*Rowan's POV*
I open the front door as a cold atmosphere hits my face, the very first thing I noticed was some fur left on the sofa "The tail.. the fluff is gone... but I suppose it left it's gratitude behind" I chuckle a bit as I walk inside my room, am I going insane? most likely yes "Alright.. what stuff do I need?" I open the closet as I see some of Hariko's clothes "Look at them... the clothes left behind by an unbearable teasing fox" but as I was looking through the wardrobe, it hit me.
"Did I grab her suitcase from the darn hotel?" I remember only picking one case though, man there were so many things in there that could've been left made as memories- oh forget it Rowan... "Alright.. time to search the whole place now" there might be things that I should pack so why not turn the house upside down only to find these things? yeah, sounds like fun...
While I was turning my home into a much beautiful shape only to find some things that I most likely don't have, Larisa messaged me with her usual style of spamming emojis and complaining about something.. but what I was interested about was the home and job that she has for me, unfortunately she didn't told me anything about those things in her texts and to be honest I was starting to get doubtful "Okay you know what, I will just wait in the living room until she texts me or something, there's no use to look for other items" as I made my way into the living room an idea popped in my head "What if I go for a walk in the forest? maybe I'll find another fox girl.. yeah, it's big brain time"
*Hariko's POV*
I don't know how much time has passed but my stomach? was yelling at me for food... but what could I eat? I can't say I've seen much edible stuff around here... "Tell me.. why am I doing this again?" I was currently standing on one leg on.. some small pole trying my best not to fall off "As I said Hariko, you need to be patient.. this is just the beginning, it trains your nerves my dear" "Yeah? I've been sitting here for darn hours!" she chuckles as she floats to my side "I have a lot of explanation to do but for now.. how about you eat something then continue training?" as soon as I heard that I jumped off the pole, the woman whose name I still don't know returns to the ground and smirks at me.
"So, what would our rookie like to eat?" "Uh.. hard to choose, how about some toast with jam?" her hands hovers over mine as spikes of energy traced her fingers... one bright light after and I had a toast in my hand "Uh.. is this actually real?" "Of course it is, take a bite" I reluctantly took a bit, my stomach growling already sensing food "This.. is actually real.. how?" "Treat it as... a summoning spell. With sufficient training you can summon bigger things too" "And how exactly are they appearing?" "Hmm... I suppose from random places" so.. basically I steal food from others? I guess these powers have their downsides as well...
"You know, I've been watching you for a while.. and I'm sorry for what you had to go through" "Watching me..?" I look at her a bit confused and she just smiles "In my realm, I can watch everyone I want, luckily that Rowan appeared in your life huh? it was a gift from the lady herself if you ask me~" I guess she's right on that one.. since Rowan helped and saved me.. my life got better, ...safer "But I see the regret in there Hariko. Don't dwell on it forever, it will only bring you down" I slowly nod my head and she laughs.. however, her laugh seemed a bit sad "You may get to see him, but... future vision is not one of my abilities my dear".
I finish my toast and my belly is satisfied for the time being, with a soft sigh I glance up the pole "So.. I have to stand there again don't I?" she chuckles as the area got a bit darker, I look around and I could feel a shiver crawl my spine "No silly.. let's see if you can control fox fire now" I look at her as like she was fooling with me, how the hell can I even do that..? "Uh.. you're kidding with me or something? how can I do that? I only just stood on a pole for hours and my foot hurts" the area was just getting darker and darker and my heart went wild "Could you please.. not?"
"There's nothing that can harm you so don't worry.. now, make the fox fire appear" I just stood there not having a clue what to do, how am I supposed to.. control the fire since I only stood on a pole? "Don't know what to do? the fox fire spell is very simple my dear, it's actually the very first spells one earns in the beginning of their path" "I'm new to this alright? I have no idea what I'm supposed to do! and I don't get it how I am supposed to summon fire or whatever since I only stood on a pole!" this lady is not doing the best job at explaining things...
Suddenly she places her hands on my shoulders and stares into my eyes "Hariko, you have been gifted a path many would kill for. I understand you're overwhelmed... until now you thought you're just regular folk. But young one, those who refuse to take on the divine path are killed, do you want that" my face pales at that and I quickly I shake my head, making her sigh "Do as I say... and you'll keep your life. Now let's get you into a meditate state" before I could even question she sits me down on the ground and I crossed my legs out of instinct.
I closed my eyes and tried to clear off my mind... to be patient... to listen to this lady's advice "Think of orbs made out of fire... concentrate your thoughts, deliver them within your subconsciousness" a pretty long awkward silence fell upon us. The silence was so deafening I couldn't take it anymore "This is point-" I felt her finger on my lips, literally shushing me- rude much? "Do not speak or you'll break the process.. just a little further".
As my mind was a simple abyss I couldn't help but feel my body's temperature going up. I tried to endure it at first but it quickly started to overwhelm me. Just as I was started to internally panic I felt two hands grabbing my shoulders, anchoring me "Breathe, young one" her soft tone made my ears flatten on my head... she's both terrifying and soothing when she wants to be, makes me more even more curious to learn more about this woman.
Suddenly however I felt a light breaching the dark abyss in my mind, a deep shade of reddish infused with orange. I could feel my tail stiffen and a very sharp pain within my veins which made me choke on my own scream. The woman didn't said anything, her hands still grasping my shoulders in a soft but firm grip... but as the light came out of nowhere it started to overwhelm my entire vision.
Genuinely scared I snapped open my eyes seeing the woman looking up in the air, the same light I saw in my mind coating her face. She turned to me suddenly with a grin "He he.. if you had normal parents they would be proud of you, look around us" following her order my eyes widen, in the air stood three orbs circling us, their fire pretty weak but they were here regardless "I knew you could do it~" the woman pays my head and I started to turn red, not only that but the sudden exhaustion hit me like a truck "I... did this...?" "Yes, Hariko. Now let's do it again until you grasp the concept of summoning fox fire".
*Rowan's POV*
I was on my way to Larisa's place because she just called me earlier saying that we need to talk, or should I say go to the place that she told me about "Aw man.. and I really wanted to go to the forest for a fox hunt" jokes aside though.. no one will replace that fox.. or the tail. Honestly I think I'm handling this better than I was expecting- who the hell am I kidding, depression will hit me me worse than my exams. As I continued down my path suddenly my phone buzzed and with a groan I answer it "Who is this?" who would even call me? maybe it's Larisa from another phone..? "Is this Rowan Kaur?".