When I reached **home**, I tried to act normal.
My heart was beating too fast, but I forced my steps to stay calm.
I walked upstairs—
and stopped.
Mira was sitting beside **my bed**, legs crossed.
And on the blanket, curled like a sleeping moon,
was **a small white fox**.
Its fur looked soft enough to melt sunlight, and its eyes—closed now—still held that soft, **blue starlight** that belonged only to Serin.
I felt shock first—then relief.
She changed form… because she needed to hide.
"Mira," I whispered, "don't make noise. She's still sleeping."
Mira nodded quietly, unusually serious.
A moment later Eron appeared in the doorway.
He saw the fox, looked at me, and just gave a tiny half-smile—
the kind that said *I'll cover for you.*
He gently patted Mira's head.
"Come on. It's sleep time."
They stepped out.
I turned—
and nearly bumped into **Mom** standing behind me, arms crossed, smiling like she knew everything.
"How did you manage to find a fox this beautiful?"
I swallowed.
"She was on the road. Unconscious. I couldn't leave her there."
Mom's smile softened.
"Well… then her care is your responsibility."
I nodded carefully.
I placed Serin—still in fox form—on **my** bed.
I lay facing the wall, giving her space.
The least I could do.
Slowly, I drifted asleep.
I saw the street behind our house.
But it wasn't right.
My family lay there.
Still. Silent.
And Serin too.
Surrounded by shapes—tall, broken shapes with hollow light inside them.
A weight pressed on my chest.
My breath wouldn't come.
Then a **hand** touched mine.
Warm. Soft.
Someone brushed my hair gently—
and the nightmare faded like mist.
I woke slightly.
The **ladder to the roof** was open.
Serin stood at the edge, human again, staring at the stars.
Her voice was quiet—like she didn't want to wake the night.
> "Ryn's training is slow… but steady."
Another voice replied—low, echoing like wind across metal.
> "And the second?"
Serin looked frustrated.
> "That one is not my responsibility."
A pause.
Then the voice:
> "Prepare. They may arrive sooner than expected."
Serin exhaled.
> "I will do what I can."
I stepped forward.
"Serin?"
She turned, surprised—then smiled faintly.
"You should be sleeping."
"I thought you were just… watching stars."
She laughed softly.
"In a way, I was."
I sat beside her.
The night breeze was cool. The city quiet.
"My fox form helps me save mana," she said.
"And makes humans less frightened."
I nodded.
"You should sleep too," she murmured.
She turned into the fox again.
We lay down.
And sleep came quietly
The next day was a school holiday.
So we trained **from morning to evening.**
First was **hand-to-hand combat**.
Her voice was calm but firm:
"Lower your stance. Don't stiffen your shoulders.
Breath—slow, even.
Never move first out of panic."
She corrected my posture again and again—
light taps on my wrist, shoulder, back.
Her hands were soft, but every correction carried precision.
I punched.
Blocked.
Stepped.
Fell.
Stood again.
Sweat ran down my arms.
My legs trembled slightly.
But my breathing stayed steady.
After that came **sword basics**.
Holding the practice blade felt awkward at first.
"Don't grip tight," Serin said.
"Control comes from the wrist and center, not strength."
I swung — too wide.
She tapped my blade aside effortlessly.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Then archery.
Then—finally—**water manipulation.**
We sat in silence, palms open.
"Don't force the water," she said.
"Invite it."
I focused.
My breathing slowed.
The air felt thick… alive.
And then—
A small **bead of water floated above my hand.**
Tiny. But real.
her eyes.
"That's enough for today."
---
"Will you stay here?" I asked, as we walked back.
Serin hesitated.
"If you have no objection… yes.
I will remain mostly in fox form."
I don't know why—
but my chest felt warm.
Like something fit where it belonged.
We returned home.
I bathed.
She curled near the corner in fox form.
I lay on my bed scrolling my phone—
And the screen froze on a **news alert.**
---
Leaked footage from london.
Shaky camera. Sirens. Smoke.
A **beast** stood in the street.
Not human.
Not animal.
Tall—almost three meters.
Skin like **black stone**, cracked with **violet-white light** pulsing inside.
Limbs long.
Head smooth—no face.
Soldiers fired rifles.
Bullets sank into its body like pebbles into mud.
A grenade exploded.
Smoke cleared.
It hadn't moved.
Only when a **tank** fired did its shoulder fracture—
light spilling through like molten crystal.
The video cut abruptly.
I stared.
My mouth dry.
Serin watched too.
Her voice was soft. Heavy.
"So… it has begun."
"You know what that thing is?"
She nodded.
"They are the reason I am training you."
My hands clenched.
"Then we train harder."
Serin looked at me—
not cold, not emotional—
just steady.
"There is no other choice now."
---
[A/N: Thank you everyone for reading.
Your support means more than you know.
More chapters coming steadily — we grow together.]