The next morning, after resting and applying medicine to his wounds, Shin woke up earlier than usual.
Outside, the morning dew still clung to the leaves, and the sunlight had just begun to peek through the forest canopy.
"Mya, come with me. I want to teach you how to help the villagers."
Mya, who was tying her hair, paused. She looked at Shin with wide eyes.
"Help… the villagers?"
Shin nodded, smiling.
"Yes. Many of them still need medicine. I can't do everything by myself."
Mya looked down at the floor. If it were anyone else asking, she would've refused without a second thought.
But because it was Shin… she couldn't say no.
Slowly, she nodded.
"Alright. I'll come."
They walked together toward the center of the village.
But as soon as the villagers caught sight of them, hushed whispers began to spread.
"That's her… the girl…"
"Half-human… half-Kitsune, right?"
"Those ancient creatures… ruthless… thieves… killers…"
Mya lowered her gaze. Her fluffy ears twitched nervously.
She quickly hid behind Shin, as if afraid to be seen.
Shin sighed, but didn't stop walking.
He moved forward — one by one — helping those in need.
"Aunty, this is for your joint pain."
"Uncle, you need to boil this herb, okay?"
Mya just followed from behind. She watched Shin's every move…
How he greeted people with a smile… how gently he worked with his hands…
Even though his own body hadn't fully healed.
But not a single person greeted Mya.
Children were pulled away from her.
The elderly looked on with wary eyes.
As if she were a living shadow of an old tale, come back to haunt them.
And yet… Mya didn't turn back.
She kept walking behind Shin — the only person who saw her as more than "just a Kitsune."
Shin glanced back at her and offered a warm smile.
"It's okay. One day… they'll see who you really are."
Mya stayed quiet…
But for the first time, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"As long as… you believe in me… that's enough."
After helping a few of the sick villagers, Shin walked toward the village hall — the residence of the Village Chief, Elder Rago.
Mya stayed just as she had been, quiet and walking closely behind Shin. Every time they passed by villagers, suspicious and wary gazes were cast toward her.
When they reached the wooden door of the hall, Shin knocked gently.
Knock knock knock…
"Elder Rago, may I come in?"
From inside came a deep, aged voice.
"Come in, Shin."
Shin opened the door and stepped inside. Mya followed close behind, but when she saw the old man's sharp gaze, she instinctively hid behind Shin again.
Elder Rago stood, leaning on his wooden cane.
His eyes locked onto Shin for a moment… then shifted to Mya.
"You brought her here?" he asked in a low, steady voice.
Shin nodded.
"I just wanted to ask… is there any more help the village needs? Mya and I are willing to assist."
The village chief didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a long breath… then looked at Shin again.
"Shin… do you truly trust this girl?"
Shin stayed calm, even though he knew it was a heavy question.
"Yes. I trust her."
Elder Rago was silent for a moment… then spoke again, his voice quieter — as though digging up old memories.
"Your father… he told you before, didn't he? About the half-human, half-Kitsune beings.
The ones who ruined places long ago. Tricksters. Killers. Masters of disguise. You know all that…"
Shin nodded slowly.
"I know. But… Mya is different. I see something in her — potential, not danger."
The elder said nothing. For a while, the room was quiet. The wind outside fluttered the curtain softly, adding to the tension in the air.
Elder Rago finally looked directly at Mya, and asked:
"Kitsune girl… what's your purpose here? What are your intentions?"
Mya flinched. She was scared — her small hands clutching the back of Shin's shirt. She wanted to answer, but her tongue was frozen.
Shin slowly turned to look behind him.
"Mya… it's okay. He just wants to understand. Speak honestly."
Mya bit her lower lip, her eyes glimmering. But then, she took a breath and finally spoke — softly, but clearly.
"I… I don't mean any harm. I was just lost. I was injured… and he saved me.
I… don't have a place to go home to."
Elder Rago's gaze didn't waver. He stayed silent for a while.
Finally, he let out a long sigh and said:
"If you're lying, I'll be the one to drive you out of here myself."
Mya lowered her head and answered:
"I understand."
After the tense questioning earlier, the village chief, Elder Rago, walked over to his wooden rack full of bottles and old herb pouches.
"Shin, my herb supplies are running low.
Could you help prepare some basic remedies for me to keep?"
Shin nodded quickly.
"Of course, Elder Rago."
He turned to Mya, who was still standing nearby.
"Mya, come. I need your help."
Mya was a bit surprised, but her heart quietly leapt in joy. She quickly followed Shin's steps toward the long work table prepared inside the house.
Shin began pointing to various leaves and roots.
> "This is sempara leaf. For internal wounds. Needs to be finely chopped before you pound it."
"And this — nyuru root. Must be boiled three times before it's safe to use."
Mya listened attentively, her Kitsune ears twitching slightly each time a herb was named. She followed every instruction carefully, her delicate fingers quickly mimicking Shin's movements.
In silence, Mya's cheeks slowly flushed red. She didn't know why — but her heart felt... warm.
Still, as always, she lowered her head, hiding her expression from Shin.
Shin, noticing her focus, smiled softly.
> "You're quick to learn… At this rate, the whole village could be healthy in a week."
But just as the calmness settled…
A strange voice echoed inside Shin's mind.
> "She… she's here again…"
"Why are you letting her… near?"
"That creature… she's a Kitsune…"
"Dangerous…"
Shin furrowed his brows. He recognized that voice — the ancient spirit that had long resided within him.
But this time, the voice was filled with fear, not rage like before.
Suddenly, Mya stopped cutting the leaves. She slowly turned to look at Shin.
"Shin… that voice… who was it?"
Shin froze.
"You heard it…?"
Mya nodded. Her eyes were serious.
> "There's a voice… inside your body. But… it seems afraid of me."
Shin stared at her, surprised. Until now, he had been the only one who could hear that spirit —
but now, Mya could hear it too?
"She's not ordinary… that creature… she holds something…"
"Don't trust her… she'll destroy us…"
The spirit's voice grew more frantic, as if echoing from a deep, dark place.
Mya lowered her head again, her face now more somber.
"I know… many people dislike Kitsune.
But I… I never wanted to hurt anyone.
Why… why is that spirit afraid of me?"
Shin stepped closer and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know why it's scared of you.
But I know one thing… I'm not."
Mya looked up at him — and a small, quiet smile formed on her face.
The sound of chopped leaves and crushed roots once again filled the room. But Mya's thoughts had drifted… far into the past.
Her hands kept working, but her heart began to tremble — slowly, her expression changed. No longer shy or timid.
Now… she remembered something.
Long ago…
A black valley stretched endlessly beneath a storm-filled sky. Lightning cracked the air, and howling winds tore through the land.
At the center of the battlefield stood a white Kitsune — bloodied, wounded, her tails torn and shredded… yet her eyes still burned with fierce resolve.
Before her loomed an ancient spirit of darkness — a formless being, faceless and vast, its presence alone enough to crush a world.
"You will not erase this world," said the Kitsune's voice…
It was Mya's voice.
And for ten days and ten nights, they fought…
No sleep.
No food.
No rest.
In the end, Mya used a magical chain forged from the final moonlight of the world — and sealed the spirit into an eternal black stone.
Mya snapped back to the present, her breath caught.
"The spirit… inside Shin… it's him."
She slowly raised her head and looked at Shin — her eyes now filled with tension, shock, and a silent warning.
"Shin… where did you get that spirit?"
Shin, in the middle of grinding herbs, paused.
"Huh? What spirit? I… I don't know. That voice… it's been there since I was falled into a cave
Mya went quiet.
She already knew the answer. The chain… had been moved.
She was the one who forged it long ago.
And now, without realizing it… she had saved the world again.
But why Shin?
Why had this boy become the new vessel — the prison?
She didn't ask further.
"It's nothing," Mya said softly, lowering her gaze.
Her hands returned to the herbs — but now, silently, she began forming a new chain of light.
Not from metal… but from the ancient words etched into her soul.
She placed it gently into Shin's spirit.
Without him noticing.
Without the spirit noticing.
Just enough… to suppress its rage — for now.
A few hours passed, and the herbal remedies were ready.
Shin and Mya stepped out of the village chief's house, carrying small pouches of medicine.
Elder Rago gave them a small, satisfied smile.
"Thank you, Shin. And thank you too… Mya."
Mya only bowed her head slightly, saying nothing.
But in her heart, one thing was certain:
"I'll make sure that spirit never awakens again."