Kitsune Travel Record's

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Japan, Ozunu Orphanage: Forest

Satomi's crimson eyes blazed, her ears twitching as she heard the voice. She snarled, turning to face the source. Before she could move, Noshiko, vanished and reappeared beside the woman, her katana pressed against the woman's throat.

Talia, in full wolf form, growled, baring her teeth, ready to strike.

Raizo stood guard in front of Lucian, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword, while Mika, behind him, aimed her pistol at the woman.

The woman, caught in the crosshairs of their hostile gazes, seemed taken aback.

She calmly raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Looks like Ahjumma really did remove your memories." Kim Yoo-ri said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Noshiko's purple eyes burned with an intense light, her gaze fixed on Kim Yoo-ri. 'She's one of them,' she thought, recalling the five figures who had taken the Ozunu clan.

Her purple fox aura pulsed around her, and as if a fog cleared from her mind, she began to remember. She lowered her katana, her hand still pressed against her temple.

Satomi, her anger palpable, stood and grabbed Noshiko's arm. Her red eyes burned with fury as she looked at Kim Yoo-ri.

"I didn't do anything. She's just remembering her memories." Kim Yoo-ri explained quickly, seeing Talia's predatory stance. She knew she couldn't win against them all if they worked together.

'It's better if she remembers but isn't she a bit weak for a kitsune to have her memory erased?' Kim Yoo-ri thought silently, comparing Noshiko to Lee Yeon.

Talia, heeding Kim Yoo-ri's words, held back her attack but circled the woman while releasing a low growl that was a constant threat.

Satomi frowned at Kim Yoo-ri before turning to Noshiko, her worry for Noshiko evident in her eyes.

Noshiko took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as she regained her composure. "I'm okay," she whispered to Satomi. She stood tall, a frown creasing her brow. 'Is it because she's a Guardian Kitsune? She's too strong,' Noshiko thought, recalling that she had been helpless against Areum. Then she saw Kim Yoo-ri's skeptical expression, and doubt crept into her own mind.

"Is she always that strong?" Noshiko asked, her curiosity piqued. She wanted to understand the difference in power between herself and Areum.

"Ahjumma was always strong, but you're too weak compared to Lee Yeon." Kim Yoo-ri said bluntly, her voice laced with skepticism.

'The other kitsune,' Noshiko thought, processing Kim Yoo-ri's words. 'Then I'm still weak. Is that it?' She clenched her fist, realizing she was no different than Lee Yeon, yet she couldn't even defend herself properly, making her feel inferior.

Satomi and Talia, their memories erased, were confused by the conversation but they waited for Noshiko to regain her composure.

Raizo, who had been guarding Lucian, looked at them before stepping forward, confronting Kim Yoo-ri.

"Why are you even here?" Raizo asked.

"I'm here to be his guard and help him if needed." Kim Yoo-ri said, her expression serious as she glanced at Lucian with a flicker of concern that vanished almost immediately.

"So the Lady from the ninja clan was right? You guys are backing up the Ozunu clan," Mika said, lowering her pistol.

Kim Yoo-ri glanced at her but didn't answer, considering Mika unimportant and unconnected to Lucian.

Noshiko, who was calmer now, heard Mika's question. She looked at Kim Yoo-ri with a strange, complicated expression.

"Maybe they are, but this girl is here to become Lucian's ma-"

Kim Yoo-ri, flustered, rushed to cut Noshiko off, hurrying forward and placing her hands over Noshiko's lips.

"I'm not. Don't talk nonsense." she said, her eyes wide with panic. Her sudden action surprised everyone before Noshiko quickly pulled Kim Yoo-ri's hand away from her lips.

"I know how troublesome you Gumiho's can get if you find someone you like." Noshiko said slowly, her skeptical eyes fixed on Kim Yoo-ri, not believing her.

"씨발(sshi bal)," Kim Yoo-ri couldn't help but shout in frustration at Noshiko's disbelief.

Noshiko's eyes narrowed, understanding Kim Yoo-ri's Korean words. "Don't think I don't understand Korean when you curse me in front of everyone like that," she said with a steady voice.

Kim Yoo-ri took a deep breath, attempting to regain her composure. She forced a calm smile back onto her face.

"I don't like him! I'm just curious. I don't like kids!" she said slowly, hoping this was the last time she had to explain, but Noshiko's unbelieving expression made her want to pull her hair out as frustration tightened her jaw.

The five others were still confused about the bickering back and forth between the two but they continued to listen and watch.

"Although I don't know what you guys are talking about, it seems like she's not our enemy." Satomi said, taking a step forward stopping the two from arguing, while she looked at Noshiko for confirmation.

Noshiko's gaze shifted to Satomi, then back to Kim Yoo-ri. "She's not," she said, then turned around while whispering. "But maybe in the future, she will be, when Lucian grows up." Even though she whispered, the others could still hear her voice full of sarcasm.

Kim Yoo-ri's eyes flashed glowing amber showing her anger. She was about to confront Noshiko when Satomi stepped in front of her, gently pushing her back slightly.

Kim Yoo-ri snarled at Noshiko before turning away. "Stupid old woman," she muttered under her breath.

But Noshiko quickly turned back, her purple eyes blazing as she took a step toward Kim Yoo-ri. Satomi stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "In the short time you've been here, I know for myself that I wouldn't like you." Noshiko said, a purple aura now radiates from her body.

Kim Yoo-ri, not wanting to be outdone, moved behind Satomi, her anger palpable.

"I don't like you either," she countered while her gaze sweeping over Noshiko, finally settling on her aging face. "Ah-jumma," she said, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Fucking Brat," Noshiko hissed, her purple aura fully transforming into a fox form. Satomi held her ground, blocking Noshiko. "Calm down, this isn't the right time to fight," she whispered, not wanting anything to happen to Lucian while they were arguing.

"Ladies, I know you guys don't like each other, but can we please think about the wounded first?" Deaton pleaded, hoping they could maintain some semblance of peace.

Noshiko and Kim Yoo-ri glared at each other, but Noshiko's eyes returned to their normal color. She clicked her tongue in irritation. "Tsk," she said, turning and walking to stand beside Lucian, observing him.

Kim Yoo-ri snarled, not wanting to appear defeated. Her eyes also returned to normal, and she moved toward a tree, standing with her arms crossed.

She looked at Lucian, tapping her foot impatiently, waiting for him to recover.

•-----•-----•-----•-----•

Soul Space

Lucian hugged Cortana, his arms wrapped around her as they lay beside the Golden Tree. "Why do you think it changed like this?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity. He looked at the Golden Tree, remembering how the branch had only become a trunk when they were connected, or when he was connected to the Golden Tree directly.

Cortana closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of Lucian's embrace. She held his arms against her waist, her touch gentle yet firm. "It could be for all the reasons we know, but we won't know for sure until we find its physical body," she said while her eyes were still closed. She tightened her grip on him.

Lucian smiled at her movements, pulling her closer. He rested his chin on her shoulder, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"But aren't you curious?" He whispered, against her ear then playfully bit her earlobe.

"No, I'm just glad you survived, and we can enjoy our own world here, in peace," Cortana said, her voice serious, though a smile couldn't help but creep onto her face as Lucian tickled her.

Lucian released her ear, his lips started kissing her neck.

"Then aren't you worried we'd die outside when we're here?" he asked, with a playful teasing in his voice, as he noticed her relaxed state.

"The Golden Tree is giving you energy to heal, even if it's slow. And the fight is over, we can relax now. So shut up and continue your work," Cortana said, her hand reaching up to pull his head closer to her neck.

Lucian chuckled, closing his eyes as he continued to kiss her neck.

Suddenly, a thunderous sound echoed throughout the soul space.

They jolted upright eyes widening in shock, as they saw a golden aurora borealis blooming in the Soul Space.

Cortana stood up, stepping away from Lucian, her gaze fixed on the aurora.

Lucian followed, a frown creasing his brow.

"Is it from the Golden Tree?" Cortana asked, observing the golden hue.

"It's not. It may look similar but it's very different. It shouldn't be here," Lucian said, shaking his head. As Lucian was in his soul space and he is deeply connected to the Golden Tree, he knew instinctively that this aurora was an intruder that suddenly appeared in his space.

Cortana trusted his assessment and they both frowned at the Golden aurora borealis. "Can you do something about it?" Cortana asked, her voice edged with urgency as the aurora began to crackle with thunderous light.

Lucian closed his eyes, focusing on the Golden Aurora, but not before long he found out he couldn't stop it. It was as if it was already a part of him, growing louder and brighter with each passing moment.

Seeing this, Lucian walked toward the Golden Tree, placing his palm against its Trunk and closing his eyes.

Cortana followed, her expression laced with worry, as she watched him.

He opened his eyes, confusion etched on his face.

"What did the Golden Tree say?" Cortana asked, hoping for a reassuring answer.

Lucian shook his head.

"The Golden Tree can't say anything. It's not sapient or sentient. Its goal has always been just to help me," Lucian said, realizing this as he reconnected with the Golden Tree.

"Then can it help, Lucian?" Cortana asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Wait," Lucian said, his voice filled with confusion. Before Cortana could ask what he meant, the Golden Aurora suddenly shot out a Golden Lightning bolt, striking Lucian.

Cortana gasped, frozen in shock as Lucian was enveloped in the lightning.

"Ahhhhhh!" Lucian cried out in pain because Deep within his soul, it felt as if the lightning was trying to destroy him but when it subsided, he felt a shift within him, a change.

The Golden aurora, however wasn't finished. It continued to shoot out bolts of golden light, striking Lucian.

Lucian endured the onslaught, his body wracked with pain yet as his Soul body kept changing.

Then a soft green glow suddenly appeared, spreading across his entire being.

While a void color and a white color from deep within his core emerged, expanding within his golden soul.

The Golden Tree finally reacted. It shot out a golden wisp of energy, enveloping Lucian.

As the golden lightning struck the wisp, it simply devoured the energy, as if it were nourishment.

Lucian was lifted from the ground, floating towards the trunk of the tree. The golden lightning kept striking but the Golden Tree just shone brighter, growing larger and while its roots were getting thicker with each strike.

Cortana ran towards the tree not caring about the tree's changes, focused solely on Lucian and his well-being.

The Golden Tree opened its trunk creating a path for Cortana to enter. She left the soul space behind as the golden aurora borealis began to dim, the lightning strikes becoming weaker with each pulse.

Cortana, standing within the trunk saw Lucian's golden soul now infused with the black and white energy, spreading from the center while green energy kept trying to combine it together. But it wasn't working. The black energy was more dominant than the white, creating an imbalance.

As the failure sends shockwaves on Lucian Soul Body almost destroys him while the golden wisp clung to Lucian strengthening Lucian soul body.

The Golden Tree, desperate to help its owner, suddenly shot out towards Cortana.

Cortana, who was watching Lucian, was engulfed by the golden wisp.

Neither of them knew that their connection was deeper than they had imagined more deeper than Lucian's connection on the Golden Tree.

The Golden Tree, enveloped Cortana completely, forming a shimmering golden sphere.

Then it shot out a beam of pure golden light, connecting to Lucian, engulfing him in another golden sphere.

Unlike Cortana's sphere, which pulsed with pure, unadulterated gold, Lucian's sphere was different.

The Golden Tree, refining the divine power from the lightning and Yggdrasil's blessing, spread the energy throughout Lucian's soul body, purifying it and helping him blend the energies within him, finally becoming a silver shining sphere with a golden line a sign that it will change him completely.

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Next Chapter 54: New Day Part 2

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