Bright red cheeks aside, Yeni would note the three tails behind her and let out a soft exhale.

  "Jokes aside. Something you have probably not noted yourself, at least not consciously. Your senses are sharper. You are more perceptive to your surroundings. It can be overwhelming at first, especially next tail when you can track a person across a room with absolute precision by their heartbeat. You'll have your peace disturbed more and hackles will raise more as you become aware of your surroundings in a way you aren't used to. It takes a week or so to adapt but then you'll not notice it. Four tail Kitsunes are almost impossible to sneak up on"

  With Yeni's words, Kiko nodded softly. The day had been really vigerous so far, but she was pretty on edge around the Camp. She chalked that up to just being on edge because she nearly died to a bull-man and while the event didn't bother her because of the Kitsune Mentality, she was still nearly killed by a bull-man.

  "I'll...try to keep hackles down then" she muttered, stroking her necklace gently.

  "Appreciated" a new voice suddenly spoke. Kiko jumped out of her skin and turned to the woman with hackles most definitely raised.

  "Are you just fucking with me?!" Kiko yelled at Yeni. "Not two seconds ago you tell me I have super senses, then boom, someone sneaks up on me!" Kiko glared at both of them at the same time, flicking her eyes between them so they both got a good helping.

  "I didn't sneak. I teleported. There is a difference" the woman replied, all matter of fact, like teleporting was just a casual thing one did. Giving the new woman a proper look rather than just glaring, Kiko saw she was definitely dressed...differently. A full body cloak, buttoned up to the top with a hood that covered her eyes. The cloak went all the way down to her feet, and she had such a graceful way of moving that the cloak wasn't disturbed in the slightest, giving the illusion of floating. Or...well, maybe it wasn't an illusion.

  Just like how the yellow lines - the exact same shade as the sword that Za used - glittering and shifting in a dance-like rhythm was an illusion. Maybe.

  "Teleporting....Like, Void Stepping?" Kiko asked, curious about this whole thing. Teleporting was awesome, and if she could do that then she would be awesome. Though by her mother's reaction, they were two different techniques.

  "You have astral postcognition, I see. No, Teleporting is nothing like Void Stepping. Void Stepping is an upper-high martial movement technique, with an execution more complicated than I can explain in any reasonable amount of time. Teleportation, is Second Tier Magic, which instantaneously translocates matter from one point of the planet to the another. How much do you know about magic?" the woman asked, stepping up to Kiko and brushing a hand across her face, a hand that sparked with some kind of electricity. Though, didn't hurt like normal static.

  "...Very little" Kiko admitted with an abashed look. "Which is to say, nothing at all"

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "Well, then we have a lot of work to do, please, take a seat" the woman offered, gesturing to a chair that had not been there a moment ago. Yeni, seeing all was good, departed the tent to go about her business. Once Kiko had indeed taken a seat, she began to talk. "Now, for greetings. I am Eternia Normis, Utmeradn? of the Disciples of the Crab" it was a polite introduction, but Kiko just stared for a moment before speaking."Ut-what now? What even was that language?" she asked, face plastered with confusion."Utmeradn?. It's an old tongue that has...unclear origins. Language becomes less of an issue for a Magus due to easy access of Orpheus' Ear, which translates language dynamically upon hearing it. Orpheus' Tongue is harder, which dynamically translates languages you speak, but still not a difficult spell to learn in the grand scheme of things. But it means Wielder, a high rank given to a Magus who has broached into Second Tier Magic"

  Eternia spoke, and steam came from Kiko's ears. All this, so quick and fast...She knew magic existed, and that it kind of sucked in relation to what you could do with tech, but now...there were tiers of magic and spells to translate shit and everything."K....Kiko. Ator. Of...I don't even know what this clan is called" Kiko replied, her brain spiralling deeper into dark confusion."Kruskis. Clans are named after the Den Mother that created them. But it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ator. I shall be your Magic Tutor until you have control over your power.

  Usually a prospective Magus would, before opening the First Gate, go through a twelve week course of Eg ? Ia, which consists of safety procedures, proper casting traditions, basic science, general education and moral strengthening. Magic is special and intricate, and we need to ensure that the user knows what they are getting into. Unfortunately, there is no time for that. Your little trick has blown open the first Gate, and so you need to learn to control your magic or die in a catastrophic manner that will put everyone around you are risk. So your curriculum will be focused, singular, and accelerated”

  Eternia spoke with such a calm demenour that it took Kiko a few seconds to clock what she was saying. But once Kiko had indeed made sure she heard right, she exploded off her chair.“T-then come on. I don’t want to put anyone at risk!” She exclaimed, and was then firmly but gently pushed back into her seat by some unseen force.“You need to keep yourself calm. Mana, the source of power, reacts to emotion. You get to riled and it will act” that, would explain the woman’s softly spoken, demure tone, but didn’t help Kiko.“Why the fuck!...” she took a breath and calmed herself down. “Why would anyone want to be a Mage if it has so many issues inherent?” Kiko asked. Still a bit pissed at the whole situation but getting better at staying calm.“A .50 caliber rifle can dislocate your shoulder with one shot if you hold it wrong. But people still use it” Eteria replied, her soft and warm smiling doing well to simmer down Kiko.

  “That’s because we need that against…………ok, I get it. People become Mages because we need their magic. Never heard of your Order” Kiko paused for a long moment, and then finished.“We don’t precisely advertise, and most people rationalize our powers as fantastical or that of a charlatan. Also, the term is Magus. Mage refers more to a man or woman who has a wisp of magical control they use to emphasize slight of hand and manual illusionary tricks, but don't personally have Mana. A Magus is a person who does true and proper Magic. Uniquely, Kitsunes who rely exclusively on Borrowing are also called Mages, since the power is not coming from themselves, but from their past lives"

  With that last bit, Kiko shook her head and held up her hand."Nope. That's going too complicated for me. Fucking...Magic is one thing, but being able to do magic without actually being able to do magic because you used to be able to do magic in your past fucking life...That is too much brain time. Kiko need hit thing" she exclaimed, scratching her head, to a soft giggle from Eternia."Indeed. I am sorry to assume you a scholarly type simply because of your Magic. Most people seek us out, so are. But, your situation and circumstance is unique so I will try to...adapt my thinking" Eternia would stand and then gesture for Kiko to stand with her.