Sora let out a soft sigh, feeling the light, warm pulse of the magical fireball drifting ahead of her, illuminating her path through Avalon’s maze-like campus to Eyia. Despite Wendy’s confusing hot and cold attitude, Kari’s unpredictable motivations, Eyia’s troubled emotions, or the fear of being in a giant, new place ,she felt happy right now.

  She kept her stride brisk, her mind drifting back to Aelion’s lingering smile and the faint blush he’d worn—dangerous wasn’t even the word. She was half-tempted to glance over her shoulder, wondering if he’d stayed watching or if he’d disappeared into some mystical mist.

  She picked up her pace, tail flicking behind her as she kept her eyes on the flickering orb, her senses gradually turning back to her goal.

  Okay! Head in the game. Check on Eyia, make sure she’s okay, and straighten things out. I have to be the ground that helps everyone pick up the pieces… They’re counting on me!

  Her heart soared as the fireball veered to the right, leading her toward a transport gate. Resisting the faint shiver of unease that brushed over her at the unknown, she neared the gate, and with a deep breath, stated her purpose. A small sphere emerged from a small crystal beside it, lifting her smile as it hovered in front of her. Following the example of the small fairies and elves that materialized and entered it, she waited until it drew her forward and dropped into the circle, several tiny brownies joining her with a tall elf boy.

  The strange, tingling sensation of Avalon’s magic washed over her, twisting the world for a moment. When she blinked again, she found herself in an open field on the other side, a crowd of onlookers murmuring and watching something just dozens of meters away. Her gaze shifted, quickly locking onto the figure in the center—Eyia.

  The Valkyrie moved with a fierce, calculated intensity, her gaze locked onto a towering figure Sora knew pretty well. Massive frame moving with liquid smoothness, Jian dodged jab after jab. Then, he braced himself against Eyia’s immediate cadence shift that somehow locked him down, her relentless strikes freezing the grass in their passing.

  Sora’s pulse quickened, her gut tightening, his calm but serious expression betraying a hint of strain as he met Eyia’s attacks.

  “Oh, Eyia…” Sora muttered under her breath, feeling a flicker of worry as she watched her friend move with a ferocity she hadn’t seen since the Hell amphitheater. Murmurs swept the crowd, and it was only continuing to grow as more fae and mostly other monsters materialized around her. They jogged or floated forward to watch, enthralled by the blurred actions of both fighters. “Should I stop it? Eek!”

  She jumped as a familiar dull voice spoke up beside her. “Took you long enough to drag your fluffy butt out here.”

  Sora nearly jumped out of her fur, her head snapping to the right to find a small, lean figure standing nonchalantly at her side. Jin had her hands buried deep in her pockets, a new hat angled low over her eyes, reading “Obey” in bold letters.

  “Jin! How did you—” She cut herself off, taking a quick breath as she steadied her tone. “I didn’t expect to see you just…appear. You scared me! Uh…what’s going on?”

  Chewing gum, her thick, black ponytail hanging out from the back of the cap, and her casual Earth attire seemed all the more jarring amid the crowd of enchanted onlookers. The dragon didn’t even glance her way, continuing to observe the duel unfolding before them.

  “What does it look like? Eyia’s blowing off steam, causing trouble,” Jin remarked, blowing a bubble before popping it with an effortless, cool flick of her tongue. Her slitted, yellow eyes narrowed slightly while flicking to her. “Could say the same about you.”

  Gut cramping at the sudden gust of wind that seemed to pick up around them as the disguised lizard’s focus shifted to her, overwhelming power abruptly washing over her from nowhere, Sora gulped. “W-What do you mean?! We just got here. I haven’t even been to a lecture yet.”

  “Humph.” Jin’s face said ‘don’t give me that bullshit’ as she returned her focus to the battling pair; direct, blunt, and with a tone that made Sora straighten her spine, she muttered, “Don’t insult me. You’ve been busy stirring things up with that wolf girl, so don’t be cute with me. You can’t fool a True Dragon’s eyes. I see exactly what’s coming…more or less.”

  Sora tensed, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. How did she know?! Noelia was shielding us from people seeing. Is she just guessing? Jin is an instructor here… Shoot. Are we already burned?!

  “I, umm, I’m just…keeping an eye out for her. I know what I’m doing,” she replied, a bit too quickly, folding her arms defensively as she glanced back at Eyia and Jian. Eyia’s form blurred with speed as she dodged a heavy strike, her spear flashing, but Jian shifted smoothly, his defense solid. Sora felt her chest tighten at the sight. “Is…Eyia really okay? Will Jian be okay? Fen would probably be freaking out right now. This looks—too intense for blowing off steam,” she noted, her tone softer, her worry leaking through despite herself.

  “Ever the savior complex,” Jin smirked, raising a single eyebrow. “You think the girl didn’t know exactly what she was getting into? If Eyia wanted, she could cut him in half without blinking an eye. Remember, she’s more on my level than I’d like to admit but if she shows that true power, it’ll draw all the wrong eyes…and she knows it.”

  Her vision shifted to her again. “Eyia expresses herself through combat; it’s the only way she knows how to. You do realize that you’re the reason Eyia doesn’t try to fight it out with me like she’d want to.”

  Cold water dumped over her head at the realization. She’s a Primordial, in vulpes Founder space… If her powers ripple too far out, it’ll draw the attention of others…potentially my aunt. How did I not see that? Eyia’s stuck between trying to protect me and dealing with her own confusing emotions… Dammit. What can I do?

  “Relax, Sora,” Jin snorted, a tight smile lifting her mouth. “Jian’s got the patience of a stone, having had to deal with Fen for so long. This shows the fae an example of a ‘reasonable’ level they should be able to fight on. Eyia’s more of a teenager emotionally than she’d like to admit. It’s good being around you, as suspicious I was of you when we first met. Playing around like this is good for her.”

  “Playing?” Sora echoed, her brow furrowing as she took in Eyia’s fierce expression, her focus unbreakable, finding the smallest cracks in Jian’s defenses and exploiting them to force him on the defensive. The Valkyrie seemed anything but playful, her every movement precise, her gaze steely. “She looks like she’d cut him in half if he blinked the wrong way…”

  “That’s Eyia,” Jin replied with a lazy grin, glancing her way. “She doesn’t know how to half-try in anything, but she’s not a fool. She’s not the impulsive one out here, unlike some people,” she added with a pointed look that made Sora’s arms tighten against each other. “Eyia’s way beyond the point where she’d go wild without a plan. She’s too disciplined. Fighting Ylva proves that… Someone she 100% saw as her enemy.”

  Sora’s shivered, her tail bristling. “And…she still held back to protect me? You’re saying she’s going to be okay, though… This is what she needs?”

  “Pretty obvious. Isn’t it?”

  “I guess,” Sora whispered, finding her elbow as she fought to hold her ground beside the terrifying vibes of a constrained tsunami beside her. “I’m not being impulsive, by the way,” she muttered, feeling a defensive heat rise in her face. “I’m…worried about Eyia, Kari…everyone. I’m working on a plan, too. I don’t go diving into things without thinking them through. I’m here, aren’t I? Watching out for my friends?”

  Jin’s small frame shook with a light, almost mocking sound that made Sora bristle. “Sure, you’ve got plans, fluff butt. Just like that bundle of dangerous information you neatly tucked inside that fireball you sent to stalk Eyia, huh?” She smirked, her tone infuriatingly dull as she reached out to smother her tiny flame.

  “You have no clue what you’re doing, kid. And trust me, you can fool a lot of people, but I’m not one of them. I’ve got billions of years of experience that go beyond even your own mother through the True Dragon blood bond between mother and daughter. Sure, it’s sporadic and fragmented, but I have real memories of the Primordial Founder War. The First Generation. The laws they set forward… Your aunts.”

  She shrugged, making Sora’s fingernails dig into her skin as she continued. “Yeah, I’m not stupid. Your mother and even Noelia are more powerful than me. Your mother could snap me out of existence in an instant. I know things, Sora…” Her gaze darted to her, showing a hint of something similar to Ylva. “I’m looking for something deeper. Your mother is hiding something here, and I have my suspicions regarding her real plan. The one blind spot…is you. But sure, play it off however you like.”

  Sora clenched her jaw, trying to bite back a retort. Jin’s blunt, smug, and all-knowing tone gnawed at her, her casual confidence as grating as it was frustrating. The most frustrating part was that she was probably right, not that she’d say anything to the 2nd Generation Dragon Founder’s face. No, she would!

  “You always have to act like you don’t care and are two steps ahead,” Sora grumbled, shocked at her own tone while following Eyia and Jian’s battle. “I know I can’t say shit about your family situation or how you ended up in my territory…but I do care about Eyia. I know you hurt her, even if I don’t fully understand how. You were pissed at me for hurting her and I owned up to it, didn’t I?”

  Jin’s lips lifted into a half-smile, an unreadable look crossing her shining eyes, though there was a bitter look on her face. “You’re such a teenager. Life’s complicated and sicky, sunshine. You can’t even hope to see things from my shoes and isn’t that what you’re trying to teach Eyia? Take the lesson and focus on keeping yourself afloat, fox. You’ve got enough going on. Let me worry about Eyia because there’s only one thing you can do for her.”

  Unable to immediately respond to the harsh slap across the face, she forced herself to focus on the fight again. She tried to track Eyia’s movements without much luck, attempting to put her trust in her friend’s skill, even if her heart was hammered with worry.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  What do I even say to that? I know I’m a teenager! I know I don’t see the big picture. Mom’s tried to tell me that over and over again in her round about way, trying not to hurt my feelings. Is this her way of telling me I don’t have to worry about Eyia and she’s got it? For being able to speak every language, her communication skills suck.

  A short shuckle shook Jin’s frame as a wall of ice materialized behind Jian, cutting off his escape route and forcing him to contend with Eyia for a brief skirmish. “I know more than you give me credit for, Sora. This is Eyia. No hiding, no pretending. Just action. You can’t hope to understand how she grew up…but I get her. Just watch, maybe you’ll pick up a thing or two.”

  Sora bit her lip, feeling that familiar mix of frustration and curiosity rise within her, and she hated how steady Jin was when seeing Eyia’s anger released against Jian and not her. She hated to admit it, but Jin’s words had a way of sinking in, leaving her feeling both annoyed and inspired, like there was something she was missing but couldn’t quite grasp.

  “What’s with Eyia and your relationship?” she murmured, mostly to herself, her grip loosening as she took a steadying breath. “To her, it feels almost like you’re a big sister she’s always trying to compete with…and now she feels betrayed. I don’t get how you feel about her. It almost sounds like you’re her mother or something.”

  Jin snorted, her cap blocking her face as she doubled over, ponytail hanging to the side as she quaked with laughter. When she righted herself, there was a new, almost curious look in her yellow eyes that showed a reflective smile.

  “I’m not one to mince words, Sora; it’s a waste of time. Truth is… I don’t know either.” She tilted her head to the side while studying Eyia’s frustration on full display. “I think I see something in her that I used to have…a long time ago. I have more bitterness and resentment than you could fathom, despite how I sound or act… Generally, I hate everyone alike, including Founders, but Eyia…feels like a younger, alternative version of me. And I guess I like seeing that.”

  Speechless, Sora opened her mouth, yet nothing came out. It was so raw and blunt that she didn’t know how to respond. Jin just laughed, popped another bubble, and nudged her off-balance. No other student even looked their way with Eyia and Jian’s battle keeping their attention.

  “So…what did I say, Sora?”

  Swallowing the lump in her throat at the directed question, Sora glanced down at the slightly shorter Korean woman, eyes only barely visible under the brim of her hat. “You’ll handle Eyia? But…you said there’s one thing I can do for her.”

  Jin rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Use your brain a little. You give her a safe place to go back to…like the cave she had on the Island to patch up her wounds. She has stability with you, as ridiculous that sounds for a vulpes… Congratulations.”

  “On?” Sora mumbled as the dragon strode forward.

  She paused for only a moment, turning to give her a small smirk. “Being the second person I don’t exactly hate. Try not to mess that up.”

  “Sure,” she choked, straining a smile.

  The dark-haired woman went to meet Eyia, holding up a hand in parting. “And before trying to break any laws, make sure to come by my lecture. You’re a walking disaster with the magic you weave. This isn’t Miami. People can pick apart your magic to figure out things they shouldn’t know. First, focus on that.”

  Left alone inside the transport circle, Sora took one more look at the Valkyrie, releasing steam, and tried to smile. I guess I was worrying about things I shouldn’t. Jin really does care about you…in her own jaded and blunt way. Good luck, Eyia. See you when you need me.

  Returning to the vulpes district, she made her way back to the lecture hall, where Aelion was waiting for her, reflecting on what Jin had said. In a way, that had been her first real lecture in Avalon, and she was sure it was for a reason.

  People can pick apart my weave and learn things from my magic… How much can they learn and how vulnerable does that make me…or others? What Jin said about that tracking ball I made… Would that provide harmful information about Eyia? I don’t know.

  Sora’s thoughts churned as she entered the Japanese-themed lecture hall, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating elegant wooden beams and delicate silk tapestries. The calming ambiance of the room helped ease her scattered thoughts, yet her mind kept drifting back to Jin’s blunt warning. She barely even knew how tracking spells worked, let alone the full extent of the magic surrounding her.

  As her gaze adjusted to the dim light, she spotted Aelion near the front, casually leaning against a pillar, his green-tinted tattoos glimmering faintly against the dark fabric of his shirt; his chest underneath seemed to have the same patterns, making her throat a little dry with curiosity.

  His tall, slender frame was almost lost in the shadows, but his eyes—sharp and watching—caught hers almost immediately as she rounded the corner. His mouth curved into a small smile as he straightened, brushing a few strands of silvery hair behind one pointed ear.

  “Aelion,” she greeted, quickening her pace. “Hey! Thanks for waiting.”

  “Always a pleasure,” he replied, his voice smooth and light as he pushed away from the pillar. His irises held that same glint of mischief from earlier, though his expression softened as he took in her slightly frazzled appearance. “Looks like you’ve had a busy morning already.”

  “Something like that,” Sora admitted, brushing back her hair as she tried to shake off the lingering tension from her conversation. “Let’s just say the new PE coach is tough. I got sidetracked, umm, yeah…you know how it is.”

  “No clue, but not like that really matters. If it bothers you then that’s enough of a reason to check it out. I assume it had something to do with the fight happening in that new instructor’s class. Jin, right? It seemed to have gathered quite the audience from what I was hearing.”

  “Yeah,” she replied, the image of Eyia’s fierce, determined gaze flashing in her mind. “My friend is, uh…working through some things. Jin’s a bit of a touchy subject for me. There’s a recent history with her. She’s—well, she’s hard to read, but I think she’s got Eyia’s back. In her own way.”

  Aelion’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Usually preferential treatment is highly discouraged here. I suppose she’s got invaluable qualifications if she’s coming in with attachments like that.”

  “It’s complicated,” Sora mumbled, more to herself. Shaking herself free of the thoughts, she gave Aelion a small, tentative smile. “Actually, I was wondering—about something you mentioned earlier. About…guardians and spirits.” She glanced around, making sure they weren’t overheard, though no one seemed to be paying attention to them. “Would you really…introduce Kari and me to Jelira? I mean, if it’s not against some big fae rule or anything. I’m just interested.”

  Aelion’s eyebrows lifted, and he leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he gave her a careful once-over. “I’m not falling for that, fox girl. We both know you’re trying to skip rules and I’m not against it.”

  Sora’s chest opened up with relief as he continued. “Jelira doesn’t often meet strangers, especially those unfamiliar with the Old Ways,” he murmured, his gaze thoughtful. “But,” he added after another teasing pause, “you have a genuine curiosity behind those hidden motives, I sense. She might make an exception with how unique you are and Kari’s connection to the Shadow Wolf.”

  Sora’s eyes sparkled with hope. “Really? That’d be amazing! Kari would love it, and I’d…” She hesitated, unsure of exactly how to express the mix of emotions. “I’d like to understand more—about the spirits here and how they interact with magic. I mean, I know vulpes magic works differently—especially my magic—but…it would help to see how others connect to things, you know?”

  Aelion’s expression softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You certainly aren’t like the usual students here, Sora. Most come to learn, but you seem to be seeking something more.” His gaze turned distant for a moment, almost wistful, before he looked back at her. “I’ll speak to Jelira. As I said, she’ll likely find you and Kari…intriguing.”

  She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, a warm sense of gratitude spreading through her. “Thank you, Aelion. I promise we won’t cause any trouble…or, well, I’ll try not to make any trouble. Kari…is a bit of a loose cannon,” she admitted with a playful wink, which he returned with a slight chuckle.

  “Well, it’s a good thing fae like trouble! The only question is, what kind of trouble you’ll get me into. I’m getting excited. Now, should we check out the lecture before introductions end?”

  “Mhm!”

  They started moving further into the lecture hall, where students were beginning to gather for the class, their muted conversations mingling with the soft ambient sounds of enchanted water fountains at the front of the room. Sora’s thoughts turned inward again as she considered her previous conversation with Jin while scanning for Wendy, Nilly, and Nerida.

  “Can I ask you something else?” she whispered, ears falling back slightly as they moved slowly around the edges of the giant hall they’d entered with hundreds of vulpes milling around, apparently waiting for the professor to show. At the bottom was a somewhat agitated black-furred Huli Jing—Fen. “What do you think someone could learn from studying my, eh…my kind of magic?”

  Aelion’s smile faded, his gaze growing pensive as he glanced away, fingers finding his chin. “Well that’s a specific question. Your magic is…unique,” he said slowly, as though carefully choosing his words.

  “I won’t claim to understand all of it since I didn’t really investigate it. Vulpes magic is different from fae, but yours is unlike anything I’ve experienced. It seems to react not only to intention but to instinct, will, and feeling.” He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. “It’s beyond anything I’ve seen, even from High King Oberon. Is there any specific type of magic you’re concerned about?”

  Sora absorbed his words, nodding thoughtfully, her gaze lowering as she played with a strand of her hair. “What about a tracking spell?” she asked after a moment, recalling the intricate spell Jin had criticized and snuffed out. “Something to find someone—like a friend?”

  Aelion’s gaze grew more intense, and he leaned in, his voice lowering as though sharing a secret. “Tracking spells can be powerful tools, but they’re also…invasive. Their accuracy depends on how much information you weave into them. Spiritual energy, unique traits, personality markers, even subtle imprints on the magical, spatial, or temporal fields. The more you work into it, the stronger the connection becomes.

  “That’s why understanding the fundamentals of a spell is crucial. Every detail, every energy signature, can reveal…compromising information if it’s not carefully contained.”

  Sora’s stomach twisted slightly as she took in his words, Jin’s warnings echoing in her mind about coming to her and learning the foundations before going on their night-time raid.

  I…could out Eyia as a Primordial by just trying to find her?

  “So…if I don’t understand those fundamentals, I could put people in danger just by trying to reach them?”

  Aelion nodded, his expression softening as he watched her grapple with the implications. “Magic isn’t only about strength, Sora, as yours clearly is powerful; it’s about awareness. Sensitivity. A spell like tracking may seem simple, but it’s a craft built on understanding a particular individual or item, including what it means to you. The more you learn about the subtle layers, the more control you’ll have—and the less risk you’ll bring to others if your weave is captured by a bully or hostile force.”

  A silence stretched between them as Sora absorbed his words, her mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. Now she understood how Sela had so thoroughly understood her and how to get close to her. There was so much she didn’t know, so much she hadn’t considered. Her hands tightened around each other at her front, a determination building in her chest.

  Just then, a hush fell over the room as Professor Kurosaki entered, the imposing nine-tailed Nogitsune gliding to the front of the hall with effortless grace, his presence commanding immediate respect.

  His fiery gaze swept over the room, and Sora felt a renewed spark of excitement—and resolve—as she glanced at Fen, who was standing to greet him, her attention already locked onto the professor. At the bottom, she found Wendy and the others, as well. She wouldn’t be able to get to them without making a bit of a scene.

  We’re in magic school now… I need to figure this out. Mom thinks I’ll learn valuable lessons here. And… I am curious. She couldn’t help her focus moving to the weaving four tails at Fen’s back; she’d gained another one. Despite what Mom says… I want to know the rest of our family. Is there a time we can mend bridges?

  - Growing Community =D

  View and help

  Support me on and get up to: Note that Instead of 'first of the month' billing, I have opted into 'pay on the same day you sign up'!

  + 6 Chapters (6 Weeks) ahead in A Tail's Misfortune

  + 6 Chapters (6 Weeks) Ahead in The Oscillation Rewrite

  + 6 Chapters (6 Weeks) Ahead in UE Rewrite

  + 4 Chapters (4 Weeks) Ahead in RISE

  Patreon Exclusive Novella Books

  + Immortal Fish (Finished)

  + En Glory of Her Light

  - Soul's Requiem - Getting ready for Amazon Release... Eventually.

  + Random stories, such as Mystic: My First Attempt At A Male Protag Isekai

  + Ask a Character any question you want and they'll respond in-character!

  + Access to Polls

  + All my commissioned artwork is up for free on my Patreon!

  Current Books on Amazon and Audible:

  The Oscillation

  Book 1 - Chaos

  A Tail's Misfortune

  Book 1 - Transformation

  Book 1 Audible - Transformation

  Undying Empire

  Book 1 - Foundation