± Evaliena added. ¡°Knowing how you taught your previous students, he won¡¯t have all day or most of the week, either.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better than just making him run around the keep and doing basic exercises.¡± Cedar countered, then the argument started again. Jace got out of his chair and slipped upstairs to nap.

    <hr>

    Jace was going to make Cedar wait as he limbered up. If the old fox was going to wake him early in the morning, then he¡¯s going to make the old fox wait while he got breakfast, which was wonderfully flavoured oats this time. And this made sure the old fox waited as Jace worked out all the stiffness in his joints. However, this was not going to make up for the fact that the sun wasn¡¯t up yet.

    Cedar was waiting beside the keep¡¯s main door. ¡°I thought you wanted to learn?¡± The old silver teased. He was in much less clothing today than every other time Jace had seen Cedar. The old fox was in a covering poncho and kilt. Both dyed and detailed with embroidery, Jace couldn¡¯t make the meaning of.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be so rudely woken up.¡± Jace stretched and yawned. ¡°Also, why are we going outside? It¡¯s freezing.¡±

    Cedar smiled. ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem.¡± He gestured to the door, and it opened by itself. Cedar led himself outside without bothering to see if Jace would follow him. Acting aloof doesn¡¯t suit Cedar at all, not at his ¡®suggested¡¯ frailty. Jace followed.

    Braziers around the courtyard began lighting up with every step the old fox took. Filling the area with warmth. The wind still howled against the walls and bit against Jace¡¯s body. Cedar made a sweeping gesture and the snow covering a circular stone platform evaporated away. He waved Jace to follow. ¡°Come here, it¡¯s perfectly warm.¡±

    Jace trudged through the waist high snow. Which Cedar had just walked over as if it was solid ground. He was glad that his feet had insulating fur, even if they still felt cold. Jace stepped onto the platform and bounced back, grabbing the foot that touched the circle. The surface was boiling hot. He could see the steam wafting off before being pulled away with the wind. Cedar chuckled. ¡°Sorry about that, boy. I forgot you couldn¡¯t wield mana yet.¡±

    Jace grumbled. If he was going to be spiteful, he had to expect it would bite him in the backside. He hauled himself back onto his feet and stepped back onto the platform. The stone, pleasantly warm to the touch now. Then he noticed the air inside the platform¡¯s boundaries, the breeze barely touched it and the noise of the wind dampened. Just what was the limit to the arcane? What were the downsides?

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re so well adjusted to seeing things happen outside of your sight,¡± Cedar commented. Jace just nodded. He yawned again. When fantastical things happened nearly every day, he sort of became numb to it all.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°What not going to make me do push ups and weights?¡± Jace groaned.

    Cedar shrugged at Jace. ¡°You haven¡¯t passed your second milestone, so I see no reason to, as you wouldn¡¯t get any benefit from doing training now,¡± the old fox casually explained. Jace would have to ask Evaliena what everyone meant by milestone when it came to age¡­ Cedar pulled a long wooden pole from thin air over his left hand. And threw it to Jace¡¯s feet. ¡°Pick that up.¡± The old fox then pulled out a different length of wood out of that same spot.

    Jace leant down and picked up the shaft of wood. It was heavier than he expected. He tested the strength of the wood by nicking the ending into the gap of the stones and pushed himself up. He hoisted himself up with ease and fell onto his side. Rolling to avoid hurting himself too much.

    ¡°You land like a Lynx.¡± Cedar leant over Jace. Jace didn¡¯t know whether it was an insult or a compliment. ¡°Get up, please. If you break that stave, I¡¯ll force you to make another one.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir¡­¡± Jace mumbled.

    ¡°At least have a bit of feeling in it when you use manners, Boy.¡± Cedar walked away, lightly twirling his training sword around before turning to Jace. ¡°Now show me how you hold that stave.¡±

    Jace hauled himself up, using the butt of the stave to get back to his feet. This was too long for his current height. Jace thought about how to hold the length of wood for a moment. He held it with two hands and pointed one end towards Cedar. Cedar was standing relaxed, the tip of his training sword lightly dabbing the stone floor. One of the old foxes eye bushy eyebrows raised. ¡°You aiming to poke someone¡¯s eyes out?¡±

    Jace wanted to be cautious. ¡°If I can keep you away from me, I can¡¯t be hit, can I?¡±

    Cedar looked to the side and nodded slightly. ¡°Fair, but what will you do if I?¡± Cedar stepped forward and was suddenly inside the reach of Jace¡¯s stave. ¡°Passed your guard?¡±

    Jace had flinched and stepped back. ¡°Now you¡¯re just bloody cheating!¡± he whined.

    Cedar playfully hit Jace¡¯s crown with the flat of the training sword, Jace groaned from the light stinging pain. ¡°Come on lad, what will you do?¡±

    ¡°I think I would change grip?¡± Jace suggested, moving his hands across the wooden stave to be less of a spear and more of a staff. Using the training staff to protect his body. ¡°Like this?¡±

    Cedar pulled back his sword and rested it over his shoulder. ¡°Has anyone trained you before?¡± Jace shook his head. He could tell Cedar about stuff he watched on the internet and in video games, but that was likely to go over the old fox¡¯s head. ¡°Have you seen others train with weapons before?¡± Jace nodded his head. ¡°Then you¡¯re a lot sharper than many of my previous students.¡± Cedar started walking back to this previous position. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t imitate that manoeuvre, if I was in a real fight that could have easily gotten me killed.¡± The old fox spoke earnestly.

    ¡°Cedar¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes pup?¡±

    ¡°This stave is far too long for me.¡± Jace hefted the piece of wood. If he had to swing the stave any length of time, he was going to tire out.

    ¡°Get used to it.¡± Cedar shrugged his shoulders dismissively. ¡°You¡¯ll be fighting at a disadvantage constantly. However, this is practice. Besides, Sandal wants to train you as a mage, and you want to explore.¡±

    ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± Jace asked Cedar. He wasn¡¯t quite sure what the old fox meant. What would a big stick do for him?

    ¡°The answer¡¯s simple, really.¡± Cedar stabbed the tip of his wooden sword into the stone floor, resting his weight on it. ¡°A nice big stick is good for walking and hanging some sacks off of it. Eventually, as a proper mage, it might be good to mount a focus on one end and a spike on the other. Sans that, most bandits and guards aren¡¯t going to think of a stick as being a weapon. Especially if it looks nothing like one.¡± Jace thought the points through, and it clicked in his head. ¡°However, it¡¯s also good to know how to use a dagger and a short sword too.¡± The old fox winked at Jace. ¡°Now I¡¯m going to describe a few stances and movements for you to go through. Now repeat after me¡­¡±

    <hr>

    He rolled onto a cushion near the hearth. He ached all over. Jace had misjudged the old fox. Cedar was fast and Jace felt like he was hitting a stone pillar with how firmly the old man stood and deflected blows. Jace suspected he was channeling whatever magical energy, mana was it?, this world had¡­ or the difference in experience and conditioning was just that wide.

    While Jace was aching on the cushion. Cedar was cackling with proud glee. ¡°I haven¡¯t been this invigorated in years!¡± The old fox was using his training sword like it was a cane.

    ¡°You call that bullying practice Cedar?¡± Burr commented as she helped Evaliena and Baysil with repairing the holes on a sheet between them. ¡°Look at the poor pup. He¡¯s bruised all over now.¡±

    ¡°Bah, Yes I should have watched my strikes.¡± Cedar conceded as he sat himself in his favoured rockable chair and raised a diplomatic hand. ¡°I did apologise. But I was just so excited to have a sparring partner for once.¡±

    Burr just let out a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t think poor Jace here could afford serious injury right now.¡± Cedar shrugged it off. Nothing was going to dampen his mood.

    ¡°I think the kit did a lot better than Cinnamon did when he stupidly challenged Cedar.¡± Baysil quietly sewed up a hole.

    ¡°Cinnamon needed to be put in his place.¡± Cedar spat and he pulled out his pipe, lighting it with a rub of his fingers. He took several puffs. ¡°I¡¯m not so reckless as to use my full strength. Anyway, Jace is a faster learner. I¡¯ll break him into a proper scraper yet.¡±

    Jace wanted to correct Cedar, but he couldn¡¯t muster the strength to much more than curl up tighter on the cushion and soak up the heat to warm his cold bones. Jace slowly fell asleep, and it wasn¡¯t even midday yet.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Eight

    They were heading into the last month of winter. The winds and snow were letting up. And Evaliena had Jace making the crust for pies. How the yellow vixen did this without getting bits and pieces of stuff on her fur covered hand, he would never know. Maybe she was using spellcraft or glamour to alter her fur? Jace wondered a little. He thought about attempting to change his appearance, but he¡¯s afraid of ¡®breaking¡¯ whatever that means.

    ¡°Is it normal for bits of fur to be in the dough?¡± Jace said loud as he kneaded the thickening blob of butter, water and flour.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see any in yours yet,¡± Evaliena pointed out. She was kneading her dough with expert precision. Turning it into rounded blobs, to put onto a wooden tray.

    Jace scoffed. He was worried that bits and pieces of his shedding would enter and ruin the dough. But he guessed the fuzz on his fingers and back of his hands were short and tough enough. ¡°What are we going to fill these pies with?¡±

    ¡°Well, I have some nice fruit mince, apricot and fig jams to use up before winter ends.¡± Evaliena puffed as she kept kneading.

    ¡°You know, you could just use your spells.¡± Jace gazed up at the yellow vixen¡¯s head.

    ¡°What fun is that? I do a lot of things the hard way because it satisfies me. It keeps my mind occupied¡­¡±

    Jace shrugged, having to knead and roll his dough into a single smooth mass to be rolled out lest it turned out tight. The flour they had used wasn¡¯t as fine as he knew and a hue darker too, despite being declared fine flour. ¡°Evaliena, what is a milestone when it comes to age?¡± He posed the question.

    ¡°Question for a question. How do you celebrate your age?¡± Evaliena asked back.

    Jace grumbled and rolled his eyes. He grabbed another batch of dough and started kneading. ¡°We celebrate our birthdays once every year. Usually being showered with toys and other gifts as children.¡±

    ¡°Sounds wasteful.¡± The vixen replied as she finished the last lot of dough. ¡°Milestones; a child¡¯s first milestone is passed at five winters.¡±

    ¡°Is there a point to that?¡± Jace raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Well, despite advances in medicine, a lot of children don¡¯t make it to the age of five.¡± Evaliena explained. Jace could think of several reasons. The way he¡¯s been living wasn¡¯t exactly sanitary, only getting a bath once a week. Evaliena continued on. ¡°The second milestone happens around eleven to thirteen winters. Just about around the time when kits started to think differently about others. Puberty, just a wonderful time.¡± She clapped her dusty hands in a way only a mother could. ¡°Then around winter fifteen to seventeen winters. They hit their third milestone. Finally, all grown up.¡±

    ¡°Anymore milestones after that?¡± Jace asked. He wondered if they ever got any presents?

    ¡°Oh, the last celebrated milestone is twenty. It¡¯s considered unlucky to achieve without finding a mate.¡± Evaliena put her hands on her hips and looked up at the ceiling. ¡°After that, you count your own years and usually celebrate every five winters.¡±

    ¡°You hit your fourth milestone without a partner?¡± Jace tilted his head sly, looking at her. Evaliena cracked a smile.

    ¡°My mother and father were not pleased at all. Not that I was around to hear about it, being with my mentor so far away from the clan.¡± She reminisced. Evaliena normally didn¡¯t talk about her past and didn¡¯t enjoy talking about her past.

    Jace didn¡¯t poke any further and switched to a different angle. ¡°Did you get any gifts? Or give any gifts?¡±

    Evaliena looked at Jace and gestured to his wrist with the hemp bracelet. ¡°For their first, Kits usually get a bracelet or a pendant, their first dagger and maybe a sweet roll.¡±

    ¡°Beacons to keep track of them?¡± Jace questioned. He looked and fumbled with the bracelet. ¡°Why not before?...¡± Then he realised such a young child would never be away from their parents. And realised what the second milestone was. ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me what I get for my second milestone?¡± Jace stared at Evaliena.

    ¡°You¡¯re not old enough yet.¡± She tapped Jace on the nose, causing him to sneeze. He rubbed his nose with his eyes closed. Now he couldn¡¯t work with the dough anymore. ¡°Just in time to let these rest a bit.¡± Evaliena suddenly looked down through the floor. ¡°Oh, they¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    Jace was confused. Who had arrived? Jace didn¡¯t remember that anyone was coming today. More residents? There were already a few others around the hermitage that lived outside the keep Jace didn¡¯t interact with. He heard the heavy door of the keep swing open swing open and heard two feminine voices chat. He didn¡¯t recognise the voices. And they were climbing up the stairs and getting closer.

    ¡°Hello my girls!¡± Evaliena called out. As the two hooded figures crested the stairwell.

    <hr>

    There were warm greetings and hugs from the pair of visiting vixens. Evaliena chatted with them as they did, about their families and how well life was treating them. All rather mundane stuff. And Jace felt rather uncomfortable being picked up by one of them than being interrogated about his circumstance. They weren¡¯t blood related. Jace could smell the difference between her and them. But they did smell comforting and their touch was gentle and caring. They stood roughly round the same height as Evaliena, if slightly shorter.

    They both used to be apprentices in Evaliena. Jace wondered how old they were. However, it was probably for the best that he didn''t ask. Evaliena may be okay with being blunt, but he did know if these two were.

    Lilac was a marble furred Reynard. Her fur was a set of gradients of black to white with a black mane down her neck. Vera was a fire orange similar to Burr along with a brown mane down her neck and was the heavier and shorter than the two. They both had dark hazel eyes that glowed slightly. Similarly to how Evaliena¡¯s sapphire blues glowed. And neither had quite the same voluptuous body¡­ Jace kept his eyes covered and laid on the floor as the three chatted. Apart from the study grey cloaks they still wore, they only had shawls over their shoulders and no winter coat!

    Why! This was torture for Jace. Why were they here?!

    ¡°Evaliena. You weren¡¯t kidding when you said he¡¯s shy,¡± Vera commented after taking a sip of a floral smelling tea. Some kind of force dragged Jace¡¯s body across the wooden floor over to the Vixen¡¯s thigh. She started stroking the side of his head like he was some kind of pet. It was all he could do to not freak out. He thought he was an embarrassment to Evaliena, who sheltered him for the past season.

    ¡°Not very talkative, either.¡± Lilac spoke bemused at Jace. ¡°He¡¯s struggling to remain calm, too.¡± That hurt Jace¡¯s pride. The conversation moved on. ¡°So, is the ritual ready?¡± That caused Jace¡¯s head to shift up slightly and his ears to turn. ¡°Will anyone else be joining us?¡±

    Evaliena spoke with a hush. ¡°Just us four. This will be a delicate process, which is why I called the both of you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, waking up a wildling isn¡¯t a straightforward task, especially one this old.¡± Vera spoke softly, as she continued to rub Jace¡¯s cheek. This sounded both concerning and annoying. He wasn¡¯t wild¡­ he, however, kept his quiet as the three talked.

    Evaliena took a sip of her tea. ¡°We¡¯ll manage¡­ Well, drink up, we¡¯re going to have a long day.¡± She declared. What kind of long day?

    <hr>

    They led him down into the cellar, into the keep¡¯s basement. Jace had never had to go down here in his time being here. He was either asked to go upstairs to retrieve the furnishing or the ground floor to go into the stores. He followed closely behind Evaliena, with her two students following behind them. The lighting down here in the musty darkness was worse, the spacing between the glowing crystals like those in the upper floor being spaced much further apart, floating dutifully next to their cradles.

    Each step echoed across the cold stone floors. The walls down here were thick and stout, much thicker than he thought they would need to partition the individual rooms. One door looked heavily guarded with cross bars. The intention of keeping whatever was inside, inside that room. Jace wanted to look closer, but the two vixens behind him pushed him forward to follow Evaliena.

    Jace had put the pieces together during the short brunch earlier that this whole occasion was to awaken his power, he hoped. He was afraid and excited all at once. He couldn¡¯t keep that errant tail of his from wagging too much. Much to the snickers of the two behind him. The yellow vixen pushed open a door at the end of the hall as they were walking down. The metal braced wooden door creaked loudly, and the air filled with the thick scent of incense, a crude mixture of spice, resin and wooden notes.

    The Reynards went inside. Pushing Jace along, he saw a swallow trench ringing on the dirt floor in the circular room. Jace cracked a small joke. ¡°Are you intending to sacrifice me?¡±

    Lilac answered in a mocking, indifferent tone as she stood in a specific spot in the room. ¡°You sure you want to waste the effort of awakening this little one?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure his vis would make some excellent charms, Evaliena.¡±

    The warmth drained from Jace¡¯s cheeks and he felt a tightness in his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t make such jests, Lilac.¡± Evaliena scolded softly. She took another specific position, along with Vera. Lilac laughed quietly. Jace looked around, the three stood around Jace in a three pointed formation. ¡°Jace, would you kindly stand in the middle?¡± he cautiously stepped across into the middle between the three vixens, who had hung their cloaks up behind them. Each wearing is a decorated and dyed shawl underneath.

    ¡°This, all a bit too nerve racking.¡± Jace kept his eyes on the floor to not look at any of them in particular.

    ¡°Most pups would be excited, really.¡± Vera commented. ¡°To join in the craft of their parents and ancestors. Mine certainly were.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re a wildling, not of the clans or the towns.¡± Lilac added flatly. ¡°Past the age we normally induct young ones.¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°Jace.¡± Evaliena called. Jace¡¯s ears turned to Evaliena¡¯s voice to show he was listening. ¡°If you have any hesitations, any misgivings or regrets. Speak them now, as once the ritual starts, there is no turning back and any hope of a ¡®normal¡¯ life will disappear.¡± Evaliena spoke with a calm, practised formality.

    Jace had plenty of hesitations. What if the process went wrong? Cedar said he had no hope of returning home¡­ But the ability to wield magic was alluring and the idea of exploring the world even more so. ¡°I don¡¯t have any.¡± Jace kept his back straight. The anxiety was building within him. He knew Evaliena was keeping specifics from him, but he had to trust her, trust the process.

    ¡°Prepare yourself.¡± Evaliena said. Jace could hear the subtle movement of fur and the movement of arms in the corners of his eyes. ¡°For you accept the gift of a tradition tens of thousands of years old. That roamed the snow-capped ranges of Eweron, ran the plains of Thermista and sailed across the Indigo seas of Ayre.¡±

    An intricate circle lit around Jace, criss-crossed with a lattice. Jace felt his feet become pinned in place, his form kept upright by an unseen force. He looked at Evaliena. Her face was stern. Her arms and hands held wide apart before her, pointed at the edges of the circle. Eyes shadowed save for some blue glowing light. The air stirred and whirled around the room in a loud whistle, causing the cloaks and the objects along the walls to flap and wave.

    Evaliena¡¯s form flickered, as if the glamour was being peeled away. Jace swore he saw golden hued fur and more than one tail behind the vixen. A light shone from below Jace. He looked down. Whatever energy the three were channelling had taken physical form and was slogging its way up Jace¡¯s digitigrade legs like a creeping vine in pulsating bursts.

    He couldn¡¯t move. His feet, even his toes, were stuck to the ground. He looked around. None of the surrounding vixens were concerned at all. The vines of light crept up past his hips, past his stomach.

    Then there was pain. Unbelievable. Mind shattering. Pain!

    Jace didn¡¯t have time to scream. All he could do was grit his teeth and close his eyes as the end came for him. But time seemed to stretch. Information assailed his mind. So many images flickered across his consciousness, like moving oil paintings. He saw an immense cloaked figure with a face-like mask. With fourteen more figures incomparably smaller on either side of them. They ran into stars, becoming constellations. He saw the creation of the world he was on, from a simple piece of rock to a vibrant green scale. A single immense white tree as stout and as wide as reaching an oak. He saw the Therians dropping as leaves.

    He saw visitors of both tall and small. Darkness, that descended onto the world in large black shapes. Seeing through those people¡¯s eyes, witnessing the event. The horrors¡¯ the snakes put the Therians through. Jace wanted to throw up, he wanted to look away, he was forced to keep watching the despoiling of a species. There was more. The dawn came, with scars left on full display. Jace couldn¡¯t take it. His spirit fought back with all he could! A fight between the creeping light and his own body, his own soul!

    Then the ordeal was over.

    Jace hesitantly opened his watering eyes. It was too bright. The world was a whirl of colour, but there was a single blinding light in front of Jace. He took a step forward and collapsed to the floor as his legs gave up, hurling up rainbow-like fluid against the smouldering lines of the ritual circle. That fluid was evaporating rapidly into motes of light. His ears rang loudly. Everything was numb. All an overwhelming sea of sensation and weird colour.

    Everything went dark.

    <hr>

    Jace didn¡¯t know how long he was out. All he felt was a pounding headache and his head against something soft and warm. A calming scent, not unlike a flower bed in full bloom, filled his nose. The soft song of a simple lullaby tingling his ears. The careful stroke of a gentle hand against the side of his back. He could hear the familiar crackle of the warm hearth. The whispered chatter of others echoing around the donut shaped room.

    Every part of his being ached. He cracked his eyes slightly, then closed them immediately. It was still a whirl of colour and bright lights. The lullaby stopped along with a light shift in posture. Jace guessed where he was laying, but didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°Stay rested, Jace.¡± Evaliena whispered with motherly caution. ¡°You were out for a while, but you survived the ordeal¡­ I have to teach you the first skill of a mage, controlling your senses. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to look at anyone. Or look yourself in the mirror, either.¡±

    The first oddity he noticed was his name didn¡¯t sit quite right anymore¡­ not quite his¡­ He pushed that feeling down and listened¡­ to his guardian? Mentor? Foster mother? His head still ached and so his mind fuzzed.

    ¡°Focus on your eyes¡­ Can you picture the swirling manas?¡± The yellow vixen started. As much as he could currently, Jace imagined the swirl of energy congregating around his eyes. It was easier than he thought it would be. ¡°Imagine staunching the flow gradually, like closing a sluice gate.¡± Jace followed the instruction, imagining the flow slowing to a trickle around his eyes. It was simple, easy. He felt the slight jerk of something like a muscle. Jace felt the movement of a reassuring nod.

    He hazarded a look at his surroundings. He slowly opened his eyes so they could adjust the flickering warmth of the hearth and the soft glows of the lighting crystals. The scene slowly formed into his view.

    ¡°Silver.¡± Cedar commented. Jace groggily turned his ears in the direction of the voice.

    ¡°Not a common hue, isn¡¯t it?¡± One of the female Reynards spoke. Jace couldn¡¯t figure out who it was through the fog across his mind. Silver hue of what?

    He could also tell that there were more people in the room, like most of the hermitage was there. Both in the corner of his shaded vision and past what he couldn¡¯t see, familiar and unfamiliar scents. Not that he could see past Evaliena¡¯s breast, as she had him nestled in a close embrace.

    Everything was more saturated. Most things in Jace¡¯s vision became layered in extra neon vibrant oil paint. Evaliena¡¯s form, plastered in a very faint yellow gold hue. The fire of the hearth had strange reds and oranges flecking off of it. What he could see of his own body was an eerie white glow that stretched in vines across himself.

    Evaliena shifted and grabbed a wooden cup that was handed to her and brought it close to Jace¡¯s muzzle. It seemed to haze and slosh with a green-blue scale. ¡°What is it?¡± Jace weakly spoke with a parched mouth.

    ¡°It¡¯s just water.¡± with a hushed tone, Evaliena urged Jace to open his mouth. He sipped the refreshing cool water. It wasn¡¯t the same as the slightly brackish stuff he had to drink for the past season. ¡°Do you think you can stand?¡± Jace shook his head wearily. Whatever he has been through, it certainly made his joints stiff. What brief sensation he could feel, felt the characteristic pressure of many presences looking directly at him. The room broke out back into the whispers of many voices and the creak of Cedar¡¯s chair as it rocked.

    ¡°Why so many?¡± Jace muttered. Evaliena only gave an understanding shrug in return. Jace¡¯s nose tingled with the smell of a stew brewing.

    Jace felt the movement of a smile. ¡°If you¡¯re so weak, would you mind?¡± Evaliena tilted regarding the meaty stew that was bubbling away in the corner of the hearth¡¯s flame.

    ¡°You might as well give him milk if you¡¯re going to fawn over him so much.¡± Cedar added seriously. Jace had to fold his ears back as the cacophony of voices admonished the chuckling old fox. And a few barely constrained crude laughs from others. Jace could feel Evaliena roll her eyes. His cheek flushed with implication.

    Amid the rowdiness, Evaliena spoke to Jace quietly once more. ¡°There¡¯s a waxing moon. Once you¡¯re strong enough, we¡¯re going running.¡±

    <hr>

    Jace managed to get a bowl of the hearty stew down into his stomach. Filling his body with its savoury warmth. There were other pots of stew around the living area, all heated with a small orange cluster of crystals each. Jace could perceive the energies emanating from both the broth and the crystal. The crackling crystal gave off colours of warmth while the bubbling, steaming broth gave off tasteful ones? Jace couldn¡¯t quite parse what he was feeling or seeing.

    He was sitting in a semicircle with Evaliena and her two students. His feeling of embarrassment at seeing them in just their furs and shawls melted away, replaced with comfort¡­ Safety¡­ Connection? Normalcy?

    ¡°What do you think, little brother?¡± Vera cordially spoke with a wooden bowl resting on the bend of one of her crossed legs. ¡°Being able to finally see past the veil?¡±

    ¡°Little¡­ brother?¡± Jace gave Vera a questioning look.

    ¡°You¡¯re part of a mage family now, Jace.¡± Lilac added while Evaliena reclined to look at the ceiling in thought. Jace¡¯s name continued to no longer fit somehow. He could feel it. ¡°We¡¯re your sisters in the Arcane now. Apart from Evaliena, of course, who¡¯s the master of our branch. She gets a bit clingy, though.¡±

    As if to avoid explaining clingy. ¡°I think it¡¯s time we head outside.¡± Evaliena declared, putting an empty bowl aside. She rose up from the rug covered floor next to the hearth. ¡°Anyone care to join us?¡±

    With that simple line, everyone else got up from their chairs and cushions as well. They proceeded down stairs. Leaving Jace alone with Evaliena.

    ¡°Where is everyone going?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to enjoy this,¡± Evaliena smirked, giving Jace a light pat on the head. ¡°Use your glamour and follow.¡±

    ¡°Wait, I¡¯m to glamour myself now?!¡± yelped with hesitation and mild excitement.

    Evaliena continued to the flight of stairs that headed down. She took off her shawl, putting the embroidered thing into the mess of silvery lines that was above her right hand. ¡°To explain the custom would remove the wonder.¡± Then she jumped down the stairs, her body smoothly transitioning into her four-legged form. Disappearing through the opening in the floor.

    The movements of getting out of his poncho and kilt felt more normal now, more natural. He dropped onto his hand as his body shifted to his four-legged form and sauntered out down the stairs. The keep¡¯s large wooden and iron bounced door to the outside, left opened. He went outside, standing at the door¡¯s landing. He saw nearly two dozen pairs of eyes all staring at him. All large foxes. Not foxes, but the four-legged forms of everyone, each with faintly glowing eyes with reflections of a full moon in them. He saw painted energies emanating from each one, each a different hue of something¡­

    Evaliena cocked her head as if to signal Jace to come down. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    Cedar¡¯s silvery form led the group out of the courtyard as a courtesy. Jace galloped over to Evaliena¡¯s flank while Vera and Lilac took up either side of them. Up the path of the mountainside. Jace didn¡¯t feel any exhaustion as he ran, as if the world was giving him the energy to keep pace with everyone else in the skulk.

    ¡°You¡¯re no longer a Jace Carr, are you?¡± Evaliena panted as they climbed and climbed along the mountain path.

    ¡°No!¡± Jace answered honestly.

    ¡°Then what is it, little brother?¡± Vera asked.

    ¡°What name did our ancestors gift you?¡± Lilac goaded.

    ¡°Shout it out loud. Shout it clear so the stars and the moons can hear when we reach the clearing.¡± Evaliena with august enthusiasm. The moons, one smaller and one larger. One yellow and one pale blue. The largest in a full wax. The skulk of Reynards kept climbing at a jogging pace.

    Soon the vanguard of the group crested near a clearing someway up the mountainside. Jace ran ahead of Evaliena, with joy swelling in his heart. Jace Ashwood! He yelled as he jumped over the ridge in full view of the two moons.

    It felt right. He sat on his haunches looking up at the constellations and the moons. Evaliena came up beside and sat silently with him. Her tail curled slightly around the back of Jace.

    One by one, set by set, The Reynard skulk howled softly to the night sky. And Jace was carried with them.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Nine

    Evaliena¡¯s students had left a day later. Jace was a little sad to see them go, but they had duties to their families and clans that they were a part of. He was told to rest for the next two weeks, to get adjusted to his new vision and the strange energies he was around him.

    However, resting only involved avoiding anything strenuous. Which annoyed Cedar. Cinnamon had finally left the hermitage along with a few others of lesser note as winter was ending. Everyone else was shedding their winter coats, so Jace¡¯s sensitive nose was being assaulted for the time being with strands of hair.

    The yellow vixen, who was now his master, continued to withhold specifics from him, but she didn¡¯t avoid the answers when he asked about the obvious. While helping with preparing different meals of the day. Jace searched out the ¡®metaphysical¡¯ differences between each herb, mushroom, and vegetable. Each had their own ¡®hue¡¯ to them, but not in any way he could properly describe outside of a feeling. The cured and dried meats, compared to fresh meats, had subtle differences between them. The wine, mead and small beer had noticeable differences between but they all held one similar hue in the mixture between them. That was probably the alcohol content, or maybe the water.

    These little things he could sense in the food were called ¡®Essences¡¯ by Evaliena. While the emanations he could see and feel around him and the room were called ¡®Mana¡¯. Those excluded by living things are called ¡°aura.¡± Not all things contain usable mana or essence. The stones and the wood of the keep had no mana at all. But whenever he looked outside, a verdant ocean of oil colours covered the deep weald the mountain overlooked. It was all so mesmerising to watch the wisps of mana waft up and dissipate.

    The rest period passed.

    Evaliena beckoned her new apprentice over. Which Jace did. ¡°Raise your arm, please, the one with the bracelet.¡±

    Jace did as instructed, extending his arm out from under the poncho he was wearing. The hempen bracelet and its embedded orange gem resting on his wrist. ¡°So¡­ am I getting a copy of that construct everyone has?¡± he dared to ask.

    Evaliena smirked indignantly. ¡°You won¡¯t be getting a Lemis anytime soon.¡± She flicked her finger and hand. The gem on the bracelet lit up with ghostly fire. The gem itself also shifted to different colours. Jace looked inquisitively at the flame, at how it danced. How the flame ebbed and flickered. ¡°This gem and the flame above it are now connected to you. Only those with the ability to see mana can notice the changes.¡±

    ¡°How is this supposed to help me?¡±

    Evaliena got up from where she was sitting and walked over to the bookcases. Jace followed her, keeping just behind and to her side. ¡°I want you to watch the flame over the coming months. How it flickers along with your emotions. How it bellows and shrinks with your exertions.¡± The yellow vixen explained. She looked over her shoulder at Burr and Cedar, who was in his usual chair smoking his pipe. The pipe smoke seemed to mess with Jace¡¯s perceptions. ¡°And you two do not teach him any spellcraft yet¡­¡± She opened the bookcase and searched the volumes.

    Burr let out a sigh and shrugged. Cedar snorted and let out a puff of smoke, revealing his annoyance. ¡°He¡¯s going to end up learning some of the wild arts intuitively as his Feina grows in. I see no harm in helping him along, Sandal.¡± Jace kept his quiet.

    ¡°If he learns it naturally, surely help him. But only so he does not hurt himself.¡± Evaliena cautioned. She retrieved a rather enormous book from the bookcase. The book being a well cared for leather bound folio with yellow inlay. She hands the heavy volume to Jace. He nearly tripped over when he took the weight.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Jace turned the book to look at the cover. The title in bold yellow print read ¡®Initiate¡¯s Manual to the Arcane.¡¯ He held the middle of the heavy tome¡¯s wide ribbed spine and opened to the first page. The foreword read ¡®By Thovius Morris. Within this compilation of arcane mechanics, models and theories are the foundations needed to teach an initiate mage the knowledge to make full usage of their abilities.¡¯ Jace looked up and beamed slightly at Evaliena. He felt his spine shifting.

    The bookcases happened to be warded, and every time he attempted to take a book before, without Evaliena¡¯s permission, his hand would bounce off harmlessly. He could see the faint silvery waterfall that hung over every bookcase. Instead, the yellow vixen or one of the others would pull out a book for him, which was usually something harmless like an atlas, almanack or fables.

    ¡°He¡¯s going to end up reading that back to front before you can walk him through.¡± Burr snickered sarcastically, her tail flicking over. ¡°He¡¯s far too eager to learn.¡±

    Evaliena placed the bends of her wrists against her hips. ¡°I¡¯ll allow it, not that he¡¯ll be able to make much sense of the contents without guidance.¡± Jace felt a pang of displeasure, but he decided against trying to prove himself without the ¡®archmage¡¯, as he knew deep down it wouldn¡¯t impress her at all.

    <hr>

    He yawned softly. He flipped the yellowed pages of the tome gingerly with his forepaw. Jace found he was more comfortable resting in his four-legged form more than laying on his front before. The first few texts had confirmed some of his suspicions about how the magic of this world functioned. That ¡®mana¡¯ mostly existed in areas where life was in abundance. Plants or animals.

    He stretched, closing his eyes for a moment. Arching his hindquarters up like a cat, then dropping back into his bed. He felt a light breeze, no he felt the movement of mana that felt like a breeze. He cracked one curious eye open.

    A four legged, yellow diminutive figure sat on its haunches before him. Through, the figure looked like a moving oil painting. They were licking casually across their forearm. The presence he was observing felt familiar.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again.¡± The ethereal feminine voice sounded.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just you.¡± Upon hearing, Jace immediately recognised the voice of the spirit that haunted this castle. A bit more clearly than before. She often, over the winter, tormented Jace and tried to goad him into playing. It became almost prosaic. The advice was to just ignore her until she exhausted her energy.

    ¡°Oh, you see me properly now?¡± She titled their head queerly. The figure was a canid in appearance, with short legs and a belly white like snow. They have a drooping tail that split in a long tri-fork. And from its rounded head extended long pointed ears that also drooped. ¡°And not afraid anymore?¡±

    Jace yawned softly and lazily rested his head over one of his arms, looking at the peculiar canid. ¡°Aw, you¡¯re no fun.¡± The spirit whined. ¡°And that boy who slept in the lower chambers is now gone.¡± Cinnamon probably couldn¡¯t resist the little temptress, Jace thought.

    ¡°What you consider fun isn¡¯t exactly to my taste.¡± Jace simpered at the spirit. From Evaliena¡¯s telling, the spirit had been in the keep for centuries. Maybe he could probe the spirit for information.

    ¡°Pah.¡± The spirit spat. ¡°I can play normally. The red fur was easy to tease and to watch him¡­¡±

    Jace folded his ears and abashedly closed his eyes in a pained expression. ¡°No! No! I don¡¯t want it described to me.¡± The spirit giggled. ¡°Anyway, how are you able to do that? You¡¯re not corporal,¡± he pointed out.

    ¡°Oh, the little grey fur, whose aura suggests they should know better, desires answers?¡± The spirit looked at Jace with her pitch black eyes then searched down through the floor searching for something. ¡°You won¡¯t sneak past those four down there.¡± She sighed with resignation.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°Considering who¡¯s down there, I would get a smack.¡± Jace quietly speculated. He didn¡¯t know how everyone would react if they found out he was just having a casual conversation with the castle¡¯s haunter.

    ¡°Doubt it, dog.¡± The spirit dismissed Jace¡¯s concern. ¡°That evil witch wouldn¡¯t hurt a child. Any child.¡± The spirit leered mischievously at Jace with those onyx eyes. ¡°That neatly leads into my predicament.¡±

    Evil Witch? Dog? Jace figured he should start ignoring the spirit now for the insults. He put that aside as the oily yellow canid probably had a lot of built up frustration in its heart. ¡°And what might that be?¡±

    The spirit gave a dry heave and kneaded the wooden floor, making it creak. ¡°That witch is my gaoler. She wrapped my body in amber and fixed my armature to a draining spike. She calls me an abomination, which is true in a sense, not that I care much for the opinions of others.¡±

    Intrigued, Jace pressed as much as he dared. ¡°An abomination of what?¡±

    ¡°You can just ask that witch if you dare.¡± The spirit raised a paw, pointing it accusingly at the tome in front of Jace. Then he heard a yawn. ¡°Ugh, I strained myself talking to you. Tah tah little grey fur.¡± The spirit vanished in a blink as suddenly as it arrived.

    He was all alone in the bedroom again. Jace looked at the book and closed it. He pondered on the conversation, then realised he needed to get his sleep or he was going to feel hell from Cedar tomorrow.

    <hr>

    The courtyard, filled with melting snow and the barest hint of the sun¡¯s cresting light. Echoed with the clacks and bindings of wooden training weapons. Jace could fill the mana flowing around Cedar¡¯s movement. How it pinned the old warrior to the floor. How it reinforced his limbs for resistance and precision.

    Jace growled from being pushed. He at least expected the old fox to be fair. But maybe he should have never made the assumption that the crude old coot was honourable. ¡°You can¡¯t be this old and frail that you have to use the arts to keep the pressure on me.¡± He anchored his foot and blocked a strike with his training staff. The two weapons grinding together.

    ¡°I have many more decades ahead of me, Jace.¡± Cedar spoke smoothly as he continued to apply pressure with ease. ¡°I can easily kick your disrespectful tail without it.¡± The flows around Cedar¡¯s aura slowed. And Jace yelped as he forced onto one knee by the increase of pressure. Cedar¡¯s training sword started bending.

    ¡°Waah!¡± Jace¡¯s hand slipped, and he got bonked lightly on the head. He clasped his hands over his sore crown and fell backwards onto the floor.

    ¡°I may be growing old, but I can still easily overpower children and untrained ¡®braves¡¯.¡± He gave Jace a mild smirk, resting the training sword¡¯s blade over his shoulder. Fingers rolling and flexing against the hilt.

    Jace then started rubbing his wrists as well. Cedar¡¯s strength strained his hands from holding the bind back. ¡°You¡¯re meant to be teaching me how to defend myself properly. Not forcing me into submission!¡±

    Cedar walked back to his starting position and pointed the tip of the blade at Jace. ¡°Then stay focused, Pup.¡± Jace growled and picked up the staff. Using the pole of wood to get back onto his feet. ¡°Don¡¯t growl at me, Pup.¡±

    Jace was getting annoyed with Cedar. How was he meant to get any better if the old warrior was just going to use him as a punching bag? He gripped his training staff with two hands. He was going to wipe that smile off of the old warrior¡¯s face one of these days.

    Cedar walked around the edge of the cooling stone platform. ¡°So, the night of your awakening. Did you feel exhausted when running with us all?¡±

    ¡°What are you getting at, Cedar?¡± Jace nipped testily. Keeping his front and guard towards the stalking old warrior.

    Cedar¡¯s eyes shifted to look toward Jace¡¯s arm. ¡°We¡¯ve been sparring for a few hours and you¡¯re not even exhausted.¡± Jace raised his arm to look at the enchanted bracelet. The flame was wild with Jace¡¯s frustration and rapidly shrinking. Jace¡¯s eyes bulged slightly. ¡°Calm yourself, Pup.¡± Cedar responded steadily to Jace¡¯s panic. The old fox put his training sword away and beckoned. ¡°Come here. I¡¯ll teach you how to control that wild mana of yours.¡±

    Jace wandered over. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± His eye was on the flame as he approached the edge of the platform.

    Cedar had sat down as Jace approached. ¡°No, you¡¯ve done nothing wrong, boy. You¡¯re just using up your Feina¡¯s well without knowing it. And you said I was cheating.¡± Cedar gave a sneering look.

    ¡°You were. Also, is it bad? How fast does it fill back up again?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for Sandal to tell you about, as she can explain it better.¡± The old fox shrugged. ¡°But I can tell you this, similar to how you can adjust your perception to see through the veil.¡± Jace sat with the old fox. ¡°You can¡¯t completely restrict the flow. A tickle of mana is always pumping across your body. But you can stop yourself from wasting your mana on reinforcing your strength.¡±

    Jace thought about it. It somewhat made sense to him. ¡°Then how do I go about doing that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like flexing a muscle. Relax that muscle.¡± Cedar instructed, putting a hand on Jace¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s if you can imagine flexing everything in your body.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that does sound like a stretch.¡± Jace gave cedar a look of sarcasm, closing his eyes. He became surprised at the ease with which he managed to staunch the flow of mana to the rest of his body. Then the exhaustion hit him like a truck. Filling his mind and body like a tidal wave.

    Cedar gave the panting Jace a push into the cold snow with a chuckle. ¡°I have to carry you inside now, don¡¯t I?¡± the old warrior kicked some cold snow over Jace¡¯s back. The young grizzle furred Reynard just groaned. ¡°I have about eleven winters to whip you into shape.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°You knew.¡± Jace accused his master. ¡°You knew and didn¡¯t tell me that I was using up my mana.¡± Jace tried to lift one of his arms. He was too weak to do so.

    ¡°You were fine.¡± She stared daggers at Cedar, who looked as if he was giddy from a well-executed prank. ¡°All you had to do was come inside and eat some food, then you would have been filled back up. Open up now.¡± She raised up some freshly seared meat with a pair of tongs. Jace leaned his neck up and bit down, chewing away at the slice of salted meat.

    ¡°The speed at which he managed to manipulate his Feina is pleasantly surprising.¡± Burr commented as she shifted under some blankets. ¡°It¡¯ll make teaching him how to express his own mana much easier.¡±

    Jace kept chewing away. ¡°Don¡¯t take that privilege away from me.¡± Evaliena waited for Jace to finish eating. ¡°Anyway, Jace¡­ Now that Cedar knows you can fortify yourself, he¡¯s just going to press you harder. I hope he doesn¡¯t strain you.¡± She looked out the corner of her eye, leering at Cedar.

    Jace gulped the wonderfully cooked meat down with surprise. ¡°He wasn¡¯t aware earlier?!¡± Cedar chuckled even more. ¡°I just feel like I¡¯m not improving at all anymore.¡± Jace closed his eyes.

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Cedar stopped his laugh of mild glee. ¡°You¡¯ve improved a lot since we¡¯ve started.¡±

    ¡°All that ¡®muscle memory¡¯, huh, old man?¡± Burr said with a sassy tone.

    ¡°His reflexes could do with more honing.¡± Cedar explained. ¡°But it¡¯s not going to be of much help to him until he matures.¡± Jace rolled his eyes under his lids and accepted another bite of meat. He didn¡¯t like being this helpless. So he shifted the conversation after he gulped down his meal.

    ¡°What¡¯s a Feina, anyway?¡± Jace flicked an ear as he opened his eyes. He knew it was the source of his power, but he didn¡¯t know what it was exactly.

    Burr spoke up instead of Evaliena. ¡°Feina is the gate to your source, your soul.¡± ¡°Your Feina takes up mana and allows your source to purify it for your body to use.¡± That made some sense, but there was a piece missing to Jace.

    ¡°What happens if you can¡¯t take up mana?¡± Jace inquired earnestly.

    ¡°You¡¯ll just be unable to spellcraft or use any skills.¡± Burr stretched her shoulders impassively. ¡°Rations, fresh food, potions will all restore your well of mana, too. You could possibly use your source too, but that will shorten your life.¡± Jace had a mental oh.

    Evaliena interrupted. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s not go there.¡± She turned and sat on her behind.

    ¡°Seen too many young mages burning themselves out, pushing too hard.¡± Cedar solemnly added. Jace didn¡¯t inquire any further and kept his quiet. Enjoying the warmth of being wrapped in blankets and being next to the keep¡¯s roaring hearth.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Ten

    Later pages of the tome Jace had to read were a heavy read and full of concepts and words he didn¡¯t know the meaning of. Maybe there was a glossary in the back?

    Evaliena knelt down to Jace¡¯s level as he sat at the table facing a blackboard. ¡°Too hard?¡±

    ¡°I can read it. Just I can¡¯t connect everything together.¡± Jace leant to the side, defeated by the book¡¯s complexity.

    ¡°But that¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡± Evaliena softened her expression with understanding. Crossing her arms on the table, and laid her chin atop them.

    Jace pointed to the unknown script on the page. The book called them ¡®Runes¡¯. It looked like a chicken scratch to him. Evaliena gave a curt smile. ¡°And this is what you¡¯re going to learn over the next year.¡±

    ¡°An entire year?!¡±

    ¡°You might have learnt imperial common in a season. But the Runic system will certainly not be as easy. And we¡¯re not going to spellcrafting until you¡¯ve learnt all these.¡± Evaliena traced her clawed brown furred finger across several lines of runes. ¡°And you¡¯re going to write them perfectly.¡± She placed slow emphasis on the last word.

    ¡°Does every Therian child need to go through this?¡± Jace dropped his forehead on the table. He let out a sound of complaint.

    ¡°They only have to learn the first set, the basal runes.¡± Evaliena stroked her hand over the back of Jace with a certain proudness. ¡°After that, it¡¯s up to them to further their studies. And I tell you. Cedar may have been a powerful spellblade, but he could never hope to rival my knowledge of spellcraft.¡±

    ¡°I heard that, old girl!¡± Cedar shouted from another room.

    ¡°And after you learn the Basal Runes. Then we¡¯ll start on spellcraft.¡± The yellow vixen assured, pushing off and walking up to the blackboard. Each one of the Runes came with an imperial common pronunciation beside them. And there were eighty-four different runes in total¡­

    Evaliena drew a single curved stroke across the blackboard in yellowing chalk. ¡°Can you match this Rune to the reference in the book?¡± She tilted her muzzle up to look at Jace.

    He scanned the lines of Runes, searching across the group of ¡®Basal¡¯ Runes. He felt a little embarrassment when he noticed it was the first Rune in the entire alphabet. ¡°L-l-lehf?¡± He struggled to pronounce it.

    ¡°Good try. This is Lethf.¡± She turned around and gestured to the board. ¡°And at the risk of repeating myself, you¡¯re going to write it over and over until you do it correctly.¡±

    ¡°Why do I have to do that?¡± Jace asked, as there had to be a point behind this.

    ¡°Good question.¡± Evaliena threw the chalk into the air and caught it. ¡°If you don¡¯t write the rune correctly. Someone who reads your work. Has a very good chance of screwing up any ritual, artifice or spell you put down. Hells even you might misread your own work. Possibly losing your life or a limb or two.¡± She looked at Jace with a pernicious stare.

    Jace took the warning to heart. He gulped. ¡°How many times do you think it¡¯ll take?¡±

    ¡°As long as it takes for you to do it in your sleep.¡±

    <hr>

    The months ticked by, the deep weald was in full bloom. The scents of many flowers filled Jace¡¯s nose. And pollen choked the air. The trees sprouted with full green leaves and blossoms of every colour. He had to tone down his sight just so he could see where he was going. The forest being so thick with mana.

    He hadn¡¯t been down here since that fateful day. He wondered if the monsters he encountered had moved on. But today he was accompanying Burr and Baysil in foraging through the deep weald for ¡®components¡¯. Not berries, not fruits, not herbs and mushrooms. ¡®Components¡¯, whatever that means. He wasn¡¯t happy. As burr had forced him to remove his kilt and poncho so he¡¯d just wear his travel cloak. It was not that he was uncomfortable anymore. He had fur that neatly covered everything. More than it was being told what he was allowed to wear¡­ and it was still rather cold despite it being spring.

    ¡°So, what are we looking for again?¡± Jace stepped over a large root bulge on the floor of the forest. He had to keep a whisper for the safety of the group.

    ¡°We¡¯re looking for blight and death eater blooms. So Ashwood, use those fine senses of yours to help us find them.¡± Burr said, replying to Jace in a hushed tone. Those flowers sounded toxic. ¡°And if you see anything else of use, we¡¯ll be picking that up too.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen them before, so I don¡¯t know what to look or feel for.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll know them when you see them.¡± Baysil added as the three kept navigating through the root knotted forest floor. Unlike Jace and Burr. Baysil¡¯s chestnut black-tipped tail raised and visible out the back of her travel cloak. Its waving back and forth was a distracting and tempting target. Jace took a sniff of the air. He couldn¡¯t smell either Burr or Baysil, just the stale musty air of the forest and the ever present pollen.

    ¡°Jee, that helps.¡± He raised his arm up to look at the bracelet. Staring into the flame as it danced. Just what was he meant to see? Then he noticed darkness, a purple aura out in the distance. ¡°I think I see something?¡± Jace pointed out with his arm.

    The other two stopped and looked at Jace, then in the direction he was pointing. ¡°That has to be a fluke.¡± Baysil groaned.

    ¡°Nope, Jace is on to something. That definitely looks like a blight bloom.¡± Burr clarified. She walked over to Jace and gave him a thankful pat across his crown and mane. She then looked at Baysil. ¡°Girl, put your tail away. He¡¯s too young for you.¡± Burr added dryly. Jace felt his cheeks warm.

    Baysil shook out and tucked her tail under her cloak. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t notice Burr.¡±

    They moved in the direction of the blight bloom. To Jace¡¯s eyes, it looked like a pale, hazy cloud in the distance. Shrouded by the trunks of trees. He could just barely sense the decay it radiated. ¡°Why do we need blight blooms again?¡± Jace asked.

    ¡°The gardens become infected with blight.¡± Burr explained as she threaded through the undergrowth of the forest. Why would they need a toxic flower to deal with blight?

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t we just use the arts for that?¡±

    Baysil spoke in Burr¡¯s stead. ¡°There isn¡¯t enough mana around the castle for that kind of spell. So we need to resort to some alchemy to make a cure.¡± Surely, Evaliena could just cast a spell and be done with it. But he wasn¡¯t going to start a discussion with two people, his senior, in the ways of the arcane arts. Especially Burr, who was a type of mage who specialised in plants.

    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the blight bloom.¡± Burr announced and summoned a pair of baskets as they came to the location of the haze. ¡°You two go and look for any berries, mushrooms and herbs you can.¡± She handed a basket to Jace and one to Baysil.

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    ¡°Will it really take so long to fetch a single flower?¡± Jace tilted his head at Burr.

    ¡°I¡¯d rather you not fall ill because of me. Evaliena would never let me hear the end of it.¡± Burr grinned towards the pair. ¡°Go now. I¡¯ll find you when I¡¯m done.¡± She pushed Jace in a direction. He started walking. Baysil strode alongside him.

    Baysil broke the ice first. ¡°We haven¡¯t really talked to each other yet, have we?¡± Her feet created soft crunches in the forest soil.

    Jace thought on it, despite living the past season in the keep with Baysil and the others. He hasn¡¯t really gotten to know Baysil at all. Maybe it was Evaliena just smothering him all the time? ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think we really have.¡±

    ¡°How have you found living in our world?¡± She asked pointedly, basket swinging on the bend of her arm.

    ¡°Jarring, interesting, any number of things. Most of that¡¯s buried now.¡± he shrugged, he looked to the side, he could see a rainbow like haze somewhere in the distance. ¡°Especially after my Feina was opened.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m annoyed that I didn¡¯t get to witness that. To see the power crawl over one¡¯s skin and the sparking of a star.¡± Baysil describing as if she¡¯s seen it before..

    ¡°Have you ever seen it before?¡± Jace kept his eye on the haze he was seeing through the fog of verdantly coloured mana.

    Baysil shrugged again. ¡°No, I¡¯m still in training. I got sent away to study with Sandalwood. I haven¡¯t seen my clan in ages.¡± She stretched her arms out. Jace heard the slight ruffle of the travel cloak as the young vixen¡¯s tail flicked out. ¡°Do you see something?¡± Baysil leant down her muzzle previously close to Jace¡¯s ear.

    ¡°I think I see another plant in the distance.¡± Jace pointed toward the rainbow like haze.

    ¡°That looks like a traveller¡¯s sage to me.¡± Baysil squinted at the haze. ¡°Good find, I wish my sight was half as sensitive as yours¡­¡± There was a hint of jealousy in that tone. They spent the rest of the day gathering all manner of herbs, mushrooms and berries. None of which was considered edible.

    <hr>

    Another month ticked by. His fur was short now and the mane that was growing out the top and back of his head started to extend down his back. Did they have barbers in this world?

    Today, Jace was wearing an odd piece of headgear. It looked like a plague doctor¡¯s mask and cowl. The muzzle of which was filled with many fragrant flowers and herbs to overwhelm his sense of smell. And the shaded eyes prevent him from seeing. ¡°What¡¯s the point of this, Evaliena?¡± Jace¡¯s irritated voice vibrated around the muzzle.

    ¡°You know why, I want you to identify each one of the plants, minerals, and liquids. Without using your physical senses, just your Feina¡¯s.¡± Jace could hear Evaliena putting things onto the table in front of him. He tried to lift the mask up to spy. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, or I will make you sit there for a bit longer.¡± Jace put his hand back down. The urge to just fidget built up.

    ¡°This mask is so heavy, though.¡± Jace leant his head back against the rim of the chair. That was a mistake as that pushed the sack of fragrances against his nose. He sneezed hard and groaned as stitches of pain stung across his chest.

    ¡°Now, Jace.¡± Evaliena put her hand down on the table. ¡°Can you make out my hand?¡± he lazily tilted his head down. And shook his head. ¡°Well, as I taught you, increase the sensitivity of your eyes. Slowly, I might add. Don¡¯t want you getting mana sickness again.¡± Jace did as told, slowly increasing the sensitivity to mana in his eyes. Eventually he was able to see Evaliena¡¯s faint yellow gold aura, along with a bunch of other faint auras.

    ¡°Now, what¡¯s this?¡± Evaliena pointed to a greenish aura. It had a minty, musky essence to it.

    ¡°That¡¯s sage.¡±

    ¡°And this one?¡± She pointed to another green aura. It had a peppery sweet essence to it.

    ¡°That¡¯s thyme.¡±

    This went on for a while, with Jace correctly guessing the material the yellow vixen was pointing to most of the time. A few gems and roots he hadn¡¯t encountered before he couldn¡¯t name. Then she pointed to a brightly glowing liquid at the end of the table that had a certain bitter feeling to it. When Jace recognised what it was, he became disgusted. ¡°You didn¡¯t!?¡±

    Burr and Cedar started laughing. Evaliena couldn¡¯t hold her snicker. ¡°What it¡¯s rich in mana and certain essences, makes it great for alchemy once it¡¯s distilled.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s disgusting!!!¡±

    ¡°Just wait until he finds out what goes into regeneration and a lot of mana potions.¡± Burr slapped her knee. ¡°I think he¡¯ll pass out! Heh!¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move on to your sense of smell and hearing.¡±

    <hr>

    Jace let out a loud, relaxed sigh as he threw himself onto a new mattress. His own room. Freshly cleaned. It was significantly smaller than Evaliena¡¯s. It was on the same floor too after they moved a lot of furniture out of one of the spares. But it was his own for however long needed to stay here. The others wouldn¡¯t understand why he wanted his own little room. Maybe it was being constantly dragged over for cuddles during the night was part of the move. Not that he minded being hugged by Evaliena.

    He even had a new pillow and some nice blankets. He buried his head into them all, taking into the freshly washed scent.

    ¡°You moved out.¡± A certain spirit¡¯s voice purred in Jace¡¯s ear. ¡°Did you get tired of the witch¡¯s company?¡± ¡°Did she leave you stiff every morn¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are you done yet?¡± Jace groaned sharply and buried his head against the blankets harder. ¡°Also, why would you say that? She¡¯s basically my mother now. I¡¯m not even of age either¡­¡±

    ¡°So you admit she¡¯s attractive.¡± The spirit cooed as she rubbed her shoulder and side sensually against Jace¡¯s hip.

    Jace rolled over and stared at the yellow, canid spirit. ¡°Don¡¯t put words in my month.¡±

    The spirit rolled her onyx eyes, slowly swayed her tri-fork tail to the side, and turned to look at Jace with a sly expression and a paw tucked to her cheek. ¡°You¡¯re so easy to tease.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to be your plaything.¡± Jace growled into his sheets. ¡°What is your name, anyway?¡±

    ¡°My siblings and creator named me Topaz.¡± She performs a polite bow with her head. ¡°I guess I should avoid riling you up too much.¡± Topaz sneered as she stood back up.

    ¡°Answer me this, then. Why does it take you so long between visits?¡± He cocked a questioning brow.

    The spirit leaned to one side and leered. ¡°You didn¡¯t bother to ask her, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t I. I haven¡¯t had the time.¡± Honestly, Jace was afraid of asking too much about the spirit.

    Topaz shrugged rather humanly, sitting on its haunches and raising both its forearms. ¡°Fine then. It takes me a long time to gather the mana from my armature and the waxing of either of the moons for me to be able to just wander around.¡± She sat back down. ¡°I told you before, this isn¡¯t my real body. You could¡­¡±

    ¡°I could what?¡± Jace leered back at the yellow canid. He didn¡¯t like the way this conversation was going. Curiosity perked in Jace¡¯s mind of what the spirit would say.

    ¡°You could find my body and free me.¡± the words dripped smoothly from the spirit¡¯s mouth. She moved her head down to look as nonthreatening as possible.

    ¡°Evaliena would kill me,¡± Jace growled angrily at the spirit.

    ¡°So, the answer is no?¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    The spirit sighed and started walking away. ¡°You¡¯re just no fun. Like all the others.¡± And disappeared into the darkness.

    ¡°I hope she doesn¡¯t make this a habit.¡± Jace cursed and readied his new bed to sleep in.

    ¡­

    The spirit returned to Jace¡¯s room while everyone slept. ¡°Time to teach you a lesson, little boy.¡± The spirit smirked and put her forepaws ever so delicately on the sides of Jace¡¯s head as he snoozed. ¡°Let¡¯s give you some ¡®pleasant¡¯ dreams.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Oh, that¡¯s unfortunate¡­¡±

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Eleven

    Jace slowly awakened to the sounds of birds chirping. And a throbbing headache from which he rubbed his head. ¡°Ugh, that¡¯s strange. Why has no one woke me up?¡± Jace thought through the fog of waking up. Someone¡¯s presence scanning his body, making his fur stand on end. He wished he was able to extend his perception like the others could. An acrid smell invaded his nose. ¡°No¡­. I didn¡¯t¡­¡± He worried.

    And that wasn¡¯t all he was smelling. Something was missing. Carefully, peeled back the foul smelling blanket. Placing it back. ¡°Eep!¡± He covered his mouth. He started reaching down and pressed his fingers around. He almost screamed as he buried his head in his pillow.

    A faint laugh came from behind the walls. Jace''s cheeks warmed and he became concerned.

    ¡°What?!¡± Evaliena shouted from outside the room, the sound damped by the door. ¡°He changed during the night?!¡± Another presence scanned his body and he heard Evaliena running up the stairs. She opened the door to come in, and stepped back as the lingering scent hit her nose. ¡°Oh no, he¡¯s pissed himself as well.¡± Cedar started laughing. Evaliena clicked her fingers, and a scented fresh breeze flew through the room, cleansing the horrid smell and cleaning up his sheets. It even ironed them out and fluffed his pillow. He needed to learn that spell!

    ¡°Th-thanks!¡± Jace squeaked. He pulled up the blankets to cover himself further.

    ¡°Have any pleasant dreams, Ashwood?¡± Cedar snickered as he peaked around the frame of the door to Jace¡¯s room. The new name settled well with him. ¡°You should be careful about sleeping under a full moon.¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut your trap, Cedar.¡± Evaliena moved over to Jace and got onto her knees. Jace looked up at Evaliena with a pleading set of eyes. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you didn¡¯t kill yourself.¡±

    ¡°I just went to sleep as normal!¡± Jace yelped, his voice faltering, a higher pitch than normal. ¡°Why am I a girl now?!¡±

    A pernicious smile crooked on the yellow vixen¡¯s muzzle, annoyed. Cedar started walking away with a snicker. ¡°I guess I¡¯m not training you until the next full moon, Ashwood.¡±

    Jace continued to look at Evaliena. ¡°This is going to take some explaining.¡± Evaliena sighed as she reached for the blanket. Jace pulled it tighter against himself. ¡°You¡¯re also not going to stay in your room either, no matter how embarrassed you feel.¡± The vixen grabbed Jace and pulled him out of his blankets, using both arms.

    ¡°Eeep!¡±

    <hr>

    Only Jace¡¯s poncho seemed to fit. The kilt kept slipping off the moment he pulled the waistband over his hips. Band was not tight enough to stay in place. So Evaliena made him ditch it. The gate of his walk felt awkward too, like his hips were swaying a little too much. And a gap¡­ He did not like to think about it.

    Evaliena explained in the privacy of Jace¡¯s room what the problem was now. He must have had a fantasy during the night. It was a full moon and his form changed gender while he slept. And now they forbid him from glamouring to his travel form until the next full moon. Which was about a full lunar month, three bloody weeks, or about thirty days. Because he had to wait for the larger moon, Selene, not the smaller one, Muud, to go through its¡­ entire¡­ orbit.

    And Cedar, despite Jace¡¯s pleading. Cedar refused to train Jace until he changed back, saying. ¡°You¡¯re no longer used to your body, so you¡¯re going to hurt yourself and your emotions are¡­ harsher.¡± So all Jace could think of doing now was sitting in the living room. Slowly going crazy and watching for when the moon makes its revolution around the planet.

    ¡°Could you take this form after your second milestone?¡± Burr said. She was sitting much closer than usual, as if she was enjoying what happened to Jace..

    ¡°Butterbur. Not right now,¡± Evaliena spoke firmly as she scribbled away on some paper. ¡°Don¡¯t you have your greenhouse to tend to?¡±

    ¡°I may need an extra pair of hands today.¡± Burr responded softly, hinting at Jace.

    He continued to stew, curled up next to the hearth, as he didn¡¯t feel like sitting on any chairs. ¡°No.¡± Jace rolled, facing away Burr.

    ¡°Burr, don¡¯t¡­¡± Evaliena gave Burr a warning look. Followed by a defeated sign.

    Jace yelped as Burr grabbed him roughly and dragged him over into her lap, giving him a tender hug. ¡°Come on, little Ashwood, you¡¯ve done such a wonderful job with gathering all those herbs over the past few weeks.¡±

    ¡°I am not fine with this!¡± He squirmed and kicked around, protesting Burr¡¯s actions. She cackled.

    ¡°There¡¯s no point in resisting Jace.¡± Evaliena groaned as she kept scribbling away on the paper. ¡°When Burr gets like this, she is not going to stop until she¡¯s satisfied.¡±

    ¡°The next few weeks are going to be so much fun,¡± Burr sang, gently rocking side to side. ¡°It¡¯s like all my names¡¯ days all come at once.¡±

    Jace squirmed in place, his arms pinned his side. ¡°This is so frustrating¡­¡±

    ¡°Cheer up, not like it could get any worse. You could have been a pile of guts in your bed,¡± Burr teased. Jace quit his movement. Locking up at what she said, He slumped as he felt ill as the imagery. ¡°Hmmm, that was a bit too far.¡±

    Evaliena slammed her arm lightly against her table. ¡°Burr! Just let Ashwood survive the next three weeks!¡±

    Jace kept his lunch down and licked around his mouth to clear the taste that welled up in his mouth. Some thoughts ran through his mind. One bubbled up. Should he tell Evaliena about the spirit visiting that night? He can¡¯t remember anything after going to sleep. ¡°Evaliena, can spirits manipulate dreams?¡±

    Jace felt Burr¡¯s playful mood shift. ¡°Aaah, we forgot about that, didn¡¯t we?¡± Jace felt burr turn her head to Evaliena. Burr shrugged and went back to rocking Jace. ¡°It¡¯s a shame she never comes to me. I could show her a thing or two. But alas, I have you instead.¡±

    Jace had enough. ¡°Personal space Burr!¡±

    <hr>

    Burr¡¯s greenhouse, Jace could best describe the place as walking into a wall of heat accompanied by an intense array of floral and herb smells. A sea of green split neatly by two dirt paths. It made helping Burr gather the crop of herbs she wanted unbearable. But he managed, in spite of how unbalanced his body is currently and how acute his arcane senses became. Baysil was here as well. Now they just had to sort and dry the various herbs¡­

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    ¡°You doing alright, Ashwood?¡± Baysil enquired. ¡°I heard what happened this morning.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡± His voice squeaked.

    ¡°Ashwood will be fine.¡± Burr reached over to the large, gathered pile of herbs. ¡°But since you¡¯re here, Baysil. Why don¡¯t you help us sort these out? You can take what you want after.¡±

    ¡°The offer is tempting¡­¡± Baysil replied, then noticed Jace¡¯s helpless expression. She took pity and sat down with the pair of them. ¡°Sure, why not?¡±

    And the three got to work on separating and sorting the herbs. Burr also thrashed some of them for their seeds. Jace puckered up the courage to ask Burr why she¡¯s so interested in him now. ¡°So, burr, why are you so interested in being around me now?¡±

    Burr thought about it as she kept sorting. ¡°I¡¯ll get back to you on that.¡± Creepy old vixen, he thought. Something Jace came to realise about Burr is that she shares the same crude sense of humour Cedar has. It¡¯s clearly not a cultural thing.

    ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯ve become a girl.¡± Baysil interceded, picking out particular herbs from the pile for herself.

    ¡°So she¡¯s just a creepy old vixen, huh?¡± Jace looked accusingly at Burr.

    Burr sneered and laughed incredulously, stripping herb¡¯s leaves from its stem. ¡°I consider it a worthy challenge to try and keep you as the fairer sex.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s really concerning¡­¡± But this Jace rebutted Burr. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to convert me.¡±

    ¡°Oh? I can be very pervasive.¡± Burr snickered softly, nudging Jace¡¯s side. ¡°But I¡¯ll let you state your truth.¡± Baysil leaned in, also interested in what Jace had to say. He spoke about his two sisters from his own world. Leaving out anything the two Reynards would not understand, of course. Mostly how they fought over the littlest things, the mood swings and the pains they expressed. And how Jace never ever wants to experience that.

    ¡°Oh¡­ Oh¡­ OOOOH. I guess I have my work cut out for me.¡± She taunted Jace with narrowed, mischievous eyes.

    ¡°Oh, give it a rest Burr, he made quite a lot of good points for why ¡®HE¡¯ doesn¡¯t want to be a girl.¡± Baysil defended Jace.

    ¡°Now I have to ask before an argument breaks out.¡± Jace interjected. ¡°Why are therian children so fluid?¡±

    ¡°I think last night would have given you all the insight you needed, Jace.¡± Burr explained. ¡°But since, really, the only other Reynard here that could explain it¡­ would be Evaliena.¡± She started rubbing her chin in through.

    ¡°So some children just naturally swap over?¡± Several questions ran through Jace¡¯s mind. When was the cutoff?

    Burr traced Jace¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Those kids usually settle before they reach their second milestone¡­ Unless the couple intend to have a spare son. Then we usually raise the rest as daughters.¡± She mused with a smile. ¡°Not all of them turn, though.¡±

    ¡°Spare?!¡± It was a long afternoon of sorting herbs.

    <hr>

    Two more weeks until Selene completes its luna cycle. Jace was brushing his lengthened mane. He had gotten walking around with his altered hips down. It wasn¡¯t so bad, so long as he didn¡¯t think about it. He also didn¡¯t know why he was still allowed to continue sleeping in his own room.

    He felt something slip into his room. He didn¡¯t bother to turn around. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back,¡± he felt tempted to call Topaz a little shit for what she did. ¡°Selene isn¡¯t waxing yet.¡±

    ¡°Pah, I can manifest on any full moon, not just the big one.¡± The spirit spoke proudly. ¡°Not going to look at me?¡± Jace heard a shrug and a sigh. ¡°Yes, I caused your current problem. And I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Jace turned to look at the small yellow canid. ¡°You¡¯re sorry?¡± he said with frustration in his voice. ¡°Do you know how awkward I feel right now?¡±

    ¡°I never intended to shift where you¡¯re bouncing and jiggling from.¡± Topaz sneered, leaning precariously to the side.

    ¡°Then what did you intend to do?¡± Jace said flatly.

    Topaz¡¯s tail lashed at the floor as she sat up on her haunches. ¡°What do you think?¡± her brow slanted with a simper on her muzzle.

    ¡°Nothing wholesome considering what you did to cinnamon.¡± Jace thought.

    Topaz trotted up and placed her fore paws lightly on Jace¡¯s thigh. ¡°I am sorry, if you¡¯ll accept that at least.¡±

    Jace sighed and accepted the apology. ¡°I have to wait a further two weeks before I can go back to normal.¡±

    ¡°Oooh. Well, good luck with that then.¡± Topaz pushed off and started walking away. She looked back at Jace.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go give Burr a visit?¡± He went back to grooming his mane.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t have the energy to deal with that lecherous vixen.¡± Topaz made a spitting motion. Nothing followed the impact.

    ¡°Says you¡­¡± Jace snorted. Only to notice Topaz had already left. He really didn¡¯t like the ease with which the spirit came and went as she pleased.

    <hr>

    The large moon had finally completed its full circuit of the planet. It was an experience for Jace. A tiny part of him was curious and wanted to stay. The rest of him, however, wanted to go back because that¡¯s what he had known for the past fifteen years of his life.

    Burr had tried her best. She faced constant obstacles in her efforts to convince Jace to turn. The orange vixen was a good sport for it.

    Cedar had to make it clear to Burr that Jace did not have any commitment, either in heart or mind, towards the change. Forcing Burr to admit defeat as Evaliena grabbed Jace¡¯s arm when night approached. Taking the far step up to the clearing up the mountain. He felt sick from the translation to a new space, but not enough for him to fall to the floor and start emptying his stomach on the floor. Maybe he was getting used to this teleportation.

    Nope. Jace ended up hacking up an empty stomach on the floor. He received a helping hand to stand up as he wiped his muzzle clean. He groaned. ¡°At least I lasted a few moments this time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long road until your body is fully used to being suddenly elsewhere.¡± Evaliena told Jace flatly. ¡°But you¡¯re improving.¡± ¡°Now You remember the mirror, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you showed me it the second day I was here and helped me get back on two legs.¡± Jace recalled. How time flew.

    ¡°Hopefully, I don¡¯t have to tell you how this works. We have time.¡± She stated as she summoned the quicksilver mirror from her Lemis. Like the bookcases back at the keep. Silvery mana surrounded it. He could roughly make out the complex script that ringed the mirror¡¯s edges. He could feel a sense of purpose from the object. Like it was inverting specific aspects reflected in it. ¡°The point of the mirror in this purpose is to be a guide. Once you commit to the change, you must pull all the way.¡± She instructed.

    ¡°Is the collapsing into gore really true or just a thing to frighten children?¡± His voice faltered.

    Evaliena gave the young Reynard a flat expression of. ¡°Do you really want to find out?¡± Jace gulped audibly and focused on the task at hand. The changes happened rapidly. They were subtle, a bit of mass removed here, a bit of mass added here. However, after the transition, his loins burned with pain. Apparently, that is considered normal.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Twelve

    Cedar put the pressure on Jace like nothing before. Every week of practice, the old warrior increased pace, hoping to build the reflexes into Jace¡¯s soul, so that he acted on instinct rather than trying to think his actions through.

    ¡°Jeez, old man, let up a little.¡± Jace could feel his limbs and hands becoming tired. He had to be active in regulating his mana now so the old silver fox wouldn¡¯t exhaust him as quick.

    ¡°Not until I¡¯ve landed a proper hit on you.¡± Cedar said with glee. He was enjoying this too much, putting Jace on a constant back foot. Jace knew the warrior was holding back. Just dancing Jace on the razor edge of success and failure. Then Cedar swept his wooden sword at Jace¡¯s legs. Jace fell back and landed on his tail with a loud yelp, dropping the training stave along the stone platform¡¯s floor. And a tap on the head. ¡°Done.¡±

    All Jace could do was a groan in pain. ¡°My spine¡­¡± He rolled and rubbed his poor behind and tail.

    ¡°You can walk it off, pup.¡± The old warrior sat down on the stone platform. Jace didn¡¯t want to impair his ability to walk, being rather attached to his ability to walk. ¡°That¡¯ll be enough for today.¡±

    The sun crested the mountain range that shaded the valley where the deep weald lay. Stone cooled and the air smelt of green and dew. The wind slowed as it blew over the curtain walls of the fort.

    Jace groaned once more and sat up on his side. ¡°What not going to push me all the way to exhaustion this time, Cedar?¡±

    ¡°Despite your keen improvement.¡± Cedar was weary to explain. ¡°We aren¡¯t getting any further. The best I can do is reinforce the reflexes you¡¯re currently training. Once you grow some muscles, pup, I can get into the harder techniques.¡± The old fox pulled out his smoking pipe and lit the packed pipe weed. ¡°Besides, there are other things we need to work on.¡±

    Jace tilted his head in question. ¡°Oh? What else?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a brutal and bloody world out there, Jace¡­¡± The old fox took a deep puff and blew out an O ring of smoke. ¡°Sandal can¡¯t shelter you from it forever.¡±

    Cedar had a point¡­ The old fox talked much about the more light-hearted situations he had gotten into and less about the fights, the duels and bloody battles. His hazel eyes had the gaze of someone who had seen too much. Jace wanted to ask Cedar why he stopped adventuring. From what little knowledge he gleaned, Therians can live for centuries if they were careful. ¡°What made you finally give up the sword?¡±

    ¡°Winddancer? Or are you talking about me giving up the wandering swordsman¡¯s life?¡± Cedar clarified. Jace nodded to the latter. ¡°I guess the answer won¡¯t be obvious to you. There are really only two ways the life of an adventurer ends Ashwood.¡± Cedar tilted himself up to look at the orange to blue scaled sky. ¡°You either die on the road, killed by other people, or have some sickness. Or¡±

    ¡°Or?¡± dysentery was apparently a rather common issue Jace had read. He hoped he never had to experience that.

    ¡°Or you get wise enough to realise you¡¯re slowing down. If I was still fighting fit, pup. Why would I be here?¡± Cedar finished, leaving it at that.

    <hr>

    Jace was excited today. Evaliena took him up to the top of the keep, a place he wasn¡¯t allowed to enter until now.

    ¡°Now Jace, my workshop is a very special and dangerous place.¡± Evaliena explained as she undid the workings of the locks that held the heavy metal door shut. Now he was really excited. His tail was beating side to side uncontrollably. What wonders does this workshop hold? He could practically smell the mana emanating from behind the door. Now that was the chemical smell. He didn¡¯t think his nose would survive this. ¡°I advise dulling your sense of smell, pup.¡±

    Jace did as advised. Altering his senses, both normal and arcane, came relatively naturally to him. It scared him a little how easy it was.

    Evaliena opened the door. The smell was overwhelming even to his dulled sense of smell. The dimly lit room smelled distinctly like a freshly cleaned school lab. Having not passed the threshold yet, he could see many pieces of glassware and glowing crystals on finely built shelves. ¡°Well, go in.¡± Evaliena bade Jace to enter the workshop.

    Jace walked in. He spun to look around. He expected a set of apparatus bubbling away. There was just the soft padding against tiles. And a not so inconsiderable amount of dust hanging in the air. He heard the characteristic clink of Evaliena¡¯s fingers. That soft breeze flowing through and clearing up the dust and stagnate chemical smells. The sheets that covered tables pulled away, neatly folding up in stacks, revealing stacks of cast iron holders.

    Jace looked at Evaliena. ¡°That has to be the first spell you teach me,¡± he begged.

    Evaliena gave Jace a soft smile as she walked to the centre of the room. ¡°When you earn it. It¡¯s an incredibly complex piece.¡±

    ¡°Show me!¡± Jace demanded as he bounced in place.

    Evaliena shrugged. ¡°I warned you then.¡± She held her hands out and a construct of squiggly silver lines built up in an orb between her hands. Jace recognised many of the runes that built up the structure, and many he hadn¡¯t memorised.

    Jace looked in awe at the spell construct, then it vanished. His voice faltered. ¡°I guess I have a fair way to go, huh?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get there.¡± Evaliena put her hand reassuringly on Jace¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Because you are being trained by me.¡± She stood straight, placing her hand on her hip. ¡°Now welcome to my workshop. You¡¯re allowed in here now.¡± She gestured around to the shelves and tables.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Jace spoke uneasily. Much of this equipment in the room looked very expensive. ¡°This stuff looks fragile¡­¡±

    ¡°Well. Before I start teaching you stoichiometry,¡± Evaliena explained candidly. What a word, he wondered, what that meant. ¡°I¡¯m going to teach you how to set all this stuff up safely. So you don¡¯t blow up my workshop.¡± Evaliena pointed her hand to the tall wardrobe off in the corner next to the door. ¡°In there, is gloves, boots, smocks and aprons. We are not conducting any alchemy without those.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡°Why? With cleaning spells like yours, we wouldn¡¯t need to worry about stains¡­ ooh¡­¡± Jace¡¯s face palmed as he completed the sentence.

    ¡°At least you corrected yourself. I don¡¯t have to waste materials and components on healing and poison cleansing spells or potions if we don¡¯t get hurt in the first place.¡± She rocked her hip into Jace¡¯s side. ¡°Now I¡¯m going to show you how to put those properly on.¡±

    <hr>

    As almost on cue. Just as Jace was about to sleep. He could hear the four talking around the keep¡¯s hearth down stairs. Cedar was leading the conversation again.

    ¡°He¡¯s progressing quickly, Sandal.¡±

    ¡°His innate control is wonderful, I admit. But.¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°I can tell he¡¯s going to be a handful.¡±

    Can Evaliena really be so sure?

    ¡°Why don¡¯t either one of you take him outside again?¡± ¡°He clearly needs to get out.¡±

    ¡°Good excuse to get him bloodied now?¡±

    Jace didn¡¯t like where this was leading.

    ¡°Are you two sure you didn¡¯t come from the sire?¡±

    ¡°If anything, he needs to learn how to hunt. I can only teach him so much since¡­¡±

    ¡°With Sandal hogging him all day.¡±

    ¡°Burr!¡±

    Jace constantly heard of Cedar hammering on about this to Evaliena. He gets the point, but it makes him sick to his stomach¡­

    ¡°What? He¡¯s not being allowed to be a child.¡±

    There was silence for a while. Jace could imagine Burr being stared at by both her seniors.

    ¡°Why not take him on a trip to the clans?¡±

    ¡°He would get torn apart.¡±

    ¡°Agreed.¡±

    ¡°Burr, you¡¯re not getting he¡¯s not exactly a child in mind, despite his antics.¡±

    Is the difference between him and their culture really that bad?

    ¡°That settles it then¡­ I¡¯m taking him hunting. You¡¯re not going to argue Sandal.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine I give. I was hoping we could wait until¡ª¡±

    ¡°He hit¡¯s second milestone? Sandal, apart from Baysil, everyone else here is a century or more old.¡±

    Jace didn¡¯t mind being surrounded by so many wise people.

    He let out a sigh and ignored the conversation. Sleep came easily, and the days turned to weeks to months.

    <hr>

    Today¡¯s the big day, for Jace, at least. There was no gathering, no party, no celebration this time. More than a full year had passed Jace by in this world. A year of study, busy work and learning about a hostile world that was backwards compared to his old life. But at the same time; interesting, unique and just different¡­ not having much interaction with the outside world. Except, for the few times Evaliena took Jace out to different towns to purchase supplies.

    ¡°Why are we all the way out here?¡± Jace casually asked as he wiped his muzzle. They had just farstepped from the keep to a random clearing in the mountain range. The air was foggy, moist. He looked around, seeing clouds roll over the range and the forest. Knowing they had just finished all the Basal Runes., he could recite and write every single one of the first set perfectly on paper. What was he forgetting?

    Evaliena put her hand on Jace¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t remember? Has it been that long?¡± She mused. ¡°We¡¯re out here so you can practise expressing your mana.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Jace¡¯s expression lit up. He suspected this wouldn¡¯t be as easy manipulating the mana that was already coursing through his body. ¡°Then why are we all the way out here?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s simple.¡± Evaliena raised her other hand. ¡°The flare of a new mage¡¯s expression can be a bit destructive.¡± She explained gingerly. ¡°Also, I don¡¯t want to give away the position of our home, too.¡±

    Jace looked away at the ground. ¡°So you don¡¯t want me putting a hole in one of the walls and you don¡¯t want me breaking the spell shrouding the keep?¡±

    ¡°Oh, the enchantment would survive.¡± She waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Rather, I don¡¯t want unnecessary attention drawn to us. Now I¡¯m going to show you how I express my mana, then you¡¯re going to attempt to do the same.¡± Then she walked ten paces in front of Jace and stood relaxed.

    ¡°That easy?¡±

    Evaliena gave a thoughtful look to Jace. ¡°I never said it was easy¡­ my children and previous apprentices took weeks for them to start properly expressing mana.¡±

    Jace rolled his eyes. ¡°Well, that¡¯s reassuring, huh?¡±

    ¡°Now watch me.¡± The yellow gold aura around Evaliena concentrated, turning into a vein-like system that stretched its way from core to head to the tips of her fingers and toes. ¡°Expressing mana is the key to spell craft. Without it, you can¡¯t create spell constructs.¡± Jace watched as mana circulated around Evaliena¡¯s network of yellow gold veins. She held a hand up, giving a clear view of it against the backdrop of the valley.

    ¡°How are you doing that?¡± his mouth agape as he kept watching as a small ball of silvery mana formed from above Evaliena¡¯s open palm.

    ¡°I assume you mean channels for my Feina? I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ve noticed your own, too.¡± She dissipated the ball and started over. ¡°Pay attention to what I¡¯m trying to show you. Jace.¡± ¡°Or we may be doing this practice for months.¡± The vixen warned. ¡°Now come on, hands out. You don¡¯t need to form a sphere like I¡¯m doing. Just express your own mana.¡±

    Jace held his hands out before him. He quickly inspected his arms with his sight. Those ever present silver lines; that stretched across his body like Evaliena¡¯s yellow gold ones. ¡°Am I accidentally showing these off?¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t see it if you¡¯re asking.¡± Evaliena replied, doing the technique again. Jace just had to take it on faith for now. Maybe he could ask one of the others back at the Keep about it. He tried imagining pumping his mana through his fingertips.

    Failure.

    Upon.

    Failure.

    Upon.

    Exhaustion. Jace had laid out on the ground, depleted of any strength he could muster. The flame on his bracelet is little more than an ember. Evaliena stood over him with a look of indifference. ¡°I had hopes. But this will just be like all the others I¡¯ve seen.¡± Jace could only look up at the sky, panting shallowly.

    ¡°Do you remember yours?¡± he panted between breaths.

    ¡°Yes, however, you¡¯re not in the state to be asking.¡± She picked Jace up.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Thirteen

    An entire month had passed. Every day filled with Jace practising fluctuating both his mana and Feina. Every time he was on the cusp of succeeding, he would fall to the floor, exhausted. This was frustratingly annoying. He¡¯s almost there. If he could just eek out the last bit, he¡¯d reach the goal.

    The others had sympathy for his predicament, but none of them offered any sort of guidance.

    Evaliena handed Jace a sweet roll as he lay on the ground. ¡°Eat up, then one more try for today.¡± Evaliena speaking of her own experience. It took her the better part of a year before she could express her own mana. Jace didn¡¯t know whether to believe her, but there is little chance anyone was one alive to challenge that. He sat up and ate away at the sweet roll. He tasted honey and sugar, along with a nutty paste he had never encountered before. A pleasant flavour.

    Jace finished the pastry and pushed himself back onto his feet. Evaliena was lounging on a reed mat she had summoned. Watching Jace as he began the routine again. ¡°Focus, you know you can do this.¡±

    He breathed deep and started regulating his mana. Cycling the energy through his limbs. To breach the wall is all he needed to do. He got frustrated, but pushed his mind forward.

    There was a crack, and Evaliena moved like he had never seen before. Took his arms and forced them skyward as they burned with a fiery pain.

    ¡°Release, Jace!¡± she commanded. Jace relaxed as much as he dared and a blast of white hot mana spewed up in a cloudy crackling plume above the two Reynards. It hurt¡­ it hurt so much. That movement of mana drained his being. The yellow vixen summoned a small red flask from her Lemis and popped the cork. ¡°Here, drink this¡­¡± The fluid that ran down his throat was like syrup. Sweet and intoxicating.

    Jace rested in Evaliena¡¯s arms. Whatever she gave him was doing wonders. The pain around his arms was subsiding and his core was refilling. He could feel and see as the flame above the crystal on his bracelet bulged with life. ¡°Far.. out¡­ what kind of cordial was that?¡±

    Evaliena cradled Jace with the same care as one would do with a newborn. ¡°It¡¯s a potion I whipped up just for this moment. We¡¯ll need to move soon. That plume of mana will be seen for miles.¡±

    Jace gave a slight nod in agreement. Rather than teleporting this time. She held Jace¡¯s slight frame in her arms as she bounded from the clearing across the side of the mountain. It felt oddly familiar, like the first time she found him. ¡°Not ¡®far stepping¡¯ this time?¡± The sides between bounds.

    ¡°Not in your condition, my apprentice.¡± Her tone was almost fond. Jace would not argue with her. She was the expert in the relationship. However, the speed at which she moved was disconcerting, to say the least. The air whistled across his folded ears.

    ¡°There are a few things I need to tell you before we head home.¡±

    <hr>

    They travelled to another clearing, Evaliena¡¯s teleportation spell landing them in the middle. Jace could at least feel his hands and feet again after his explosive display. Jace looked up at Evaliena. ¡°So, what did you need to tell me?¡±

    Evaliena put her hands on her hips and gave Jace a stern expression. ¡°Show me that you can express your mana again. But this time, not as hard.¡± She raised a warning finger.

    Jace wisely turned away from Evaliena and pointed his left hand toward the rock face, walling one side of the clearing. The movement came startlingly easy this time. A blob of silvery mana jetted out and dissipated in front of him. He felt his arm grow weary, and he dropped it. The flame on his bracelet flickered and shrunk slightly in response. ¡°Woah, I really did it¡­¡±

    The yellow vixen put a hand on Jace¡¯s shoulder. He looked back up. She was smiling proudly. ¡°Yes, you did. Now.¡±

    ¡°Now?¡± Jace listened intently.

    ¡°I have a few things to tell you now that you have reached this stage in your training. With the power you¡¯ve now obtained, it¡¯s time to take on some responsibilities.¡± Jace rolled his eyes. Where did he hear this speech before? ¡°Take this seriously.¡± Evaliena gave him a serious look in the eyes. ¡°The ease with which you experienced life is over.¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jace asked concernedly, his ears folding against his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time you started pulling your weight. As I¡¯ve been coddling you thus far.¡± The vixen continued. ¡°I¡¯ll be assigning you to work with Baysil on her chores.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad¡­ What would those be?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not done yet.¡± She continued again, putting a finger to Jace¡¯s lips to silence him. ¡°Cedar will be handling your mastering of manipulating mana outside yourself. I¡¯ve already discussed it with him, along with a number of other things.¡± Jace tilted his head questioningly. What were those other things? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll still be teaching you spellcraft, just I have obligations I have to tend to and I can¡¯t bring you along for that.¡±

    ¡°It would be interesting, nonetheless?¡± Jace asked.

    Evaliena shook her head and got down to a knee so her eyes would level with Jace¡¯s. ¡°It would be boring. And there are a few more things. An oath of sorts. Since you¡¯re still lucid.¡±

    ¡°What does that entail?¡±

    ¡°Repeat after me, Jace.¡± Evaliena was going on ahead without Jace¡¯s agreement.

    Jace readied himself regardless, as this was a serious affair for Evaliena. ¡°Go then.¡±

    ¡°I, Ashwood¡­¡±

    ¡°I, Ashwood swear¡­¡±

    To never reveal your ability to glamour; to anyone outside of the clans.

    To never reveal the secrets of Mana and Feina; to those not of the tradition.

    And to never slave a soul to your will.

    ¡°There is one additional thing I must ask of you.¡± Evaliena continued seriously.

    ¡°What is it? Because I would like to know about the reasoning behind the latter two¡­¡± He sighed, rubbing his eyes.

    ¡°In due time, my apprentice.¡± She kept looking into Jace¡¯s eyes. ¡°Have you been speaking with Topaz?¡± The accusation shot through Jace like a thunderbolt. She knew, of course she knew, nothing really escapes her notice. ¡°Then I¡¯m going to assume you have them.¡± ¡°Tell me, what has she been telling you?¡±

    ¡°That you¡¯ve been keeping her imprisoned and are draining her. At least that¡¯s what she¡¯s told me,¡± Jace responded earnestly, as there was no point in lying to the vixen.

    She took a breath and released a long sigh. Closing her eyes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to tell you a piece of history soon. And you might have a different outlook on me after that.¡± Jace didn¡¯t like the sound of that. ¡°But not today. I¡¯m tired¡­ you¡¯re tired¡­ Let¡¯s go home.¡±

    <hr>

    Jace was lying in bed, looking at the ceiling, pondering the words Evaliena told him. He had gone to bed early instead of enjoying the toast to passing this step of his journey, of his new life.

    ¡°You reek of spent mana. Grey fur.¡± A familiar squeaky voice spoke in his ear. Jace just flicked the ear. ¡°Congratulations, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Hello Topaz.¡± Jace flatly replied as he kept looking at the ceiling.

    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± The yellow long eared canid peered into the side of his vision. The spirit has been surprisingly docile and cordial since these past visits.

    ¡°Something Evaliena said to me today.¡± Jace expressed. ¡°About you specifically.¡±

    The canid sat up and shrugged in a human-like manner with her arms. ¡°Well, sooner or later, she was going to pry. What was it then?¡±

    ¡°She said she was going to tell me about some history. She kept it vague.¡± Jace lazily explained.

    ¡°She¡¯s going to talk to you about the Sorcery Wars.¡± Topaz sighed and stretched her arms back. Jace heard the equivalent of a back crack, but it sounded more like crystals breaking. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a¡­ particular sore spot for her¡­¡±

    ¡°And how does that relate to you, then?¡± Jace sat up on his side, looking at the onyx eyes of the spirit.

    ¡°I won¡¯t sugarcoat it for you.¡± Topaz spoke directly. ¡°I have neither the patience nor the eloquence to screw around with you like that.¡± ¡°I am a product of the people of that time. But the things I¡¯ve done could never compare to the things That Witch has done.¡±

    Jace speculated, connecting the dots. ¡°You both did terrible things, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    The spirit nodded. ¡°While I¡¯m intended for battle, I was but a child at the time. Not knowing any better.¡± She gestured with an open hand. ¡°She, on the other hand, knowingly did terrible things.¡±

    Now Jace certainly wasn¡¯t sleeping tonight. ¡°Could you elaborate?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to.¡± The spirit stared at Jace with a flat look. And she slowly backed up, melting into the darkness. Leaving him alone with his thoughts. Jace wasn¡¯t going to judge either of them. He needed to know what happened. Evaliena had been nothing but kind to him.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Fourteen

    Jace had an expectation of what Baysil¡¯s chores were. He did not expect it to be so¡­ mind numbingly boring. There were a few things. One was going around the keep, recharging the crystal lights. Another was refuelling the hearth. For the things Jace couldn¡¯t contribute to. Baysil would cast the spells as required. Unlike the others, every time Baysil went to cast a spell, a silvery collection of runes would form in her hands, and once it was done. A silvery wave of mana would spill across the affected area.

    Jace could feel the intention in the magicks that were cast. But only a small amount. To restore. Purify. Nurture.

    Then came Baysil¡¯s last chore.

    ¡°Here, boil these sheets of glue for me.¡± The young vixen handed Jace a large stack of dark amber coloured gelatin like sheets. He almost fell forward from the weight of it.

    He regained his balance. ¡°Jeez¡­ All of it?¡± He questioned.

    ¡°All of it.¡± She pointed her thumb to the cauldron behind her. ¡°I¡¯ll get the other supplies. That pot better be boiling.¡±

    Jace went along, he dumped the pile of smokey, rotten meat smelling jelly-like sheets into the cauldron. He got to the floor and started feeding the orange fiery purposed crystals with a trickle of mana to get them going. Baysil came back, holding a palette with a bag and two large pots.

    ¡°What are we making, Baysil?¡± Jace leaned back on his hands. Watching the sheets dissolve into sticky bubbling liquid.

    ¡°We¡¯re making ink blocks.¡± She replied as she sat on the floor beside Jace. Her legs crossed and her tail curled over toward him.

    ¡°Do we do this every week?¡± Jace didn¡¯t think he could get used to the pungent glue.

    ¡°No, this is more adding to our stockpiles and selling the rest off.¡± She explained, rolling one of the pots around with her hand. She pulled up a stirring spoon that was topped with a small green crystal and threw the spoon end into the pot. ¡°These Ink blocks take years to cure.¡± The vixen fed some mana into the spoon¡¯s crystal and it began stirring the glue.

    ¡°But Evaliena taught you a spell to speed up the process?¡± Jace speculated. He sat up, a powerful fragrant scent was invading his nose, he almost sneezed. ¡°Is that perfume?¡± It had a sweet and fruity scent with a hint of spice.

    ¡°Uh-huh. Hold your nose.¡± The vixen warned as she poured one pot into the cauldron. Intensifying the pungent smell. ¡°I hope your bread kneading skills are up to snuff. Because we¡¯re going to be working on this for the next few hours.¡± She untied the bag on the palette and poured its sooty contents into the swirling cauldron. The mixture turned a pure black.

    His hands hurt along with being stained in black silver impregnated ink. It blued his fur!

    <hr>

    Weeks to months pass. Evaliena left for days at a time. Jace didn¡¯t bother to ask why, as today he was sitting on the cold stone platform out in the keep¡¯s courtyard. Cedar paced around him. Others were chopping wood or tending to the garden. The old fox avoided the usual practice of sparring for today.

    Instead, Cedar put him through a series of tests involving a pole of wood that was decorated with rune carvings, inlaid with silver like paint. In his vision, the runes glowed a very faint grey and felt as if their intention was to float and position the stick.

    Prior lessons involved expressing Jace¡¯s mana as lines in the air and making it hold in place. In which he had significant trouble doing so. Apparently, this was training for when Evaliena finally teaches him spellcraft. He was excited. He managed the feat of keeping a solid line of silvery mana in the air permanently, eventually. Manipulating that mana into different shapes once it was outside of the body was a learned skill that took decades and has very little use¡­

    But now he had to focus on this piece of decorated wood. Keeping it charged and in the air in front of him. Which was tiring Jace¡¯s abused well of mana. He gently let the inscribed pole settle to the ground with a clack.

    Cedar looked to Jace. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you to stop.¡±

    ¡°Cedar.¡± Jace eyed the old silver morph wearily. ¡°I¡¯m out of mana.¡±

    ¡°Then take a drink.¡± Cedar said dismissively. There was a filled bottle of small beer beside him. Jace didn¡¯t like the taste of it.

    ¡°I¡¯m also tired.¡± Jace added as he fell back, laying on the cold stone surface.

    Cedar signed and sat down next to the younger Reynard. ¡°At least you¡¯re recognising when you¡¯re getting tired.¡± The old fox commentated. ¡°Eventually you¡¯ll be able to get rid of that bracelet.¡± Jace raised his arm and looked at the bracelet. The corded hemp holding the crystal in place frayed from constant wear.

    ¡°Is this test with the stick related to your old sword?¡± Jace earnestly asked.

    Cedar tilted his head and reminisced a little. ¡°In a way. Making Winddancer fly about wasn¡¯t just a showy party trick. It was a masterful piece of art, that sword.¡±

    One thing Jace wondered from Cedar¡¯s stories about his travels and his proclaimed flying sword was how he kept track of the blade without hurting himself. ¡°How did you keep track of where the blade was?¡±

    ¡°The same way any mage keeps track of any enchanted object¡­ Or the individuals around them.¡±

    Jace sat up. ¡°That being how?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a skill you gain with age, Ashwood.¡± Cedar spoke dryly. ¡°If that young girl Baysil can¡¯t do it yet, then you won¡¯t be able to, either.¡± Jace looked at the floor. The old fox raised his hand. ¡°Now, are you rested enough?¡±

    Jace shook his head.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°On a related subject, then. Since you¡¯re starting to feel out your limit. Something I should warn you about. It is possible to injure your Feina.¡±

    ¡°Its possible to injure a Feina?¡± Jace sat up with mild concern, looking at the old fox. ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like straining a muscle. Using too much mana at once without preparation or conditioning can strain your Feina. The head hurts like the hells after.¡± Cedar explained as he pulled out his pipe. Jace spent the rest of the session asking Cedar about this particular issue.

    <hr>

    The time dragged on. A rhythm settled in place as the lessons continued. More writing tasks, more mathematics related to how reactions went in chemistry, or what was called alchemy in this world. New words, words he¡¯s never heard of before but could grasp the concepts of.

    ¡°Too long.¡± ¡°Too curved.¡± ¡°That one was squiggled.¡± Evaliena droned on, sat in an armchair, watching as Jace traced his finger through the air.

    Jace dismissed and drew the first basal rune in the air again.

    ¡°Now you¡¯ve drawn Athl instead of Lethf.¡±

    The rune hung in the air with a silvery glow. The rune begged for something to join with it. Jace looked at the Rune and walked around it. With a simple change in perspective, now it looked like the first rune. ¡°Now it¡¯s Lethf.¡±

    Evaliena pulled her hand to her face and snickered softly. ¡°Aaah. I¡¯ll give you that one. But no.¡± She turned her hand and leant on its palm.

    Jace tilted his head toward Evaliena with a miffed expression. They had been practising the first rune all morning. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°All spellcraft is drawn from the perspective of the caster.¡± Evaliena dryly explained. ¡°The spell construct itself will naturally come together as a ball as you connect up the runes.¡±

    ¡°So no matter what? I have to draw it correctly from my current perspective?¡± Jace reiterated. The vixen nodded softly. ¡°This is so¡­ so¡­ annoying.¡± Jace dismissed the rune and started over.

    ¡°Practice makes perfect, Jace. You will stick through it.¡± Evaliena drove the point home. ¡°On the flip-side. The more runes you successively complete. The easier the next one becomes.¡±

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that a silvery lining.¡± Jace drew the first rune again.

    ¡°Close. Again.¡± Evaliena commented. ¡°And once you¡¯ve drawn it correctly. You¡¯ll be doing it until I think you¡¯re ready for the first one.¡±

    ¡°This is hell.¡± He started over again.

    ¡°Hell is hell. This is practice.¡± The vixen shifted her tail over to the other side as kept watching closely. Jace drew the first rune once more. ¡°Now you got it correct.¡± She smiled. ¡°You can relax now and dismiss it.¡±

    Jace loosened up and observed his handiwork. A proper rune, which also begged for another rune to join it. Then he dismissed it and dropped onto the rug on the floor. ¡°Good, I was getting tired¡­¡±

    Evaliena let out a chuckle. ¡°Oh. My dear apprentice. We¡¯re not done. You¡¯ll be repeating that feat after we¡¯ve had lunch.¡± Jace rolled his eyes and fell back against the soft rug. He wondered what was for lunch. A pot had been brewing next to the hearth, smelt like a meal he hadn¡¯t had since he came to this world. The fragrance was pungent but inviting. The lid bubbled occasionally with a yellow, orange colour. He might really enjoy this one.

    <hr>

    Alchemy was a different beast to spellcraft. Jace had to learn how to calculate reactions between various ingredients and essences. Collectively known as stoichiometry. Lucky for Jace, his experience with cooking from the past two years had prepared with how to crush and chop as well as know weights just through feeling.

    And he learned why the alchemy gear, let alone the other tools in the workshop, looked so expensive. Evaliena apparently bought these from the dwarves.

    ¡°Now. you¡¯ve managed to distil spirits, extract essential oils and in one instance; Vis of water, light and fire.¡± Evaliena counted off Jace¡¯s alchemical achievements. Jace was just happy he got to use the essentia tubes and the alchemical furnace for those last three. He still didn¡¯t quite know what ¡®Vis¡¯ could be even used for. It was the crystallised form of essences, however.

    ¡°Now, my apprentice. Today you are going to make batches of copper-based enchantment ink and simple mana potions.¡± Evaliena instructed. Jace nodded along as he was excited. Both were relatively simple creations involving no reactions. Just weights.

    The ink needed blue copper, and a viscous solution made with glue.

    The mana potion, however, required more effort. Evaliena had handed him all he could need. He had to concentrate down the pile of greens into a syrupy liquid that held a disturbingly blue hue. It took his mana to activate the strange crystal that radiated several feelings, and his patience to watch as the liquid distilled over from the alembic. If it wasn¡¯t a specific effect, alchemy was simple. But it stank to the heavens and clung to his fur.

    The end result. Five bottles of blue ink that easily conducted mana. And Five bottles of blue syrupy mana potion. The mana potion smelt intoxicatingly sweet. Evaliena inspected the bottles.

    ¡°The ink¡­ is usable.¡± She stated. ¡°For simple rune glyphs, it would be enough, but for anything else, it would burn out.¡±

    Jace shrugged. ¡°Well, what else could I have added to it? I followed the recipe you gave.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying you did anything wrong.¡± Evaliena smiled softly. ¡°It was a simple recipe. More complex recipes use more blue copper, fragrances and some Vis to reinforce its properties.¡±

    Jace thought for a moment. ¡°So if I had Vis that could conduct mana, I would add that?¡±

    Evaliena¡¯s smile grew wider in acknowledgement. ¡°Now do you know why your mana potions are blue?¡± She gestured to the set of five blue crystal bottles.

    ¡°It¡¯s because we used common plants. If I had better components, it would be purple, right?¡± Jace hazarded a guess. The book said the weakest mana potions were blue, and the best were the colour of god¡¯s own blood, a bright full red. It was vague on the ingredients, however.

    ¡°Correct. Purple is usually the sign of high quality potions. Now what do you think you would need to make a red mana potion?¡± Evaliena posed the question to Jace.

    ¡°This sounds like I won¡¯t like the answer.¡± He really didn¡¯t, as the richest sources of mana Jace had observed were all bodily fluids of some kind, including blood.

    ¡°I guess as a demonstration.¡± Evaliena picked up one of the crystal bottles and nicked the tip of her finger with a claw. A single glowing dot of blood fell from her finger into the bottle. The reaction was almost instant. The syrupy liquid swirled from blue to purple and then a dull red. ¡°It¡¯s all about the concentration of mana.¡±

    ¡°A single drop of Therian blood does that?¡± Jace wondered as he stared at the now red crystal bottle.

    ¡°Specifically, a drop of my blood did that.¡± Evaliena corrected, swirling the liquid around. ¡°Honestly, if the people at large understood what it takes to make the best potions¡­ They¡¯d probably be disgusted.¡± Jace would be too, but he couldn¡¯t complain. His own world had its fair share of disgusting processes. ¡°However, there are a few rare fruits of fungi and plants that can easily be turned into multiple red mana potions. But it would be better to just distil those into their Vis for other uses.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡±

    The vixen capped the bottle. ¡°Mana potions, like most potions, do degrade and go off if not kept in ¡®crystal¡¯ bottles. But again, they do eventually go stale, anyway. Remember that.¡± She gave Jace a pat on the back. ¡°You did good. Let¡¯s clean up and go eat.¡±

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter fifteen

    ¡°Grey fur.¡± A familiar crystal-like voice spoke into Jace¡¯s ear. His nose buried into his tail, being in his travel form so he could be warmer in the deep of winter and the wind howling. ¡°I need you.¡±

    Jace flicked his head and groaned. ¡°What¡­?¡± How was Topaz still active at this hour?

    ¡°I want out.¡± Her voice, a low whistle.

    ¡°We talked about this¡­¡± He shifted in place, wanting to sleep.

    The spirit became frustrated with his lack of reaction. ¡°I don¡¯t want to spend another century trapped and alone here.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where YOU are, Topaz.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been awake for centuries. I want to sleep. Just get the Witch to give me to you.¡±

    ¡°And then what? What would I get doing that?¡± Jace flicked an ear pointedly in Topaz¡¯s direction.

    ¡°A gem spirit to call on.¡± Topaz sighed and with an earnest cry. ¡°I just want to finally rest, please.. Help.. me¡­¡± The spirit vanished as suddenly as she arrived. Jace growled and smashed his hand against his bed.

    <hr>

    For once, Jace was the one up and early. Deliberately and quietly, he shuttled down the stairs to the living area and started the hearth with tinder and an iron striker. Whoever woke up first was the one who cooked breakfast for the others, unless it was Cedar.

    He had this. Evaliena¡¯s coaching and training in the culinary arts was quite thorough, more so than his training with mana or his sparring with Cedar. Knowing how to knead, chop, grind, whisk, and mix in the correct way were essential skills for alchemy and a number of other things.

    So Jace thought to himself. Let¡¯s get a little creative today. He knew the larder like the back of his hand. Fresh eggs and milk kept in scripted preservation jars. Some salt and spices. Green cheese, that wasn¡¯t green, was just very fresh and creamy. And little green shoots that tasted of garlic and onions.

    So he prepared a flat pan with some lard and let it get hot. His ears twitched. He could hear Evaliena waking up and moving about upstairs. The others would wake up soon. Jace threw a small wad of butter into the ripping hot pan. It skidded around, sizzling away, releasing wonderful aromas. He poured the egg mixture pan and immediately stirred with a wooden fork. The timing had to be perfect, or this would not be as smooth or as pretty as he hoped.

    ¡°My, aren¡¯t you up early?¡± Evaliena said with a quiet voice as the stairs creaked with every step. ¡°You even did the courtesy of starting the hearth and cooking me breakfast?¡± Jace kept his focus on the forming silken omelette in the pan. Evaliena seemed content to watch him work. She sat up close. He manoeuvred the pan, shifting the omelette to one side and filled it with cheese before carefully folding it closed. He slid the omelette onto a ready wooden plate without it collapsing, finishing with a bit of red spice powder and those green shoots.

    Jace turned around and offered the plate. ¡°Your breakfast is served.¡± Jace smiled at the vixen.

    Evaliena smiled. ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t turn down something new. Especially if it smelt this good.¡± She shuffled up and sniffed at the yellow roll of cooked eggs. ¡°But I¡¯ll handle everyone else, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± She took up a spoon. ¡°You¡¯re still free to help, however.¡±

    It was a slow, agonising process waiting for Evaliena to chew through the entire omelette. She didn¡¯t say or betray any hint of her verdict until she finished. ¡°Well.¡± She wiped her muzzle with a cloth. ¡°That was certainly creamy¡­ you¡¯ll have to show me what you did.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good, right?¡± Jace inquired nervously.

    ¡°It¡¯s excellent. I didn¡¯t know you could scramble eggs in that way, to be honest.¡± She spoke earnestly. ¡°Now wash up and help me with the breakfast for the others.¡± ¡°Oh, and if you wake up this early again, you are cooking for everyone else.¡±

    <hr>

    After two long years. Evaliena was finally teaching Jace his first spell.

    ¡°Now Jace.¡± Evaliena announced. ¡°Spells made up of several parts. As I teach you spellcraft after today. You¡¯ll learn just how deep the rabbit hole goes.¡± She turns and starts tapping on the blackboard. Writing out familiar runes as it created a word. ¡°This first rune word is also your first spell. Can you tell me what its intention is?¡±

    Jace looked at the rune word. He sensed a faint feeling. Maybe because the chalk contained some conductive material, Jace sensed something there. ¡°To connect?¡± he guessed, as he tilted his head to think.

    ¡°Very good. Your intuition is growing in just nicely.¡± The yellow vixen gave an approving smile. ¡°Now, can you form it for me?¡± As she turned around, crossing her arm over one another.

    Jace held out his hands before him and started expressing and manipulating his mana. Slowly forming the spell construct gingerly between his fingers. Its silvery web glinting his vision. With care, he linked the runes together as each formed. Then the construct fizzled out. ¡°Drat.¡± He cursed.

    Evaliena let out an understanding chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re not the first apprentice of mine who failed their first spell. Try again for me. This is a relatively simple spell.¡±

    Jace felt like asking what the spell was called. He, however, did as instructed. Forming the spell construct between his held out hands. Slowly forming the spell construct. Jace realised what he did wrong the first time. He took too long. Soon the spell construct stabilised his hands. Begging to be used.

    ¡°Good!¡± Evaliena spoke encouragingly. Then the spell collapsed as Jace got excited. He let out an annoyed groan. The vixen walked over and rubbed Jace on the shoulder. ¡°You managed to form the spell. Do it again and try to keep it formed.¡±

    Jace rolled his eyes. But this was no different from Cedar¡¯s training and forming and holding the runes. He formed it again. And managed to hold the spell in place for more than a moment.

    ¡°Much better. Now keep that spell formed.¡± She lifted her hand off of Jace¡¯s shoulder and moved away to sit.

    ¡°What am I just meant to keep forming? For how long?¡± One of Jace¡¯s ears tilted down as he didn¡¯t know how long he could hold this construct for.

    ¡°As soon as I¡¯m done explaining what the spell is.¡± She smiled, crossed one leg over and raised her head in her palm, leaning on the armrest. ¡°Despite its simplicity, it¡¯s quite useful.¡±

    Jace groaned. ¡°Get to the point. Please.¡± His arms were actually starting to get tired.

    Evaliena let out a puff of breath. ¡°What you¡¯re holding is called the Source Link spell. It allows you to link your source or someone else¡¯s to something or someone else.¡±

    Jace wondered about the uses for such a spell. Then he looked at the flickering flame above the gem of his bracelet. There was a very subtle line of mana he didn¡¯t notice before. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m glad you noticed.¡± Jace¡¯s arms were beginning to tire from being held up before him. ¡°What do you think I did?¡± Evaliena implied.

    The spell broke as he dropped his arms. ¡°You linked my Feina to the flame?¡±

    ¡°Anything more?¡± Evaliena smiled softly. Jace shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s basically it. But there is a bit more.¡±

    ¡°Go on. What else can the spell do?¡±

    ¡°Well, to answer a question with a question. What could you do with such a link?¡± Evaliena¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    Again he wondered. And lifted his arm up to look at the bracelet¡¯s flame. Maybe he could feed a little mana through the link? He sent a pulse of his mana through the link, and the flame swelled in size. ¡°Oh¡­ that¡¯s¡­ interesting.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s more you can do with that link.¡± She pushed.

    ¡°You can pull mana from things and people?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s stating the obvious, but yes,¡± she spoke casually. ¡°You can¡¯t pull directly from another person¡¯s source. That mana is tightly bound to their person. But you can drain everything flowing across their body.¡±

    Jace remembered Burr¡¯s comments on using one¡¯s source for spells. Draining someone else¡¯s source would be tantamount to murder, he surmised. ¡°What would happen when you drain all their mana?¡±

    ¡°Well, you should know. You had a similar experience with Cedar.¡± Evaliena commented. Jace winced. Cedar¡¯s ¡®lesson¡¯ on controlling the mana. When he restricted the flow, his body lacked conditioning for so little mana, and he became exhausted.

    ¡°Alright, what happens if I force my mana into other people, then?¡±

    ¡°You make them throw up.¡± She said bluntly, with a smile and a wag of her tail. Such a simple spell with so many applications, Jace thought. The vixen continued. ¡°The reason being is your mana is incompatible with theirs, but it will not kill them. I could do the same to you if I wanted until your Feina grows used to processing it.¡± That was a sober thought for Jace. ¡°But I won¡¯t intentionally put you through that. With time, your body will just do it naturally.¡±

    No shortcut, he guessed. Everything took time. Jace could do nothing about it and just had to bear it. ¡°Is there anything else the Source Link spell can do?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you can puppet people with it.¡± She spoke casually again. ¡°But I advise not to do it on those trained in martial or arcane arts.¡±

    Jace connected the dots in his head. Naturally, such individuals would be resistant to someone taking control of their sources.

    ¡°Or people with strong wills.¡± She added.

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Jace could only ask.

    ¡°Because it would rip their source apart using their willpower to resist such a hold. Unless your intention was to kill them, anyway.¡± Evaliena explained. Jace¡¯s legs ache from standing around for so long. ¡°Anyway, form the spell again. I¡¯ll keep going.¡± He did so more easily than the first three times. ¡°That¡¯s it, hold there. Now, a person¡¯s willpower when it comes to the arcane is everything.¡±

    ¡°The stronger it is, the stronger the spell?¡± He gingerly held the spell up.

    ¡°Rather, the stronger your will is, the harder it is for someone to take away control of your spell. Or inversely, take control of their spell away from them, if you have the willpower for it.¡±

    Jace¡¯s spell collapsed as he exclaimed. ¡°You can do that?!¡± The idea never quite crossed his mind that an individual could take and manipulate the spells of others.

    ¡°And you¡¯ll be able to do that.¡± She smiled wider. ¡°Eventually. But keep that between us, not many mages know you can steal away their spells.¡±

    Jace kept his quiet and nodded. Such an idea would be nice to keep in his back pocket. ¡°But shouldn¡¯t it be common knowledge?¡±

    ¡°To be fair, Ashwood.¡± Evaliena leant her head back. ¡°It takes a fair bit of experimentation to figure one can do that. So many masters keep that trick close to their chest. For you, it¡¯s free. Now get back to practising.¡± She waved her hand commandingly.

    ¡°You¡¯re not worried about me telling others?¡± Jace inquired. Evaliena didn¡¯t reply, but Jace could feel a certain mischievous and menacing gaze upon him. He decided to shift the subject. There was something Evaliena wanted to tell him and something he wanted to bring up. ¡°There is something I wish to bring up.¡± As he began practising.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Evaliena sounded intrigued. ¡°What could it possibly be?¡±

    ¡°Topaz wants you to hand her over to me.¡± Jace spoke earnestly.

    Evaliena let out a sigh. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time then.¡± She pushed herself up from her chair. ¡°Come, follow me.¡± She waved her arm dispassionately. That concerned Jace. No argument, no dismissal. What did Evaliena have to show and tell him?

    <hr>

    Heading down into the bowels of the keep¡¯s basement. Jace hadn¡¯t had much reason to be down here, even after awakening his powers. What was behind that heavily barred door mildly intrigued him. But they stopped at the base of the stairs instead of going much further than Jace thought. Evaliena was not talking this time. An eerie quiet hung over the pair.

    Evaliena clicked her fingers, and the bricks of a wall peeled away. Sliding across one around with a scratching of stone. Realigning themselves into an opening to a passage. Jace didn¡¯t feel surprised at all. Maybe the barred door was a misdirection?

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    The passage itself as they walked through had an incline to it. And the walls were lit with cold, ghostly lights different from the warm orange crystals Jace was used to. The smell of the place felt old and thick with dust. The cold of the stone tiles cut through the isolation on Jace¡¯s furred feet. He felt a tinge of pity for Topaz. She must have been down here all this time, alone. But he had to keep his feelings on the matter to himself until he heard Evaliena¡¯s story on the matter.

    The lights were getting darker the further they walked down the passage. However, there was a soft yellowish light emanating from around the bend. Evaliena broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯ve done a great many horrible deeds, my apprentice. All in the name of saving my home world. But I guess that abomination has suffered enough.¡±

    ¡°I understand there are things you don¡¯t want brought up¡­¡± Jace kept walking.

    ¡°I sequester myself away from the world at large because¡­¡± Evaliena stammered quietly. ¡°Because I¡¯m afraid. All this power at my fingertips and I¡¯m deeply afraid.¡±

    ¡°Of facing the consequences?¡± Jace flicked his ear.

    ¡°In a way. I was entirely justified and think you¡¯ll agree with me when I tell my story.¡± Evaliena clicked her fingers again and something around the corner shifted. ¡°Meet Topaz in the flesh.¡±

    Jace didn¡¯t know what he was expecting. The room was simple, with a few crystal lights hovering next to the walls. The real centrepiece was the amber-like crystal stitched to the wall opposite him. He could barely make out a silhouette within the amber. Before, the crystal that apparently contained the gem spirit, lay a pedestal. Right in the centre was a swirling vortex of silvery runes. Too many to count, shifting and altering constantly. It was drawing in mana and sending it up into the ceiling. There was so much mana it almost drowned out the linkage between it and the amber.

    He pointed to the pedestal. ¡°What. Is that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Topaz.¡± Evaliena said flatly.

    ¡°And the thing behind it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s also Topaz.¡±

    Jace recalled that Topaz mentioned an armature. ¡°What have you been doing with it?¡± He looked to the vixen who stared at the amber.

    Evaliena¡¯s sapphire eye burned with ghostly fire as it shifted to look at Jace. ¡°It? Or Her?¡± she shifted her gaze back to the amber. ¡°I¡¯ve been using her to power the shroud for the keep. Nothing more.¡±

    ¡°So you woke up and put her into a kind of stasis?¡± He gestured to the amber on the wall. He noticed the thick, caking layer of dust that covered everything. ¡°How long has she been down?!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that sharp mind of yours can figure it out. One moment.¡± Evaliena walked up to the pedestal and summoned a crystal out of her Lemis. She casually threw the gem up into the air and it took over the gathering of mana and subsequently driving it through the ceiling.

    ¡°What did she do to deserve this?¡± Jace said with a low voice. He could feel his tail straighten out with anger. This was immoral. Unreasonable. What on earth could this spirit have done to deserve this type of fate?

    ¡°She¡¯s a gem spirit of sorts. A construct created to serve a purpose. But Topaz here is an abomination. Rather than the usual creative process, like cultivating a flower or birthing a new life. Forged using sorcery. The art of manipulating sources. Like your Feina. Your Soul.¡± Evaliena pointed at Jace and pushed him on the chest hard with a single clawed finger.

    ¡°Ow!¡±

    ¡°Sit.¡± she commanded with a venomous and terrifying voice. One that would cause anyone to listen immediately lest they suffer the consequences. Jace sat on the dust caked floor. The yellow vixen flicked her hand irritability at the amber. ¡°Wake you.¡±

    The amber melted away. Little by little, drop by dissipating drop. As her body revealed, Topaz¡¯s familiar yellow canid form with long pointed ears and tri-forked tail limply fell forward. And dropped with a heavy crystal cracking thud. Causing the dust to plume out and up away from Topaz¡¯s fall. The gem spirit let in a sharp choking gasp and hopped quickly onto all fours. Shaking lightly in fear. ¡°Y-y-yes Mistress!¡±

    ¡°Sit beside my student.¡± Evaliena growled before becoming calm again. She leant herself against the pedestal, facing Jace as the yellow gem spirit dashed over to his side. Topaz¡¯s claws sounded like the tapping of glass against stone. ¡°I am going to tell you both about the paths to power and the two wars that shaped me.¡± She narrowed her eyes at Jace with an unnerving smile. ¡°And you¡¯ll listen and understand.¡±

    ¡°I don¡­¡±

    She raised a finger to silence Jace. ¡°Ah ah ahh. I¡¯m speaking here. Keep whatever questions you want to ask written down.¡± Evaliena summoned and threw a slate of wax and a pen into Jace¡¯s lap. She looked at Topaz. ¡°Do you think you can convince me to give her to you? It depends on how you receive my story.¡±

    Jace caught the infliction in Evaliena¡¯s voice. There was a lot of buried anger in that tone. And maybe some regret there too.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start where it all began. Back during the Abyssal wars¡­ that I was born in the middle of.¡± Evaliena took a more sombre tone as she began to recall her youth.

    <hr>

    Over Six hundred winters ago.

    ¡°This is bad,¡± complained a rough male voice.

    A group of robed individuals from various races; Mers, Therian, Kith. Cloistered under a glowing, swirling orb. The scent of wood smoke hung in the air as a fireplace roared with life, silhouetting the group¡¯s figures against the opposite wall.

    ¡°We just don¡¯t have enough spell casters to push back the horde.¡±

    ¡°We can not train spell casters fast enough.¡± Said another voice. ¡°The Abyssal cohorts advance every day. They¡¯re transforming the steppe around the fissure into an environment fit for sustaining them.¡±

    ¡°And toxic to everyone who isn¡¯t a mage,¡± lamented an old female voice.

    Others less wizened than the central group were leaning against the worn stone walls of the room, or looking down at the discussion from galleries above nestled near the vaulted ceiling.

    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll find a solution? Evaliena?¡± Spoke a voice near the yellow vixen¡¯s ear. She clutched the wooden heft of her staff close to her chest. She wore a full set of dully coloured robes with the hood draped over her head. No flair for a mageling of her age.

    ¡°I- I-, don¡¯t know¡­¡± the young vixen meekly replied to the voice next to her. ¡°This invasion is.. The largest yet. They took us by surprise and now they have a foothold. We just don¡¯t have the numbers anymore.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s grim¡­¡± The voice spoke low.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be fighting for the rest of my life¡­¡± a melancholy in her tone. ¡°But abandoning my home isn¡¯t an option now¡­¡± She squeezed the staff tightly between her gloved fingers.

    ¡°You should read the room sometime, girl.¡± Replied a warning voice. ¡°The murmurs are getting desperate. We may well end up birthing horrors into this world. That we would regret while fighting this endless tide of monsters.¡±

    But the young vixen mage didn¡¯t know just how desperate the war for Ayre was going to get. That desperation cut away at principle. It cut away at moral codes. Necromancy, forcing the bodies of the dead to fight to fill out the ranks of dwindling martialists. No normal warrior could hope to shield themselves against the poisonous life force of abyssal monsters.

    It wasn¡¯t enough. The abyssal sapped away the energies of even those negatively charged bodies. The abyss adapted tactics. An ever more desperate cycle continued as the affected land expanded. The arcane arts could only do so much. There was only so much time they could save before the quality of the spellcasters dropped off.

    When there were no options left. One journey mage proposed a solution.

    ¡°No.¡± Sounded the raised voices of many mages in opposition, despite how desperate the circumstances grew.

    ¡°We. Need. More spellcasters.¡± Shouted those in favour.

    ¡°We can¡¯t shackle souls like this!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Pantokrator¡¯s domain!¡±

    ¡°If we don¡¯t create more spellcasters, we will lose.¡± The young mage muttered in defeat. Quietly accepting the reasoning behind creating the dreaded elementals. There were risks. The newly forged sorcerers, labelled as such for control of the source of power. The Soul. Could simply refuse to give up their temporary powers. If they¡¯ve misjudged the process, they could just be handing the abyss more souls to take.

    Existing mages had little use for elementals. The extra source of mana and an extra ¡®limb¡¯ was nice, but they needed more spellcasters, not longer lasting spellcasters.

    The races of Mer and Therian alike refused the very idea of elementals all together. But of the Kith, the Humes eagerly took up the moniker of Sorcerer. They created hundreds, thousands of new sorcerers. Often with the souls of criminals and slaves. And sometimes even loved ones.

    Thousands of sorcerer-elemental pairs stood on the battlefield. Burning the abyssal monsters back yard by yard, mile by mile until finally the fissure was closed.

    Then came the consequences of the mage council¡¯s decision. Proponents made excuses for keeping the elementals bound in service. They made more elementals... They said the next invasion was just on the horizon. It¡¯s just criminals and low lives¡­ they said.

    It was originally a Therian who came up with the process that turned captured souls into Elementals. As well as the soul binding enchantment, known as heart stone.

    The young mage and many other like-minded demanded the same; Release of the elementals from their service. The opposing sorcerers refused. This was ¡®their¡¯ reward. This was their chance at taking the power they so rightly deserved.

    The abyssal wars had ended permanently. The Sorcerer War had begun. It was the single most blood conflict Ayre had ever seen. Cities and towns burned. Clans annihilated. Friendships and families ripped apart. Mage traditions and their knowledge, destroyed. Anyone that could have knowledge of the enchantment and the elemental creation process was to be targeted, with the aim of wiping the knowledge from the face of history.

    The young many tailed witch. Scarred, demonised by all for her role in the proliferation of sorcery. Was one of the very few true mages left on Ayre. The Mer had retreated to their mountains and isles. Therian clans borrowed deeper into the untamed wilds. The Hume of the Kith were ascendent with their new ill-gained power.

    A pyrrhic victory that came at the cost of everything. A few had gotten away. Tens of thousands of elementals remained.

    She threw her old epithet into the wind along with so many tears. To be forgotten. Broken and unable to continue fighting anymore.

    Sandalwood was now her new name.

    <hr>

    Jace sat there for several minutes. This was absurd. He had read about the wars while he was living here. Evaliena even bought him a few books from her trips away. Cedar and Burr had spoken about legends and myths about those wars. He knew Evaliena was old enough to be around them. He knew the cost was high. But this was absurd.

    But she spoke with such a dead tone in her voice. No flare, no smiles, no shift in the voice. He¡¯d known Evaliena to hide the truth from time to time, but this was different, raw¡­

    ¡°Now you¡¯re going to wonder what this has to do with Topaz?¡± Evaliena was sitting on the floor now, her knees tucked up against her chest with her tail curled depressively around them. Like she had just poured out her worse before her. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a hint. You can see the colour of my soul.¡±

    Jace didn¡¯t bother to look at Topaz. He was familiar with the feel and colour of Topaz¡¯s aura, since she willingly flaunts it every chance she gets. ¡°She was created with someone¡¯s soul?¡±

    Evaliena flicked an ear in acknowledgement.

    ¡°Someone you knew?¡± Jace speculated. He looked over to the small yellow canid sitting next to him. Topaz was as still as stone. Sibling? Child? Cousin? Clan member? He wasn¡¯t going to reach out, feel and compare both.

    Jace heard a light chitter. Then Topaz exploded, eyes twitching madly. ¡°You kept me around?! For so long suffering?! Because I¡¯m related to you!?¡± It was like a cascade of crystal chimes. ¡°Is that why you never killed me off?! When you slaughtered all my siblings?!¡± The black eyes look up at the swirling mass that was Topaz¡¯s armature. ¡°I¡¯ll end it myself!¡±

    The little canid leapt towards the pedestal and got caught in midair by grey-ish looking mana. Topaz let out a groan of frustration. Jace expected a roar with how worked up the spirit had become.

    ¡°I despise sorcerers. Jace. The Abyssals took my parents. The Sorcery Wars took my clan.¡± Evaliena let out a tired sigh. She pulled a glass basket-flask from her Lemis. Jace could smell the alcohol the instant the top popped the slosh of the liquid inside. It was strong. ¡°Some geometers thought the ashes of my clan and others were vital ingredients for their project.¡± The yellow vixen swirled the flask around. Why would the ashes be important? ¡°Would you like to know what they used their creations on?¡±

    Jace didn¡¯t feel like he had a choice in the matter now. So he just nodded along. Evaliena kept speaking. ¡°They targeted therian clans. I was out one day, had I not returned.¡± Jace could hear Topaz¡¯s teeth grind. ¡°My first mate and litter would have been dead.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t in control.¡± Topaz protested.

    ¡°Your creators and siblings slaughtered many people I knew.¡± the yellow vixen¡¯s sapphire eyes glared at the spirit. ¡°I lost a pup. With you standing over their corpse. Wearing my sister¡¯s colours.¡± Evaliena took a swig of the flask.

    Jace slowly connected the dots and remained quiet.

    Evaliena held her hand up with all four fingers stretched out. ¡°There are a few ways one gains the ability to manipulate mana, Jace. You can be born a mage. Or study to become one. You could form a pact with a higher being to become a mage. Or you could dabble in the soul arts; Sorcery. I¡¯d hoped that I¡¯d seen the last of that path.¡±

    Jace did not know how to respond. The yellow vixen slowly put Topaz back down next to Jace. He surmised he was sitting next to two mass murders, with one who had likely ended the lives of tens of thousands personally, sitting right in front of them, drinking down their sorrows. Evaliena was eyeing him and Topaz with an expression Jace would associate as ¡°what would be a few more?¡± Would she really do it? She¡¯s only shown Jace kindness¡­ Could Evaliena really be the monster she and Topaz make her out to be?

    ¡°So what is your answer?¡± Evaliena said flatly. Jace heard the slightest quiver in that tone. But what does he say? What could he say to an individual who¡¯s been around for nearly seven centuries. She¡¯s looking for reconciliation, he thought.

    He looked around anxiously. Jace, however, eventually settled on the long shot of an idea. He took a breath to calm himself. ¡°You¡¯ve been hiding for the better part of six centuries¡­ Evaliena. And you¡¯ve had Topaz¡­ doing this for how long?¡± He tilted his head questioningly.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been counting the moons.¡± Topaz butted in. Then caught herself and sat straight.

    ¡°Three.¡± Evaliena added curtly as she took another swig from the flask. Holding it so precariously.

    Jace took another deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know how many transgressions Topaz has done. But I¡¯m assuming she¡¯s been in your care for at least five hundred years¡­ They weren¡¯t in control and you¡¯ve blamed and punished her for the actions of a group she had no say in being a part of¡­¡± He tried his best to lay out his reasoning. ¡°You dealt with them¡­ You¡¯ve done your best to be a healing force in this world, but I can¡¯t stop the cycle.¡±

    Evaliena closed her eyes, took a loud breath and let out a long, tired sigh.

    Three sat there for many agonising minutes.

    The yellow vixen stood up slowly and turned to the armature hovering over the pedestal. She summoned an amber crystal from her Lemis. She grabbed the swirling ball of silver and jammed it against the crystal. The silvery armature disappeared inside, filling the crystal with a warm glow. ¡°This is yours. Look after it.¡± She threw the bauble over Jace¡¯s lap. ¡°I¡¯m going to my room, do not bother me.¡± And walked up lazily back up the hallway.

    Topaz and Jace look at each other.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Sixteen

    Jace forced himself to wait until Evaliena¡¯s steps stopped, echoing through the hall back upstairs. Topaz had nothing to input and just stated. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep in my new home¡­ Wake me up when you need me.¡± The small yellow canid winked and puffed out of existence. Jace watched as the wisps of Topaz¡¯s energy collected themselves into the Yellow crystal resting in his lap. He fumbled the crystal around his hand, then put it into a small pouch. It was large and flat, hewn into a rough shape with marks left by some kind of holder.

    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Evaliena shouted from the end of the hall. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you down there.¡± Jace got himself up fast and dusted off. Running up the hall. As he caught up to the vixen, Evaliena added with crossed arms. ¡°I suggest you start the stock for tonight¡¯s meal.¡±

    Jace nodded, and the pair climbed the stairs in silence. Evaliena was quick to head up to her room. leaving Jace in the living area on his own. He kept his quiet and headed to the pantry. He ran his finger across the various containers and chests. What ingredients to pick? Something more thick and comforting?... He shifted and prepared a pot of water to hang next to the hearth. It¡¯s welcoming fire crackling at a low burn.

    It wasn¡¯t long until he was preparing; seasoning meat and cutting a selection of hearty root vegetables. And it wasn¡¯t much more time until he was sitting and waiting for the pot get to a rolling boil with the ingredients bobbing and bubbling around. That inviting, savoury smell permeated the room.

    He sat back and waited. He reached for the pouch with Topaz¡¯s gemstone inside and carefully rolled it around the palm of his hand. Observing the swirl of silvery runes that roiled around just beneath the surface. The pulsing movement was much slower than before, like someone sleeping, dreaming.

    ¡°I wonder what she¡¯s dreaming about,¡± Jace muttered to himself in the quiet. Front door down stairs creaked open. And he could hear the characteristic ruffle of fur shaking out snow. His ears tilted toward the sound as those haggard stepped climbed up to the living area. He could tell it was Cedar from the potent scent of pipe weed that arrived before the old fox did.

    ¡°Something smells wonderful.¡± Cedar spoke as he crested the stairs. ¡°Oh, Ashwood, tending the pot this time?¡± Jace nodded as he tucked the bauble away. Cedar narrowed his gaze. ¡°No point in trying to hide something like that around me, boy.¡±

    Jace shrugged. ¡°Evaliena gave it to me.¡±

    Cedar walked over to his favoured chair and sat down. He pulled out his pipe and lit up the end, taking a few puffs. He leant his head against the top of the chair. ¡°So What Happened?¡±

    Jace assumed Cedar quickly sensed out Evaliena¡¯s presence. Jace tried to think out how he was going to explain what happened without revealing too much¡­ He couldn¡¯t. ¡°I¡­ She¡­¡± he took a breath. ¡°Sandal told me about her past and her relationship with the spirit in this gem.¡± He held up the pouch. And spoke about his experience down stairs where the shroud generator is.

    Jace occasionally stirred the pot while Cedar looked thoughtfully in his chair. The old cedar spoke softly with a sigh. ¡°Nothing I did not already know.¡± Jace tilted his head in interest. ¡°You know me and Sandal go back a far bit. It will take time for her to get over this melancholy.¡±

    ¡°You knew about Topaz¡¯s imprisonment this entire time and did nothing about it?¡± Jace quietly accused the old fox.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Topaz was made from parts from Sandal¡¯s sister. It just makes this all the more¡­ complicated¡­ and tragic.¡± Cedar bit at his pipe. Rolling it across, taking the stem out of his mouth to tap out hard its used up contents. ¡°Yes, I do know who she really is. Everyone here knows, to some extent. We just respect that she isn¡¯t ¡®that¡¯ individual anymore.¡±

    ¡°What was she called before?¡± Jace asked innocuously.

    ¡°All you¡¯ll get is the many-tailed witch. A fairy tale told to youngsters if they don¡¯t behave.¡± Cedar replied flatly, rocking in his chair. Maybe the information about Evaliena¡¯s original name was dangerous, Jace thought to himself quietly. Cedar shifted topics. ¡°So, what is today¡¯s meal?¡±

    <hr>

    Jace¡¯s cooking received compliments from everyone who attended supper that night. He could be proud of that. However, there was a quiet hanging around the four sitting next to the hearth. Evaliena did not come down to join them. Baysil wasn¡¯t happy at all with the circumstances, knowing that she and Jace¡¯s mentor were having a difficult time. The two older Reynards did their best to assuage the mood. But Evaliena¡¯s absence hung like a depressing pall.

    Jace wanted to take a bowl of his stew up to Evaliena. ¡°While that¡¯s a kind gesture, I don¡¯t think she needs it right now,¡± Burr warned

    Baysil wasn¡¯t having any of it. ¡°I¡¯m going up there before it gets any worse.¡± She proceeded to get off the rug covered floor and headed up.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.¡°Then, you were warned.¡± Burr shrugged, and Cedar scoffed a bit. They were right. In a way, Evaliena is ancient compared to the pair of them. The things she¡¯s suffered and the things she has witnessed. She still does have family, however loose the connection. Where are they now? Thoughts for later, Jace wondered as he filled a bowl with a portion of the leftover casserole. He hefted the bowl carefully and carried it up the stairs with him. His hands weren¡¯t large enough to hold the bowl with one.

    Baysil waited for Jace to reach her next to the door to Evaliena¡¯s room. He was sure Baysil could feel the weight of Evaliena¡¯s presence because he was definitely feeling it try to burn a hole through the back of his head. Jace gave Baysil a sure smile, and she pushed over the wooden door.

    She was staring at the pair of them, those sapphire eyes blazing from under the massive tail of her glamoured form. ¡°Just leave me be.¡± Her voice was low and menacing.

    Baysil froze in place and her ears folded to the sides of her head, despite the brave expression on her face. Jace started walking forward with the bowl in his hands. Maybe the beast laying before him won¡¯t turn him inside out, he hoped.. ¡°I thought you might have wanted some stew.¡± he spoke in a tactful and sensitive way.

    ¡°You¡¯re confident.¡± Evaliena spoke dryly as Jace carefully placed the bowl down in front of Evaliena¡¯s bed. ¡°You¡¯re playing a dangerous game. Pup¡­¡±

    Jace sat down, with one knee up and an arm rested atop of it. ¡°I know.¡± Jace replied. ¡°I¡¯m just returning the favour.¡± At least Jace thought he was. Baysil looked like she¡¯d bolt from the tension in the air. The chestnut furred vixen walked over and sat beside them. There was silence for a while.

    ¡°You owe me an explanation, Sandal.¡± Baysil asked softly.

    Evaliena let out a loud sigh and shuffled up to the bowl. ¡°You will get it, eventually.¡± She sniffed and started eating. Deciding it was worth a shot. Jace changed into his glamour and rested himself up carefully to the yellow vixen¡¯s side. ¡°Tsk¡­¡± Evaliena shook her head.

    ¡°You took me in when you had no obligation. I would feel guilty if I didn¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough of that, pup.¡± Evaliena softened up. Baysil joined in as well and took up Evaliena¡¯s other side. Jace knew Baysil¡¯s story. She had no one to teach her, and Evaliena offered. ¡°Not you too¡­ Girl.¡± Evaliena groaned.

    ¡°You still need to finish my training.¡± Baysil quipped. ¡°And you taught me how to appreciate food and so much more.¡±

    Evaliena grumbled. ¡°Are we seriously doing this?¡± She sounded incredulous. ¡°Maybe I should be dramatic more often if I get this kind of treatment.¡± Jace then gave Evaliena a light slap on the shoulder. He heard a low if pained chuckle. ¡°Maybe I should show my tapestry¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been curious¡­¡± Baysil sounded intrigued. ¡°But I¡¯ve refrained from asking for so long because I know it¡¯s painful to bring up¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve remembered something my mentor told me so long ago. Don¡¯t be sad because it¡¯s over. Be happy that it happened.¡± Evaliena¡¯s voice croaked slightly as she finished her meal. She tucked herself in and pulled both younger Reynards close.

    <hr>

    Evaliena had pulled a dark lacquered tube from her Lemis. She pulled the leather cap off and pulled a bolt of cloth from inside. The smell that hit Jace noise was a collect of old worn fabric and individuals he has not met. She rolled the bolt out. There were two distinct tones of fabric as the sheet extended. Jace immediately recognised what he was looking at as the small abstractly stitched faces of many Reynards were revealed as the bolt rolled on by. Two¡­ Three¡­ Four steps?!

    ¡°Wow. you managed to keep track of them all?¡± Baysil spoke excitedly. Her hand scrolled across the individual faces. ¡°Sixteen?! Sixteen children?!¡±

    ¡°Not one after the other. Some were twins, most had gaps between them.¡± Evaliena explained. Some of the heads were smaller than the others and had no lines of string below them. Jace wasn¡¯t going to speculate on what that meant. But he was awestruck that she kept track despite being so¡­ isolated. Jace wondered how she managed it.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯ve gone and tracked down each individual one of your descendants¡­¡± Baysil accused. Evaliena just gave the pair a smile. Jace kept scanning the tapestry¡­ At a glance, anyone would think they were all the same. Some had different fur tones and others had different mane styling and eye colours. He looked down the length of the tapestry and saw a collection of heads, many of which weren¡¯t Reynards, completely disconnected from the tree extending from Evaliena and her fiery orange mate.

    Jace pointed to them. ¡°Who are they?¡± Then he noticed his and Baysil¡¯s heads stitched below the collection.

    ¡°Every single apprentice and student I¡¯ve ever trained personally.¡± Evaliena spoke with cheerful remiss. Evaliena must have a list written down somewhere, Jace thought, as he could not have mentally kept track of everyone on this tapestry. So he asked.

    ¡°Do you have names for all of them?¡± He tilted his head and leant against Evaliena¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Ooh. That¡¯s not really important.¡± Evaliena shrugged the question off. ¡°You¡¯ll know if you run into any of them.¡± She wrapped her arm across the back of Jace. ¡°If you run into any of them--¡± She let out a tired yawn. ¡°Everyone¡¯s pretty spread out¡­ Ancestors, I¡¯m tired.¡±

    ¡°Would you mind either of us staying?¡± Baysil asked tenderly.

    Evaliena leant her head back and thought about it. ¡°I could just throw you out of here¡­ But it looks like the two of you won¡¯t be giving me a choice. Fine, stay for the night, this once.¡±

    Evaliena seemed happier to Jace for that. His thought, however, turned to the bauble that rested in a pouch just out of reach. Was Topaz really asleep? Or just watching? He didn¡¯t know.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Seventeen

    Seasons passed by. Seasons turned to years. Jace felt the growing pains and mild problems with balance. Topaz remained quiet, only popping out of her crystal every month to chat and ¡®entertain¡¯ herself. Such as flinging roof tiles into the distance or walking queerly across the walls and ceilings.

    ¡°Why do I have to sit here, pulling thread from my mana?¡± Jace said with tired frustration. He was turning a spinning wheel with a crystal attached to where the threads would go. Spinning into existence, a glowing thread from his own well of mana. His arms hurt.

    ¡°I need magical thread. And a lot of it.¡± Evaliena told Jace.

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t Baysil have done that?¡±

    ¡°She has her own duties, and you were lazing about,¡± Evaliena argued. Jace was not getting out of this duty, but what did Evaliena need the thread for?

    He let out a groan as he stopped to rest his arms and wrists. Wringing them out to release that dull pain. He looked to the yellow vixen. ¡°Why do you need so much thread?¡± He sat back so his Feina could relax. He wasn¡¯t just frustrated with the task at hand. As he got further settled into his body and the changes that were happening. He was noticing scents and sensations that irritated his mind. He did his best to ignore them lest he embarrass himself.

    ¡°I have a few projects I need thread for, that¡¯s all you need to know,¡± Evaliena replied as she drew her quill across a sheet of paper. ¡°Just a few more spools of thread should do, then you can go practice.¡± She gave Jace a soft smile. He looked away, why was his cheeks warm? He shook his head and sat there for a while.

    <hr>

    Klack!

    ¡°Is something the matter, boy?¡± Cedar spoke casually as he parried a blow with ease from Jace¡¯s stave work. Jace struck at Cedar¡¯s defence harder, the short stave creaking under the strain. ¡°Want to talk about it?¡±

    Jace loosened up and dropped to the floor, resting the stave over his shoulder. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ¡°Just you know, the pains of becoming an adult.¡± He said jokingly.

    ¡°That so? You¡¯re far from being a brave, let alone a man yet.¡± Cedar rested his weight on one foot and the length of his training sword on his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not even bloodied yet,¡± Cedar observed.

    ¡°That hunt you keep yammering on about?¡± Jace gave Cedar a snarky look as he sat there on the cold floor. ¡°Why are you so determined to make me end some lives?¡±

    Cedar gave Jace a slight nod and a toothy smile. ¡°Oh, the hunt is coming.¡± He walks past Jace, giving the younger Reynard¡¯s hair a ruffle. ¡°You can¡¯t remain ignorant forever, Ashwood. Once you¡¯re out on the road. Sooner or later, you¡¯ll be forced into a situation where you¡¯ll have to take a life, no matter if you want to or not.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s then. Why does it have to be now?¡± Jace grunted and combed his mane back into place. It had grown long over the years. He needed to cut it. ¡°Especially since¡­ I know how to just disable people with the source link and other spells Evaliena taught me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯d be also rather awkward for a Reynard not to understand clan hunting, customs and practices.¡± Cedar pushed Jace forward lightly. ¡°And the hesitation will cost you, either you or someone close to you¡­¡± Cedar sighed. ¡°You¡¯ll understand, eventually.¡± Jace guessed Cedar may have had his share of loss. He understood the wisdom Cedar wanted to impart, at least. Jace just didn¡¯t see the point in it, but he had to yield. This wasn¡¯t his old world, food was not as plentiful and there were plenty of people out there willing to take the chance for their personal gain. Even if it took a little blood.

    Jace had even witnessed a few attempts on him and Evaliena as they walked to the different towns for supplies to restock the Keep with. Of course, Evaliena dealt with them easily using her spells. Usually just knocking them out instead of outright killing them, as Cedar suggested. On the other hand, Evaliena had monstrously deep reserves of mana that she constantly kept suppressed.

    ¡°Up you.¡± Cedar lightly jabbed Jace in the back with the butt of his training sword. ¡°We still have some more movements and sparring to do.¡± Jace rolled his eyes and pulled himself back to his feet, using his stave.

    <hr>

    Jace stretched and yawned as he made his way down from his room. The floorboards creaked loudly with each languid step. The keep felt oddly quiet as he awoke from his sleep. Normally, he¡¯d hear the others chatting with each other. Instead, he was hearing the frantic clutter of pans and feet as he headed down the stairs into the living area.

    ¡°Oh¡­ he¡¯s up earlier than we thought.¡± Burr¡¯s voice flatly sounded. The scent of sugar laden bread and a variety of other foods filled the air. He kept walking, still trying to clear the fog of sleep from his mind. That was odd. What was the occasion?

    ¡°He looks half out of it.¡± Baysil snickered, along with the sound of rustling paper. She had just disappeared behind the pillar, out of sight of Jace. What was she carrying? Jace shook his head and kept walking. He shuffled over to the fur rug next to the hearth and curled up next to the roaring fire.

    ¡°Did you not sleep at all last night?¡± Evaliena inquired as she tendered to a series of covered pots. The smells of fresh bread and stew were enticing.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s your cooking that woke me up early.¡± Jace lazily commented back. Or it was more likely Topaz relentlessly nagging him for her own amusement last night.

    Evaliena reached over to her side out of view and drew up a bottle of liquid filled with a sweet glow. He knew with his senses now that was the telltale glow of a mana potion. And Evaliena was going to coax him into chugging the bright red fluid down instead of letting him wake up normally. All he needed was time, not a drink. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± He croaked.

    ¡°Suit yourself then.¡± Evaliena shrugged and put the bottle away. ¡°Hmmm, Ashwood, I thought you¡¯d be more excited.¡±

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Excited? Excited for what?¡± Jace wondered.

    ¡°So sharp, yet so dense sometimes.¡± Burr jabbed from the other side of the pillar. He was just waking up¡­

    Jace tried to focus his tired eyes, looking around him from the floor. What was he missing? Nothing really changed, apart from the movement of some tables¡­ and more than a few casserole dishes baking away in the hearth.

    ¡°It¡¯s your milestone celebration, Ashwood!¡± Cedar shouted with annoyance in his tone from his usual chair.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± The realisation came to Jace and the energy to wake surged through him. ¡°Oh!¡±

    The other Reynards living out through the hermitage would not be attending this celebration, despite getting to know Jace over the years. He did not mind much. He wasn¡¯t a fan of large gatherings to begin with. However, it was something that broke up the monotony of reading, practice, training, gardening, repairing, gathering to survive and shopping for supplies.

    Jace didn¡¯t need to do much either, other than help move and place some of the other heavy pots and fresh, fragrant breads. When Evaliena wanted to make a feast, she did not disappoint. There were plenty of roasted and stewed meats along with chutney-like sweet and herbal sauces. The centre piece, however, was a simple butterscotch cake with a simple icing sprinkled with cinnamon. The ensemble of food being displayed on a large low sitting table. Decorated with intricate carving and plenty of mead and wine stains.

    But he was not allowed to eat yet. Rather, he had to sit and wait, while Cedar snuck pieces of fish and poultry into his muzzle. Handed a delicate paper and string wrapped package by Evaliena. He fondled the package, rustling the paper as he felt for the contents. Apart from Evaliena, the other wondered why he was not just ripping it open.

    ¡°Clothes?¡± Jace asked rhetorically.

    ¡°Is that a normal thing you do?¡± Baysil asked out of curiosity.

    ¡°What? it¡¯s fun to guess.¡± Jace chuckled softly as he pulled the hitched strings apart to release the package. There were a few layers of brown, waxy paper that he peeled back, biting his tongue to the side of his mouth as carefully removed the paper. His old kilt, poncho and travel cloak had to be replaced once and, even then, having to be repaired more than once from the constant wear. Eventually, they disintegrated. Not that he cared about his appearance anymore.

    Altering his senses, he noticed the new kilt and poncho attune to his mana¡­ ¡°Wait?! Is this what you needed all that thread for?¡± He looked at Evaliena, who exuded a certain cheek with how she sat.

    ¡°Maybe you should be a bit more grateful for clothes that change with your form,¡± Cedar explained flatly.

    ¡°They change with my glamour?¡± He looked at the two pieces of clothing. They had simple patterns with red and orange tones.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we needed the thread made with your mana,¡± Burr added. ¡°Otherwise the clothes wouldn¡¯t be able to change with your glamour.¡±

    ¡°And if you need to change the colours, you can use a colour change spell to alter them.¡± Evaliena gestured to the clothes. ¡°They also self repair if you feed them mana too. But before you go trying them on first.¡± The yellow vixen looked to Cedar. ¡°You have a few more gifts to receive.¡±

    Cedar proceeded to pull a stave and a small scabbard from his Lemis. ¡°While a bit large, I hope you¡¯ll grow into them.¡± The old fox¡¯s hand pulsed with mana and the pair of weapons glided through the air next to Jace¡¯s side with a light clack. ¡°They are proper weapons, a bit hefty. Take good care of them.¡± Jace took up the scabbard first. He pulled on the handle to inspect the item inside. A thick, long-bladed dagger popped out. It was plain and sturdy. The dagger reminded him of a survival knife with the square serrations along the back edge.

    The stave, on the other hand, was made of dark hardwood and had leather wrapping in several places for grip along with stylised craving at the ends. It was wider and longer than the training stave he practised with. The heft on it would take getting used to, however.

    The gifts in all weren¡¯t much, but he appreciated them.

    ¡°So, shall we dig in?¡± Evaliena gestured to the feast.

    <hr>

    ¡°Will you please stop strutting around?¡± Topaz groaned as she rolled her eyes. She was laying stretched out on the floor of Jace¡¯s room. She was more active tonight due to one of the moon¡¯s waxing in its cycle. Tilting her long-eared head to one side. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re some finely woven gifts. What¡¯s so special about them? I thought you had gotten over your problems with having your fur exposed.¡±

    ¡°Well, you noticed anything about the fabric?¡± Jace Teased the yellow gem spirit.

    Topaz stretched her forearms. ¡°Other than they stink of your mana? No.¡±

    ¡°Watch this, then!¡± Jace said when he was sure he had Topaz¡¯s attention. He started shifting his glamour to his travel form. Landing on his forepaws. He twirled around to show off. Topaz¡¯s eyes widened slightly. The poncho had turned into a neckerchief and the kilt had shifted into a tight fitting sash that was wrapped across his shoulder and torso. He really liked that the clothes shifted with his look, so he started thinking he should ask if he could make some more thread. It would be nice to have a few bolts of this infused fabric for other styles of clothes.

    Topaz crossed her forearms. ¡°That¡¯s it? A pair of fancy clothes that shift to fit with your current form?¡± She scoffed dismissively. ¡°I guess it¡¯s nice to be vain.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I can change their colouring, too.¡± Jace added. He tried to cast the runes for the colour change spell, only for nothing to happen. ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    Topaz laughed and rolled onto her back. ¡°Did you forget you need to have ¡®hands¡¯ to cast spells, grey fur?¡± Jace thought about the problem. The fact he had to be out of his glamour to cast spells never occurred to him. Thinking it over, he never witnessed anyone cast spells while in travel form. He¡¯d have to ask about it.

    ¡°Then how do you cast spells then?¡± Jace narrowed his eyes at Topaz.

    ¡°I manipulate mana directly. I was born specifically with the ability to do that. Along with the rest of my siblings.¡± She replied, then she leered at Jace. ¡°I¡¯m not going to even try teaching you.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡± Jace laid down, tilting his head inquisitively and letting his back legs collect to the side.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It just comes innately to me. Outside of earth, force and metal, my control over other aspects of mana is limited.¡± Topaz added before yawning loudly. Her body in Jace¡¯s sense dimmed suddenly. ¡°But my energy has been used up for the day. Have a nice night, Ashwood.¡±

    ¡°Good night, I guess.¡± Jace blinked at where Topaz was laying as her form dissipated and the resulting sparks coalesced back into her gemstone. He thought to himself that he better shift back and take these garments off before they get dirty.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Eighteen

    This was embarrassing.

    Whether Evaliena had agreed, planned, or relented to Cedar¡¯s pestering. Jace had to go on a hunting trip with Cedar. Taken deeper into the heart of Eweron with farstep. Past forest, grassy steppe and soaring mist covered mountains traversed only by the occasional Therian clan seeking new pastures for their cattle.

    He trotted alone in his travel form in the middle of a grassy savanna broken up by woodland and heaths of purple flowers with powerful scents, during the middle of spring.

    He was the bait. Or the tracker?

    The full strength of Jace¡¯s olfactory senses was overwhelming to use. And that was removing the suppression he kept on his nose. He could tell Cedar was behind him half a mile away, just the old fox¡¯s scent alone. He could also smell the myriad of scent from the different animals that called this uncharted place home. Some scared, some hunting. He did his best to keep a low profile as he walked through the brush.

    ¡°Look for some deer for us to hunt,¡± Cedar told his ward, with the old fox presenting a piece of deer hide for Jace to learn the scent of. Jace found himself less disgusted with that idea than he thought he would. Being forced to remember it.

    So he tracked the scent of deer down this well-trodden trail. The scent was getting fresher and fresher. He was close. He stopped at the cover of some bushes and performed a quiet signal for Cedar to come near him.

    ¡°Good job Ashwood.¡± The old fox in his travel cloak and kilt praised. Jace only had his fur. Cedar had taken his clothes and Topaz¡¯s gemstone for safe keeping. The only thing left on his person was the bracelet Evaliena gave him years ago. She had replaced the hemp binding as it was falling apart.

    Jace felt his pride swell, but he craved a drink. ¡°I need some water, Cedar. I¡¯ve been walking for nearly an hour.¡± He panted.

    ¡°You should have signalled to me earlier that you were thirsty.¡± Cedar sat down, rolling his eyes as he produced a basket held bottle. Jace could tell the bottle sloshed with small beer from the slight bubbling and pale yellow colour of the liquid inside. He released his glamour slowly and sat down, taking a swig of the contents. The bitter taste no longer bothered him. ¡°How many?¡±

    ¡°About four or five.¡± Jace counted the slight variations in scents as he got closer. ¡°Probably a few fawns as well.¡±

    Cedar closed his eyes and tested the air. He made a grumbling noise. ¡°This may be a bust.¡±

    Jace lowered the bottle and frowned. ¡°No, young bucks for us to hunt?¡± The longer they stayed out here catching nothing, the more annoyed he could feel Cedar get.

    ¡°Usually we try to avoid hunting the females, but in this case¡­¡± Cedar looked thoughtful. ¡°I¡¯ll pick one out. But you¡¯ll be taking the shot.¡± Jace¡¯s afraid heart quivered at the prospect of taking a life. But he had to reframe this as hunting for food for himself. At the end of the day, while he could eat a lot of different things when properly prepared, he still had the body of a carnivore. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go deeper into the thicket, boy. There¡¯s a watering hole ahead.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Now, like I taught you.¡±

    Cedar had given Jace something that could be best described as a stave merged with a slingshot. The closest thing he could relate it to was a crossbow. If a crossbow appeared as if someone had carved and smoothed it from a tree branch and powered it with spellcraft and enchanted gemstones. Cedar called it a bolt caster.

    The pair had crouched themselves behind a log shaded by shrubby. Part of this trip was learning how to suppress his scent, his pheromones. The time between Jace suppressing his scent and the feedback of it happening greatly annoyed the young Reynard. But he managed it enough so those deer that they were upwind of did not notice him.

    ¡°That one there. That one, there to the far left of the group. The young buck. Prepare your shot.¡±

    He rested the bolt caster on the rotting log and steadied himself. This was the first time he was this close to a wild critter. Outside of a zoo. And he was going to shoot it. The buck had no horns, its coat still had the camouflaging spots and earthen colouring of a youngster. Slender and toned for running at a full pelt. Their eyes were closed as they lapped at the surface water. Jace didn¡¯t lie to himself that he was going to regret what he was going to do. Despite the assurances, this was a normal, everyday part of life in this world.

    ¡°Breath, pup.¡± Cedar rested his hand on the back of Jace. ¡°Slow deep breaths.¡± Jace calmed his heart rate. ¡°Do it.¡±

    The bolter caster lurched as it let out a supersonic crack of sound. Mana surging through the wood and turning the carefully carved runes white. Launching a high speed crackling bolt of hard yellow light.

    Ka-chuck. Jace closed his eyes. There was a whimpering cry. A thud. Several panicked scampers and a dead quiet. Jace felt sick to his core.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t miss this time.¡± Cedar lightly patted Jace on the shoulder.

    ¡°Give me a moment.¡± Jace choked out a response. He cursed to himself. He really did it¡­

    ¡°You have a moment. It¡¯s your first kill. It won¡¯t be the last.¡± Cedar continued. ¡°As tradition, we help maintain the balance. We take from nature what we need and thank her for her bounty. Never killing for sport.¡± This was cold comfort for Jace. How many more lives will he cut short on this trip? Cedar broke him from his pensiveness. ¡°Up, I¡¯m not breaking down this kill alone.¡±

    ¡°I just¡­ murdered him¡­¡± Jace looked up to Cedar with tears forming in his eyes, his hands gripping the caster tightly.

    ¡°It¡¯s a clean kill. We will pay respect to that by making use of the whole carcass, wasting as little as possible.¡± Cedar got up from the cover of the bush with a sigh. He helped Jace to his feet. ¡°If it makes you feel any better. In the old days, we would have had to carry that buck all the way back to the settlement as we didn¡¯t have storage constructs like the Lemis.¡±

    Jace groaned. ¡°That does not make me feel better at all.¡±

    Cedar muttered something about being too soft, then the old fox took the bolt caster from Jace and put it away. He then gave Jace his dagger with its sheath. ¡°I hope you haven¡¯t suddenly forgotten all those times you helped Sandal skin, gut and break down a carcass. Otherwise, this will take much longer.¡± Jace took the dagger.

    He had not forgotten how to break down an animal carcass. The only difference this time was the body was still warm and likely still twitching, too. It was a good thing the only food he ate that day was in the morning. He was not getting the smell out of his nose any time soon.

    <hr>

    Later, the pair were sitting back at camp, which was located a small ways away from a beacon with its eerie, slowly rotating diamond of stone just out of sight. Jace himself was resting against a bedroll with a small burlap filled with wild rosemary and thyme. The horrible smell of a ruptured intestine just lingered in his nostrils. A crackling fire was burning between them.

    That fire intrigued Jace about how Cedar had built it up. The old fox had made Jace dig out an egg-shaped hole in the dirt. Then Cedar stacked dead branches and sticks in a square with the thinnest on top and just set fire to the top, letting it burn down. Barely a whiff of smoke, however, it wasn¡¯t a very warm fire.

    While Jace was dealing with the smell, Cedar casually was carving a wooden figurine from some old wood with a dagger. ¡°I know that casing splitting was unfortunate, Ashwood, but you need to get over it.¡± Cedar pointed the dagger at Jace before going back to the carving. ¡°The smell is honestly not that bad.¡±

    Jace rolled his eyes and turned over to avoid looking at Cedar. He was not in the mood to explain his predicament. The old fox was right, though. This was going to become a regular occurrence once he became independent and on the road. He¡¯d just have to get used to it. He could also still hear and feel the shot in his mind, filling his stomach with butterflies. Maybe he was really as soft as Cedar commented so many times.

    Sleep slowly took Jace¡¯s mind. Scrape¡­ Scrape¡­ Scrape¡­ Scrape¡­ Cedar continued to crave away at his wooden figurine. The sizzle of the fire going out and the shuffle through dirt. ¡°Ashwood, wake up!¡± Cedar said quietly.

    ¡°Wh-what?!¡± His body shuddered awake as Cedar pressed his hand over Jace¡¯s mouth to keep him quiet.

    Cedar held a finger from his other hand to his lips in a sign of silence with stern eyes. ¡°Someone is coming,¡± he told briskly. It took a moment for Jace to realise the gravity of the situation and shook himself awake. ¡°You¡¯ll remain quiet and follow my lead.¡± Jace nodded and grabbed his travel cloak to throw around himself. Blending in with the dreary surroundings and at least making him look presentable.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°Do you have an idea who it is?¡± Jace asked quietly.

    ¡°Hard to tell.¡± Cedar was looking concernedly past the Beacon. ¡°I picked this place as it is not well travelled.¡± At least this trip would be interesting outside of the hunting, Jace thought to himself. ¡°We¡¯ll hide for now. I can far step us out if I judge the encounter unsafe.¡±

    ¡°Why not now?¡± Jace mumbled. Cedar waved his hand to silence him, then the old fox took Jace¡¯s arm to pull to cover behind some thick foliage.

    ¡°Not every encounter will be hostile.¡± Cedar kept his voice low as they hid in the brush. ¡°Besides, I have a couple of obligations.¡± Cedar had told Jace of his various ties and obligations to different therian clans. He guessed this was just one of those. The pair didn¡¯t have to wait very long. Jace could smell the trio minutes before they were close.

    He could smell the scents of other Reynards. Of three males, one felt¡­. Older. The sun had dipped behind the mountains, darkening the area Jace and Cedar were camping, with only the white hot embers giving any light. ¡°Be quiet for a moment.¡± Cedar warned as the first emerged and two more followed shortly behind.

    They wore dull grey travel cloaks which were tucked behind their shoulders like they were capes, the bottoms of which were jagged and ripped. The younger two had quivers slung around at their hips next to knee high kilts of similar ware. They had short bows in hand, relaxed from what Jace could discern.

    ¡°There¡¯s two more braves trailing.¡± Cedar told with a low voice. Jace didn¡¯t reply back and sniffed the air. There were two more. He went back to watching the trio come upon their campsite. He heard a few barks and yips of communication between braves while the older Reynard looked around. That older one wore a small triangle covering that draped over shoulders and covered the chest. Patterned with earthy colours and a dark blue. And held in his hand a spear. Or was it a stave? Jace couldn¡¯t tell.

    Jace closed his eyes and attempted to hear the trio out. ¡°Two of our own kind were just here. An old man who stinks of pipe weed and a young boy who stinks of uncertainty.¡± ¡°We must have spooked them¡­ looked like they were camping here.¡± The younger two spoke. ¡°I can smell a fresh kill too¡­¡± A few thoughts went through Jace¡¯s mind, if these were the locals. They might take umbrage to Jace and Cedar going hunting on their lands. Or maybe why there was an old fox and a youngster doing this far out. Also, could they really smell his emotions out like that? So many questions.

    ¡°They were here for a while.¡± The older one spoke in a gruff tone as he continued to observe around the area. ¡°They did not go far either.¡± The older Reynard looked straight in Jace¡¯s direction. Jace felt a familiar feeling crawl over his skin. It meant the leader was a mage that was at least half a century old or more. With the experience to back it up. Jace felt a lingering presence across his body. Next few moments became drawn out. The leader must have noticed Jace was watching, as he didn¡¯t react. The braves accompanying him noticed the pause and readied their bows.

    The older Reynard bade his followers to lower their weapons. ¡°I know you¡¯re both there. You can stop hiding. We have no quarrel with you,¡± he said with a flat and calm voice.

    ¡°That remains to be seen.¡± Cedar cautioned as he slowly got onto his feet from under the bush the pair was hiding under. ¡°Up, follow me and make no sudden movements.¡± the old fox gestured. Jace did as instructed and put his hood up to shadow his face, and tucked the rest of the travel cloak around his front. He was out of his depth here.

    Cedar spoke loudly. ¡°If you excuse the caution. We honestly did not know anyone was out this far into the interior.¡±

    ¡°I can only offer my apologies for startling you. We were tracking some Hume poachers that trekked past here.¡± The leader replied, pointing the end of their stave toward Cedar and Jace, studying the two. ¡°Now¡­ Who are you two? You¡¯re not ours.¡±

    ¡°Just an old man helping this young ward through his first hunt. My name is Cedar of the Damp wood Silvers.¡± Cedar explained calmly. Jace wondered if this was the correct thing to say when the party before them was looking for some poachers.

    The party leader paused for a moment. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come down here? I would rather not give out my voice from shouting to you.¡± The leader replied. Jace could see the Reynard¡¯s voice being projected by mana, the liar. But Jace supposed the mage didn¡¯t want to waste their energy right now.

    It looked to Jace that Cedar was weighing his options and chose the one Jace was most uncomfortable with, going down to meet the three soon to be five clan Reynards.

    <hr>

    ¡°So what might your name be, young brave?¡± Ellery of the Lake Scarlets was the name and clan of the leading Reynard of the skulk, with a dark auburn patterning and a salt and pepper orange mane. To Jace, Ellery smelt past his prime. The others, ranging from orange, red and auburn, were just young men. They smelt of sweat, like a long day¡¯s worth of travel. Jace felt uneasy and did his best to suppress that feeling. Being called brave meant that he wasn¡¯t considered a child anymore, but rather a teenager or a young adult. Cedar and Ellery had been exchanging small talk for a while, mostly about Jace¡¯s mishaps of tracking and hunting game. The group had lost the trail of the poachers they were following, so decided to just rest before they trekked back to their clan¡¯s caravan.

    ¡°It¡¯s just Ashwood¡­¡± Jace replied. He had kept his hood up, while he was clearly some type of Reynard. He knew he looked nothing like everyone else there. Ellery respected Jace¡¯s shyness, the other¡¯s side nothing but their body language when Jace looked around made it plain they didn¡¯t. They maintained a respectful distance, however, scouring the locale with their gazes.

    ¡°No clan? No family?¡± Ellery inquired as they sat around. The leader shifted in place. Jace had relit the campfire.

    Cedar spoke in his place. ¡°A good friend of mine has a habit of taking in strays. The boy here only has her as his guardian.¡± With a practised and rather fake sounding sad sigh. ¡°And has next to no recollection of any family.¡± Jace found that hurtful.

    Jace added to the tale being spun by Cedar. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t forget the day my mentor found me¡­¡± And explained to Ellery what had happened that day. Leaving out the part where it began in a library. And letting slip, he was being trained as a mage, much to Cedar¡¯s chagrin.

    Ellery chuckled and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you lasted long enough for someone to notice and save you. Count yourself very lucky, pup. You don¡¯t just simply outrun Orcus like that.¡± The leader turned his gaze to Cedar as he got up, dusting himself off. ¡°I would ask if you would part with the boy, but he clearly belongs to another. He clearly has a good foundation going on under that fur. It would be a shame if such talent went to waste.¡± That¡¯s some high praise, Jace thought.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think he would appreciate me doing that.¡± Cedar said bemusedly.

    Ellery¡¯s look became stern and more serious as he lent up on his stave. ¡°Anyhow, I suggest that you two leave as early as you can. The other hunt leaders wouldn¡¯t be as¡­ hospitable as me if they crossed paths with the pair of you.¡± Ellery turned to leave, with the rest of his hunting party starting to follow. He then looked back at Jace. ¡°I suggest you go to Allsmeet, if you ever get the time.¡± then started walking back they all came. There was no goodbye.

    Jace raised his hand and waved politely. Then he looked to Cedar. ¡°What the hell is Allsmeet?¡±

    ¡°Nevermind you that.¡± Cedar sighed and laid back on the ground. ¡°We need to go. I planned for a month¡­ and I really should teach you how to veil yourself.¡±

    ¡°So we don¡¯t get caught hunting on clan land next time?¡±

    ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time, Ashwood.¡± Cedar responded sternly. ¡°That could have gone very wrong. I should have just farstepped us away. But no, I had to be friendly, and you spilled your guts.¡± Cedar had gotten Jace there.

    <hr>

    Cedar had taken Jace elsewhere for the next two weeks. And it was relatively uneventful. They had caught a few more deer. So during that time, Jace learned how to render his own gate and mana invisible to other mages from Cedar. Veiling was like exercising a muscle. It took time to learn. It also had limits. With his senses, when Cedar veiled himself, even with his eyes closed he could hear, feel the barest hint of living mana radiating from Cedar.

    That is, if he wasn¡¯t looking for someone, if Jace wasn¡¯t feeling out for Cedar, he would have thought the mangy old fox had disappeared. Leading Jace to wonder how bright Evaliena¡¯s gate was if she unveiled it. She¡¯s always veiling her power, and Jace noticed it dim even more every time they left the keep to buy supplies. Fictional situations from his old world played from his mind should Evaliena lift her veil around him. He did not want to think about the reaction he would have.

    When satisfied with Jace¡¯s progress, Cedar¡¯s proposed test with his veil was to trot into the keep ahead of the old fox and see how long it took for Evaliena to realise he was there. Jace didn¡¯t think he had progressed as quickly as Cedar suggested¡­ But Jace, however, was curious about how Evaliena would react, no matter how his gut feelings felt on the matter.

    With Cedar Far stepping back to the valley. Along the gravelly path heading up the Keep and its courtyard. Jace glamoured himself and veiled his power. He raced ahead of Cedar on his four paws. Jace glanced back to look over his shoulder. The old fox was taking his sweet time to walk up the path. So he ran, pressing himself up against the courtyard wall and peering around the ajar gate. Normally there were a few out in the courtyard tending to tasks or just enjoying the cold mountainside air. He was lucky, not a single other Reynard insight.

    He wasn¡¯t ten steps from the Keep¡¯s door before he became paralyzed from the neck down with a black furred hand grabbing him by the back of his neck. ¡°O-o-oh, Hello Baysil¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t see but the scent was familiar.

    ¡°Ashwood?¡± Baysil sounded ever so slightly surprised as he turned him around so she could see Jace¡¯s face. ¡°What are you doing skulking about? And where¡¯s Cedar?¡±

    ¡°H-h-he¡¯s walking up the path just now.¡± Jace hastily replied as he struggled to move. ¡°Baysil, can you at least put me down? I can¡¯t move!¡± Baysil rolled her eyes and put Jace down. He shook out and stretched. ¡°I bet the old man is cackling to himself right now.¡±

    ¡°Oh, he put you up to sneaking into the keep undetected, huh?¡± Baysil curled the backs of her hands against her hips. ¡°Sandal already noticed the pair of you when you arrived.¡± And sent Baysil out to greet them, Jace assumed. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for Cedar. Go inside and eat.¡± And the past month of travelling and hunting was soon forgotten once Jace got a bowl of flavourful stew inside him along with a comfortable pillow to lay on.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Nineteen

    There was one thing Jace could thank his guardian and mentor for, it was for all the life skills she taught him. Sure, magic was nice, but learning how to cook good food, how to wash and repair clothes. All those little things that kept life interesting. Such as right now he was repairing his quilt, as it had a tear created by his clawed foot.

    One thing on his mind since the hunting trip, as he stitched and crossed the tear, was the name, or rather, place, of Allsmeet. What was such a place like? Will Evaliena take him there, he wondered.

    Thunk! Evaliena dropped a stack of books on a table nearby. Startling Jace and breaking him out of his reverie, and tearing the neat stitching he just made. He looked up, annoyed. ¡°Jeez, why?!¡±

    The yellow vixen smiled as she leered over Jace. ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten that I have more to still teach you, huh? I left you alone for the week so you could recover from your outing.¡±

    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t forgotten.¡± Jace shrugged and looked down at his ruined work.

    Evaliena placed a hand on Jace¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll repair it later for you. Or maybe get you a new one.¡± She reached over with her free hand to grab a book from the shelves. ¡°I considered getting you started early in your own spell journal, but¡­¡± Evaliena paused and Jace waited. She presented the first of the books the title read.

    ¡°Spell crafting theory? Why would I need to craft new spells when I can learn and research them from others?¡± He tilted his head, still looking at the worn cover.

    ¡°You should know by now, my apprentice.¡± Evaliena gave Jace a mocking smile. ¡°Part of being a good mage is being able to, at the very least, adapt spells you already know, as well as create new ones to tackle with the problems in front of you.¡± She leaned down and looked Jace in the eyes. ¡°But we¡¯ll start with this one.¡± She put down the book and grabbed the other. Its title read, ¡®Manual to rapid spellcraft - Spell Shapes and Components,¡¯

    Jace took the heavy book into his furred hands with care. He opened the book to a random page. Both pages had upon them two clusters of runes. The runes inside were written in simple circles with lines trailing outwards that dictate points of connection. There was no description of what the clusters did. ¡°What are these?¡±

    Evaliena took her hand off of Jace¡¯s shoulder and rubbed her chin. ¡°To hazard a guess, these rune words convert one type of mana into another.¡±

    ¡°Why would someone need to do that?¡± Jace kept looking at the groups of runes. ¡°I can understand the need, but why?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ for a few different reasons, self sustaining spells need to convert environmental mana to something they can use. Say if topaz wanted to use more than earth, force and metal mana, she¡¯ll need spells with transducers written into them.¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°You don¡¯t need them because your gate naturally adjusts. But it¡¯s good to know they exist. Now.¡± She reached down and flipped the pages to the beginning of a fresh set. The page title read, ¡®Spell Shapes¡¯. At least each rune ¡®word¡¯ had a description of what it did now.

    Jace noticed these rune words are also incomplete, like the previous set and a worrying pattern of the same runes repeating. ¡°I¡¯m sensing a repetition here.¡±

    Evaliena nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, many of the runes get used as safe branches and connectors, essentially doing nothing but complicating the spell. That¡¯s just how quick spellcraft works. It¡¯s sloppy, however¡­¡±

    ¡°As you refine the spell, you take out the bits and pieces that do nothing, right?¡± Jace finished the sentence. Evaliena smiled. ¡°I still would rather learn some more spells than attempt to make my own¡­¡±

    ¡°I get that. I also understand you realise the intent of a spell as you see it.¡± She traced a finger across Jace¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It usually takes decades to learn intent, nevertheless you¡¯ve had this intuition from the outset.¡± Jace felt rather pleased upon hearing that. ¡°However, this intuition, if not properly honed, could get you injured, or worse.¡± Oh, Jace thought to himself. ¡°I¡¯ll still teach you more spells. I just want you to understand the thought process that goes into their creation first.¡±

    ¡°So I can identify what a spell does by reading it instead of forming it?¡± Jace surmised. He leaned back in his chair.

    The yellow vixen stopped leaning over Jace. ¡°How about we test it?¡± She held up her hand and began visibly forming a spell construct in its palm. ¡°Now, can you intuit this?¡±

    Jace looked up and stared at the spell construct, watching those loosely connected runes swirl around. He sensed dampness and a need to flow. If he attempted this spell, it would exhaust him easily. ¡°That¡¯s a water spell?¡± Evaliena nodded, dismissed the spell and started doing a series, picking one for each aspect of mana. Jace correctly guessed every aspect except two. All he could make of one was a pure strength of will and the other pure change. Evaliena dismissed the spell, probably noticing Jace¡¯s frustration. Jace asked before the vixen could say anything. ¡°What aspect or element represents pure will?¡± or change, for that matter.

    ¡°The two you couldn¡¯t identify were both core mana aspects.¡± Evaliena explained. ¡°Force and Metal. Aspects of will and change, respectively. I¡¯ll teach you about them in time. Core spells are quite dangerous to the unprepared spell caster.¡±

    Jace nodded along. Evaliena spent the rest of the day with Jace, teaching him about the finer points of spellcraft and what to expect. He really needed a journal to compile his notes in.

    <hr>

    More growing pains and sharper sense of smell was what Jace got as his body grew. He felt Evaliena was holding back in her training with Jace just to allow the old fox to keep training him. As much as he didn¡¯t like to admit it, he felt great. If only his arms and legs didn¡¯t ache because of the training. He sat on top of the stone training circle situated in the courtyard, piles of bound up rocks he had been recently lifting in various ways lying right beside him.

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    Jace understood the exercise entirely. Cedar was trying to fortify Jace¡¯s growing muscles into something useful. The old fox commented that Jace will never have the same level of physique Cedar had in his youth, or match any of the braves in the party they encountered out in the interior of Eweron. But as long as it prevented mundane individuals from physically overpowering him, Cedar would be satisfied with his efforts spent on Jace. Just starting while he was growing up was uncomfortable. At least he was allowed to rest for a day between training and lessons¡­

    So Jace kept sitting there in the chilly mountain air so his muscles could recover.

    ¡°Summon her.¡± Cedar commanded.

    ¡°Summon who?¡±

    Cedar stared at Jace sternly. ¡°You know who, the Gem spirit.¡±

    Jace shrugged. ¡°Topaz will not come out unless she wants to.¡±

    Cedar grumbled quietly about Jace being handed such a powerful tool, then spoke again. ¡°Then coax her out. If you ever intend to use her at all, she needs to be trained as well. Even if she¡¯s crafted from pieces of a soul, a gem spirit is meant to be used.¡± The old silver argued.

    Jace pulled the hanging citrine coloured gem that served as the housing of Topaz¡¯s armature out from under his poncho. Currently, Jace had wrapped the gem in a durable brown string so that he could hang it around his neck. ¡°Even if I wanted to, she¡¯s currently in a deep sleep.¡± He felt the slow pulse of the armature inside. ¡°And she rarely humours my calls.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a mageling, you dolt! Sandal didn¡¯t tell you how to care for constructs yet? Pour your living mana into her gem, as much as you are willing to allow. It will force her to wake up.¡± He paused for a moment as he thought about it. ¡°And since it¡¯s your mana, she will have to listen to you.¡±

    Jace felt uncomfortable with taking control of Topaz like that. But it looked like Cedar wasn¡¯t going to relent. Jace thought the old fox was being too pushy. So he poured some of his Feina¡¯s mana into the yellow gem. He sensed a stir, sleepy at first, then Topaz¡¯s armature became angry.

    ¡°Why, you little grey fur shite!¡± The gem spirit growled angrily as she slowly faded into existence. She sat opposite of Jace, waiting for instruction with a dangerous expression on her face. ¡°I was sleeping! You know, sleep is important for spirits?!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not a true spirit girl.¡± Cedar spoke derisively with his arms folded. Topaz looked over to the old Reynard. ¡°And shouldn¡¯t be dreaming the world away.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s the creepy old man.¡± Topaz rolled her eyes. Jace thought that was harsh. Cedar is crude, but he wouldn¡¯t go as far as to say that about him.

    Cedar snorted, bemused. Then he raised his wooden sword into a simple guard. ¡°I want to see how you handle yourself. Especially since you¡¯ll be working with Ashwood soon.¡±

    Topaz looked at Jace. ¡°You have my leash¡­¡±

    Jace just shrugged. ¡°Go ham I guess?¡± Jace would immediately regret saying that. As Topaz leapt into action with a twirl. He senses several grey lines of mana crack against several blinking in and out grey disks in front of Cedar.

    Cedar recoiled slightly in surprise, before immediately recomposing himself. ¡°This is a sparring match, not a duel to the death!¡± Topaz didn¡¯t respond, just hovering curled in midair, keeping up the barrage of grey lines. ¡°You¡¯re not going to break my defences with force lances, girl! Ashwood!¡± Jace had learned one simple thing about core mana, is that you could only control one core mana type spell at a time. And it was the only reason Cedar was surviving.

    It wasn¡¯t a moment longer until Evaliena appeared at the lip of the platform and smothered the barrage with her aura. Topaz growled then calmed down, slowly landing on all fours. ¡°Are you two stupid?!¡± Evaliena looked between Jace and Cedar. The stare of concern and anger was¡­ disturbing. Her gaze eventually stayed on Jace as if to stare a hole through him. ¡°Tell her to spar next time, not to just go at it!¡±

    Topaz just stood there, smirking and revelling in the chaos she wrought.

    <hr>

    Being forced to scrub the floorboards of the living area was probably the lightest punishment Jace could get. His negligence with Topaz could have easily cost Cedar his life. However, he could rest easy in the knowledge that the old fox was also being punished in some way, too. He finished with the floor soon after, flexing and rubbing his poor hands as the salt soap burned his skin. Cleaning out the firepit of the hearth nearly killed him from the amount of ash that kicked up into the air. And all the while, Topaz was bound and forced to stay outside of her armature.

    ¡°This is your fault.¡± Topaz squirmed uselessly against the magical bindings Evaliena had put around her.

    ¡°I¡¯m not the one that immediately went for the kill¡­¡± Jace mumbled as he sat on the floor.

    ¡°So what? The witch could have easily stitched him back together.¡± Topaz spat and inch-wormed towards Jace.

    ¡°With the number of force lances you were sending towards Cedar, it looked like you were trying to wipe him off the face of the planet.¡± Jace sighed, then a question popped into his head. ¡°I wonder, though, are you even capable of non-lethal combat?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I have a couple of spells for just disarming and disabling people. I¡¯d be pretty useless as a guardian otherwise.¡± Topaz chirped. Jace¡¯s belly growled loudly. ¡°Excuse you.¡±

    ¡°Time for some lunch, I guess.¡± Jace sighed and looked up to the ceiling. Hanging dried meats littered the rafters near the hearth.

    Continuing to inchworm over. ¡°Feed me too!¡± The gem spirit yapped.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need food.¡± Jace looked out to Topaz. ¡°Where would your body even store it?¡± He got up and reached for a link of sausages.

    Topaz scoffed. ¡°I have a functioning body once I¡¯m outside of my armature, you know.¡± She rolled back and forth impotently.

    ¡°First you just wanted to sleep, now you¡¯re demanding food. You remind me of my family¡¯s cat.¡± Jace grabbed a cast iron pan and set it on the hearth¡¯s cooking rack. Topaz just scowled at Jace. Jace would have to keep one eye open tonight, lest the spirit attempt to take her pent-up frustrations on him. ¡°Fine. What do you want?¡±

    ¡°How about that spicy looking sausage over there?¡± The small canid wagged her head towards the deep red link of sausages hanging over head. Jace had tasted these before. They were mildly spicy, but they certainly cleaned out his guts whenever he tried one.

    ¡°Do you think you can handle that variety?¡± Jace narrowed an eye at Topaz. She nodded, and he went to cook them both lunch. Topaz regretted her decision a day later.

 Book Zero: A Fox and Her Ward - Chapter Twenty

    Later in the year, after that hunting trip with Cedar. He remembered the suggestion Ellery gave about going to Allsmeet. Jace asked Evaliena about the place while kneading some bread dough.

    ¡°You really want to go there?¡± Evaliena sounded more curious than surprised at the inquiry. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ no small distance and not a simple place to get to,¡± Jace prompted the yellow vixen to give further answers. ¡°Allsmeet is on the other side of the continent, even with the most powerful version of far stepping I know. I couldn¡¯t make it there in a single bound. I¡¯d need to stop multiple times.¡± She paused for a moment, then admitted. ¡°And I¡¯ve rarely been to Allsmeet. On top of that¡­ I¡¯m not the most welcome of individuals there.¡±

    Considering Evaliena¡¯s long lifespan for a Therian. Jace thought she had several enemies more, outside of the ones he was told about. ¡°I¡¯m not hearing a no, though.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m considering it¡­ It¡¯s one of the few permanent settlements we have and regardless of how we get there, we¡¯ll be forced to camp a few times there and back from the distance alone.¡± She rubbed her chin, considering the idea.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you do the journey in a single jump?¡± Jace tilted his head to her.

    ¡°I am powerful. My reserves are finite, certainly deeper than yours and everyone else here combined, however.¡± She looked at Jace. ¡°If I was not taking you along, I could get to the Indigo Old Growth in as little as a day. I¡¯d still need a few days to recover, anyway.¡± Jace guessed it would be the case that Evaliena had a teleportation spell for moving just one person in the most efficient way possible.

    Jace shrugged and went back to kneading. ¡°If it¡¯s too much of a hassle to get there, then I can just forget about it.¡± He figured he would eventually go there in his own time and see the place for himself.

    ¡°No, I think going to Allsmeet would be a great experience. You¡¯ll get to see the other sides of my people. Since I have nothing happening over the next few weeks, and I honestly wonder if anyone there remembers me.¡± A smile creeped across her muzzle. ¡°We¡¯ll bring Baysil along too. She¡¯s going a bit stir crazy as well¡­¡±

    The next few days became a buzz of activity as Evaliena got everything in order for a ¡®brief¡¯ trip halfway across the world. If Evaliena¡¯s collection of maps said anything about the distance.

    <hr>

    Teleportation, or far stepping, as it¡¯s called by everyone else at the keep. Had several limitations, some of them rather restrictive. The mana requirements for each different spell, whether area, groups or singular transportation, had significant differences in range and efficiency. The more people that needed to be moved, the worse it got. On top of that, there was a difference between spells that go beacon to beacon and spells that go place to place. The latter required you to have a good mental image of the place or be able to see it directly.

    The ease with which Evaliena split those secrets to Jace and Baysil during one of their camps was a surprise to both of them. When asked about it, Evaliena shrugged it off. ¡°It¡¯s not like either of you will make use of that information easily.¡± She smirked. ¡°Besides, neither have you developed enough to make whimsical uses of farstep.¡±

    The trip took four days, jumping from beacon to beacon across the continent. Some beacons appeared horribly overgrown, while others were well maintained despite their distance from civilization. They even ran into a few therian travellers at one beacon, but they didn¡¯t stay around for long after exchanging news and greetings with Evaliena.

    The last step in the journey was a wonder. This place differed from the dark foreboding hollows and verdant, humid forests Jace had visited before. Covered in blue grass, blue green foliage and wide trees that stretch into the sky. Producing a canopy that filtered out the light, leaving the wonderful, enchanting glow of the plants. Though the canopy broke in places, lighting up the humid air and creating an angled beam of yellow light to the forest floor. There was a well trodden, stone cobbled path leading away from the beacon further into the old growth. The air felt stifling and claustrophobic.

    A gruff call Interrupted Jace¡¯s sightseeing. The beacon had guards. Their scents, along with the forest, had finally crawled up his nose. He looked around and saw three of what appeared to be leather armoured Therians, each holding a spear with a glassy black head. One Reynard and two of the wolf-like Vargr, all male, the latter two were much larger and significantly more muscled. But to Jace¡¯s eyes, on the inside, they had no more mana than he or Baysil did. He and the two vixens were wearing their travel cloaks in contrast.

    The therian guards immediately began interrogating Evaliena. Her tail seemed to flick irritably with a flat expression on her face. ¡°What reason would an archmage and her¡­ apprentices be using this beacon over the one in Allsmeets?¡± One of the larger guards implying there was another beacon much closer to their destination and Evaliena decided not to use it.

    The yellow vixen put her hand on her hip and sighed. ¡°I would blind everyone the moment I landed.¡± Gesturing towards the guards. Jace personally felt there were a few other reasons why Evaliena chose to pick a beacon a little further away than necessary. The guards continued their questioning for a short while until they satisfied their suspicions with his mentor¡¯s replies. All they really wanted to know was why they were here and picked this beacon. Jace noticed several dozen more auras further away from the beacon. They were expecting something malicious to jump to this beacon¡­

    Jace didn¡¯t get an answer to that as it wasn¡¯t much longer until the three were trekking down the path through the tall and blue glowing woods. The journey would take at least half a day more to reach Allsmeet, so Jace got to appreciate the surroundings. The place positively brimmed with mana, significantly more than the woods near his home. Was it the trees or the soil causing it? So many questions. This was also Baysil¡¯s first time visiting the old growth and Allsmeet. She was twirling in her steps as she looked around the impossibly tall trees. ¡°I never thought I would come here¡­¡± Baysil murmured to herself.

    Evaliena, who was leading along the path, spoke. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell Ashwood about this enchanting place?¡± She didn¡¯t bother to look back.

    Jace looked to Baysil. She twirled her fingers in her mane. ¡°Oh, I¡­ putting me on the spot now¡­¡± Baysil stuttered for a bit. The chestnut vixen composed herself and addressed Jace. ¡°The Indigo Old Growth is considered our people¡¯s ancestral home.¡± This piqued Jace¡¯s interest. He needed to, however, keep his eyes on the path lest he trip and smash his face against the stones. He could tell Baysil was giving him a side eye. ¡°You have read the fable book Sandal gave you, right?¡± Jace nodded and shrugged at Baysil. The last time he read through that book was years ago. Baysil let out a sigh. ¡°This is the forest from which Aspen set out from. Along with his mate and several others.¡±

    Baysil talked a while, and Jace passively absorbed the tale as he continued to drink in the surroundings. That old stuffy forest smell with a heavy dew undertone. Aspen of the Reynards was considered something of a patriarchal figure who left the Old Growth after a fight over food shortages. Took his clan outside of the forest for the first time in search of more bountiful lands. A tale so old, it was before therians even realised their own magic. The Vargr and the Lynx have their own similar stories. Cynthia of the Vargr and Rowan of the Lynx, all had dissimilar reasons for taking their families out of the forest for greener pastures, along with a theme of taming various animals for transport and food.

    Evaliena often would curse in her ancestors¡¯ names. But these three fabled characters aren¡¯t them. After Baysil stopped talking, the three only chatted every so often. Jace felt he really needed to interact with more people that weren¡¯t from the hermitage. But he guessed that what he got for being stuck with an ancient mage who desperately craved connection and privacy in equal measure.

    After camping once more and watching other small groups of therians travel up the stony path. The three eventually smelt an active town, then the sounds, seeing the farmsteads of its outer ring. Groves of warm-coloured fruit trees, messy thickets of berries and gardens of vegetables, wild corn and rice. Sustained by the warming glow of hovering yellow crystal constructs above. Jace guessed that should be expected, with Allsmeet being located in the middle of a forest.

    Jace had to tune how magical sight down as the surrounding mana grew denser and denser. Then he saw the roots. The bellowing, bulging roots anchoring an enormous tree from which mana flowed, that stretched so far past the canopy of the forest that he couldn¡¯t see the top of it. As they closed, the forest parted, leaving only the massive tree branches to shadow a towering wall of stone brick?

    Evaliena noticed Jace¡¯s confusion. ¡°Surprised little one?¡± she sneered as she looked over her shoulder to Jace with a sapphire eye. ¡°Yes, most of our people are now roving clans tending pack animals and flocks of cattle.¡± She looked to the wall. ¡°But we weren¡¯t always so scattered.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the old empire¡¯s fault, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Jace spoke, remembering some of the first bits of history Evaliena taught him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on that and just head into Allsmeet.¡± Evaliena urged. Jace sensed she wished to get inside behind those walls before they wasted any more time gawking and commenting at the scenery. ¡°The forest is not safe at night.¡±

    <hr>

    Evaliena had explained along how there are spirits akin to Topaz that stalk the Old growth at night. They avoid her because she¡¯s a walking disaster while someone like Jace, who¡¯d be almost entirely foreign, is a meal they would refuse to pass up. Jace wished he¡¯d been told that before they entered the forest¡­

    Eventually, they worked their way to one of possibly many entrance cut outs in the incredibly tall wall. Jace had barely glimpsed the buildings behind the wall scattered over the numerous tree roots and trunk when they approached. The walls themselves seem to have intricate runes inscribed across them. He sensed force and solidity, like a barrier projected just a few inches in front of the walls. Vast and deep.

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    Somehow, just like many Hume settlements and towns, there was an entry tax for mages. One of the many things Evaliena hammered into Jace¡¯s head was that Therian settlements tend to be either well concealed or in hard to reach places. They also do not allow Kith, mage or not, to enter, if they somehow survive the patrols.

    ¡°Three mages? A master and two apprentices, I assume, from the looks at your gates?¡± The guard sergeant presumed. They focused on Evaliena. ¡°Could you please unveil?¡±

    Evaliena crossed her arms and refused. ¡°For the safety of everyone else, I won¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°That bright is it?¡± The sergeant raised a brow. ¡°Either way, you and your apprentices need to contribute a third of your mana to the walls.¡± He gingerly pointed over to the two circle-like ghostly blue scripts on the inside of the gate¡­ house?. ¡°Then you can go through.¡±

    Baysil went first and placed her black furred hands to the script and pulsed her mana out. Her gate visibly dimmed in Jace¡¯s sight. Baysil growled quietly as she pulled away. ¡°Ashwood, I suggest you be careful. That script has quite the pull.¡±

    Jace walked to the wall next and paused. Evaliena spoke. ¡°Odd. The last time I was here, the walls didn¡¯t need this kind of maintenance.¡±

    ¡°Oi, pup no stalling.¡± A different guard lightly pushed against him. Jace¡¯s hands planted against the wall and the runes began pulling at his mana hungrily. The flow was too much, and he immediately tore his hands away from the wall, a feeling of tiredness spreading across his body. He looked up at the Vargr guard who pushed him with a glare. The guard shrugged and urged him towards where Baysil stood.

    ¡°I do not know the details about the walls, Master Mage. just doing my job.¡± The sergeant replied as Evaliena walked up to the scripts. Jace felt the telltale signs of Evaliena scrying the surroundings, that spiritual pressure on his hide. Then she dabbed her hand against one script circle and nearly blinded Jace along every other therian that was watching the walls. The scripts became a solid blue, as if made new. ¡°Ancestors!¡± Several therians cursed and others groaned as if they suddenly became ill. Jace held some sympathy. Witnessing Evaliena¡¯s monstrous reserves had also given him mana sickness a few times.

    ¡°And this is why I don¡¯t unveil myself.¡± Evaliena muttered as she gestured to Jace and Baysil to follow her. The guards were in shock at the display of raw mana and no one realised the three had disappeared into the crowds behind the walls. ¡°That should fix the wards for a while,¡± Evaliena snickered to herself.

    ¡°Is that a while as in a few weeks? Or a while, as in a few decades?¡± Jace commented. Evaliena looked at Jace and just grinned widely, not bothering to answer.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about you two, but I would really like to rest for a bit,¡± Baysil whined.

    Evaliena looked over at Baysil. ¡°We¡¯ll be here for a few days, so you¡¯ll have all the rest you can need.¡± She said smoothly. ¡°And maybe sample the local food and clothes. So follow along.¡±

    <hr>

    In his trips with Evaliena to various Hume towns and cities. There was one thing he could not get over. Sure he could adjust his senses slightly to ignore the smells. But every ¡®civilised¡¯ place he went to there was the undeniable stench of waste. How did people not choke on the air? And Allsmeet was no different, apart from the regularly interspersed incense burners to help drown out the forests and its people¡¯s odours. He swore he saw therians here and there casting cleaning spells to touch up their stalls and areas around them. But the smell of crap and incense was suffocating. Maybe it just didn¡¯t bother anyone, and it was just him.

    That, however, was just one pet peeve in an ocean of wonder for Jace. Unlike the white plastered brick walls that defined most hume settlements. Jace saw flat stone bases on stilts of stone with carefully molded, swirling pillars of wood that supported clay walls. Others were just built on wooden log pillars. The rooms were usually open from one or two sides when they weren¡¯t on the ground floor, protected by reed blinds and beaded curtains. Which was possibly a reflection of the more open nature of Therians. The locals had meticulously painted the walls with a spread of colour, expressive patterns and, surprisingly, fire glazed to be smooth. Such a thing would have to be fired in place.

    And that wasn¡¯t the only decoration. Drapes featuring crests and depictions silently hanging from roofed sign posts. Floating crystal lamps, dream catchers woven from unfamiliar threads and wooden chimes that gently sung in the gusts that breezed through the buildings. There was very little metal work adorning any of the architecture. Jace half wondered if the building would collapse if the magic suddenly left, then realised upon closer inspection there was no magic in any of the construction at all.

    With all of this being built around the roots of an incredibly massive tree, with yet further constructions dotting the exterior of the gnarled trunk and going up into its canopy.

    And an inn was an inn regardless of where and what culture it was located in. They entered the front of a fenced in complex. There were inns closer to the gate that seemed to serve draft animals, but this place looked more pedestrian. It had a half moon-full moon donut shape, with the ground floor being the half moon and the top floor being the full moon.

    A Reynard girl welcomed the group in. Jace wondered if it was one of the family members that ran the Inn. The proprietress was a Reynard matron. Jace had gathered as they went through the crowds was that Allsmeet is a major trading city, The therians there, the Reynards, Vargr and Lynx¡¯s of the old growth, wore much more reserved clothing, tunics of various styles usually reaching down past the knees and dyed with simple bright colours with contrasting sashes. And the women staffing this inn were no different.

    Jace stood with mild nervousness, along with Baysil, as they waited for Evaliena to sort their accommodations.

    ¡°Hume Strips?¡± The Matron asked as she looked over the small pile Evaliena had offered as payment. ¡°These wouldn¡¯t be much of value outside of the metal used to create them here in Allsmeet. Mastermage.¡± Evaliena sighed and took her strips of currency back. She then produced a purse that seemed to clink with glass. It glowed with many faint stars of mana. The matron¡¯s eyes twinkled slightly and her loops curled into a faint smile.

    ¡°I forgot. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been here.¡± Evaliena relayed as she started picking from the purse. ¡°These mana stones should cover the costs of a few nights?¡± She extracted a handful of the dull-looking gemstones.

    ¡°I¡¯ll book you in.¡± The Reynard Matron said cheerily. ¡°Come, bring your apprentices. Your room will be on the next floor.¡± Room, not rooms. Jace thought it would be selfish of himself to request one room for his own privacy. So he kept his quiet, as he didn¡¯t understand the customs here. He could just chalk it up with Evaliena, forgetting he was not really a Therian. So up the wooden stairs through the centre, there were no doors to lock, just thick curtains covering the entries. With faint spell crafted wards on the frames. The proprietress shifted one curtain out of the way, urging the three inside. ¡°Make yourselves at home here. This room has a view of Allsmeet. Remember to take one of the wooden slips from the wall next to the door when you go out. Dinner is about to be served soon if you wish to join us and the other guests downstairs. But we can bring food up if you are¡­ less sociable.¡±

    Evaliena answered. ¡°We¡¯ll be joining once we settle in.¡± The Matron left and Evaliena looked at Jace and Baysil.  ¡°I¡¯m going to make something clear to you two. You¡¯re free to roam around Allsmeets yourselves. Just together, I have a few things I need to check in on myself. And don¡¯t worry about money here.¡± She pulled out the purse of mana stones from earlier. ¡°There are no trade sticks, no metal currency. You pay with these infused stones.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else we should worry about? And also, how do we get to the markets?¡± Jace asked as he looked around the fairly modest looking room. He noticed there was a single large futon-like mattress on the floor, along with an earthenware pot, a table with jugs of water and what looked like a collection of fire-aspected crystals set in a mock fire pit.

    Evaliena leant against the reed padded wall near the door, crossing her arms. ¡°You may encounter the odd Mer, specifically Dwarves and Elves, usually those coming to trade, not exactly to sightsee.¡± She dipped her head. ¡°But that¡¯s knowledge from a very long time ago.¡±

    Jace tilted his head, curious at the prospect of meeting real dwarves and elves. He wondered what the settlement would have to trade and what the others would bring to trade with. But he doubted Evaliena would want to speculate on that now. And Baysil wouldn¡¯t have much of an idea. ¡°As for finding the markets.¡± Evaliena tapped her muzzle. ¡°Follow your nose and ears.¡±

    <hr>

    As expected by Jace, dinner at this inn was a social affair, like having food around the hearth back at the keep, but with wicker cushions for seats and old wooden tables stained and worn smooth from years of use. Those were set around the open side of a large fire pit where various ceramic pots bubbled and steam with slowly rotating skewers of meat that hung near the fire. The wood that burned in there was fragrant to the point of being nauseating in a pleasant way, complimenting the array of so many other scents.

    The proprietress didn¡¯t make much of a show of the process, often mingling and chatting with the guests. Her family prepared the food and served it as a simple yet appetising buffet. There were beans and wild rice. Flatbreads and broths. Seasoned meat that was served in uncooked strips and cooked chunks. Pickled vegetables and fruit chutneys. Along with a very light smell of beer.

    And an interesting facet for Jace. Chopsticks were the utensil of choice. Along with a spiked stick and spoon. All made from a smooth white wood like material. When was the last time Jace had even seen chopsticks? While neither showed it, seeing Jace¡¯s familiarity with the utensil surprised Evaliena and Baysil. though he had some difficulty manipulating the chopsticks with retractable claws on the ends of his fingers. He felt some pride with the two gave and just used a spoon and their hands.

    Baysil and Evaliena chatted with the other guests. Jace sat between the two as he enjoyed his meal, a small selection of pickled vegetables, and cooked meat. Something about the funk and crunchiness of the vegetable was appealing to Jace. Some were there to trade their clan¡¯s wares, others seeing relatives and a good deal of just passing through to places unknown. After everyone had their fill, and a little refreshment with some beer. Most guests turned in for the night while others went out into Allsmeet.

    When getting back to their room, Jace chose to glamour himself to take up less space on the mattress. Even though there was plenty of space for an entire family. Evaliena tsked ¡°Are you really going to do that?¡±

    Jace simply replied with a ¡°Meh.¡± He started rolling up his travel cloak, which did not shift with him like his kilt and shawl did. He used the roll as a pillow. Evaliena shook her head, rolling onto the mattress and pulling Jace into her embrace. ¡°Need I tell you to remember who you are now, and where we are?¡± She whispered. Baysil joined shortly after. It wouldn¡¯t be before sleep took his mind.