Chapter Three: My Life as a Fox
WHEN we returned to the castle, my friends practically mobbed me.
“You’re too cute,” Cita cooed.
“And your fur is as soft as a cloud,” Cia added.
“I want to squeeze you in my arms while I fall asleep,” Julietta chimed in.
The girls tousled my fur however they pleased. I could hardly resist, as I was a little smaller than a cat. Once the girls had transformed me into a disheveled mess, the boys ruffled my fur next.
“Is this really Ally?” Rosario asked. “She’s so cute that I can hardly believe it.”
Lauris nodded. “I could get addicted to running my fingers through this fur.”
“I want a pet just like her,” Oreste said while lifting me in his arms.
At that moment, Embert snatched me away. “I think not. This adorable little creature belongs to me.”
Next, Janus snatched me away. “This should go without saying, but Ally is still a daughter of House Vistriano.” Janus sat on the couch, placed me on his lap, and stroked my fur.
Yep, Janus’s hands feel the best of anyone’s.
I grew drowsy while luxuriating in his touch. Of course, I fit snugly in Janus’s lap, as I was no larger than a basketball. As I dozed off, Embert called out to me.
“Do you understand what we’re saying, Ally?”
I looked up at Embert and nodded.
“But you can’t speak?” he pressed.
I nodded again. Honestly, I could’ve laughed as everyone looked at me with hearts in their eyes. Was I really that cute?
“Perhaps you could speak to us through telepathy,” Embert said. “Could you try sending me a brief message?”
Per his request, I tried to communicate telepathically, but he couldn’t hear me. When I shook my head, Embert ruffled my ears consolingly. I tried to say, “Thank you,” but all that came out was, “Kyun!”
Everyone in the room froze at that sound, which resembled the yipping of a small canine.
Cita was the first to react, squealing with delight. “What was that, Ally? A yip?”
“It was super cute!” Julietta exclaimed.
Cia covered her face with her hands. “I’m going to start getting nosebleeds just like you, Ally.”
As the boys looked at me with dazed expressions, Janus ruffled my fur even harder.
Uh, try not to make me go bald, okay?
Meanwhile, Embert froze in place while staring at me. “What… What an adorable little yip!” He reached out to steal me from Janus’s lap, practically exploding with excitement.
Whoa. Scary, much? I need to keep my distance from Em right now. If he hits me with another cheek-nuzzling attack, I might actually go bald.
I buried my face in Janus’s jacket, my ears drooping. A moment later, the dark grey sphere on the table bounced over to Janus’s lap, seeming to move of its own free will. It then stood in the way of Embert’s hand.
Is the little fella protecting me?
Embert withdrew his hand. “Yes, it seems to be alive, just as I suspected.”
The dull gray sphere had been inside the hidden room’s treasure chest. After casting an appraisal spell on the mysterious object, Janus had only received the description “metal sphere.” Despite being metal, the sphere wasn’t very solid. Its elasticity was more akin to a rubber ball. For some reason, it seemed determined to stay by my side. Though Custode seemed to have some idea about the sphere’s nature, he hadn’t said anything yet. Apparently, he wanted to be certain first.
Well, curiosity about the sphere aside, I’m mostly concerned about myself right now.
“Custode,” I spoke to the dragon telepathically. “How long am I going to say like this?”
What perils might await me if I didn’t return to my normal self soon?
Custode donned a thoughtful expression while curled up on a cushion. “Not too long, I suspect. Someone of your strength should return to normal in two or three days.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Indeed. The more mana one has, the faster these kinds of curses tend to dissipate.”
“I see. Thank goodness.”
Of course, I hadn’t thought I would stay a fox forever. At the same time, I’d worried about remaining in this form throughout my stay in Bragioga. As I breathed a small sigh of relief, Embert flared up on Custode.
“Custode,” he said. “You’re talking to Ally again, aren’t you?”
How did he know? Custode and I had been speaking telepathically this entire time. What had given it away?
“I won’t permit secrets between the two of you,” Embert continued. “What did Ally say?”
Custode heaved a deep sigh. Was Embert a master of pissing off dragons or something?
“Ally was asking how long she would remain in this form,” Custode explained. “I told her the curse would wear off in a few days.”
“Oh, is that right?” Embert asked.
“Yes. These kinds of curses are all little more than pranks. The stronger someone’s mana is, the faster the curse will dissipate.”
Embert’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “I’m overjoyed that you’ll be returning to normal, but at the same time… it will be a little sad to never see you in this adorable form again.”
The prince softly sighed while looking at me in Janus’s lap. Everyone else nodded in agreement.
Whoa, hold up there. I want to return to normal as soon as possible, okay?