After twenty minutes of running through the forest, weaving between thick tree trunks and vaulting over tangled roots, I finally stopped at the edge of a lake crowned by a waterfall. My chest rose and fell, but not from exhaustion—just from the sheer thrill of the sprint. Cold mist hung in the air, clinging to my hair and skin, the crashing water ahead filling the forest with its endless roar.
"Haah," I sighed, resting my hands on my hips. "Our backyard is far too big. I have been running for twenty minutes at full speed, yet I still haven't found the end of our backyard. My gaze lingered on the waterfall, the sheet of white pouring down with such force that it made the lake ripple all the way to where I stood.
"This looks like a wonderful spot to get away," I murmured to myself, stepping closer. Kneeling at the water's edge, I plunged my hand in. The chill bit instantly at my skin, sharp enough to make anyone else flinch, but for me it was perfect. A small smile tugged at my lips. "Cold. Just right."
I looked around, eyes narrowing, scanning the trees and bushes. The silence here was unbroken—no tracks, no snapped branches, no hint of other people. A hidden retreat. Satisfied, I peeled off my clothes until only my underwear remained and dove in.
The icy water wrapped around me like a familiar embrace. I broke the surface, laughing under my breath. "Haah, this feels wonderful. The temperature is just right for an icy fox to enjoy. Hmm…" I swam slowly toward the waterfall, my tail drifting behind me like a pale ribbon in the water. "I wonder how close this water actually is to freezing over."
As I neared the cascade, droplets splattered against my face and shoulders. I treaded water, staring up at it with a half-grin. "Man, not gonna lie, but this place is a perfect date spot. I should tell Amari later so she can bring Zagan here." My smile grew mischievous. "Or maybe I'll keep it to myself… save it for my own secret dates."
Curiosity tugged me forward. I slipped beneath the roaring curtain and swam to the rocks behind it, expecting some hidden hollow, maybe a cave like in those Earth stories. Instead, I met only solid stone. I placed my palm against it, pouting.
"It's a lie," I muttered dramatically. "All of it was a lie. There is no cave behind every waterfall. The stories of Earth are all lies." Clicking my tongue, I pushed off the rocks and drifted back into the middle of the lake.
I floated on my back, staring at the sky through the mist. My thoughts turned sharp, circling back to Kayda.
I'm surprised—and angry—that she's so careless sometimes. The first day we met, she went on and on about being a failure, yet she didn't deny being a pure dragon. Then today… blurting things like that. How is she in black ops if she can't keep secrets? Talking about an upcoming war in front of Amari, a thirteen-year-old innocent child…'
A voice flickered in my head like a spark. You're a hypocrite.
I froze, blinking. My ears twitched above the water. "Hmm? Did I hear something?" I glanced around, scanning the tree line. Nothing. The forest was still, save for the eternal rush of water.
I narrowed my eyes, then exhaled. "Whatever. My mind must be playing tricks on me." Still, the words gnawed. My tail twitched with unease. I just don't think Amari is ready to see the ugliness of this world. We have to preserve her innocence, at least a little longer.' My fists clenched under the water.
A heavy thud sounded on the shore. My ears perked, and I snapped upright in the water, eyes glowing faintly. The urge to strike, to pluck out eyes, rose—then I recognized the silhouette and sagged with relief.
"Mom," I breathed.
She stood at the water's edge, hands on her hips, crimson hair gleaming in the filtered sunlight. Her gaze was sharp, her voice sharper. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"It's only been twenty minutes," I replied, swimming lazily toward her. "I was just enjoying myself." I let a chuckle slip into my words.
"Twenty minutes is long when you vanish without a word." She tilted her head. "Kayda said you were looking for me?"
"I was," I admitted. "But I needed to calm myself first."
Her expression softened slightly. "Why?"
"Not relevant right now." I smirked, gesturing at the lake. "Why don't you join me? The water feels heavenly."
"No," she said firmly, frown deepening. "I don't have time for this, Kitsuna."
I sighed, paddling closer. "Fine, fine. So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Things." She folded her arms, eyes narrowing as I emerged from the lake.
Her gaze immediately widened. "Where are your clothes!"
I grinned, wringing water from my hair. "I can't swim with everything on, now can I?" My grin widened when I noticed the faint pink creeping across her cheeks. "Relax, Mom. I checked—no one comes here."
"Still, what if someone sees you?" She glanced around nervously, her tail swishing.
"They won't." I scooped up a handful of water, stepping out. "I made sure of it."
"Fine," she muttered. "But get out already. We need to talk about your problem."
"Will do." With a mischievous flash step, I appeared behind her and poured the cold water down her back.
"Nyaa!" Mom yelped, leaping forward.
"Haha! You just said, 'Nyaa'!" I doubled over laughing.
"That was cold!"
"I know." My grin stretched from ear to ear.
"And you were swimming in that?"
"Of course. Remember, I love the cold. I'm an icy fox." I conjured a towel from my storage and began drying myself, still smirking.
Her expression sobered. "So. What did you want to talk about?"
I hesitated, then said, "Yesterday I found out you told Kayda about me. At first I was upset, but I let it slide. She's your best friend, and I trusted your judgment. Honestly, I like her. She's fun and easy to tease. But today she crossed a line. She slipped in front of Amari. Hinted—no, outright said—that war is coming. Amari picked up on it instantly. That was the last straw. I became angry, expressed my feelings, and then left. But I needed to cool off before I could face you. So here I am."
Mom's face tightened. "She really said that?"
"Word for word, practically."
Her sigh was long and heavy. "I didn't want Amari to know about war before she went to the academy. I'll speak with Kayda later." Then her eyes flicked back to me. "But what about you? Wasn't it you who revealed yourself to your entire squad as a primordial?"
"Yes," I said bluntly, shrugging. "But I gave all of them a suicide bomb. I can kill them anytime I want."
Her jaw dropped. "You did what?"
"You remember the first time I combined fire and lightning? Two years ago." My body shuddered at the memory of my arm being blown apart.
She nodded grimly. "You lost your arm."
"Yeah. Thereafter, I kept trying until I learned to control it—by coating it with ice. Watch." I formed a small ice sphere, a black spark trapped within. Tossing it up, I released the ice. The sphere burst into a sharp crackle of flame and lightning.
Mom's eyes widened. "No way. How?"
I smirked. "Because I'm me. I slipped them into my squad's bodies without them noticing."
"When?"
"Apricot? The night of the torture. She was restrained. Sirone? While she slept, I tailed her. Brenda? When she collapsed from exhaustion." I listed them off casually.
Her voice dropped, horrified. "What if it goes off by accident?"
"It won't. The only way is if I will it. Or if Kayda's scorch magic touches it." My confidence rang like iron.
She looked torn between pride and fear. "That's… terrifying."
"Terrifying, sure," I said, shrugging. "But also effective. Even if someone hundreds of levels above me turned on me, they'd die in an instant. Don't worry, though. Only my squad and Rachel carry them. I'd never use it on your people. And I can dispel them if I need to. It's still connected to my mana."
Her shoulders eased a little. "Rebecca and Lily?"
"I only perfected the look a few months ago. I like them too much. And I'm sure they'd never betray us."
"That's excellent. But, Kitsuna, did you ever tell your squad to keep it secret?"
I blinked, then groaned, facepalming. "I can be such a genius and still be so dumb."
Her laugh was warm. "Don't worry. I told them for you."
"Huh? You were watching us?"
"From a tree. Your katana skills have improved."
My tail lashed. "And I didn't notice?!"
"Illusions, baby girl." She tapped her temple.
"Tsk. I'm hopeless against illusions. I'll learn one day."
"You will."
"Thanks. And sorry for being careless."
"It's fine. Just don't repeat it."
I slumped against a tree, hitting my forehead gently against the bark. "I'm such a hypocrite. Lecturing Kayda for being careless when I did the same."
"If you apologize, she'll forgive you."
"You think?"
"Definitely. Get her flowers. White ones."
"…Flowers?"
"She loves them."
I stared, then laughed softly. "Alright. Flowers it is."
[Two hours later]
I approached Kayda, clutching an ice vase brimming with white and red wildflowers. My heart thumped uncomfortably fast. The sunlight filtered through the trees, glinting off the frost that rimed the vase and making it shimmer like crystal.
She looked up from where she was sitting on a log, sharpening her blade. When her eyes met mine, something flickered—surprise, then warmth.
"Here." I thrust the vase forward.
She blinked, accepting it. Her fingers brushed mine, lingering for a second too long. "What's this for?"
"An apology. For what I said earlier."
Her eyes softened, but her lips curled into a teasing smile. "But you was entitled to say it."
"Not really. I was a hypocrite. Forgot to warn my squad. Mom covered for me."
"Oh." She chuckled lightly, turning the vase in her hands. The flowers caught the light, casting faint reflections across her scales. "Then I'll accept your apology—on one condition."
My eyes narrowed. "What condition?"
"You have to grant me one request, without question."
I groaned. "That doesn't sound fair. We both messed up. How about one request each?"
Her smile widened, but there was a spark in her gaze now, playful and almost daring. "Deal."
For a moment, neither of us spoke. She tucked the vase gently beside her, one hand brushing over the petals with surprising tenderness. Her other hand tapped her knee idly, but her eyes stayed on me—sharp, steady, and warmer than I expected.
I turned to leave, but my tail flicked once, revealing my nerves. "Good. Now, I need to go beat up my squad again."
"Mm." Her voice followed me, low and almost amused. "Don't keep me waiting too long for my request, Kitsuna."
I didn't look back, but I felt her smile even as I walked away—the kind of smile that lingered in the air, tugging at my chest long after I was gone.