Caelum lay on his bed. His breath was deep and slow. The exhaustion from his effort was a heavy weight on his small body. The room was completely dark.
A soft light began to glow in the corner.
It was a faint, white light, like a single moonbeam. It grew brighter. The light gathered. It pulled itself into a shape on the floor. The shape grew four legs, a thin body, and a bushy tail. It formed a head with a sharp nose and two pointed ears.
It was a fox.
The fox was not made of flesh. It was made of pure, white light. Caelum, his eyes now open, could see the stone wall of his room through its shimmering body. This creature was a Soulroot, a rare and deeply personal form of Ether. When a person's soul was strong or under great stress, their magic could sometimes manifest as a spirit companion. The Soulroot's form always reflected the true nature of its master. A bear for a fierce warrior. A bird for a free spirit. For Caelum, whose mind was that of the cunning and adaptable Emperor Kael, it was a fox.
The ghost fox sat on its haunches, perfectly still. Its eyes were two points of brighter light. It watched Caelum in his bed.
Caelum's mind felt no fear. It felt a cold, analytical curiosity. This was a new factor. He pushed himself up on his elbows, his tired body protesting. He watched the creature.
The fox took a silent step forward. Its paws made no sound on the wooden floor. It moved closer until it stood beside his bed. It lowered its head.
It gently pushed its glowing nose against Caelum's hand.
The moment it touched him, a tiny spark of warmth flowed from the fox into him. It was not much, like a single drop of water. But the deep exhaustion in his bones lessened for just a second. The fuzziness in his head cleared a little.
Caelum's eyes widened. He stared at the fox. The creature had given something back.
The fox pulled its head away and sat down. Its light was a steady, comforting presence in the dark room. It was a silent watcher. A companion.
Caelum lay his head back on the pillow. He looked at the glowing fox. He was not just a boy in a room anymore. He was not alone.