When Luna woke, gentle morning light filtered through the window. For a moment she lay still, disoriented.
The soft fur, the nine tails—all of it remained real.
A sound drew her attention. Tang San sat at his workbench, already working on some intricate mechanism.
Sensing her gaze, he looked up and smiled. "You're awake. How do you feel? Are your wounds better?"
Luna stood carefully. The pain was gone, replaced by strength and vitality. Tang San's medicine had worked remarkably well.
He'd prepared breakfast—cooked fish for her and simple congee for himself. "I wasn't sure what a spirit fox would eat, so I made some options."
As Luna ate, she was acutely aware of Tang San watching her thoughtfully.
"You're not an ordinary spirit beast, are you?" he said quietly. "A hundred-thousand-year nine-tailed fox... such beings are legendary. Yet here you are, willingly staying with me. Why?"
Luna wished desperately she could speak, could tell him everything.
Tang San reached out slowly, stroking the fur between her ears. "I don't know what fate brought you to me, but I'm grateful. I've been alone for so long."
His words made Luna's heart ache. She had to find a way to communicate with him properly.
And then she remembered—she was a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast. She had power. She just needed to learn how to use it in this new body.
Closing her eyes, Luna focused. She'd seen transformation techniques in the anime. Spirit beasts who gained enough cultivation could take human form. She had that cultivation—she just needed to access it.
She felt the power within her, vast and deep like an ocean. Carefully, she began to draw it forth, shaping it, molding it.
White light enveloped her body.
"Luna?" Tang San's voice was startled.
The light grew brighter, and Luna felt her form shifting, changing. Bones restructured, limbs elongated, fur transformed into smooth skin. The process didn't hurt—it felt natural, like slipping into clothes that had always been meant for her.
When the light faded, Luna stood before Tang San on two legs.
She was human now—or at least, human-shaped. A girl who appeared about six or seven years old, with long white hair that fell past her waist and still had those nine fox tails flowing behind her. Her eyes remained ruby red, and atop her head were two soft white fox ears.
But she had hands. And a human voice.
"Tang San," she said, her voice soft and slightly uncertain. "I... I can talk now."
Tang San stared at her, his eyes wide with shock. The bowl he'd been holding clattered to the floor.
"You... you transformed? You can speak?" His voice was barely a whisper.
Luna nodded, looking down at her new human hands with wonder. "I'm a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast. With enough cultivation, we can take human form. I just... needed to remember how."
She looked up at him, suddenly nervous. "Is this... is this okay? I can change back if you prefer—"
"No!" Tang San said quickly, then seemed to catch himself. "I mean... this is amazing. You're amazing. I just... I'm in shock."
He stood and walked closer, studying her with awe. "Luna. You're beautiful."
Luna felt her cheeks heat up—apparently blushing worked the same in human form.
"I wanted to be able to talk to you properly," she said. "To help you more. Is it really okay?"
Tang San smiled, warm and genuine. "It's more than okay. Welcome to your new form, Luna."
Then a practical thought seemed to occur to him. "But... you'll need clothes. And we'll need to explain to people why there's suddenly a girl living in my cabin."
Luna looked down at herself. In her excitement to transform, she'd forgotten that small detail. Her white hair provided some coverage, and her nine tails wrapped around her modestly, but she definitely needed actual clothes.
Tang San, blushing furiously, quickly turned around and grabbed a spare shirt from his belongings. "Here, put this on for now. It'll be big on you, but..."
Luna pulled the shirt on. It hung on her like a dress, reaching past her knees, but it would do.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Tang San turned back, his cheeks still pink. "We'll figure something out. For now... would you like me to show you how things work? Since you have hands now, you can do more."
Luna nodded eagerly.
What followed was a crash course in being human again—or at least, appearing human. Tang San showed her how to use chopsticks, how to help with cooking, how to move around the cabin without her tails knocking things over.
"You catch on fast," Tang San observed.
That's because I used to be human, Luna thought but didn't say. Not yet. That revelation could wait.
"Can I help you with your work?" Luna asked, gesturing to his workbench.
Tang San hesitated. "This is... delicate work. Hidden weapon crafting. It's dangerous."
"Please? I want to help. I'll be careful, I promise."
Looking into her eager eyes, Tang San couldn't refuse. "Alright. But you have to do exactly as I say."
And so Luna's new life truly began—as Tang San's companion, helper, and friend. In human form, she could do so much more to support him.
That night, as they settled into bed (Luna in a makeshift sleeping area Tang San had quickly constructed), Luna felt a profound sense of contentment.
She was here. She was human-shaped. She was with Tang San.
Everything else would come in time.