Seraphina’s soft sniffles subsided with the gentle pats of the firm but warm hand on her back. She slowly raised her tear and snot-smeared face and locked her still glistening moist eyes on his mature and handsome face, earnestly taking in the same shimmering golden irises, which she so desperately longed for and dreamed about. The memory of these beautiful eyes full of life turning lifeless and his sturdy body that made her feel unbelievably secure and cherished, falling weakly onto the hard cold ground, was still burning fresh in her mind. However, now, her tiny hands holding onto his wide shoulders and his warmth seeping out through the fabrics of his clothes made her realize that, finally, she had made it home.
“I’m home,” she said softly, her voice containing deep grief as well as overwhelming gratitude.
“Yes, you are home now,” Amaris replied.
Seraphina chuckled out aloud, finding his reply extremely fulfilling, soothing, and at the same time, hilarious. Her wet eyelashes blinked cheerfully, washing away the previous heavy sadness off of her.
You clearly do not know the extent and meaning of my words but still, manage to soothe my raised hackles. Really, the best dad, Seraphina thought.
.
.
.
The mirror was exquisite, seemingly uncommon, and stunning. Seraphina could not quite put a finger on what material it was made of, but nevertheless, she savored the fanciness and peculiarity of it. The body of the mirror was more like a gem than glass, crystal, or metal, as most do. The reflection held a clarity of none like the other with a slight glow, and the touch to the surface felt warm and comfortable. Most importantly, her own reflection within it gave birth to a feeling that was impossible to describe in words.
She stood almost leaning against the staggering mirror, which was embedded with gemstones and diamonds, while seriously inspecting the perky white fox ears with maroon tips and snowy white fluffy yet silky tail of hers. Her eyes simply could not help but marvel at her beastman’s physique as the reflection brought forth the nearly faded-away memories of her mother, Rosaline. Because of her sudden breakdown this morning, the rims of her eyes were still puffy and red, making her appear more delicate than ever. Her crimson locks, which almost reached her buttocks, were a flaring hot mess of tangles and wild curls, extremely glaring to the eyes. Her mother was just like this; delicate but fiery. Though the other’s ears and tail were amber-reddish with light brown highlights, different from her snow-white glossy fur, looking at her reflection, it was like seeing her mother in herself.
“Mom, mommy… I’m home. I’m finally home,” Seraphina whispered, her soft breath leaving a blurry fog on the clear surface of the mirror and obscuring her reflection.
“My lady,” a steady and mature female voice called respectfully.
“Julia,” the little girl raised her head toward a middle-aged woman who stood not far from her.
“The bath is ready. Would you mind if this servant helps you?” The other’s gentle voice fell.
“Why would I mind? You see, my hair is a furry monster on its own. I really need your help with it,” Seraphina’s chuckle echoed inside the spacious bathroom.
Her voice was sweet like candied plums and chirpy like jingling bells, dealing note-worthy damage to the steel heart of the woman in her forties with only a son and no daughter.
This woman, Julia Ayrmyn, was a woman with a story; an orphan girl raised at the barracks of the Red Army, learning swordsmanship from a young age despite being a female. Her talent in swordsmanship was not at all extraordinary like the true-born wielders such as the second young master, Aegaeon, or the imperial elder, Ezekiel, in his days. However, Julia Ayrmyn’s glory as Dame Julia reached far and wide as her footwork, speed, and agility were infamous for being unmatched and superior. She had been like a cheetah in the wild.
More than twenty years ago, she was snatched away from Ezekiel by the current grand duke, who was only around ten at the time, as his knight. Since then, the pair, one in his teens and the other in her twenties had borne countless dangers and expeditions shoulder to shoulder, being each other’s shields and swords and mentor and pupil. Unfortunately, nine years ago, on the day the tragedy befell the grand duchy, she lost her right leg as the price for saving the youngest master, Deimos, who was not even a month old. That day, the house of Callenso not only lost their duchess, but many good men and women perished, be it knights, maids, and so on. Amidst all, the hawk of the Callensos managed to survive but lost its wing forever.
“Old wounds ache when it rains. Does it often hurt?” The little girl asked while looking at the other’s prosthetic leg, which was said to be crafted by a genius dwarf.
It did not resemble much of a human leg but was more like a stick made with wood and steel. Though crude, Seraphina never saw Julia finding it uncomfortable or hindering, both in her previous life and now.
“Not much. M’lady is very knowledgeable at a young age. Does it look scary?”
“No, why do you ask so?”
“Well, children usually find it scary. When I walk, it makes a crisp clanking sound. Young masters, Aegaeon and Deimos, used to run away as soon as they heard me approaching,” Julia spoke softly while diligently unknotting Seraphina’s red head from tangles and dirt.
“Your leg is not what frightened them. I am sure it’s more like they were frightened of being caught while committing mischief.” The little girl laughed cheerily.
“M’lady is really like the eldest young master. He also said the same thing.”
“Eldest young master?”
“Yes. M’lady has three elder brothers. The two boys you have met are Aegaeon and Deimos, the second and third young masters. The eldest young master is Ihan. He is a nice young man and a good elder brother,” Julia explained.
Indeed, he is a good elder brother. Second brother and third brother often scolded me for liking Reagan and gave me cold shoulders. They loved me but, at the same time, loathed me for being stupid and selfish. However, eldest brother was different. Whenever I cry at night and drink until senselessness, he would be the one to carry me to bed. He never yelled or got angry at me and would gently pat my head before going away. Father was the one who terrified me the most. Deimos and his unbearably poisonous tongue repelled me most. Aegaeon was the one I avoided most because of his explosive temper. Only, Ihan, my eldest brother, was the one out of the four that I would allow at a safe distance. However, the point is, why has he not come to see me yet? The scene of me bawling my eyes out was loud enough for the whole estate to know that there was a little girl in the Callensos. But, from the start till the end, I could not catch even a glimpse of him.
“Julia, say, why has he not come to see me? Does he not like me?” She asked little disheartened.
“Oh my! Why would m’lady think so? He was not here because he worried that he would frighten you.”
“Frighten me? I don’t get it, why would I be frightened of him?”
“M’lady… do you remember the black wolf with four eyes?” Julia asked with caution.
“What about Ys-” the little girl’s words halted abruptly.
Wait! That day father only witnessed my confrontation with Reagan. As for where and how my injury came from…Seraphina covered her face with her tiny hands in horror.
“Julia… that day, inside the forest… did something happen after I lost consciousness? For instance, like… a fight between a lioness and wolf?”
As a response to her outrageous question, she received the other’s widened eyes, unblinking and in serious contemplation of whether to admit or deny.
“M’lady, did you hear the maids talking? It’s nonsense. It was not a fight, just a slight playfulness. You see, shadow beasts play rather roughly that it might scare off some people. Both his grace’s and eldest young master’s shadow beasts are doing fine,” Julia explained seriously.
The fight between the winged shadow lion and the four-eyed shadow wolf was the blazing gossip storming the capital. Shadow beasts were linked to their masters on a spirit level, which means they could sense their masters’ emotions and state of mind just the same as how the masters perceive their beasts’. For the two shadow beasts to confront each other, it was equivalent to the father and son doing so. Many could not fathom the reason and cause behind it and how it would affect the relationship between the two henceforth, but the involved parties could.
Ratuna must have surely realized that the wound on my shoulder and forearm was caused by Ysir’s bite. She is a female shadow beast with a strong sense of maternal instincts. In fact, it would not be out of the ordinary for her to force out a warning to Ysir as she would perceive his action as a threat. If it was only a threat, then it would not have resulted in a violent altercation. The point is, however, that I am not only a carrier of Callenso’s blood but a full-blooded ancient divine beast. Shadow beasts, like any other beasts, are the subjects to the ruling of the supreme ancient divine beasts, the dragons. I, as a nine-tailed fox, have long since been much higher in the hierarchy than Ratuna and Ysir, and my blood is enough for them to ascertain my identity and status. The conclusion is that for Ratuna, Ysir’s attack on me is not only a threat but treachery and defiance.
“No wonder they fought,” Seraphina mumbled to herself.
Ysir could not have been more innocent regarding this matter. So, Ratuna’s sudden attack must have triggered serious aggression from the young unyielding wolf beast.
“What about the people who were there? Did anyone get hurt? Princess Aine, is she alright?”
“Princess Aine is alright. I heard that the Red Army intervened before anything happened. They evacuated the imperial prince and princesses, but Prince Reagan was already heavily injured.”
“Heavily injured? Exactly how so?” Her pointy ears twitched at full attention.
“M’lady seems extra concerned about the prince,” Julia commented, barely containing the laughter that threatened to roll out from her throat.
Others did not know, but she, as the grand duke’s aide and the head butler of the estate, certainly did know that the culprit was none other than this harmless-looking doll-like creature in front of her who was blissfully bathing and laughing.
“Julia~” the little girl called coquettishly, shamelessly selling her adorableness.
“Concussion, broken jaw, dislocated neck, and half of his teeth missing. Most of them were newly grown secondary teeth, so I heard imperial physicians devoted quite the effort to implant new ones. Also, a high priest was invited to heal his injuries.”
“Tsk, that means he is okay now,” Seraphina commented rather discontentedly.
“Yes, he is now.”
“Then what about the imperial knights?”
“As for them… they did not make it out,” Julia answered truthfully.
The little girl did not seem surprised or unsettled. On the contrary, she was calm and carefree, playing with the flower petals floating on the water as if the death of the knights was well within her expectation and something predetermined.
“When will daddy enter the palace?” She asked, catching the older woman off guard.
“How m’lady is sure that his grace will enter the palace?”
“Oh, just a hunch,” the little girl answered noncommittally.
Of course, he has to. Aynat would never miss such a fine opportunity to tear at the Callensos. After all, some people truly don’t realize the height of heaven, the weight of the earth, and depth of the hell.
“Then, I would say m’lady has a very precise hunch. His grace has just departed to the imperial palace along with the eldest young master.”
“What did you say?! How come they leave as soon as I wake up?” Seraphina asked thoroughly befuddled.
“It’s precisely because m’lady has woken up. They have been worried about you, therefore, delaying the departure until m’lady was fine.”
I see.
“Julia, a change of plan. Help me get ready,” the little girl commanded while shifting into a fully human form, her fox ears and tail disappearing.
“My, my lady…” Julia was flabbergasted, not quite finding the right words to describe the shock and fear.
The beasts are beasts in complete animal form, devoid of human elements in them, and beastmen are the species that possess both the characteristics of beasts and humans. Just like a human could not transform into another species, they too did not possess the ability to shift into human form. But, their family’s little princess casually shifted from a beastman to a human, defying the heavens.
“Daddy must have told you how I shifted from a human to a beastman inside the forest. None of the imperial knights were left alive, and the Red Army would not reveal anything to the outsiders. Even now, instead of the young maids within the estate, you are personally serving me. That sums up the people who have witnessed my beastal form into Ezekiel, Aine, Red Army, daddy, elder brothers, and you. The only liability remaining is Reagan. In that split second, it is highly likely that he could not have grasped my shift. Still, daddy and eldest brother rushed to the palace as soon as I woke up, and that is to make sure that was certain. You already guessed I am not a normal beastman, so why are you so shocked, Julia? Tell me, do I scare you?” Seraphina threw back the question the other asked her a moment ago, teasing the middle-aged woman.
“M’lady, do you know you are wilder than your brothers?” Julia asked back with a smile.
Dame Julia was not a naïve young lady or a scheming person. The initial shock came and went, and what was left afterward was the realization that the little girl trusted her unconditionally, so much so that she did not hesitate to reveal her true self, the oddity of her existence, and the fault that could endanger her oneday.
“I know. So help me, ah?” Seraphina beamed, her golden eyes twinkling with a shimmer of stars and pearls.
“How does m’lady wish to be helped?” Julia asked, not at all trying to restrain the other, despite being well aware of the little girl’s intended destination.
“They say the imperial palace is the home to lavishness that even mice within live on a marble. How can I fall short? I have strength like a bull, so even if you put a hoard of gold and diamonds on me, I would have no trouble carrying them,” Seraphina said boldly.
What to do? After becoming a fox, my love for shiny polished things seems to have grown a lot. A lot.
Seraphina’s soft sniffles subsided with the gentle pats of the firm but warm hand on her back. She slowly raised her tear and snot-smeared face and locked her still glistening moist eyes on his mature and handsome face, earnestly taking in the same shimmering golden irises, which she so desperately longed for and dreamed about. The memory of these beautiful eyes full of life turning lifeless and his sturdy body that made her feel unbelievably secure and cherished, falling weakly onto the hard cold ground, was still burning fresh in her mind. However, now, her tiny hands holding onto his wide shoulders and his warmth seeping out through the fabrics of his clothes made her realize that, finally, she had made it home.
“I’m home,” she said softly, her voice containing deep grief as well as overwhelming gratitude.
“Yes, you are home now,” Amaris replied.
Seraphina chuckled out aloud, finding his reply extremely fulfilling, soothing, and at the same time, hilarious. Her wet eyelashes blinked cheerfully, washing away the previous heavy sadness off of her.
You clearly do not know the extent and meaning of my words but still, manage to soothe my raised hackles. Really, the best dad, Seraphina thought.
.
.
.
The mirror was exquisite, seemingly uncommon, and stunning. Seraphina could not quite put a finger on what material it was made of, but nevertheless, she savored the fanciness and peculiarity of it. The body of the mirror was more like a gem than glass, crystal, or metal, as most do. The reflection held a clarity of none like the other with a slight glow, and the touch to the surface felt warm and comfortable. Most importantly, her own reflection within it gave birth to a feeling that was impossible to describe in words.
She stood almost leaning against the staggering mirror, which was embedded with gemstones and diamonds, while seriously inspecting the perky white fox ears with maroon tips and snowy white fluffy yet silky tail of hers. Her eyes simply could not help but marvel at her beastman’s physique as the reflection brought forth the nearly faded-away memories of her mother, Rosaline. Because of her sudden breakdown this morning, the rims of her eyes were still puffy and red, making her appear more delicate than ever. Her crimson locks, which almost reached her buttocks, were a flaring hot mess of tangles and wild curls, extremely glaring to the eyes. Her mother was just like this; delicate but fiery. Though the other’s ears and tail were amber-reddish with light brown highlights, different from her snow-white glossy fur, looking at her reflection, it was like seeing her mother in herself.
“Mom, mommy… I’m home. I’m finally home,” Seraphina whispered, her soft breath leaving a blurry fog on the clear surface of the mirror and obscuring her reflection.
“My lady,” a steady and mature female voice called respectfully.
“Julia,” the little girl raised her head toward a middle-aged woman who stood not far from her.
“The bath is ready. Would you mind if this servant helps you?” The other’s gentle voice fell.
“Why would I mind? You see, my hair is a furry monster on its own. I really need your help with it,” Seraphina’s chuckle echoed inside the spacious bathroom.
Her voice was sweet like candied plums and chirpy like jingling bells, dealing note-worthy damage to the steel heart of the woman in her forties with only a son and no daughter.
This woman, Julia Ayrmyn, was a woman with a story; an orphan girl raised at the barracks of the Red Army, learning swordsmanship from a young age despite being a female. Her talent in swordsmanship was not at all extraordinary like the true-born wielders such as the second young master, Aegaeon, or the imperial elder, Ezekiel, in his days. However, Julia Ayrmyn’s glory as Dame Julia reached far and wide as her footwork, speed, and agility were infamous for being unmatched and superior. She had been like a cheetah in the wild.
More than twenty years ago, she was snatched away from Ezekiel by the current grand duke, who was only around ten at the time, as his knight. Since then, the pair, one in his teens and the other in her twenties had borne countless dangers and expeditions shoulder to shoulder, being each other’s shields and swords and mentor and pupil. Unfortunately, nine years ago, on the day the tragedy befell the grand duchy, she lost her right leg as the price for saving the youngest master, Deimos, who was not even a month old. That day, the house of Callenso not only lost their duchess, but many good men and women perished, be it knights, maids, and so on. Amidst all, the hawk of the Callensos managed to survive but lost its wing forever.
“Old wounds ache when it rains. Does it often hurt?” The little girl asked while looking at the other’s prosthetic leg, which was said to be crafted by a genius dwarf.
It did not resemble much of a human leg but was more like a stick made with wood and steel. Though crude, Seraphina never saw Julia finding it uncomfortable or hindering, both in her previous life and now.
“Not much. M’lady is very knowledgeable at a young age. Does it look scary?”
“No, why do you ask so?”
“Well, children usually find it scary. When I walk, it makes a crisp clanking sound. Young masters, Aegaeon and Deimos, used to run away as soon as they heard me approaching,” Julia spoke softly while diligently unknotting Seraphina’s red head from tangles and dirt.
“Your leg is not what frightened them. I am sure it’s more like they were frightened of being caught while committing mischief.” The little girl laughed cheerily.
“M’lady is really like the eldest young master. He also said the same thing.”
“Eldest young master?”
“Yes. M’lady has three elder brothers. The two boys you have met are Aegaeon and Deimos, the second and third young masters. The eldest young master is Ihan. He is a nice young man and a good elder brother,” Julia explained.
Indeed, he is a good elder brother. Second brother and third brother often scolded me for liking Reagan and gave me cold shoulders. They loved me but, at the same time, loathed me for being stupid and selfish. However, eldest brother was different. Whenever I cry at night and drink until senselessness, he would be the one to carry me to bed. He never yelled or got angry at me and would gently pat my head before going away. Father was the one who terrified me the most. Deimos and his unbearably poisonous tongue repelled me most. Aegaeon was the one I avoided most because of his explosive temper. Only, Ihan, my eldest brother, was the one out of the four that I would allow at a safe distance. However, the point is, why has he not come to see me yet? The scene of me bawling my eyes out was loud enough for the whole estate to know that there was a little girl in the Callensos. But, from the start till the end, I could not catch even a glimpse of him.
“Julia, say, why has he not come to see me? Does he not like me?” She asked little disheartened.
“Oh my! Why would m’lady think so? He was not here because he worried that he would frighten you.”
“Frighten me? I don’t get it, why would I be frightened of him?”
“M’lady… do you remember the black wolf with four eyes?” Julia asked with caution.
“What about Ys-” the little girl’s words halted abruptly.
Wait! That day father only witnessed my confrontation with Reagan. As for where and how my injury came from…Seraphina covered her face with her tiny hands in horror.
“Julia… that day, inside the forest… did something happen after I lost consciousness? For instance, like… a fight between a lioness and wolf?”
As a response to her outrageous question, she received the other’s widened eyes, unblinking and in serious contemplation of whether to admit or deny.
“M’lady, did you hear the maids talking? It’s nonsense. It was not a fight, just a slight playfulness. You see, shadow beasts play rather roughly that it might scare off some people. Both his grace’s and eldest young master’s shadow beasts are doing fine,” Julia explained seriously.
The fight between the winged shadow lion and the four-eyed shadow wolf was the blazing gossip storming the capital. Shadow beasts were linked to their masters on a spirit level, which means they could sense their masters’ emotions and state of mind just the same as how the masters perceive their beasts’. For the two shadow beasts to confront each other, it was equivalent to the father and son doing so. Many could not fathom the reason and cause behind it and how it would affect the relationship between the two henceforth, but the involved parties could.
Ratuna must have surely realized that the wound on my shoulder and forearm was caused by Ysir’s bite. She is a female shadow beast with a strong sense of maternal instincts. In fact, it would not be out of the ordinary for her to force out a warning to Ysir as she would perceive his action as a threat. If it was only a threat, then it would not have resulted in a violent altercation. The point is, however, that I am not only a carrier of Callenso’s blood but a full-blooded ancient divine beast. Shadow beasts, like any other beasts, are the subjects to the ruling of the supreme ancient divine beasts, the dragons. I, as a nine-tailed fox, have long since been much higher in the hierarchy than Ratuna and Ysir, and my blood is enough for them to ascertain my identity and status. The conclusion is that for Ratuna, Ysir’s attack on me is not only a threat but treachery and defiance.
“No wonder they fought,” Seraphina mumbled to herself.
Ysir could not have been more innocent regarding this matter. So, Ratuna’s sudden attack must have triggered serious aggression from the young unyielding wolf beast.
“What about the people who were there? Did anyone get hurt? Princess Aine, is she alright?”
“Princess Aine is alright. I heard that the Red Army intervened before anything happened. They evacuated the imperial prince and princesses, but Prince Reagan was already heavily injured.”
“Heavily injured? Exactly how so?” Her pointy ears twitched at full attention.
“M’lady seems extra concerned about the prince,” Julia commented, barely containing the laughter that threatened to roll out from her throat.
Others did not know, but she, as the grand duke’s aide and the head butler of the estate, certainly did know that the culprit was none other than this harmless-looking doll-like creature in front of her who was blissfully bathing and laughing.
“Julia~” the little girl called coquettishly, shamelessly selling her adorableness.
“Concussion, broken jaw, dislocated neck, and half of his teeth missing. Most of them were newly grown secondary teeth, so I heard imperial physicians devoted quite the effort to implant new ones. Also, a high priest was invited to heal his injuries.”
“Tsk, that means he is okay now,” Seraphina commented rather discontentedly.
“Yes, he is now.”
“Then what about the imperial knights?”
“As for them… they did not make it out,” Julia answered truthfully.
The little girl did not seem surprised or unsettled. On the contrary, she was calm and carefree, playing with the flower petals floating on the water as if the death of the knights was well within her expectation and something predetermined.
“When will daddy enter the palace?” She asked, catching the older woman off guard.
“How m’lady is sure that his grace will enter the palace?”
“Oh, just a hunch,” the little girl answered noncommittally.
Of course, he has to. Aynat would never miss such a fine opportunity to tear at the Callensos. After all, some people truly don’t realize the height of heaven, the weight of the earth, and depth of the hell.
“Then, I would say m’lady has a very precise hunch. His grace has just departed to the imperial palace along with the eldest young master.”
“What did you say?! How come they leave as soon as I wake up?” Seraphina asked thoroughly befuddled.
“It’s precisely because m’lady has woken up. They have been worried about you, therefore, delaying the departure until m’lady was fine.”
I see.
“Julia, a change of plan. Help me get ready,” the little girl commanded while shifting into a fully human form, her fox ears and tail disappearing.
“My, my lady…” Julia was flabbergasted, not quite finding the right words to describe the shock and fear.
The beasts are beasts in complete animal form, devoid of human elements in them, and beastmen are the species that possess both the characteristics of beasts and humans. Just like a human could not transform into another species, they too did not possess the ability to shift into human form. But, their family’s little princess casually shifted from a beastman to a human, defying the heavens.
“Daddy must have told you how I shifted from a human to a beastman inside the forest. None of the imperial knights were left alive, and the Red Army would not reveal anything to the outsiders. Even now, instead of the young maids within the estate, you are personally serving me. That sums up the people who have witnessed my beastal form into Ezekiel, Aine, Red Army, daddy, elder brothers, and you. The only liability remaining is Reagan. In that split second, it is highly likely that he could not have grasped my shift. Still, daddy and eldest brother rushed to the palace as soon as I woke up, and that is to make sure that was certain. You already guessed I am not a normal beastman, so why are you so shocked, Julia? Tell me, do I scare you?” Seraphina threw back the question the other asked her a moment ago, teasing the middle-aged woman.
“M’lady, do you know you are wilder than your brothers?” Julia asked back with a smile.
Dame Julia was not a naïve young lady or a scheming person. The initial shock came and went, and what was left afterward was the realization that the little girl trusted her unconditionally, so much so that she did not hesitate to reveal her true self, the oddity of her existence, and the fault that could endanger her oneday.
“I know. So help me, ah?” Seraphina beamed, her golden eyes twinkling with a shimmer of stars and pearls.
“How does m’lady wish to be helped?” Julia asked, not at all trying to restrain the other, despite being well aware of the little girl’s intended destination.
“They say the imperial palace is the home to lavishness that even mice within live on a marble. How can I fall short? I have strength like a bull, so even if you put a hoard of gold and diamonds on me, I would have no trouble carrying them,” Seraphina said boldly.
What to do? After becoming a fox, my love for shiny polished things seems to have grown a lot. A lot.
