One week later.
Early September. Calendar Year S1199.
With summer soon coming to a close, the fall colors could already start to be seen blooming in full view across the nations alike. However, such a change of scenery didn't seem to stop a sole figure who was currently clad in a dark cloak obscuring their appearance as they quickly dash through forest after forest, shortly after crossing a border that separated two different countries.
This cloaked figure didn't seem to be alone either. A cute and fluffy silvery-white six tailed fox could be seen accompanying the cloaked figure. Every so often, the fox would shoot out balls of ice from their mouth, since the area these two figures were in was littered with monsters going to and fro. The cloaked figure's speed was fast and the monsters couldn't keep up most of the time. But even with them being faster, they definitely didn't want to turn down free experience like this.
The silvery-white fox had grown a considerable amount since she was first created by the cloaked figure's teacher, who they saw as one of their masters. While the fox attacked with ice balls and icy breaths, the cloaked figure would dance around it, swinging away with a rapier held in their hand, only to fell one monster after another.
Even for these two, the grind hasn't stopped, and would never want to turn down free exprierence like this as they made their way to their destination in mind.
"It seems you haven't been slouching during the time we have spent away from each other, Tama.", The cloaked figure said, revealing a grin. Yet, instead of making a fox-like cry, the fox actually began to speak in human tongue.
"Hmph. your Master really put me through the wringer while she prepped that forbidden spell again. She even had me take on that stupid Saint-Gral alone!", The fox said, letting out a pout as she did.
"That bad huh?", I said, seeing the coast was now clear as the two of us swiftly ran through trees. "It's not like Master would put you in there for no reason though. Don't underestimate the strength you have, Tama.", The cloaked figure said to the fox.
"I know. It was with the best interest at heart. And the reward she gave allowed me to learn the human tongue.", Tama said, catching her breath seeing no more monsters around.
"So that's what happened eh?", The cloaked figure asked, revealing a smile.
Of course, that cloaked figure was me. The silvery-white fox was none other than my familiar that Master created for me, Tamamo. Tama only bobbed her head a bit as her eyes changed to worry.
"Still, was it really alright for you to suddenly vanish like this? You didn't have to disappear from that hospital after letting them check your wound.", Tamamo said with a hint of worry in her eyes. "You probably just caused a whole bunch of trouble for that general again.", Tamamo continued to say. Yet as she said that, I only waved my finger at her.
"Ahaha, right now I am not the crown prince. I am merely Phoenix, a wandering Jaeger.", I said, waving my finger at Tamamo.
"Right...", Tamamo couldn't help but retort as she shrugged her little paws."At least you didn't keep your family in the dark. That much would have been a lot worse than it is already.", Tamamo continued to retort.
"You are definitely right about that. After telling them the decision that I have made, they were able to respect it. Though if anyone was to cause a surprise, seeing my determination, Angelica actually expressed interest in becoming a Bracer. As for Kloe, she is going to continue her swordsmanship under Julia's guidance while Ennea returned to her duties at Ouroboros. I did assign an additional task to Ennea though and that was to ensure their safety.", I said, musing over what had happened in the previous week that we had spent.
Thankfully it seemed everyone was understanding, which allowed me to dive into the shadows once again. I wanted to time my trials when Crow begins to take his, and that won't happen for another year or two. In the meantime, I figured I could use this time spent to further strengthen the foundations I have trained in thus far, both by father and the Sword Fox. Sadly, my time spent with the Sword Fox was not that long, and he only trained me in his sword techniques.
As for Father, he did train me in the hundred-form military combat, but we only had spent a couple years together before the raid on the villa began. It was a good start to building up my foundation as did the time spent with my year or two spent with Zephyr. However, I know I am not the strongest person out there, which the One of Swords allowed me to open my eyes with that matter.
If I am to stand on par with super bosses like McBurn or Rutger in the future, I should definitely take this time to further train my body in both the fundamentals and techniques.
Which is pretty much why we are now where we are.
To be specific, we had just passed the border gate, Titus Gate, that led into Erebonia. Yet instead of going on the main path to the north, we diverted into the forests to the east. If one continued north, they would eventually find themselves in the ruin of Hamel, eventually going into the Sutherland region. However, our destination was different.
"It's still pretty early in the morning, but if we continue up our pace, we should reach Ebel Highway before sundown.", I said to Tamamo.
"Got it. It's good to know where we are going at least.", Tamamo replied.
However at this time, the two of us suddenly saw a flash within my cloak, only to have a small figure suddenly streak out of my clothes, allowing us the two to see it.
"Master, I have detected a water source not too far away.", The little figure said. Upon a closer look at this little figure, they appeared to be a girl with rather pointy ears, sporting more of a light green hair. This was the same figure who appeared inside of my Enigma II. It was definitely a shocker, but they quickly introduced themselves as an AI, created and stored within a unique master quartz that was now stuck inside my Enigma II.
But the kicker here was, this figure already seemed to know their name already, and even now, I still find it a surprise, since they had the striking resemblance of a character I knew well in the games.
This artificial intelligent being introduced herself as KeA.
There were some obvious differences that differed from the real KeA, like her pointy ears, but it still begged the question, did my actions down in the caves somehow trigger to have KeA wake up earlier than she did in the games? As much as I wanted to know the answer to that I had to keep my current sights in view. Which was to spend my time here back in Erebonia, strengthening my foundations.
"I forgot you were a thing...", Tamamo's voice said with a hint of scorn as she saw a holographic-like figure appear outside of where I was currently standing. This figure only blinked her eyes at the fox. "Just so you know, I will always be Master's favorite.", Tamamo said, sticking out her cute tongue as she did. Seeing Tamamo do that only caused more confusion in the tiny green-haired girl's eyes. I saw her look back my way.
"Master, what's a favorite?", The AI called KeA asked, as she showed doubt in her eyes. Hearing that, I could only squint my eyes at Tamamo.
"Don't start corrupting KeA now, will you, Tama? It's clear to tell that she's a newborn AI, as much as I'm still in disbelief that having such technology present now is a thing. Whoever tampered with that Enigma II knew what they were doing.", I said, still wondering as to how such a thing came to be. As for the fox, she only cleaned her ears a bit with one of her claws.
"Yeah, yeah, I get you. Master.", Tamamo said as she stuck her tongue out at KeA.
"I detect more monsters incoming at 5'clock, Master.", KeA suddenly said which caused our banter to quiet down, becoming more serious as we saw the bushes hidden with the trees start shaking rapidly behind us. Before we could continue speaking, the three of us saw several mushroom-like monsters start to slowly wobble our way. It wasn't just those mushroom monsters either, one giant mushroom seemed to have come to out to play as well, towering over the rest of the other mushroom monsters...