Chapter 180 - The Fox Maid and the General
Kinue:
It was morning, and I had woken up early to prepare breakfast for Chloe and Nathan. It had been a few days since we spent that weekend at our family mansion in the city. I always got up early to fulfill my duties—a habit I had acquired working as a maid at the castle. I was thrilled that they ca to the academy; sotis, I’d run into Natty and Catty, but they were a bit... different.
Whenever I encountered them, our conversations revolved around torture instrunts and thods of inflicting pain. I guess it runs in the family, since Miss Martha is the sa. A shiver ran down my spine as I rembered when she tried to give a lesson about torture.
I spend two years away from Nathan and Chloe, training with Professor Adrihna to beco a great light mage and with Headmistress Victoria, who helped control my beast form. I am a rare demi-human who can transform, but I need rigorous training to maintain my sanity. It is too dangerous to use this power without total control, as I could harm soone.
Demi-humans who possess a beast form have this ability dormant until they turn 15 or 16. Usually, the transformation happens involuntarily the first few tis, which is risky because the demi-human could hurt soone. That’s why I had to stay away from Nathan and Chloe and couldn’t visit them during the academy breaks. I might have transford accidentally in the underground transport to the duchy.
In the demi-human kingdom, people are used to it, but in the human kingdom, there’s a lot of fear and unpreparedness to handle such situations. That was one of the reasons I had to remain at the academy. Only Professor Adrihna went to the Evenhart territory, and Headmistress Victoria, my master, guided through this process, which would normally be led by a demi-human's parents.
Even with my beast form… I think I’d still be afraid of the Carnellian, I thought, watching the gray kitten staring at while I prepared breakfast.
"Good thing you’re just a little bird, right?" I said to Cylla, who continued to watch . I leaned closer to the panther cub and asked, "Are you really Cylla?" She nodded.
"That's good," I said, relieved. "I know you’re less dangerous than a panther." But she shook her head in disagreent.
"No? What do you an?" I asked, confused. "Are you more dangerous than a Moon Panther?" Cylla nodded again.
"Alright, silly. I believe you, hehe."
It’s just Cylla, and I know she’s harmless. The worst she could do is burp a fireball.
"ow," she said, pointing with her head.
"You're the sa Cylla I know. Always asking for at."
I grabbed the at from the pan and tossed it to her. Leaving Cylla to eat, I left the apartnt to fetch so eggs from the dormitory kitchen. The academy stocked the pantry, and we could take whatever we needed.
"What are you doing here?" a voice asked, startling .
“H-hello," I turned to greet.
It was a uniford student, and I felt confused about how to address her. Everyone living here was a high noble, and there were even two princesses in the dormitory.
"La-Lady...?" I asked, unsure.
The student laughed.
"Don't worry, you can call by my na. I'm lina. I hope no boy broke the rules by bringing a girl to spend the night in his apartnt."
I blushed.
"N-no, it’s not like that. I received special permission and moved into this dormitory."
"Oh! I get it! You’re like Thyra, then. I also live with my cousin Alice, so I understand you."
What a relief! I managed to avoid a misunderstanding.
But then I thought a bit more.
Maybe I should’ve let the misunderstanding happen—might’ve eliminated so competition...
Nathan Evenhart:
We were in class when a strand of my hair fell in front of my eyes. I brushed it aside, feeling relieved to see that my hair was once again completely black. I thought back to what Professor Adrihna explained about my condition, though I still felt frustrated with the limitations of my Aspect of the Soul. It doesn’t allow to see my own mana or uncover the true nature of a certain annoying woman.
“What is it? Lost sothing here?” asked Goddess Athena, sitting beside with a teasing smile.
My ability doesn’t let analyze myself or this cursed presence next to . If only this power worked for that, I’d know exactly what she is.
Athena placed a hand on my shoulder, her voice laced with malicious amusent. “Tough luck, Icarus,” she laughed.
I ignored the Goddess, trying to focus on my thoughts.
My hair is turning silver because it’s absorbing elven mana from my mana gem. Every human, demi-human, and elf on this continent has mana within them, making us magical beings. Those with a high concentration of mana develop a Mana Gem and beco mages. The concentration is so intense that the mana condenses into a gem, which then generates and circulates magical energy throughout the body, like a second heart.
My Mana Gem likely awakened due to the elven blood in my veins. This phenonon granted Kinue and my mother the elental abilities of high elves. In , the elven mana concentration was even greater, and upon awakening my Mana Gem, it began to affect my hair, which also acts as a mana channel.
I grabbed a strand of my hair, continuing my analysis.
My hair should’ve started turning silver as soon as I awakened to magic. This didn’t happen imdiately because I started cultivating my Special Eyes. Back then, my mana was defective and didn’t circulate properly through my body. As I adapted to my Special Eyes, my hair began changing color since it was now free to absorb my elven mana.
I sighed, rembering how Kinue and Chloe seed quite intrigued watching my mother dye my hair.
They were so attentive that they even insisted I keep my shirt off to avoid stains and stayed with the entire ti. At least now I know I can ask for their help when I need to do it alone.
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