Azriel spent some time digesting his status, his mind still processing the new information. He turned his gaze toward Nova, peacefully asleep on the grass beside him, her small form rising and falling with each breath.
With a soft murmur, Azriel spoke into his mind. 'Appraisal.'
---
[ Status ]
Name: Nova
Race: Nine-Tailed-Fox (1st Tail Stage)
Affinity: Illusion, Mirror
Rank: F+
---
Abilities:
[ Mirrorwalk (Unique)
A downgraded ability inherited from Azriel. Nova has the ability to enter and traverse through reflective surfaces—mirrors, water, and any reflective material. She can use this skill to escape, travel between locations, or confuse enemies by shifting between reflections. However, as she is still in her early stages, the range and duration of this ability are limited.
---
Azriel's eyes widened in surprise as he absorbed the details. 'Mirrorwalk?' he thought. That was the same ability he possessed. His mind raced for a moment as he considered the implications. 'She has the same ability as me…'
A rush of pride surged through him, and he let out a quiet breath. Despite being in her 1st tail stage, Nova had inherited one of his unique abilities—with more room to grow.
"She's going to be something incredible," Azriel whispered softly, a smile tugging at his lips. The thought of Nova growing stronger, mastering the same skill he had, filled him with pride. The thought of her shifting between mirrors, evading danger or moving unseen, made him eager to see what she would become.
Her small, peaceful form shifted slightly as she dreamt, her tail flicking gently. Azriel's heart swelled as he watched her, a sense of responsibility and care deepening within him.
'The journey ahead won't be easy for either of us, but you have the ability to rise to the top, Nova. And I'll be here to guide you through it.'
The peace of the moment settled around them once more, as Azriel closed his eyes, finally taking a chance to rest.
When Azriel woke up, his head was still clouded, his mind struggling to pull itself from the fog of slumber. He blinked several times, his surroundings coming into focus all at once. There was no mistaking it—he was back in the Voidus Estate. But that realization hit him in the midst of the chaos swirling in his head. His mind was firing on all cylinders, unable to filter out the overwhelming flood of sensory data.
Everything. He saw it all.
But amidst the sensory flood, the warmth of Nova's small form, curled up on his chest, stood out like a beacon. A small smile tugged at Azriel's lips. So it wasn't a dream, he thought, allowing the soft weight of the white fox's body to settle his mind. Nova was peaceful, her tiny chest rising and falling with each breath.
He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on his other senses to filter out the noise. The room was simple—a monochromatic space with the basic necessities: a bed, a desk, a wardrobe. The decor was minimal, almost sterile, but it was familiar, and that was enough for now.
As Azriel sat there, processing the sensation of returning to the estate, he knew what would happen next. It was no surprise. He could feel the maid approaching, hear the soft padding of her footsteps in the hallway. A moment later, the door creaked open, and in she came. He didn't even need to open his eyes to know who it was.
The maid's eyes landed on Nova sleeping on his chest, and the reaction was instant. She gasped, her face full of shock as she let out a startled yelp. The sound caused Nova to stir, her fur standing on end as she jumped off Azriel's chest in alarm.
'Papa?!' Nova's voice rang out, her tiny tail flicking behind her in agitation as she looked at the maid, her body stiffening.
Azriel, still groggy but not at all surprised by the maid's reaction, let out a soft chuckle. "It's fine, Nova," he murmured, his voice still heavy with sleep. His mind already had a sense of what was about to unfold.
The maid, her face pale, stammered. "My lord, I... I didn't mean to— I just saw the fox, and—" She fumbled for words, clearly flustered by the unexpected sight.
Azriel raised a hand, stopping her. "It's fine," he said again, his voice warm but tired. "Nova's harmless, don't worry." He looked down at the little fox, whose ears were still flattened in cautious observation. "Nova, this is just a maid. You're safe."
Nova, her wide eyes still tracking the maid, hesitated for a moment before relaxing, though she stayed on guard, her fur slightly bristled. Azriel smiled gently at her before turning his attention back to the maid, who was now standing stiffly in the doorway.
The maid gave a quick bow, her eyes still wide with disbelief. "I-I'll inform the head of the household immediately, my lord," she said, her voice shaky. "Please forgive me for the disturbance."
Azriel nodded, his tone calm. "Yes, of course. You can go now." He glanced at the door, already knowing that she would rush to find Kinsley, the head of the Voidus Estate, to inform him of what had happened.
The maid gave another hurried bow before rushing out, her footsteps echoing down the hall. Azriel listened for a moment, the sound fading as she made her way to the main floor.
Nova, still looking at the door, finally relaxed and hopped back onto Azriel's chest, curling up comfortably. Azriel lightly stroked her fur, his gaze lingering on her as she purred contentedly.
The shadows in the room seemed to shift, growing darker and more tangible, as if the very air itself had thickened. Slowly, as if summoned by some invisible force, a figure emerged from the darkness—Kinsley, Azriel's grandfather. His tall, imposing figure moved with urgency, his sharp features twisted with concern as he rushed to his grandson's side.
"Azriel..." Kinsley's voice was strained, carrying a weight of emotion that was rare for the usually composed patriarch. His eyes scanned over Azriel's face, lingering for a moment on the small fox still resting on the boy's chest, before meeting Azriel's own gaze. "You woke up… I'm so glad."
There was a brief pause, the kind where words felt inadequate, where emotions tangled and the air seemed thick with unsaid things. Kinsley inhaled deeply, as if he had been holding his breath since the day Azriel had fallen unconscious.
"I'm sorry, Azriel," he continued, his voice softer now, filled with guilt. "For what happened. For not being there—for your parents... and for you."
Azriel's eyes softened, a mixture of emotions stirring within him. He had heard Kinsley's words, and though the apology was unexpected, it wasn't something Azriel could dismiss. Despite everything, he knew his grandfather loved him, and in this quiet moment, his sincerity spoke louder than any absence could.
With a small, almost imperceptible smile, Azriel shifted slightly in the bed, his expression calm but thoughtful. "You've never been one to apologize, granddad," Azriel said, his voice warm, though carrying a subtle amusement. "But... I understand. It means a lot that you're here."
The words felt genuine, a quiet acknowledgment of the bond they shared. Azriel had always known Kinsley to be a man of few words, someone who expressed his care more through action than through sentiment. It was something Azriel respected deeply, even if it made moments like this all the more rare.
He leaned back slightly, letting his eyes meet his grandfather's. There was no bitterness, no anger in Azriel's gaze, just a quiet appreciation for the years they had spent together, and the family they had both fought to protect. "You've always been there when it mattered, granddad. I know that."
The weight of his grandfather's apology and the kindness behind it settled in Azriel's chest, and for the first time in a long while, he felt at peace with the family he had left.
Kinsley's gaze softened, his face momentarily betraying the weight of his regrets. He took a slow step forward, his hand resting gently on Azriel's shoulder, offering an unexpected comfort. The gesture was a rare one from him, yet somehow it felt right.
"I know," Kinsley murmured quietly, his voice carrying the weight of years. "I failed them. I failed you."
Azriel's eyes flickered down to Nova, still curled up peacefully on his chest, blissfully unaware of the moment unfolding. He took a quiet breath, gathering his thoughts, before looking back at his grandfather. "It's done. What happened, happened."
The shadows around Kinsley seemed to pulse, the weight of Azriel's words sinking in. He understood that the boy was no longer the child he had once been—a child who had been sheltered from the darker, more complicated parts of life. Azriel was different now, stronger in ways Kinsley could hardly fathom.
"Very well," Kinsley said softly, his voice steady but carrying a deep resolve. "But remember, Azriel, you are not alone. You still have me—your family, your heritage. We'll face this together."
Azriel regarded him quietly for a moment, the silence heavy with the unspoken weight of that promise. His gaze drifted briefly toward the ceiling, before meeting his grandfather's once more. Then, with a small but sincere nod, Azriel spoke again, his tone more contemplative now.
"I don't know what comes next, granddad," Azriel admitted quietly. "But I'm not alone anymore. And I won't let what happened to my parents be forgotten."
Kinsley's eyes sharpened, his gaze becoming even more intense. As the words settled between them, the shadows in the room seemed to shift, aligning with his thoughts. "You're right," he said, his voice firm. "You have your power now. And with that power, you won't be forgotten."
A heavy silence hung in the air, filled with a thousand unspoken thoughts. The storm outside raged on, distant now, as if it belonged to a world that no longer held relevance. What mattered now was Azriel—his awakening, his strength, and the path that lay ahead of him.
Kinsley gave Azriel's shoulder a final, reassuring squeeze. "Rest for now," he said gently. "You've been through enough. We'll speak again soon. There's much to prepare for."
As Kinsley stepped back into the shadows, Azriel's gaze followed him, steady and sure. He didn't speak, but in the quiet that followed, he felt a deep sense of gratitude. His grandfather had always been there in ways that mattered—whether through silence, action, or rare words of support. And now, more than ever, Azriel understood the weight of that bond.
------
As Azriel walked into the room, he found his grandfather standing there, a smile lighting up his face. Perched atop Azriel's head, Nova was curiously sniffing around, her tails flicking with interest as she took in the new surroundings.
Kinsley glanced over at Azriel, his smile deepening. He stood and walked over, pulling Azriel into a warm, welcoming hug. After a moment, he pulled back, his gaze shifting to the little fox on Azriel's head.
"Who's this?" Kinsley asked, his voice light with affection.
Nova, ever curious, tilted her head and sniffed him in return, her fluffy tails swishing as she studied him closely.
Azriel chuckled softly. "Her name is Nova. A nine-tailed fox—my anchor."
At the sound of her name, Nova puffed out her chest proudly, nodding as if to say, yes, that's me!
Kinsley let out a soft chuckle of his own, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Guess that means I'm also your grandfather, Nova," he said with a playful grin. "Please, keep an eye on Azriel for me. He's going to need it."
Nova gave a small, enthusiastic whelp and nodded in agreement, her ears perked up as if accepting the important responsibility.
Kinsley looked at Azriel, his expression softening with pride. "I won't ask where you got her from, but you've got a good one there, Azriel. I think the two of you will do just fine together."
Kinsley hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting to Azriel with a weight in his eyes that spoke volumes. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice soft but steady.
"Your parents' funeral is tomorrow," he said.
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and final. Azriel felt them settle inside him, and yet, there was no shock, no sudden wave of grief. It was as though the news had already been woven into the fabric of his existence, something he had known for far longer than he cared to admit.
He took a slow breath, his chest tightening for just a moment, but there was no breaking. No tearful outburst. He accepted the reality, the finality of it, as much as he wished it weren't true. His parents were gone, and no amount of wishing or regret would bring them back.
"I accept it," Azriel said quietly, his voice firm but calm. There was no bitterness, no anger, just an unspoken understanding that this part of his life—of who he had been—was over.
Kinsley looked at him, his eyes searching for any hint of the boy he had once known, but all he saw was the young man Azriel had become. He gave a small nod, as though recognizing something unspoken in the air between them.
"We'll get through this, Azriel," Kinsley said softly, though the words seemed almost like a reassurance for himself as much as for his grandson.
Azriel gave a slight nod in return, his gaze steady. "We will."