Kitsune of the Blue Sun

Chapter 198- Keeno’s Soul Studies

[Keeno POV]

Holding the soul of that last mongrel in my hand, I put it in one of my tails to try later. I burnt the bodies and ashes, and dismissed the ravens that were flying around. I then walked over to the dying fox.  The poor thing was looking up at me, fear in its eyes and whining quietly while taking small, shallow breaths. Very, VERY gently picking it up, I placed it in my lap and slowly patted its back, avoiding the spot where its spine was broken.  Though it was still in pain, it calmed down a little.

“I’m sorry, little one.  I can’t heal you, but I avenged you though.”

It shakily moved its head, even though it hurt indescribably, and licked the fingers of my other hand.  I didn’t want it to suffer any more, so I coated the hand I was letting it with in a small amount of Death mana to help ease its pain.  It’s quiet whining stopped as it’s already slow licks slowed even more until it stopped completely. It looked up at me one final time with what I could only call a thankful smile before closing its eyes, never to open them again.  I continued to pat the fox, feeling it wasn’t right to just stop even after it died.  Not even when the bushes around me started rustling and several more foxes appeared, staring at their fallen comrade.

“Hello, little ones. I’m sorry couldn’t save your friend in time.”

The biggest fox of this small pack walked up to me and sniffed both me and the one in my arms.  When it noticed my five tails, its own swished a bit before it looked me in the eyes.

“Bark! (Worry not, your majesty, we thank you for easing this one’s pain and making sure their suffering was minimal. If you don’t mind, we shall escort this one’s body back home for burial.)”

Two more foxes approached, and I gently laid the dead fox on their backs. The lead fox barked an order before bowing and following the others.

“What’s respectful fox.”

{All I heard was a single bark. What did you hear?}

Explaining what the fox said, I could tell Ama was confused even more.

{Your ability to understand animals still astonishes me.}

“I’ve had a lot of practice. Doesn’t help Huginn and Muninn sometimes use such flowery, colorful language. You’d thing I’d raised them to be sailors worth how foul mouthed they are.”

Looking at my two feathered friends, I couldn’t help but smile.

“But I don’t really care. I love them just the way the are.”

They ruffled their feathers in happiness as they hopped over to me and rubbed their heads against my hands.  After they got their fill of scritches, they hopped into my tails, and I stood up.

‘Master, has your business finished?’ (Freki)

‘Yeah.  What’s wrong?’ (Keeno)

‘Valkyrie Eblana has arrived along with her sister.’ (Freki)

‘I’m on my way.’ (Keeno)

Walking through the snow that was starting to fall harder, I thought about what went wrong with the two souls I tried to rewrite.

“I know the second time I pushed in too much mana and Divinity, but what happened the first time?  It shouldn’t be my control since Ama certified I was good enough there. Hmm?  Are memories and personalities stored in a specific part of the soul, maybe?  But if that’s the case, what other things are stored in there?  Well, the Soul Weapons, but what else?  Maybe mana and magic affinities?  Mana would make sense, and affinities are tied closely to mana…any input, Ama?” (Keeno)

{Nope.  I’m going to let you figure it out, but I will at least tell you that mana and affinities are a part of the soul too, so that conjecture is correct.}

“Mm.” (Keeno)

I kept walking, deep in thought.

“Memories, personality, Soul Weapon, mana, affinities…I need more souls.  The more I have, the more I can study. One won’t be enough.” (Keeno)

I pulled the third soul from my tail. I covered it in a tiny amount of Divinity. I could easily tell what parts of the soul held memories and personality due to it taking up most of the soul. Moving the Divinity around, I couldn’t find anything else.

“Is it a layer thing?” (Keeno)

I tried to probe into the soul with Divinity, but the second it entered, the soul shattered into nothing.

“Tch.” (Keeno)

{Hehehe.  That frustrated face is so cute.}

“I don’t know what I did wrong.” (Keeno)

{Want me to give you a hint?}

“No.  I want to figure it out myself. Just need more souls.” (Keeno)

After some deep thinking, I noticed I was near the city again. Almost running into the closed gate in fact.  Making my wings appear, I flapped them and flew over the wall, landing quietly, and making my wings vanish again.  Luckily there was at anyone around to see me, but after a few minutes of walking I heard the usual hustle and bustle of the city evening.  It was getting to that time when most of the stalls started pulling out all the stops to attract customers, and I was tempted to slow my pace in order to get some food, but I was already getting back later than I meant to originally, so I chose to put it off for later. I thankfully got through the crowds just as the smells started filling the area.

“Food terrorism.” (Keeno)

{I bet.  I don’t even have to be there to know it smells heavenly.}@@novelbin@@

Turning several corners and crossing through several alleys I finally made it to the road our home was on. The same nostalgia hitting me in fresh waves as I approached home. Walking in and into the lounge, I found Eblana and her sister chatting with Fia and Mostima.  Geri and Freki were sitting on the couch next to the fireplace, sipping tea, their every movement from tail waving to tea sipping in complete sync.

“Hello you two.  Long time no see.” (Keeno)

“Agreed.” (Eblana)

“Hello.” (Loughshinny)

“Are we the first ones to arrive?” (Eblana)

“Yeah.  Just like the two of you, mum and Emma insist on flying over here and Red is finishing up some business she has in Vanir.” (Keeno)

At the mention of Red, Geri and Freki got excited, which caught the attention of everyone.

“They are Red’s Fated Ones. Don’t ask how it works like that, I don’t get it either, but it’s a fact. She doesn’t know yet though, so when she gets here those two have some explaining to do for her. But enough about that at the moment, how’ve you two been?” (Keeno)

“We’ve been good, we’ll, as good as two can be when the country you live in is becoming a snowy hellscape where nobles clinging to power that’s all but melted away like snow can be. Odeen is splitting apart at the seams.  A few places have already attempted to gain independence, though they’ve faced revolt from those oppressed by the once who rule them.” (Eblana)

“Though I don’t have to do as much as Eblana, I’ve been trying to help, but it’s a lot of work. Especially when things are all happening at the same time in far away places.” (Loughshinny)

“Hmm.  Is it unmanageable?” (Keeno)

“Not really, though as Lou said, it’s hard trying to lessen the damage in several places at the same time.” (Eblana)

“I’ll tell the Death Spirits to allocate more resources to help. The space reports I get from Red and Emma have been saying their own struggles are lessening, so they have more free hands.” (Keeno)

“Thank you.” (Eblana)

“Oh, and I’d like you to try and save some souls for me. I have a project I’m working on, and I need more.” (Keeno)

“What are you trying to do?” (Eblana)

“Rewrite a soul so I can give it to a homunculus. Give them the souls they deserve instead of having them wasted on someone who clearly doesn’t deserve one.” (Keeno)

“…You’re sounding more and more like a goddess.” (Eblana)

“I am one, though I like to think I’m keeping a good part of my humanity too.” (Keeno)

Eblana was about to say something when a shining door appeared in the middle of the room. Stepping out of it was a wolf girl who was taller than I remembered her being. Her fur-lined red coat ending just under her knees now. Her eyes sharper yet more full of life now.  Moving the hood from her head let her hair flow, reaching the middle of her back.  She looked around the room, her eyes meeting everyone’s, causing a sweet smile to spread on her face.  The smile grew even brighter when she met Geri and Freki’s gazes.

“Red has arrived.” (Red)

Chaos Realm:

Luna: Damn you cliff!  Why must you hang us!!??

Atmos: I wanna see those two jump her with hugs and kisses!  I DEMAND IT!!!

Order: Payto!

Hehehe.

Luna: Operation Punish Payto for the Cliffhanger start!

Atmos: *mans the cake throwing railgun*

Order: *gets the scary smile*

*chuckles* I’m in danger.