Viora recounted everything to the white fox, her voice trembling as she relived the events. She spoke of Mama Ipoh's desperate battle against Hephaestus, her brief and hard-won victory, and their harrowing encounter with another corrupted spirit sent by the wicked—Immemorvis Obscuritas.
She described Immemorvis's terrifying abilities: his power to erase his presence from others' minds, five senses, and even spiritual perception. The memory of his overwhelming aura sent a shiver down her spine as she finished her account, her words trailing off into silence.
"I see… so she used that high-level technique," the white fox murmured, his gaze fixed on Mama Ipoh's still body lying on the ground. His expression twisted with pain as he added in a low voice,
"You fool… you knew that using such a technique would burn through your superflux at an alarming rate."
Viora hesitated, lingering in silence for a moment before taking a step forward. "Um… Mister Fox?"
The fox let out a sigh, his tails swaying gently behind him. "My name is Shirokae—Shirokae Haruka. But since you're Ipoh's kid, you may call me Nine-Tails Grandpa."
Viora blinked, glancing nervously at his tails as her hand moved to scratch the back of her head. He really does have nine tails… she thought.
Clearing her throat, she asked, "Well, Nine-Tails Grandpa, will Mama Ipoh be okay? And… what exactly is this superflux condition you're talking about?"
hirokae stood, giving the golden deer's side a gentle pat before walking toward the kitchen table. With a graceful leap, he landed on a chair and settled in. He let out a deep sigh, blew a puff of smoke from his kiseru, and spoke with a calm tone,
"Well, if we're going to talk about something important, it's better if we sit down."
Viora nervously made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a chair before sitting down. She leaned forward, her words tumbling out in a rush,
"So… what's the deal with her superflux? Whatever that even means…"
Shirokae began speaking slowly, his tone serious,
"For you to understand Mama Ipoh's condition, you need to understand the nature of us shamans—not just our bodies, but our souls... and, perhaps, the universe itself."
The gravity of the conversation made Viora's heart race, the weight of the words almost overwhelming. The air felt thick with tension.
Shirokae leaned forward, his gaze steady.
"What do you think the universe is made of?"
Viora blinked, her mind racing as she tried to process the question. After a moment, she hesitantly ventured a response,
"...Well, matter… atoms, and stuff…"
Shirokae shook his head, his expression calm but serious.
"It's true that the universe is made of matter, but without a soul, a body cannot exist. Everything must have a soul before it can become physical. And that holds true for the universe as well."
He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle before continuing,
"The universe's soul… is called Verdania."
Viora's eyes widened as Shirokae went on, his voice growing more profound,
"Verdania is the spiritual matter of everything. It is the invisible, ethereal energy that flows throughout the entire universe—and even beyond. From the smallest detail to the grandest phenomena, Verdania is there. It's present in everything, from the physical to the abstract, even concepts and ideas. Without Verdania, existence itself cannot exist. If you think Verdania can't be something, I assure you—it can. And it is true for our souls as well. Our souls are made of Verdania."
shirokae placed his paw over his chest, his gaze intensifying as he looked at Viora. He continued, his voice steady and serious,
"Your body will always reflect your soul. Your soul and body are intrinsically connected, down to the smallest detail. Normally, your soul should not surpass the boundaries of your physical body, but when it does… when the Verdania within your soul exceeds your body's limits, we call it superflux."
He sighed deeply, taking a moment to puff on his kiseru before continuing,
"To put it more precisely, when a person's Verdania grows stronger, it surpasses the body's physical limitations, creating a superflux—a kind of overflowing reservoir of Verdania that extends beyond the body. This reservoir can grow to massive sizes, even as large as buildings or cities. Though it remains invisible to the naked eye…"
He glanced at Viora, his expression serious,
"…Except for the one who possesses the superflux—if they are attuned enough to perceive it."
Viora had many questions she wanted to ask, but she chose to remain silent and continue listening.
Shirokae continued, his tone grave,
"This is how the shamans of our homeland gained their strength. They awaken a neural structure in the brain that allows them to process and visualize the superflux of Verdania. This system integrates both biological and metaphysical functions. Through this, they tap into the reservoir of superflux, enhancing their physical bodies, weaving spells, and achieving many other feats. Normally, when a person taps into the full extent of their superflux, they must wait hours for it to regenerate. If they don't, they risk damaging their own soul by overexerting themselves."
Viora could no longer contain herself. She stood up, slamming her hand on the table as she spoke in a hurried tone,
"Then what's the problem with mama Ipoh's superflux?"
Shirokae paused for a moment before responding, his voice cold and somber,
"Ipoh's condition is more complex. Her soul has not only lost the ability to regenerate its superflux of Verdania, but each time she taps into it, her soul becomes poisoned. Her superflux is gradually diminishing, day by day. Eventually, it will continue to dwindle until there's none left, and her soul will begin to crumble on itself. That is Ipoh's condition."
Viora began to tremble, her voice desperate as she spoke,
"That's terrible... How did she get this sickness?"
She stared at the ground, overwhelmed by the weight of it all.
Shirokae's expression darkened, and with a somber tone, he replied,
"I'm sorry, child, but it's too personal for me to explain. You'll have to ask her when she wakes up."
Viora trembled more, her voice barely a whisper as she hesitated to ask,
"Then… will she…?"
Shirokae cut her off before she could finish the question, his voice firm but kind,
"I can't promise anything, but we must have faith, Viora. I will do my best to ease her suffering."
Tears welled in Viora's eyes as she continued to look at the ground, unable to hold back her emotions.
Shirokae stepped forward, gently taking Viora's hand in his own,
"Trust me, Ipoh is a fighter. She's been through hardships that would break anyone else, things that could be compared to hell itself. A sickness like this won't be the end of her."
He smiled gently, trying to reassure her.
Viora sniffed and stopped crying for a moment, her voice quiet and full of sorrow,
"I just hate seeing her like this…"
She turned her gaze back to mama Ipoh, her body still and lifeless on the floor.
Shirokae's eyes darkened with melancholy, his expression tinged with a hint of rage.
"I hate seeing her like this too…"
He patted Viora on the back, offering what comfort he could. Then, he returned to the golden deer healing mama Ipoh, sitting down again as he lit his kiseru and took a long drag.
His gaze lingered on mama Ipoh's cold body, and with a heavy sigh, he placed his paw on her face. His voice was cold, filled with quiet fury,
"Damn you, wicked…"
chapter forty-two end