The Sword Saint’s Second Life As a Fox Girl

3-6 Willful

Erin was conflicted about the depth of their relationship but one thing was clear to her, Siv was a friend and more. That night she spent with Siv along with Lyra, she understood how much the Wolf-kin was suffering. Knowing that she was in a dark place, Erin could not just look the other way and left her all alone. With her mind made up, Erin quickly left the field to search for Siv. But of course, it was not before she told everything to Lyra in brief. To her surprise, Iris volunteered to take her place in playing with the children. The children were quick to be enamoured by Iris due to her near-unparalleled beauty and her race as an Umbrun. It was the first time any of the children had met an Umbrun, so it was only natural they were curious of Iris.

Erin donned her cloak and cast Twilight Veil on herself to avoid being recognized. Now that she was a well-known individual throughout the town, it was no longer a simple task just to get from one block to the next without being recognized. Even if they didn’t know her, her tails were enough to garner a variety of curious glances and attention. There were even cases where she was stopped by people. It was either the person who wished to express their gratitude or an invitation to a challenge. As a matter of fact, she had received four challenges. She surprised herself that she did not feel any urge to accept the challenges. Instead, she would rather spend her time in peace. It shook her a little but she calmed herself with the fact that a person could change but a bit more unsettling was that she was getting older.

Banishing those reminiscences away, Erin retrained her focus back to searching for Siv. Now that her level was higher, Spirit Magic was even more of a breeze to use. Though she felt less focus was needed in casting a spell but in truth, it just meant that she was becoming more adept. As usual, Erin made her way through the town by traversing through the rooftops where she had no need to worry about street congestion.

Unlike Green Scar, Quinteburgh was vast. She had arrived at her destination in less than half an hour but the smithy street was huge. The scent of metal and flames shrouded was too domineering to distinguish the other scents in the air properly even with her heightened sense of smell. It was the peak of the day, the rush hour for the blacksmiths. The noises were polluted by the sounds of haggling and metal hammering. The only way Erin could find Siv was through her sight and intuition.

“Hmm?” Erin murmured as a very distinctive series of noises entered her hearing. It was the sound of a heated argument. It caught her attention as she recognized the voices. Or at least she recognized one of the voices but the other voice was only vaguely familiar. 

Erin followed the noise, leaping from rooftops to rooftops, scaling building walls that were in her way. In no time at all, she arrived at the scene. Thankfully, the argument was happening in some blacksmith stall but out on the street. Erin immediately recognized the other voice as Crom, the son of Hegan. She undid her spell in hopes of getting the two’s attention.

“Please, Siv. I beg of you to reconsider,” Crom pleaded, his hands wrapped around Siv’s.

“Unhand me, Crom. I am not your personal guard anymore!” Siv shouted back.

“Please reconsider, Siv. I swear I can make you happy this time!”

Erin recoiled back. She felt she had heard something scandalous. With every step she took towards the two, she was treading deeper into a marsh of drama. If it wasn’t for Siv, she would have taken her leave right here and then. A crowd would have gathered around them if this was just another quarrel but since everyone recognized Crom to some degree due to his body figure and his expensive attire, the commoners knew better than to stick their nose into this matter. Still, they couldn’t help but sneak glances at them. 

On a closer notice, Erin discovered three capable fighters lying in wait a few dozen feet away from Crom. No doubt they were Crom’s bodyguards as Erin recognized one of them.

The two had yet to notice Erin’s presence. Siv would have noticed but she was still too green to split her focus and attention. She was also troubled with her recently departed brother. These were the reasons for her oversight of Erin’s approach. As for Crom, Erin wagered he just wasn’t too bright or sharp considering she was approaching them from his front and he somehow failed to put her presence in his eyes.

“Siv, if there’s anything that you are not happy about, just let me know. I can change them.”

Erin felt her stomach coiled.

“I followed your father because I longed to see the world and your father was a great and trustworthy person but now, I no longer aim to see the world.”

“Then what is your aim? Please tell me, I-I can make it happen. I promise!”

Erin held back the bile surfacing from her belly.

“Vengeance,” Siv said, pulling her hands away from Crom. “Can you give me that?”

“V-vengeance? What do you mean? The horde is dead. How are you going to seek your vengeance?”

Siv looked away. “You wouldn’t understand.” Her eyes fell on Erin and they widened.

“Then please explain to me. I’m sure I can— L-Lady Erin!” Only now did Crom notice Erin in his sight.

“Good afternoon, Siv, Lord Crom.”

“It’s Mister Crom…” He cast his gaze down. “My father is the one with titles. Lovely afternoon to you too, Lady Erin.”

“Erin...” Siv looked surprised at Erin’s presence. “Y-you’re here...”

“Yes, I’m here. I came as soon as I got wind of your… demission.”

“Lady Erin, please convince Siv here to return to me— I-I mean us— I-I mean my father and I.”

Erin nodded at Crom before turning to Siv. “Before I do any convincing, I would like to know about this vengeance you speak of, Siv.”

Siv kept silent and her eyes refused to meet Erin’s.

“Siv, I can’t bear seeing you suffer. I promise it will be much better if you just talk to someone. Let me help.”

Siv raised her gaze but only slightly. She sneaked furtive glances at Erin and Crom before turning her back to them. “C-can we speak alone, Erin…?” she asked.

“E-eh? Siv, w-what about me? I can h-help too...”

“You’re not a fighter, Crom. You can’t possibly understand.” Just as she looked as if she was done with her words, there was a glint of realization in her eyes. “And I dislike misunderstandings, so I’ll put this straight. I can never see you as a potential mate, Crom.”

Erin felt the brunt of Siv’s words even though she wasn’t the intended recipient. The hearing walls also let out their silent condolences.

Shocked with her words, Crom stood frozen on the spot with his mouth gaping and only stuttering sounds escaped his lips.

Before Erin could apologize for Siv’s words, her wrist was grabbed and she was pulled along. Erin could easily break herself free but she allowed herself to be dragged away. The two did not exchange any words as they moved through the busy streets. Siv purposely chose a route without any eyes. She still had the least amount of senses to be considerate of her surroundings. Eventually, they arrived at a small nest of trees, behind a derelict-looking chapel.

Erin realized the chapel was the one with the insignia of a serpent-dragon chasing its own tail. “Why here?” she asked.

“Quiet. Absent of prying ears and eyes,” Siv answered. “No one comes to this place for some reason. Everyone seems to know this place but no one ever comes here.”

Erin took in the scent of this place. It was as Siv said, no one had been here for a long time. There was barely any other scent other than the florals and the small animals. She surveyed the area with Spirit Sight but found no traces of miasma. There was also no hint of any spells being cast. 

“Apparently the locals avoided this place due to some superstition.”

“What superstition?”

“...This chapel was here long before Quinteburgh was built. The whole town was built around it. This chapel belongs to some ancient religious order.”

“Does this story have anything to do with your demission decision?”

Siv finally let go of Erin’s wrist. “It doesn’t,” she said, softly.

“Oh,” Erin muttered. She didn’t take Siv as someone who was sentimental over history.

“I just want to… talk with you. To share with you what I have heard, or do you find it cumbersome?”

“I will always welcome you, Siv, even if you're just looking for someone to have some idle exchange of words. So… what is this ancient religious order?”

A faint smile adorned Siv’s face as she shook her shoulders. “No one remembers the name. They only talked about how cursed and wretched this ground is. They avoid this place due to that belief.”

“Are we even supposed to be here?”

“I don’t know...” Siv said and took a seat on a stump. “I don’t know where else to go...”

“What’s wrong, Siv?”

“...Do you ever get angry but you don’t know how to make it stop?” Siv said after a brief silence.

Erin considered the question before answering. “Wrath is an old friend but not without reason. What’s been bothering you?”

“I know the one responsible for Wrev’s death is dead but… I didn’t do anything. I wanted to do something. I-I want vengeance but… I know I can’t get it now… and it just doesn’t feel right. My brother’s dead but I can’t even be the one who gave him peace of mind.”

“I’m sorry, Siv...”

“You’re mistaken, Erin. I’m not laying the blame on you. I hate myself for being… weak.” Per her words, Siv’s smile also turned frail. “Even if the opportunity of revenge did present itself to me, I doubt I could live through that ordeal or see it to the end. My brother will be mad if I join him so prematurely…”

“Siv...” 

“I thought our deaths would be… grand or at least, far into the future...”

“Your brother died saving this town. That’s a great honour.”

Siv shook her head. “My tribe begged to differ. This is our pilgrimage but he died before he even discovered anything of worth. To reclaim that honour, I have to present the head of the one responsible for his death.”

“The vengeance you spoke of… is to reclaim your brother’s honour?”

“It’s ghastly, I know. It is ill-advised to practice some of our more… extreme customs outside of our lands as most humans have their eyes only to a narrow valley. I believe my brother and I have been fortunate for the majority of times, to be able to meet humans who don’t find our kind repulsive.”

“There is no shame in embracing your roots. I have been told repeatedly that my actions are ill-suited to my status as a Fae. And if it’s vengeance you seek, I think that ship has yet to sail.”

Siv stared. “You mean… the Necromancer’s not dead?”

“I mean the Necromancer isn’t the only involved party in the attack.”

Siv continued to stare, her shoulders trembled and tears began to overflow her eyes. She fell to her knees. “Tell me… who are they…?” she asked, her gaze boring into the ground.

“I don't know who they are but I know they will come for me.” Erin helped Siv to her feet. She also patted her of the dirt and leaves as she continued her explanation. “Building such a horde isn’t easy and I foiled their efforts. They will retaliate. They will come for my head.”

“Is this an invitation?”

“It is.”

Siv chuckled softly.. “Strange... ” she said. “I thought you would tell me something like “vengeance is a means to an end” or something of that manner. Didn’t think you would encourage it.”

“Because if something happens to Lyra, no simple words would placate me either. Vengeance won’t bring anyone back but I bet it will feel good when one exacts it.”

“I might ruin myself along the path of vengeance. I know many people have.”

“And I will make sure you don’t.”

“Then would you allow me to be by your side when they do?”

“I will, Siv.”

There was no warning. There was no indication whatsoever. Siv just plunged herself into Erin, smacking her lips on Erin’s, her tongue trying to gain entrance into the Fox-kin’s mouth.

Erin was barely able to see her coming. She could have stepped aside but she didn’t. She was the holder of Lust Deviant and with every day that passed, she was proving to Nyx she was truly deserving of that skill. She could not win against her lust and Siv was a goddess with her tongue. There was no way Erin could resist indulging in her lust and Siv’s.

“Can we do it right here?” Siv asked, her flushed face was already begging for more.

“You only need to ask,” Erin answered and began to undo the clasps of her that held her robe together.