Chapter 24: The final embrace

I was happy.

“I’m… becoming a shaman…”
“…”

The day of her initiation ceremony finally arrived.

“…You won’t… be able to come… right…?”
“……..”

I kissed her lightly.

“…Chuwp…”
“…Mm…?”

“…I may not be there in person… but my heart will be with you.”
“…Heehee…”

A perfect ending.

“I should go. See you tomorrow?”
“…Yes.”

The day arrived.

Rustle

“…”

I hid my ears and tail beneath a courtesan’s veil, blending into the crowd, watching the ceremony in secret. I’d wanted to surprise her.

Jingle

“…”

She was more beautiful than ever, her movements graceful, fluid.

I was mesmerized. Her dance was elegant, delicate, and powerful, a mystical energy flowing from her fingertips. She was a true shaman now.

“…”

Love at first sight… was this what it felt like? I’d already fallen for her, but I fell deeper, harder, with every graceful movement.

“…Oh…”

Our eyes met. She tried to maintain her composure, to focus on the dance, but the smile playing on her lips betrayed her.

Jingle

“…”

The ceremony ended. People mingled, chatting and laughing.

Grab

“Whoa…!”

A hand grabbed mine, pulling me away from the crowd, towards a secluded area.

“…Ah…”

Tap, tap, tap

It was her. She’d been talking to an elder just moments ago.

“Haa… Haa… How… How did you get here?! I thought you couldn’t come?!”
“…There’s always a way.”

She beamed, her pristine white robes flowing around her as she hugged me.

“How… How was it?! My dance…! Heehee… I practiced so hard… Was it okay…?”

She asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

“…It was perfect. The best I’ve ever seen.”
“Really?!”

She hugged me again, jumping up and down with excitement.

“Being with you… it’s so wonderful… I feel so calm… I was so nervous… but when our eyes met… it was like a miracle… I felt at peace…”
“…Is that so?”

We stood there, hidden behind the shrine, chatting and laughing.

“…Tonight…”
“…Yes?”

Her cheerful chatter subsided, a new topic on her mind.

“…Will you… stay at my place…?”
“…..”

I froze. Worry gnawed at me.

What if… what if we stayed in the same room…?

“The… they give shamans their own quarters… so…”
“…Ah…”

Her explanation made me nod instantly.

“Really?! Then… let’s meet… behind my house… tonight…”
“…O-okay…”

That night…

Rustle

“…”
“…”

We met at the designated spot, our hands clasped together, and walked towards her house in silence.

My footsteps were soundless. I watched the back of her head, my heart pounding in my chest.

“……..”

My soul felt alive.

We entered her quarters and faced each other.

“…You won’t… tell anyone… will you…?”
“……….”

She looked at me, her eyes questioning. I held her close for a moment, then whispered in her ear,

“…I gave up killing for you. Who would I tell? Besides… you’re the only one who would even talk to me.”
“…Heehee…”

“…So…?”
“Chuwp…”

Before she could finish, I kissed her.

Our tails intertwined, caressing each other.

“Mm… Fox…”

Her soft voice, like melting snowflakes, sent shivers down my spine. Her skin, bathed in moonlight, shimmered with a silvery glow.

“…I’m here.”
“Mm…”

As she pressed herself against me, she seemed to become even more beautiful.

We spent the night together. She smiled, a radiant, happy smile I’d never seen before. My own face mirrored hers, my heart overflowing with joy. Our feelings, bathed in moonlight, flowed into each other, our souls intertwined.

Love. We were drowning in it.

Chirp, chirp

Dawn broke. I woke up before she did.

“Fox… Mm… Fox…”
“…”

Even in her sleep, she murmured my name.

Rustle

“…..”
“Heehee…”

I let her hold my tail for a while, then…

“… “

…hearing footsteps outside, slipped out the back door.

– “Fox…!”
– “Shaman?!”

We spent our days like this, stolen moments of happiness.

– “I… I just… I dreamt of the murderous fox… so…”
“…Heehee… Cute…”

I stayed by her side, always. Even when she didn’t visit the temple, I was there, watching over her, a silent guardian.

She grew stronger, more skilled, a true shaman…

“…Shamans are dangerous…!”
“…What…?”

But then, tragedy struck.

“Shamans are witches sent by the gods to destroy us! Don’t trust them! Have you forgotten the murders?!”
“…What nonsense…”

It started with a man.

“My wife! My wife is dead! Because of that shaman!”
“…You don’t even have a wife…”

He spouted nonsense before my beloved. I thought no one would believe him, but…

“I knew it…!”
“…What…?”

…one by one, they turned against her.

“…I would never…”
“Silence, witch!”

They wouldn’t even listen to her explanations.

“… “

Someone threw a ceramic pot at her.

Smash

“What the—?!”

I couldn’t control myself.

“……”

I appeared before her, the shattered pieces of the pot clutched in my hand.

“…Who dares…?”

My eyes narrowed, my gaze fixed on the woman who’d thrown the pot.

“…Who dares attack my shaman…?”

My voice, low and menacing, echoed through the stunned silence.

“Who?!”

Terrified, they seized the woman and dragged her before me. She knelt, trembling.

“…You’ve grown complacent in your peace… haven’t you…?”

I glared down at her.

“… “

She couldn’t answer.

“…Have you ever… been to war…?”
“…N-no…”

She whispered.

“…Then you should be grateful for your safety, bowing before the shaman who came to protect you… How dare you attack her… throw this… this filth… at her…? At a human…?”

I couldn’t let them get away with this. I lost control. My eyes, usually so human, turned feral, predatory. They cowered before me.

“…And you… unable to protect the one who shares your beliefs… throwing her to the wolves… You’re all at fault… you worthless scum…”

I extended my claws, ready to strike.

“…It’s… okay…”
“……..”

My beloved’s hand on my arm. Her voice, calming me.

“… “

I regained control, my rage subsiding.

“…I am everywhere. The fox you hunted… I have sworn to protect the shaman. And those who oppose her… will pay the price…!”

I let my threat hang in the air.

Whoosh

I disappeared, returning to my perch in the trees.

“… “

They hadn’t seen me move. I’d been so close to losing control.

“……..”

The villagers dispersed, returning to their homes. My beloved left the village.

“…Haa…”

What if this happened again? I wouldn’t be able to control myself.

“… “

I prayed it wouldn’t.

“…Fox…”
“…Are you alright…?”

That night, I visited her as usual.

“…I’m fine… Humans… they’re afraid of those who are different… those who are… stronger…”
“…Still…”

I caressed her cheek, brushed her hair aside, listening to her worries.

“…I wish… humans could understand… that we all come from the same place… that we’re all… the same…”
“…Indeed…”

We fell asleep, carrying the weight of our shared scars.

“… “

But it wasn’t over.

Thud

“…Ugh…!”

An arrow flew through the window, while she was sleeping.

“Wake up…!”
“What’s… happening…?!”

I broke down the door and carried her away.

Tap, tap, tap

“Why…?!”

She didn’t understand why they were attacking her. I saw their souls, approaching from the distance.

“…You animals…!”

The villagers. They’d tracked us down. They were insane. Or just stupid.

Tap, tap, tap

“Run! We have to find a safe place!”
“But you…!”

I sent her ahead. The path was clear.

“I’ll follow.”
“Fox!”

I hid behind a tree, waiting for the pursuers.

Tap, tap

“…Haa…!”

As one passed by, I struck, snapping its neck…

Crack

“Gah…!”
“…”

…and crushing its skull beneath my heel.

Crunch

“…”

I hadn’t killed in a while. I didn’t want their souls. Not these.

“…Haa…”

Why didn’t I feel any guilt? I wanted to kill more.

“… “

She was safe. But the others…

“…What…?”

There were four of them now. Not three.

“…The royal guard…?”

Two of the souls… they belonged to the royal guard.

“………”

This was getting worse.

“…Scum…”

I wanted to kill them all.

Dash

I lunged, targeting the one closest to my beloved.

“What—?!”

Grab, snap

I grabbed its neck and twisted.

“… “

I took a deep breath and turned to the next one.

“Did you find her?! Where did she go?!”
“…There you are…”

It was searching for her, but I found it first.

“Wha—?!”

Stab

I plunged my claws into its heart.

“…”

But…

“Found her!”
“What?!”

Thud

An arrow flew through the air.

Pierce

It found its mark.

“……..”

I lost control.

Rip, tear, crunch

I turned the archer into a mangled corpse.

“…My… my beloved…”

I ran to her.

“Ugh…”
“…Are you… alright?!”

The arrow had struck her shoulder. The bleeding was severe.

“…Fox…”
“Just… hang in there… I’ll take you somewhere safe…”

I carried her deeper into the forest, away from the humans.

“…Hee… hee… This reminds me… of the old days…”
“Be quiet and stay still…!”

She just laughed.

“…Back then… you were the one… injured…”
“Be quiet…!”

I told her to stop moving, afraid of aggravating the wound, but she continued.

“…Let’s go… to Cheongmyosan…”
“…What…?”

Cheongmyosan. I didn’t know exactly where it was, but I knew the name.

“…They don’t… need me anymore…”
“………”

The mountain where the lonely dragon resided.

“…They’ll be safe… without me…”
“……….”

“…I understand.”

I ran, without stopping, towards the mountain.

Thump

“Dragon!”
“…Hmm…?”

I carried her into the cave.

“It’s been a while… Oh, has it been that long already…?”
“You… you knew…! Please, heal her…!”

I pleaded with the dragon.

“…No.”

It refused.

“…What…?”
“…Your journey… ends here.”

It spoke cryptic words.

“…What do you mean…?”
“…Please… do it…”

My beloved slipped from my arms, approaching the dragon.

“…You too, Fox.”
“…What…?”

She gestured to me, her injured arm clutched tightly against her chest.

“…You are going to the Spirit World. Your time in the human world is over.”
“… “

I understood.

“The shaman will guide the lost souls, and you, Fox, will find peace there. That is the will of the gods.”
“…I see…”

The gods were merciful. The Spirit World. A peaceful sanctuary, free from conflict, where souls could rest and find solace.

And the Sacred Beast, the guide.

“…You’re… the Sacred Beast…”
“…Yes. I apologize for not telling you sooner… You’re always so impatient…”

I smiled, relieved. I went to my beloved.

“…Fox…”

She looked at me, worry etched on her face. She knew.

“…Go on ahead.”
“…Why…? No… Fox…!”

She tried to grab my hand as I turned away.

“…I have no choice.”
“No! Don’t go! Please! Come with me, Fox! Please! In the Spirit World…!”

I dodged her hand.

“We won’t have to kill anymore!”
“…”

I answered her plea.

“…My destiny is fulfilled, thanks to you.”
“…”

I looked at the dragon, a silent farewell.

“…You were the beautiful soul I was searching for. Every moment with you… it was like… a divine revelation.”
“…No… Fox, please…”

The dragon held her back, allowing me to leave.

“…I’m sorry… I’m just… a killer…”
“No… It’s not true…!”

And with those words…

“…I’ll follow you soon.”
“No! Don’t…!”

Leap

…I jumped.

“…One who has fulfilled the will of the gods… chooses their own path… She will return… Don’t worry, Shaman.”
“Fox…!”

The shaman watched, tears streaming down her face, as the fox disappeared into the chasm.

“…Will you go…?”
“……..”

The Sacred Beast spoke. The shaman couldn’t answer.

“…Yes…”
“…I understand.”

After a long moment, she composed herself, wiping away her tears.

Whoosh

Bathed in a light brighter than the sun, she ascended…

…to the Spirit World.