"Ah, dad, Jarek, no."

  Rou's voice suddenly spoke up as, the next day, the four of them walked out of the inn towards the place where Elios' body was stored.

  "?"

  The older hare, captain of the Fangs, looked at the boy curiously who added, "Not here. Not… not anywhere. On him, or not on him, dangerous."

  Dominic and Shiela looked at each other and nodded. "He's not wrong. Even moving him could be dangerous."

  "But what then?"

  They all sat there quietly, thinking, before Rou looked around then up at the sky as if thinking about something. Eyes closed. Naturally his father noticed but didn't say anything, having already decided to simply go with things a bit more naturally than his wife ever had, in any life. For some reason it had always been him who simply accepted that Rou was different.

  Eventually Rou reached up and tugged on his father's shoulder, having him lean down to whisper.

  "I keep remembering Grandma. I think she's scary, but scary later, maybe not now? Mom got angry."

  Dominic seemed curious. "What about her?" he asked, causing Shiela and Jarek to look towards them curiously.

  Once more, softly, Rou thought about it and added, "Her magic, I think."

  Realization clicked for Dominic. Though he immediately looked uncertain as he raised up.

  "What is it?" Shiela asked, only for Dominic to sigh and stand up, pulling Jarek and Shiela with him, finally saying softly so just the three can hear, "A certain someone's shield magic. He hides it well but I get the idea he's terrified. I can feel it whenever I touch him, feeling his muscles clench then relax, it's like he's seen it all before. It shouldn't be possible, but his screen, the memories status… I want to believe him."

  Jarek wasn't sure until he thought about his known shield magic acquaintances and suddenly it clicked.

  "Aha, but…" he looked over at Shiela. "...right, right. Not my place." and with that, Jarek walked over and picked up Rou, putting him on his shoulder and walking off somewhere else in the village. Shiela began to respond but stopped, knowing full well she could trust him.

  "I don't want her to know about Rou, you know that. You don't want it either."

  "But what if Rou's memories are right? That if we try, it might not only kill us all, but everyone? And now we're so much closer to the capital. Can we risk it?"

  As the couple discussed it, Shiela stepped close and hugged around her husband, nosing under his neck and trying to calm down. "What if we kept it quiet, didn't… didn't tell her it was us?"

  "Well, that's an option. Jarek could simply explain he discovered a plot when Elios tried to kill us for interfering, and Jarek killed him. And that it's too dangerous for anyone but her to help out, but…"

  "But what? I like that. That's safe."

  "What if she gets stubborn and tries to do things her own way, or ignores the warnings? She's a brilliant woman but she's also easily the most arrogant one I've ever met too. If someone told her no, she'd probably toss them over and do the opposite to spite them, assuming she'd be safe no matter what."

  The two remained quiet a while before Jarek came back and sat Rou down nearby, the boy holding a large stick full of candied vegetables of some kind that he was wolfing down happily. They giggled as Jarek came over and his look earned a shake of their head.

  "I do think she's the right choice in the end. We could gather the fire towers master and a bunch of his and simply burn it all, but… it's a bit rough. You're scared about Dana finding out Rou's yours, right? If I recall how you left, that was… well, we all thought you'd die. No one expected you to survive the pregnancy, let alone the child to survive. Even the Archmage. She's never said it, but I've been to your old manor, and she has a pot with flowers in front of your old room. I fully expect she thinks you're gone as well. As far as she's concerned, you went off to die happy with your choices, and despite your problems… she was respecting the decision."

  Shiela immediately felt uncomfortable, not having expected that at all. A squeeze of her hand by Dominic did calm her down before Rou, having walked over. "She doesn't know me."

  The adults looked at Rou, whose hands were a little sticky from the sugar drippings on the stick and chuckled, but Shiela did add, "He isn't wrong though. If she doesn't know him, then… perhaps she will be sympathetic. But I don't know what I'd do if she wanted to keep him."

  –

  "Ah, dear, that's… that's a good idea. Your grandmother is certainly a strong-willed woman but she's also very devout towards Aether. …you haven't really met Aether though." Affection hesitated briefly as she recalled in this life, Rou hadn't met Aether. 'Can I use your name?' Rou asked in his mind towards Affection, who snorted softly. "Anytime, anywhere, dear."

  That caused Rou to smile.

  "Affection. Affection helped you have me. You're alive. I'm alive. Affection. If Affection asks, she would be happy, right?"

  "But did Affection ask for that?"

  "No. I did. She doesn't know."

  Jarek snorted laughing, catching the nearby Shiela off guard, before saying, "I like this kid."

  "I'll stay here with the body to stop anyone from causing problems. In fact, think I'll ask the village head to evacuate the village towards the capital for the moment until things can be safeguarded. You should… go with Jarek and speak with her. Rou isn't wrong. If Affection kept you safe before, I think she'll keep you safe now. Right?"

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Before Shiela could respond, Rou walked over and hugged his moms leg. "Safe with me."

  Naturally weepy as she had a habit of being, Shiela promptly picked up the walking, talking stuffed animal that was her son and hugged him, crying against his neck. Dominic rolled his eyes but smiled regardless.

  –

  The trip to the capital with Jarek and his mom didn't take terribly long. As it turned out, the Fang commander might not be able to use magic, but he had money, and was decked out from eartips to toetips in expensive magic tools. One of which was a set of greaves that were laced with wind magic crystals thet let him run at high speeds. Shiela carrying Rou, and Jarek carrying both of them in his arms gently, they sped towards the capital.

  Naturally Rou giggled at things, lightening the mood, seemingly enjoying the thrill of it. Despite having an adults mind in his body, when Rou just… let go and stopped thinking, it was as if his mind and body slipped back towards his youthful state. Much like how he'd still cry if he stubbed his toe, or how much he felt comfort around his mother.

  Some things were simply… instinctual.

  Fun was natural.

  –

  As they got to the capital, Jarek went to take care of some things quickly at the gate and Shiela took Rou off to the side and joined a large crowd of people who were undressed. "A bath?"

  "Ah, not quite, look." this /was/ probably his first time seeing such. She pointed out that all the travelers would grab some powder and brush it into their fur, others helping make sure it got all over the most of them.

  "Long ago, a great man known as the Sage of Comfort came up with this powder. It's outside most major cities and even small places have their own supplies. It helps keep small pests that can get into our fur from getting into the capital and bothering everyone else."

  Shiela was quite confused as she heard the boy snort and cackle. "Flea powder! Hahahaha…" for a moment, the reincarnated fellow in him came out and he felt awkward before she nodded, "I guess you could call it that. But what's so funny?"

  Rou rubbed his cheeks and eyes before saying, "Not sure, it was a memory." A convenient lie. He knew exactly what was funny to him. Though as their turn came and he smelled it, he couldn't help but crinkle his nose in response. "It smells funny."

  "We can wash it off later tonight." Shiela laughed at him, though didn't disagree. She never really liked the smell, but knew it was necessary.

  –

  Shiela and Rou returned to Jarek before long, the two looking a bit fluffier as did most everyone who got powdered as they had to work it in properly.

  ~So Fluffy. It fits the Sage of Fluff well.~ Rou smiled at the familiar voice teasing him.

  Jarek smiled and gave Rou a gentle pat on the head before he said, "We're good to go. I'll come with you. I can't say I know your mother well, but I know your husband. While I can't see her doing the things I've heard of, if she tries, I'll be in the way."

  Rou's mother smiled at Jarek and nodded, clearly appreciating the thought.

  –

  With this being Rou's first trip through the capital(in this life), everything seemed both new, and familiar. Especially as the voice within him that he seemed to feel so comfortable with, like it was a part of himself, was half narrating along the way. Celia explaining this and that, pointing out things that she was surprised were about now and not in the future.

  Feeling a bit impish, Celia even pointed out a place she saw through Rou's eyes. "Mom, can we try some?" Rou asked, pointing out a stand in the marketplace lining the central road through the capital that seemed to be selling juice of some variety. "Only if Jarek doesn't mind."

  Of course, Jarek didn't mind, even tried to pay though Shiela insisted otherwise and paid for their own cups. But as Rou picked his up and took a mouthful, he heard a snorting laugh in his soul.

  ~Ahahahaha~

  Rou promptly made a grossed-out face, clearly not liking the flavor at all. Completely having forgotten about the cobbleberry dislike from the past. The irony, though, was that was how he and Celia had came to bond again in a small way. But, he drank it regardless as he'd asked for it, but his mother and Jarek both laughed at his discomfort. Shiela even offered to find him something else, but Rou refused and drank it all. At least, that was the plan before he got about half way.

  But what neither Rou, nor Celia had expected, was that Rou would find himself staring at another young red panda. A girl, who was really no older than he was. The two met eyes and just kind of stared before his mother noticed, "An, you've probably never met anyone else like us, right?"

  "Mm. Down?" Shiela let him down before Rou trotted over towards the young Red Panda he'd locked eyes with and looked up towards the girls parents, who looked down at them. "Here. You want the rest?"

  The other young red panda's parents and the two older brothers present looked up at the boy's mother and the hare, then back down at him before the girl looked up and got a nod from her mom. She happily took it and took a big drink only to gag and stick her tongue out, "Gross! So nasty!" Rou began to laugh at her, not realizing she would start to cry. Quickly panicking, he quickly hugged the other kid and apologized, the interaction causing both sets of parents and Celia's siblings to laugh softly to themselves.

  Especially as the girl started to calm down.

  ~I shouldn't. …Affy, are you there?~

  "Yes? Ah, well, look at that. Think it's Luck again?"

  ~Maybe. But remember when I said this life, maybe just this once, I want a life of only happy memories?~

  "Yes?"

  ~Would it cause you any trouble if I…~

  "Go on. Just a little, you're still quite young there."

  Using her own soul, through Rou's soul and his body through his arms around the young version of herself, Celia transferred not really memories, but emotions and desires. A desire to be happy, the feeling of safety around Rou, and most of all? How much she adored and treasured Rou for making her happy as much as he had when she was still bound by Borgain.

  Rou hadn't quite realized this, not having remembered all of that or really any of it yet. But feeling the other red panda hug him like that did leave him feeling a bit wistful.

  "We should probably go Rou, but… mm." Shiela walked over and patted atop Rou's head gently, idly chatting with Celia's parents for a few moments. "I'm his mother, Shiela Erial. You'll have to pardon me, they seem to get along so well and normally I'd want to let him spend all day with a new friend his age, but we're in a bit of a rush today. But if you could at some point, if you don't mind them being friends, leave a message with any Claw for me and it will get my way? Or Fang." she pointed towards the nearby tall, armored hare. "That's Jarek, the commander of the Fangs. Rou?"

  As she patted Rou's head and lightly scratched by an ear, she noticed both the kids were crying, like they'd not seen each other forever. Both the parents felt guilty prying them apart and Jarek didn't mind waiting of course, and both pairs let the kids cry it out before they went back to normal and seemed to be as friendly as ever, idly chatting about this and that.

  But what surprised both parents the most? Young Celia had pried off a wooden ring off a finger that she'd picked up somewhere and kept for herself, junky and tattered, and pushed it onto Rou's left ring finger to cover up the patch of light pink-colored fur there.

  "There. Always friends."

  "Right. I want to be friends with you, too."

  Something about the way he said that began to make the young Celia tear up before both parents quickly pried them apart before any more hugging and crying took place and promises were made to meet up at a later point.

  –

  "I think I… remember her. I think you know her too. Not now, but later."

  It was soft, spoken only for his mother to hear, but Rou looked up at her as he was being carried through the capital towards the noble district outside the palace. This surprised Shiela, but as she looked back towards where the other family had been, she couldn't help but say, "I know what you mean, it's strange. Your first friend, in this life, and… maybe a past one?"

  "Mmm."

  ~Who knew even without his dumb Draconic Inheritance that he'd win me over so quickly even now.~

  Affection cackled and added, "Well, you had a hand in that."

  ~Not quite. I only shared happiness and safety. The ring? Was all her doing.~

  "If you say so, but I think some part of you might have hoped otherwise. After all, if you had hope early, perhaps you wouldn't have given up as you did? Besides. I could… force the matter in this life you know. But I think we should trust Rou and see how it goes. After all, we're okay, it's him and the others that need to sort it out."

  ~Mm. Yes, I want to see how it goes without us interfering as well. Besides, he's got luck on his side, right?~

  "You both do now."

  ~Mmm?~

  "The title you share. [Blessed of the Gods]. With how strong one was… what will two accomplish?"