Pov Author
The door creaked open as the fox stepped inside the ruined chamber, shadows shifting in the torchlight. The air smelled of damp soil and something metallic—blood. His golden eyes narrowed, scanning the darkness until they fell upon a sight that made his breath freeze.
Anna lay collapsed on the cold stone floor, unconscious, her wrist lifted slightly into the air by something clinging to it.
Four Moris—those cursed, blood-feeding creatures of the old forests—were latched onto her like leeches. They were small, no taller than a child's forearm, their skin ash gray and thin like paper stretched over bone. Though they were called blind creatures, they carried stolen red human eyes planted into their faces—eyes they ripped from victims after draining them dry. The eyes gave them a horrific, misplaced awareness, flickering around the room like trembling beads of ruby.
The fox's chest tightened. Their small bodies pulsed as they drank, their thin limbs trembling with excitement.
A soft growl escaped him.
The Moris froze.
Their stolen red eyes rolled toward him, and their small, crooked heads twisted until bones cracked. Their mouths opened too wide, revealing rows of tiny needle-like teeth, and from their throats rose a chorus of inhuman, broken noises—something between choking laughter and animal screeching.
The fox stepped forward, his aura shifting.
"Hand. Her. Over."
The creatures only screeched louder, their bodies arching, as if mocking him.
Then one Moris launched itself at him.
It dashed through the air with terrifying speed, wings beating like paper fans. Its claws extended—thin, curved, razor-sharp. It aimed straight for his neck, screeching with hunger. The fox reacted instantly, catching its throat mid-flight. The creature thrashed wildly, its limbs flailing, stolen red eyes rolling in panic.
With one twist of his wrist, fire erupted from his palm.
A burst of orange flame engulfed the Moris, its scream cut short as its body disintegrated into ashes.
The other three recoiled, trembling. Their wings buzzed like frantic insects as they attempted to scatter.
Too late.
The fox moved faster than their tiny bodies could react. One darted toward the ceiling—he seized it by the leg and slammed it down, flames swallowing it whole. Another lunged at his face in desperation—he turned and elbowed it mid-air, fire spilling out from his strike, reducing it to a burning smear on the ground.
The last Moris tried to escape through a crack in the wall.
The fox flicked two fingers.
A spark shot out—hitting the Moris square in the back.
It burst into a brief, agonized flame and vanished into dust.
Then silence.
Only Anna's weak breathing filled the room.
The fox turned toward her, and for the first time that night, his anger melted into something else. Concern. Worry. A strange heaviness pressed on his chest as he knelt beside her. Her wrist was swollen, the bite marks deep and bleeding. Her face had lost its color. She looked fragile. Too fragile.
He gently lifted her into his arms.
"I was late…" he murmured under his breath, tightening his hold.
He left the lair instantly, moving swiftly through the nighttime forest, leaves rustling beneath his feet. Moonlight followed him as he carried her, her head resting against his shoulder.
He had planned to free Shou Feng tonight.
But looking at Anna's pale face…
He knew he couldn't leave her alone.
He took her instead to the ancient house perched on the hill, its lamps dim, its wooden pillars old but strong. The maid was sweeping the floor when he entered. The moment she saw the fox carrying Anna, she gasped and fell to her knees, forehead touching the ground.
"Master Kitsune!"
The fox didn't acknowledge her bow. He carried Anna straight to the inner room and laid her on the bed. Her breath trembled, her wrist still bleeding.
He took out a small potion bottle—glass shaped like a tear, glowing faintly purple—and handed it to the maid.
"Make her drink this," the fox ordered softly. "Then bandage her wrist. And no one… no one should know what happened tonight. Or about the wounds."
"Yes, Master!" The maid bowed again, trembling.
The fox looked at Anna one last time, expression unreadable. A long breath escaped him.
Then he disappeared.
Night wind brushed against his face as he walked down a silent street. Houses were dark, and lanterns swayed gently, their flames struggling against the cold air. The fox walked with slow steps, his mind replaying what he'd seen—the Moris draining Anna's blood, her limp body, her faint heartbeat.
He felt something unfamiliar.
Guilt.
Was he supposed to protect her better? Watch her closer? Why did this feeling… hurt?
A soft rustle came from behind him.
His ears twitched.
The fox turned sharply, hand tightening around his fan. His pupils narrowed as his senses sharpened.
Then—
A burst of bright light exploded in front of him.
"A—!"
He didn't even finish the sound.
The light swallowed him whole.
His fan fell from his hand and landed on the silent street with a lonely clatter.
And Kitsune was gone.
Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains. Anna shifted, eyes heavy, body weak. She felt warmth around her hand—warmth that wasn't hers.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Shoto was sitting beside her bed, head resting on the edge, his hand tightly wrapped around hers. His hair fell messily across his face, and his breathing was slow—he had fallen asleep watching over her.
The moment Anna moved, he shot upright.
"No, no—don't get up," he said quickly, holding her shoulder. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine," Anna whispered, though her wrist throbbed painfully.
Shoto frowned.
"Do you… remember what happened last night?"
Anna looked away.
"I… really don't remember."
His expression softened.
"It's okay. You can remember later."
He picked up the bowl of warm soup, spooning it gently toward her. She leaned forward, sipping quietly. His gaze stayed on her the whole time. After a moment, he leaned in and kissed her softly—gentle, thankful, relieved.
But the door opened.
They separated instantly.
Prince Shang entered, his royal robes flowing behind him. His eyes widened slightly when he saw Shoto sitting so close to Anna—and their joined hands. Even more shocking, Shoto didn't bow.
"Kano Shoto," Shang said, voice sharp, "what are you doing here?"
"I came to see Anna," Shoto replied calmly.
Shang's eyes narrowed. He looked at their hands.
Then at Shoto's posture.
Then at Anna's flushed face.
"And why," Shang said slowly, "are you not bowing to your prince?"
Shoto lifted his chin.
"Why are you here, Your Highness?"
The tension sparked.
"I came to see the savior of our soldiers," Shang said pointedly, looking at Anna. "The one who risked her life for the kingdom."
They exchanged a few more sharp lines—Shang's politeness was tight and forced, Shoto's answers clipped. Both men refused to back down, their rivalry thick enough to cut with a blade.
Finally, the prince turned to leave.
At the doorway, he paused and glanced back.
Anna was whispering something to Shoto.
Shoto's hand rested on hers again.
Shang's eyes darkened.
"Take care of him, Kano," he said.
His servant bowed deeply, and then the prince left.
Shoto had to leave for training soon after. Anna assured him she was fine—she needed space to breathe, space to think. When the room emptied, she lay back, staring at the ceiling.
And the memories slipped in.
Her heart squeezed.
"When is the fox coming back?" she asked later.
The maid bowed.
"He didn't say, miss."
Three days passed.
Kitsune didn't return.
Worry ate her alive.
She made her decision.
Anna packed a knife, dagger, blast ball, and ninja stars into her belt. Her wrist still ached, but she ignored it. If the fox wasn't coming back—she would go to Shou Feng alone.
As she walked through the market toward the forest's edge, a woman stepped in front of her.
"Miss Anna… thank you," the woman said with trembling eyes. "Thank you for saving my husband. You are the life of this kingdom."
Others joined—voices full of gratitude, respect, admiration. A little girl sucking candy waved excitedly, smiling with her whole face.
Anna swallowed, humbled, overwhelmed.
These people…
They believed in her.
She carried their hopes into the forest.
A burning torch lit her path, the flame flickering in the cold air. Moonlight filtered through the trees, turning the forest silver and eerie. Every rustle made her tense.
The deeper she walked, the heavier the atmosphere became.
Even the air felt thick, as if the forest was holding its breath.
A soft sound came from the bushes beside her.
Anna stiffened instantly.
She grabbed her dagger.
The bushes trembled—slowly, then faster—
Something small jumped out.
Then another.
Two tiny creatures landed before her, tilting their heads like curious puppies. Their fur shimmered like liquid silver, their round blue eyes glowing softly. Their ears were long, drooping adorably. They looked ethereal, beautiful—like something born of moonlight rather than earth.
Anna blinked.
The creatures blinked back.
One stepped forward and sniffed her shoe.
The other sat down and tilted its head, as if asking why she looked so scared.
Slowly, Anna crouched.
"It's okay," she whispered.
The tiny creatures inched closer, sniffing her hand. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of dried fruit. They sniffed it—then happily nibbled it from her fingers.
It melted her heart.
"I need help," she told them softly. "Will you help me?"
The two creatures looked at each other.
Then nodded.
Anna exhaled in relief.
Together, the creatures darted forward, slipping into the clearing where soldiers guarded the entrance. Their shimmering bodies caught attention instantly.
"Oi! What's that?!"
"It's—by the heavens—that's a Moonling!"
"There's two of them! Their value is higher than gold!"
"Catch them! QUICK!"
The soldiers broke formation, lunging after the two rare creatures. The Moonlings teased them, darting just out of reach, giggling in soft chime-like noises.
With the guards fully distracted—
Anna slipped in.
She moved fast and quiet, climbing the wooden steps leading to the inner gate tower. At the top, she heard the gate soldiers shouting:
"HEY! Why are you leaving your post?!"
"B-back to duty!"
"Stop chasing those things!"
Their voices overlapped in chaos.
Anna slipped through the gate.
And what she saw made her heart stop.
Shou Feng.
He was on his knees, body battered, injured. His hands were chained above him, the chains thick and heavy—covered in countless golden papers with ancient symbols drawn across them. The chains were connected to the stone walls, forcing him into a bowed posture. His head hung low, hair covering his face.
And Anna's breath caught.
Her eyes widened—
And the world held still.
End of the Chapter .