The town of Greenvale shimmered under rows of lanterns, their gentle light swaying with the winter wind.
It was the eve of the new year — a night when people prayed for protection from Evil spirits and wished for better fortune.
Frey walked through the lively streets toward his modest neighborhood. He had no intention of joining the festivities; all he wanted was to reach home and wait for his Spirit Core to finish forming.
He soon arrived at his home: a humble but comfortable house. Not noble-rich, yet far from poor. The neighborhood was filled with similar homes, owned by merchants, guild artisans, and spirit hunters who had made a decent living.
As Frey stepped inside, the familiar aroma of warm food greeted him. For the first time that day, his shoulders relaxed.
Home sweet home. He thought as a faint smile tugged at his lips.
The flood of new memories made him feel both distant and closer to his family all at once.
"I'm home," he said quietly, pulling off his boots by the door.
"Oh… you're back, Frey! Go freshen up, I cooked your favorite dishes today," a warm, mature voice called from the kitchen.
"Yes, Mom," Frey replied with a small smile, heading upstairs to clean up.
Meow.
A soft voice piped up behind him, and a black Persian-like cat darted along the stairs, tail flicking with excitement.
Frey chuckled, scooping the fluffy creature into his arms. "Did you miss me, Milly?" he asked, ruffling her fur.
Purrr. The cat purred, pressing against him as he stepped into his room.
Milly was no ordinary cat. She was the cat spirit bonded to his adoptive mother, Sera Varlen — a Common Earth aptitude spirit.
Frey had lost both his parents early in life: his mother shortly after his birth, and his father when an Evil Spirit ravaged their village. He had been adopted by Sera, his mother's closest friend and neighbor.
Their current comfortable life in Greenvale town was all thanks to Sera's daughter, Selis Varlen, now his elder sister in all but blood.
Two years ago, Selis had bonded with a Common Heaven aptitude spirit. The news of her awakening had made half the viscounty green with envy.
Their village fell under Greenvale Viscounty, and Viscount Faren Greenvale himself had sponsored Selis and her family, granting them a home in the main town.
Now, Selis had passed the entrance exam for Ardentis Academy, the Serathian Empire's most prestigious post-awakening school for spirit professionals. Her future was destined to tower above even the Viscount himself.
Frey knew the Viscount was trying to curry favor with her before she grew too powerful, which explained why their little family of three thrived.
He didn't complain. After all, free browny points never hurt anyone.
* * *
In the small dining hall, after freshening up, Frey sat before a table overflowing with his favorite dishes, steam curling into the air and filling the room with warmth.
Across from him sat Sera — a woman in her late thirties, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, her figure still carrying the soft grace of youth. Her eyes, though gentle, flickered with worry as she studied him.
She opened her mouth as if to speak but hesitated. Frey could almost feel the weight of her concern pressing down on the air between them.
He forced a small smile. "Mom… I did awaken," he said quietly, "but only a Mortal-grade fox spirit."
For a heartbeat, silence lingered. Then Sera's eyes widened… not with disappointment, but with sheer relief.
She immediately leaned over and pulled him into a tight embrace, burying his face against her huge breasts as she laughed softly, her voice trembling. "Thank the heavens… son, that's wonderful! And don't worry about the aptitude, silly. As long as you've awakened, there are always ways to raise your spirit's potential."
Frey could barely breathe, his cheeks flushed as he struggled to speak, muffled against her cleavage… but he didn't pull away.
After what felt like an eternity, Sera finally released him. Dinner that night was warm, lively, and filled with the kind of laughter that made the small house feel alive.
When the dishes were cleaned, mother and son sat together on the couch. Sera was dressed in an elegant black outfit, her long hair tied loosely behind her.
Frey glanced at her. "You're going out?"
Sera smiled knowingly. "You're not coming to the town square for the festival, are you?"
Frey sighed. "No, Mom. It'd be embarrassing if my core fully forms and I start leaking all that… black impurities in public."
Sera chuckled, her laughter soft and musical. Milly, who had been lounging nearby, stirred and dissolved into a swirl of light before merging into Sera's body. In an instant, a pair of sleek black cat ears sprouted from her head, and a matching tail unfurled behind her.
The transformation gave her a dangerous, enchanting beauty that even Frey couldn't deny.
He raised a brow. "Are you… meeting someone?"
Sera blinked, then gave him a playful glare. "Of course not. You know how those so-called friends of mine are, they'll start whispering if I wear anything less than this."
Frey grimaced, recalling the two women who often visited — Sandra, the merchant Gawin's wife, and Vienna, an 18 year old who had moved into the neighborhood only a few months ago.
He didn't like either of them, but especially Vienna. The way her eyes lingered on him sometimes made his skin crawl.
And just as he thought that, a familiar voice called from outside.
"Sera…"
Speak of the devil, Frey thought, suppressing a sigh.
Two women stepped into the house — one with soft, wavy brown hair, the other with a magnificent cascade of fiery amber locks and far too much perfume. Both were draped in expensive silks that shimmered faintly under the aetherlamps.
Sera smiled as she rose from the couch. "Then I'll be going, son. Make sure to stay safe, alright?" She leaned in and kissed his forehead before leaving for the festival.
Frey sighed inwardly. She still treated him like a child, even though he was already considered an adult by the world's standards.
"Ah… Frey." Vienna, the amber-haired woman, drifted closer and sat beside him, her perfume sharp and sweet. Her eyes, heavy with something dark, flicked over his face… and then lower.
"I heard you awakened a fox spirit," she said, voice lilting. "Can you show it to me?"
Frey met her gaze, his tone flat. "Yes, I did. And no, I don't want to show you."
Vienna tilted her head, smiling faintly. "Why not? I just want to see how it looks."
Before Frey could shut her down again, Sandra, the brown-haired one, cut in with a sigh. "Oh, just let her see, Frey. We're already late for the festival."
Frey looked at his mother. Sera's brows furrowed, but after a moment's hesitation, she sighed and gave a reluctant nod.
Suppressing his annoyance, Frey exhaled and let his power flow. His elegant fox ears emerged, twitching slightly, followed by a pale tail that shimmered with pinkish-blue light. His eyes deepened to the same blue hue, calm and mesmerizing.
"Ah…" Vienna gasped, covering her mouth. Her other hand rose almost instinctively, brushing one of his ears.
"So soft… and beautiful," she breathed, her voice trembling with desire. The way her eyes lingered on him made it clear — this wasn't admiration but obsession, a ravenous hunger that made it seem like she wanted to devour him whole.
"That's enough, Vienna," Sera said sharply, grabbing her arm. "We're leaving. Now."
Sandra quickly moved as well, sensing the tension.
Vienna cast one last glance over her shoulder as Sera dragged her toward the door. Her lips curled into a sultry smile. "I'll come again, boy. Congratulations on awakening."
Her gaze flicked down briefly, bold and deliberate, before she turned away.
Frey's expression darkened. His hand clenched at his side. He would've loved to punch her in the face, but she was a Stage 2 – Adept, a genuine Spirit Adventurer with years of experience under her belt.
When the door finally shut behind them, silence filled the house.
Frey exhaled deeply, locking the door before heading upstairs. He needed rest.
Only two hours remained before the six-hour mark — the time it would take for his Spirit Core to fully mature.
And he wanted answers. Why did he feel like three people fused into one? And what was the deal with his so-called fox spirit, which was clearly anything but ordinary?