Arisadis - The Fox's Constellation

 "Fascinating!" exclaimed Hrassin, a wide grin of delight spreading across his face. "This girl is priceless! A truly remarkable acquisition!"

 "I fail to see how someone like Lirany could be useful to yokai, except as food," Ayun replied dryly.

 The fact that he'd been ordered to report any findings kept him stuck in the office, which reeked too strongly of expensive liquor, and Hrassin's presence irritated him. Even so, his remark made the port's overseer grin at him.

 "Ah, so her name is Lirany! She wouldn't even tell us that much!"

 Ayun shrugged. He found little significance in a name, but the ruler clearly had a different perspective.

 "From now on, you'll neglect your usual duties. I don't care about those filthy ships! Your sole responsibility is this girl."

 "You want me to deliver her food instead of looking after the vessels?" Ayun asked with a slight raise of his eyebrow.

 He would have embraced the change without any regrets.. Carrying a tray up a few flights of stairs sounded far easier than managing enormous ships or dealing with grumpy sailors, and his tail swayed slightly at the thought of a calmer day ahead.

 "Not just that," Hrassin replied with a mischievous grin. "I want you to earn her trust, make her love this city... to be loyal to us. But tread carefully. She has the power to obliterate the harbor with a mere snap of her fingers."

 "I thought she was meant to stay here only for a short while. When am I supposed to have time to get close to her?"

 The idea that a human could survive long in a yokai den, where they were seen as nothing more than prey, seemed absurd.

 "Truth be told, I'm tempted to keep her... But what use do I have for a scared, weepy girl, hmm? Do your job as I commanded, and the girl's power will reshape history!"

 Ayun pressed his lips into a thin line as he closed the door behind him, leaving Hrassin in his office, already sinking into another bottle of fine wine. For a fleeting moment, he felt the claws of instinct scraping at the surface, threatening to shred all those carefully laid plans.

 Indeed, Lirany could be dangerous, and if such power fell into the wrong hands... Yet, she seemed utterly helpless in controlling her gift. Most likely, the yokai in Tharym would view her as food rather than a weapon, and Hrassin, sooner or later, would change his mind.

 But that wasn't his concern! He had a mission to carry out, and he had to see it through. With a deep sigh, he made his way toward the kitchens.

 The stone corridors, dimly lit by flickering torches, were deserted. A few rats scurried past him, rushing to escape his path. Though he was accustomed to the rodents, a fleeting smirk crossed his lips—his presence, that of an ancient predator, was enough to frighten any living creature in this perilous place.

 A shadow slipped into view ahead, and though his vision in the dark was limited, Ayun's sharpened senses instantly identified the figure lurking in the gloom.

 "Any news?" Hachyro asked in a low voice, his tone feigning innocence, as he leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed.

 Ayun's normally composed and distant gaze narrowed, and a flicker of barely restrained ferocity glinted in his eyes.

 "News?" he hissed dangerously. "Does the corpse in the underground lake ring a bell?"

 Fury—an emotion almost alien to him—consumed him, impossible to suppress. He had been summoned by Hrassin, who had grilled him for nearly an hour about the remains of a noble's son found floating in the lake. Ayun had assumed Hachyro's earlier threat was merely a scare tactic to silence the boy. Never had he imagined that the arsian would go as far as murder.

 While everyone else believed the monstrous creature in the depths to be the culprit, Ayun had noticed the telltale signs: clear, deliberate cuts on the young man's body—precise incisions that no marine beast could have made.

 "I did what you couldn't," Hachyro scoffed with defiant indifference. "The dead can't talk, can they?"

 "Couldn't?" Ayun snapped, his tail fluffing up as it reflected the storm raging within him. "I don't kill indiscriminately just because something displeases me!"

 Hachyro tapped his tails against the stone floor, a malicious grin spreading across his face.

 "If it bothered you so much, perhaps I could... deal with the rumors another way," he suggested slyly. "Half the harbor, along with Hrassin, would be a decent start, don't you think? What's your opinion?"

 At that moment, one of the torches exploded, and Ayun fixed him with a piercing glare, his intensity making the air feel almost tangible. Strange currents of energy swirled around him, creating a vortex that stirred up the dust in the tunnel and made the remaining torches flicker as if on the verge of extinguishing.

 "Dare to lay a finger on Tharym," he whispered menacingly, "and you'll never have the chance to hear another rumor again."

 For a fleeting moment, a shadow of unease crossed Hachyro's face. After a brief hesitation, he took a step back. He had made a habit of provoking Ayun, but this time he knew he'd crossed every line. Ayun no longer feared his own power, as he had at the harbor, nor did he suppress it. The shadows in the tunnel danced, drawn to his tightly coiled aura, ready to erupt at any moment.

 "Maybe I won't have to kill them myself," the arsian said with a harsh, cruel grin.

 With an agile leap, he disappeared into the shadows, and with his departure, the swirling dust and air currents dissipated. Ayun remained in the tunnel, breathing deeply and silently cursing Hachyro.

 By the time he reached the girl's room, he was utterly exhausted. The suffocating sensation had intensified along the way, and his blood boiled, turning every breath into a struggle to contain his agony. He placed the tray of food on the bed, barely noticing how Lirany, frightened, had curled up in the far corner of the room. He sat down on the floor, resting his forehead on his knees, desperately searching for an oasis of calm.

 All he wanted was to shut himself off from everything and everyone, to be alone, if only for a moment, so he could quell the inferno raging inside him. His breathing was erratic, as if the air around him had become an enemy too thick to draw into his lungs. In that moment of confusion, he became aware of his energy thinning, losing faint, almost imperceptible threads. It was Lirany; he could feel her cautiously approaching, and a moment later, her voice broke through the haze:

 "Are you okay?"

 It wasn't fine. But calming his thirst for release through conventional means risked scaring her outright. An idea began to take root in his mind. He knew that Lirany perceived the world through his life energy, but she had always kept a safe distance. The image of the mice he had found dead in her room suddenly resurfaced in his thoughts. What did he have to lose?!

 "Lirany," he whispered. "Can you... can you come closer?"

 "If I do, your life will be in danger," she replied, a note of sadness in her voice. "My power could kill you."

 "It won't happen," he promised firmly. "If I feel dizzy, I'll tell you to step back. Deal?"

 With one hand pressed against his chest in an attempt to calm his heartbeat, Ayun extended the other toward her. Lirany, hesitant, gazed at him for a long moment before mustering the courage to accept his gesture. Each movement seemed measured, as though an extra second might seal her fate. Her hesitation didn't bother him. Patiently, he sensed her fear and hope interwoven, urging her to move forward. Then, slowly, her fingers met his palm.

 At first, nothing happened. But suddenly, his body was enveloped in a golden glow—a halo of shimmering lights that slid off his skin, transferring to her hand. As if the girl's thirst for energy ran deep, she absorbed the lights greedily. Her gaze, initially dark and heavy, began to take on a warm brown hue, her eyes regaining their vibrancy, enriched by the strength she received. The moment lasted only a few seconds, but when the energy stabilized and the magic dissipated, a faint connection lingered between them. Lirany, now able to see much more clearly, yanked her hand away with a small gasp, startled.

 Ayun stared at his hands, astonished. That oppressive sensation of suffocation had vanished entirely, leaving him able to take deep breaths with ease. Usually, it would only subside, but now it felt utterly obliterated, as if the suffering within him had been nothing more than a shadow. All of it, just from Lirany's touch.

 "How... how do you feel? " she murmured, a note of fear in her voice.

 He lifted his gaze, and when his eyes met hers, he smiled sincerely.

 "I'm fine. Thank you, Lirany. "

 He inclined his head in a gesture of gratitude, but he could see the doubt on her face. She didn't completely believe him, and she had her reasons. This new, revealing discovery had brought him a sense of joy he didn't want to let go of, but he owed her an explanation. And more than that—she had helped him in a moment when he would have been powerless without her, and the desire to offer something in return gnawed at him.

 "Are you sick? " she asked suddenly, frowning.

 "It's not exactly an illness" Ayun replied, still feeling the echo of relief in every fiber of his being. "I'll tell you, but... it's such a beautiful day to stay cooped up here. What do you say? Would you like to see the port? We can talk along the way."

 Rumors had already spread throughout Tharym, so revealing his predicament no longer posed any additional risk. Lirany's eyes widened with an almost childlike delight, but hesitation held her back.

 "Are you sure? " she asked, as if still afraid to believe her luck. "I mean... can I really leave this room? "

 "You're not a prisoner here" Ayun reassured her gently. "Going out alone would be dangerous, but with me, you'll be safe. "

 The truth, however, was more nuanced: while she wasn't a prisoner, her freedom to leave the port was limited—just like his. Yet, the fascination of seeing the city overwhelmed any other thoughts she might have had. In less than a minute, she had swapped her nightgown for a simple brown dress.

 He waited for her in the hallway, respecting her privacy, and when she emerged, her face radiated a mixture of excitement and barely-contained apprehension.

 As he had expected, everyone around them stared intently. The news that a human was in Tharym had spread quickly, and Hrassin's decree forbidding anyone to touch her only heightened the temptation. Some yokai, who had never seen a human before, watched her with vivid curiosity, while others bore predatory expressions, their eyes gleaming with unrestrained hunger. Only fear of the city's sovereign and Ayun's presence kept them from venturing too close to Lirany.

 The girl felt the oppressive stares and pressed herself as closely to him as she could, unintentionally stepping on his foot and tail a few times. Yet, Ayun showed no sign of noticing. Accustomed to the realm of Tharym, he could instinctively discern any real threats, and for now, he was confident that nothing would disturb their walk.

 Once outside the building, Lirany completely forgot she was in a city of yokai. Her gaze wandered in fascination, moving from the massive ships docked at the port to the stalls brimming with glimmering objects and unusual jewelry. The sparkling river, fantastical creatures conversing in unfamiliar tongues, the creaking wheels of carts, and the vibrant mix of colors and sounds took her breath away.

 The bustling crowd became a perfect refuge for the two of them, as no one seemed to pay them any mind anymore. They strolled through streets that smelled of fish, and among the noisy merchants, they reached the docks. A few colossal ships swayed their sails, including one with a damaged hull that had yet to be repaired, and even a fishing galley with four towering masts.

 At one point, they turned onto a wider street but were forced to stop to allow the passage of an unusual creature—a sort of gigantic, slimy worm that pushed its monstrous body forward on a few thin, slippery legs.

 "Greetings, Mron!" Ayun said respectfully, giving a slight bow of his head.

 "G-good... day!" Lirany murmured, her voice trembling slightly.

 Suddenly, she felt a slimy, tentacle-like slap on her back—a friendly gesture from the creature. Lirany barely managed to mask her disgust, striving not to react.

 "Mron is one of the most good-natured yokai in Tharym" Ayun informed her, clearly amused by her effort to remain composed.

 "Is that so?" she asked, casting a skeptical glance at the sharp spike at the end of the creature's tail, which didn't seem all that good-natured to her.

 Since the day was splendid and neither wanted to return to the building where Lirany's room was, the two set off in search of something to eat. The morning had passed without them tasting anything, and hunger was starting to make itself known. The enticing smell of fried fish immediately caught their attention, emanating from an individual with a somewhat human appearance: his reddish skin and prominent belly made him seem almost caricature-like.

 "I... I don't have any money," Lirany admitted, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

 "In Tharym, we don't use money" Ayun explained. "If you want something, you have to offer something in return."

 After a brief negotiation with the vendor, the man gestured toward a few crates ready to be loaded onto a cart. Since Lirany had nothing to trade, the alternative was to pay for the food through labor. Determined to help, the girl quickly realized that the physical strength of the port city's inhabitants far exceeded her own.

 Attempting to move a crate, she was stunned to find it much heavier than she had anticipated, while Ayun carried one with disarming ease. With the work finished and the fish obtained, they rested on a wide, deserted street bordered by a rocky wall. It was a place where grass and a few trees had taken root, faintly reminiscent of the forests surrounding the city, where Ayun had often sought refuge among the branches. This time, however, he remained sprawled on the grass beside Lirany, gazing at the clear sky through the branches. Sleep hovered over him. Perhaps a short nap wouldn't hurt. The girl certainly wouldn't dare leave, as her sight depended on his presence.

 "Ayun?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

 He didn't open his eyes, but he caught her soft tone, and his right ear twitched slightly, signaling that he had heard her.

 "Tomorrow, representatives of the Guild will come. Do you think... do you think I'll be punished for my curse?"

 Her tone carried a bite of fear, and Ayun fixed his emerald-green gaze on her, frowning slightly, his hands tucked behind his head.

 "Are you talking about magic? " he asked, noticing her nod. "Lirany, magic is not a curse. It has always been a part of the world's makeup."

 She looked down, absently playing with a fish bone, mistrust written all over her face.

 "The people in my village would think it whispers darkness to you" she said, puffing bitterly. "Magic shouldn't exist in human blood. It's a bad omen. I attracted... monsters, yokai who could sense my magic so... I was left in the Guild's care, who sent me here, where I couldn't hurt anyone... but they were wrong..."

 Her hands trembled, and Ayun realized all her thoughts kept circling back to the mice she'd killed. So that was how she ended up in Tharym. He sighed, sitting up, offering her a friendly smile.

 "You didn't harm anyone intentionally, and for the Tower — the Guild's headquarters — that matters. I don't know what the sorcerers will decide tomorrow, but their purpose is to help you. You have nothing to fear. "

 However, his words didn't convince her. Lirany remained silent, watching him with a hint of mistrust. After a moment's thought, Ayun decided not to press further. Until she saw the actions of the Tower for herself, she wouldn't believe him. He hadn't believed them either.

 Instead, he adopted a different tactic to encourage her.

 "You're not the only one having trouble with magic. The Guild's sorcerers are coming for me as well, so tomorrow, I'll go with you. "

 Her gaze lifted immediately, sparkling with hope but also tinged with a certain confusion. Realizing she was looking at him in a strange way, as though he were suffering from an incurable illness, Ayun recalled he had promised her some explanations. He picked up a fish bone from the ground, then took the one from her hand, holding them close together.

 "Every living being has a physical body and an astral one — I believe, in your culture, the term is spiritual. The two complement each other, and both are responsible for sustaining life. If one of these bodies is destroyed, you die. Sometimes, in certain races, the astral body is more developed, and from it stems magic, which is likely your case as well.

 Usually, the two bodies are perfectly united, and there's no need to concern yourself with such things. But not in my case. For a reason the Tower is trying to uncover, my physical and astral bodies aren't compatible. Not as they should be. My astral form produces too much magic, and my physical body can't handle it without certain... complications. Thus, if I'm not careful, I end up with an excessive amount of energy, which becomes difficult to bear, like what happened this morning."

 He separated the two bones, pointing to the one on the right, which was two fingers longer than the other.

 "Can't you... release it, somehow? "

 Lirany had hung onto his every word, attentive and fascinated. Her curiosity gnawed at her, but she didn't dare press him too much. The moment she asked her question, she began wringing her hands again, fearing she had overstepped. Ayun, however, didn't seem bothered.

 "It would be dangerous since it would take the form of a wild spell. Last time I did that, I destroyed the hold of a ship. I'd rather use the excess energy to grant you sight than fill an entire river with dead fish."

 Unable to stop herself, Lirany burst out laughing, then abruptly froze. She wasn't used to such a simple gesture, but seeing Ayun laughing along, she let go of her restraint and continued laughing, not caring about the curious glances of the few passersby.

 "Want to see the airship port? " he asked, standing up and stretching his back.

 "See what? "

 The airship port was located on a nearby cliff, accessible by ascending an endless series of steps. It resembled the other port but wasn't built on the bank of a river or sea; instead, it perched on a rocky ledge stretching like a wall, marking the eastern border of Tharym. Beyond the dock's edge lay the vast northern ocean, its surface gilded with hues of gold and fire as the setting sun merged with the horizon.

 To the south, the cliff rose by several dozen meters, with tunnels carved into its rugged face, allowing a different kind of vessel to dock and take shelter. These were far rarer and more valuable, and only one such vessel rested in the port that day.

 It had no masts and resembled a colossal boat—at least, that was the first impression. Its entire structure was composed of thousands of tightly woven roots, stripped of leaves and branches. Four of these roots extended into massive stumps, providing stability on land, contrasting with its sharp, keel-like belly that seemed to sway with every gust of wind.

 They approached to admire it more closely. Fascinated, Lirany reached out, wanting to touch the roots, but Ayun's fingers clamped around her wrist before she could.

 "Avrasts aren't particularly... agreeable when they return from their journeys. We should keep our distance."

 "Avrasts?" she repeated, curious but slightly intimidated.

 He didn't get a chance to elaborate further, as the ship began to rise slowly on its stumps, like wooden legs. Its gait was unsteady yet determined, heading toward one of the tunnels carved into the rock, entirely ignoring them. Then, something made her stop.

 Not far away, two yokai were embroiled in a vicious brawl. With a vaguely canine appearance, they wrestled and tore into each other with savage ferocity. Lirany's heart pounded as she watched, terrified by their aggression, while Ayun observed the fight with unmatched boredom.

 Suddenly, a strange sound, like snapping branches, echoed through the air. Grabbing her around the waist, Ayun leapt back several meters—just in time. A branch, as thick as a buffalo's torso, crashed down on the combatants, mercilessly crushing them into the ground. When it rose again, blood dripped from its wooden surface.

 Seeing the remains of the two yokai, Lirany clasped her hands over her mouth, stifling a scream of horror.

 "Tharym has its less pleasant sides," Ayun acknowledged, steering her toward the stairs they had climbed earlier.

 There was no need for him to explain why he had stopped her from touching the avrast; the ship herself had delivered an eloquent demonstration. Silence fell between them for the rest of the walk, and after navigating a maze of narrow streets, they finally arrived at the building where Lirany lived. The darkness of night was settling in deeper, and wandering the port in obscurity brought a different kind of danger, one Ayun was unwilling to risk.

 "You're leaving already?" she asked, her hand on the latch of her room's door.

 Though the avrast's attack had scared her, he had no intention of offering her more company. He couldn't. One last task remained for him to complete before he could call it a day.

 "I need to head underground," he sighed.

 "I'm coming with you!"

 "You'd die if you did," Ayun replied. "Goodnight, Lirany."

 He walked away without offering further details. He didn't know her well, but he had learned enough about her to understand that her curious nature could be dangerous. Until Lirany grasped the true meaning of Tharym, the mystery of the underground would remain an alluring enigma for her.