Chapitre 238: [49.1] Zephyr POV: Justice for the Family!
[Author's note: This chapter is solely from Zephyr's point of view.]
[Disclaimer: it contains violence against children that some readers may find triggering.]
…Circa 1000+ years ago when a certain fox baby was nearing adolescence…
I stood with my head bent and my fists trembling.
My older brother was holding my Master as she wailed pitifully in his arms.
It was the first time I ever saw her cry.
My master is strong.
Invincible.
But now-
"I can't live without him! I can't!" Rose screamed in agony before running back into his old room and slamming the door.
Astra panicked and ran to follow her. She pulled at the door, but it was locked so she could only pound on it as she fought back tears, "Rose! Rose, don't leave! Please!"
Her sobs answered, "I JUST WANT KOALE BACK!"
Lene looked confused as the others cried around her, "When are Koale and sissy getting back?"
Atta merely shook her head and reached out to hold her hand. Lene still didn't understand the emotions around her or what they meant.
My family…
My family is suffering.
My fists tightened.
It's those stupid Holy Light followers!
Why couldn't they have let us just live in peace!? We never wanted to hurt them, so why did they have to kill my sister!?
I…
I have to get justice!
I have to make those horrible people suffer for what they've done to my family!!
I spun around on my heels and started walking down the mountain. My siblings and my master were too deep in their grief to notice me disappear.
I sniffed the air, following the scent of blood until I finally found…
Them.
Three priestesses stood in their sickening white robes as a priest sat leisurely on his log, cutting a piece of apple. The priestesses all looked like identical copies of each other with their blonde white hair and dull blue eyes.
One chuckled, "Oh look. Another one."
She laughed, "He hasn't even grown into his fox ears yet."
My claws protruded, "You're going to pay for killing Hephie and Koale!!!"
The three of them glanced at each other before bursting into laughter.
A Priestess flipped her white hair as she stared down at me with a haughty look in her blue eyes, "And just what do you plan to do, fox cub?"
I held up my fists, "I'm going to beat you up!!!"
Another one summoned her blade and shook her head, "Little fox. We don't just fight. Don't you understand that? We kill your foul kind and leave no survivors. There is no such thing as a brawl with us. Only a fight to the death."
Seeing all three of them produce that white blade made my skin crawl.
My body knew it was a natural enemy.
I gulped down the ominous instinct and took a fighting stance.
The three of them were perfectly in sync as they suddenly surrounded me and started their attack.
I was no match for their perfect fighting formation and timing. They all had years of experience fighting alongside each other while I only had my older sister beating me up.
In no time at all, I was the one covered in wounds yet none of them even had a scratch.
So much for beating them up!
I'm about to get killed instead!
I retreated, holding my bleeding wounds and ignoring the pain from my broken bones.
Has Atta been taking it easy on me this entire time!?
I-I thought I could easily beat them up!
I thought I was strong enough…
But I'm not…
What can I do?
If I can't fight-
Then I will just have to run away!
*Poof*
I changed into a fox and darted away.
"He's getting away!!!"
Why am I better at running away than fighting!?
Ah!
My masculinity!
This is so embarrassing!
One of the Priestesses stopped chasing me and chuckled, "Don't worry. I got him-"
I felt my skin crawl and turned to look behind me.
The three of them stopped chasing me, but now a bright orb took their place and soared toward me at a frightening speed.
I let out a yelp and tried to dodge it, but it still made contact, burning my back as it did.
I let out a scream and rolled along the ground until coming to a stop at a tree.
*Poof*
I changed back to a human and let out a cry.
It hurts!
It hurts, it hurts!
I want my mama!
My eyes welled up with tears as I held my back which was throbbing with burning pain. When I touched a wet liquid, my heart chilled.
I pulled my hand back and saw the bright red liquid covering it.
The three priestesses appeared at my feet, "I told you, fox cub. We don't leave survivors."
Before I could beg for my life, she swung her foot down on my leg.
A splitting crack rang out, echoing through the trees.
I let out a scream from the depths of my soul, "AHHH!"
I fell to the ground sobbing from the pain.
It hurts…
It hurts!
Their laughs echoed around me, "Haha! We should rip his arms off and see how long he lasts!"
"Do you think he will last longer than the last one?"
"No way. He's so tiny. There has to be less blood."
My tears fell harder, splattering against the ground.
Mama…
Mama, I'm so sorry…
I was a bad fox…
I should have listened to you and never left the mountain…
I learned my lesson this time!
I promise to never leave again!
So please!
Please save me, Mama!
The priest appeared behind them, "Stop playing around. Just finish the job."
My blood chilled when I felt their "playfulness" turn serious.
I'm…
I'm actually going to die!?
Mama won't be able to make it in time to save me…
Mama will be so angry…
Mama will be so sad!
I can't leave Mama!
I can't!
There is one thing I can do…
But I hate it!
I always lose myself!!
But I… I don't have a choice!
I took a deep breath.
My eyes flashed open, revealing vibrantly bright red eyes.
The grass and the trees turned aggressively bright and the clouds in the sky began to swirl.
Halos appeared around us, flying around as if they themselves were fairies.
A priestess gasped as her pupils dilated, "It's so… Beautiful!"
Another exclaimed, "W-What's happening!? I feel so… So weird…"
I forced myself to crawl away, trying not to place any weight on my broken leg.
I bit down on my lip, enduring the agonizing effort as I maintained the illusion.
However, I could feel my broken horn throbbing in pain.
I whimpered and forced myself to continue, relying on my other limbs to carry me as far away as possible.
As I crawled, the pain from my horn grew so intense, my vision started to get foggy.
The hallucination around me started to warp and piercing screams from the priestesses came from behind me.
I started to wobble as I felt the illusion start to grow out of control.
Ugh…
I don't feel right…
My skin is crawling!
I went to scratch but stopped.
The ground illuminated under me and I could see clear footprints walking away. Curiously, I started to follow them and found they led to a hidden cave.
I crawled inside before the pain grew to be too much and I collapsed.
…As I slept, the illusion broke.
___….___
A lone girl, barely old enough to be alone, walked inside the dark cave with dead eyes full of indifference.
A white blade appeared in her hand, but just as she raised it to slash the throat of the vulnerable fox, her hand was grabbed. The white blade dropped to the ground with a dull clang before dissipating into the air.
The demon with his fox ears still on his head, grabbed at her hand, desperate to pull her closer.
In his pain-fueled unconsciousness, he was reaching out for comfort as tears rolled down his face.
He had no idea that the one he was grabbing was the one sent specifically to kill him.
Yet, he pulled her closer, begging to be comforted, "Help me…"
The lone girl stared at his face for what felt like hours.
Eventually, a soft voice answered, "...Okay."
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Nekoru
Nekoru Hello, hello~
I'm a few days late posting this, but this week I am giving you the treat of a Zephyr-focused chapter! You'll be getting part of a much-needed backstory~
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone