The Fox Who Chose Him

Chapter 159 — The Fox Who Chose Him

The investigation continued until the light began fading from the northern forest. Aether and Vaelira concentrated on the ancient formation, comparing its markings with the fragments recovered from Blackridge's abandoned equipment, while the others searched the ravine for anything the organization might have overlooked. Blackfang and Ironhide ranged farther into the surrounding forest, following the faint traces of Origin Energy left by the intruders.

Kiyomi, meanwhile, had decided that the safest place in the ravine was somewhere between Nyx and the food supply.

The tiny fox sat beside a flat stone, nibbling on another piece of preserved meat. Her nine tails occasionally swayed behind her, and her golden eyes followed everyone who approached. Whenever someone moved too quickly, she slipped behind Nyx, using the larger beast as a shield.

Lyra watched the scene with amusement. "She has already figured out who the safest person here is."

Nyx raised her head.

"Don't look at me like that," Lyra said. "I'm complimenting you."

Aria crouched nearby and placed another small piece of meat on the stone. "She's still nervous. We should let her get comfortable at her own pace."

Seris nodded. "Her Origin Energy is stable, but she's young and inexperienced. Even if her species has unusual abilities, she needs time to develop them."

Vaelira glanced away from the formation. "Her spatial instinct could be valuable once she matures. But trying to force her abilities to awaken now would be pointless."

"Then we won't force anything," Aether replied.

He had already decided that Kiyomi would become his second beast companion after Nyx. However, that didn't mean he intended to turn her into a weapon immediately. She was only at Origin Tempering Stage 1, and her potential meant little without the experience and cultivation needed to develop it.

More importantly, she would have to choose to remain with him.

Aether approached slowly and sat several steps away from the fox. Kiyomi paused her meal and watched him suspiciously.

"You're welcome to come with us," he told her. "There will be food, a safe place to sleep, and plenty of room to grow. You won't have to fight unless you're ready."

Kiyomi tilted her head.

"Of course, I can't promise Lyra won't tease you."

"Hey!" Lyra protested. "Why am I suddenly the problem?"

"Because you're the one who keeps teasing everyone."

Aria laughed, and even Vaelira's expression softened. Kiyomi looked between them, apparently unable to understand why the humans were making so many noises over such an ordinary conversation.

She eventually returned to her food.

Aether smiled. "I'll take that as a request for more meat."

"You can't possibly know that," Evelyn said.

"Then let's test the theory."

He placed another piece on the stone. Kiyomi immediately took it.

Evelyn stared at him before shaking her head. "Unbelievable."

While the others watched the fox, Sylvara and Elara returned from the eastern side of the ravine carrying a small metal container they had discovered beneath a collapsed pillar. Its surface bore the same insignia found on the damaged equipment, suggesting that Blackridge had attempted to conceal it.

Aether's expression became serious as he accepted the container.

"Anything unusual?"

"The container was hidden beneath several layers of stone," Elara explained. "We almost missed it."

Sylvara added, "There are traces of spatial energy inside, but the seal hasn't been broken."

Aether examined the container before releasing a thin thread of Origin Energy. The seal resisted briefly, then opened with a faint click. Inside lay two fractured crystal pieces and a narrow strip of engraved metal.

Vaelira immediately joined him.

"These could be components from the spatial anchor."

The chapter is available on the NovelPhoenix site where the author publishes it; this page took the text without consent.

She carefully lifted one of the crystals and examined its surface. Unlike the formation's damaged stones, the crystal contained a dense concentration of spatial Origin Energy. Several fine cracks ran through its center, but its internal structure remained partially intact.

"If I'm correct, Blackridge removed these pieces because they couldn't stabilize the anchor without replacing them," she said. "They might have tried to use substitutes, which would explain the failed activation recorded in their research."

Aether examined the engraved metal strip. It contained several sequences of symbols that matched the outer ring of the formation, followed by a set of incomplete coordinate markings.

"Could this help us reconstruct the destination?" he asked.

"Possibly. We need to compare it with the original inscriptions before drawing conclusions."

"Then keep it safe. We won't activate anything until we understand what we're dealing with."

Vaelira nodded and carefully stored the recovered pieces. Their investigation had finally produced something useful, but Aether wasn't interested in rushing into an unknown spatial pathway simply because it existed. If the formation connected to another region or world, they needed to know as much as possible before attempting to travel through it.

Nearby, Seris had noticed Kiyomi rubbing one of her forepaws against the ground. The fox had been walking cautiously ever since emerging from behind the masked figure, and Seris suspected that the rough stones had irritated her paw.

"May I take a look?" she asked gently.

Kiyomi hesitated, then glanced toward Aether.

He gave her a reassuring nod without trying to hold her in place. After another moment, she allowed Seris to approach. Seris examined the paw and found a small scrape, then used a modest amount of Life Essence to soothe the irritation.

Kiyomi watched the faint green light with wide eyes.

"There," Seris said. "That should feel better."

The fox cautiously placed her paw on the ground and took several steps. Finding that the discomfort had eased, she approached Seris and touched her fingers with her nose.

Seris smiled. "You're welcome."

"Looks like she's already making friends," Aria observed.

"She should get to know everyone," Aether replied. "If she's coming with us, I don't want her to feel that she belongs to only one person."

That seemed to interest Evelyn. "You're already planning for her future?"

"I'm planning to make sure she has one."

His answer was simple, but the women understood what he meant. Kiyomi possessed extraordinary potential, yet she was still a young beast with much to learn. Her future would depend on cultivation, experience, and the choices she made as she matured, not merely on the talent displayed by a System scan.

As the last light disappeared behind the mountains, Blackfang and Ironhide returned from their search. Neither had found any additional equipment or active threats, although Blackfang had detected faint traces leading farther north. Aether decided not to pursue them that evening. Their investigation had already yielded valuable information, and the recovered components deserved more attention before they moved deeper into unfamiliar territory.

He recalled both shadows and looked toward the group.

"We're heading home."

Lyra stretched her arms. "Finally. I was beginning to think we'd spend the entire night examining rocks."

"You were welcome to help Vaelira."

"I was helping."

"You asked her three times whether the formation could open a path to somewhere with better food."

"That was an important research question."

Elara laughed, while Sylvara shook her head. Even Vaelira allowed herself a faint smile.

Kiyomi, however, seemed uncertain when everyone began preparing to leave. She looked toward the place where the silver-masked figure had disappeared, then back at Aether. For the first time since they had met, she approached him without using Nyx as a shield.

Aether crouched and offered his hand.

"You can stay here if that's what you want," he told her. "But if you come with us, you'll have a place in our home."

Kiyomi stared at his hand for several seconds. Then she stepped forward, placed her front paws against his palm, and climbed onto his forearm.

Her nine tails curled around his wrist.

Aether remained still, allowing her to settle comfortably before lifting her. She weighed almost nothing, and her soft silver-white fur contrasted with the dark fabric of his sleeve. Her violet markings shimmered faintly as she looked around from her new position.

Nyx approached and sniffed Kiyomi once more. The smaller fox tensed, but Nyx merely turned and began walking beside Aether.

After a moment, Kiyomi relaxed.

"Looks like Nyx has accepted her," Aria said.

"Perhaps," Aether replied. "They'll need time to understand each other."

He carried Kiyomi as the group left the ravine together. Aria walked beside him, occasionally checking that the fox was comfortable, while Lyra continued making playful comments about Aether's rapidly expanding collection of companions. Seris reminded everyone that Kiyomi needed proper rest, and Vaelira was already thinking about how to study the fox's spatial instincts without disturbing her natural development.

Sylvara, Elara, and Evelyn discussed how to make the territory more comfortable for another small beast, although Aether reminded them that they didn't need to build anything elaborate immediately. Kiyomi would have time to explore her new surroundings and choose where she wanted to sleep.

By the time they reached home, the fox had fallen asleep against Aether's arm.

He carried her inside and prepared a quiet place for her near his own sleeping area, where she could feel secure without being separated from the others. Nyx settled nearby, while the women gradually returned to their rooms and personal routines.

Aether looked down at Kiyomi, whose nine tails had spread across the soft bedding.

She was his second beast companion, but he knew better than to measure her importance by her current strength. Nyx had earned her place through the journey they had shared, and Kiyomi would build her own place through time, trust, and growth.

Her potential was extraordinary. Her spatial instincts might eventually help him understand the pathways connecting distant regions and worlds. Yet those possibilities could wait.

For now, she was simply a young fox who had chosen to trust him.

Aether extinguished the light and settled nearby, leaving enough space for Nyx to remain close without crowding the newcomer.

Outside, the territory grew quiet.

Far to the north, the damaged spatial formation remained dormant, holding the secrets of a pathway that Blackridge had failed to open. Aether would return to it after studying the recovered components, and he would continue developing his Voidmoon Physique until he could understand spatial energy without relying entirely on ancient structures.

But tonight, there was no need to chase another mystery.

His strength was growing, his companions were together, and a new journey had begun with a tiny fox sleeping peacefully in his territory.

Kiyomi's future was still unwritten.

Aether intended to give her the freedom and opportunity to discover it for herself.