Chapter 87

The first thing I did as Kizuna dashed forward, was to take the Shield off my back, switch to the Book Shield, and summon one of my spell storage gloves from the gem. Now able to do just that little bit more with my time, I slammed an Air Strike Shield behind me at the nearest entrance, and the Second Shield directly behind the so called Genius.

Kizuna glanced back at me as I also started to run forward, "I only need to touch the hourglass and have you reasonably close!" She said, giving me a clear 'win' condition.

The 'genius' stopped pointing at Kizuna, "Get her!"

He glanced back, probably expecting his flock of girls to rush forward, but all that happened was a half dozen people slamming nose first into my Shield.

"I." I started as Kizuna veered left, "Will handle him."

"You dare!" He replied to my very clear challenge, "I don't ha-" And he slammed face first into my 'Dritte Shield'. Now boxed between the one behind, and the one to his right, he could do nothing else but run to me. "Go back to the Hourglass! I'll take care of this... woman."

As Kizuna and I got about half way, the guards coming in from the other entrances were starting to make it through the crowds of panicking civilians. So, it was time for the next trick. I slammed on the breaks, skid to a halt, and just started throwing magic around. I might not have had much attack power to speak of, but no one actually knew that.

So, while my gauntlet, book, and little black fox on my shoulder, started throwing around what amounted to 'magic bean bags', everyone started to duck behind stuff. Between spells, I started throwing smoke bombs around, summoned the other spell glove from the Shield too!

Of course, while people were hiding behind stuff, they weren't in Kizuna's way.

"WEAK!" My light show was suddenly cut short when a fireball slammed into me, the kinetic force of it forcing me back a step and interrupting my fun, but it was harmless otherwise. From the smoke cloud in front of me the Genius burst forward, his otherwise handsome face drawn up in fury, "Let's see how you handle-"

He had a katana at his hip, and with a long smooth motion it came free from its scabbard and arced towards my head.

Of course, before he could finish his swing, or his sentence, I stepped forward, leaned down so my head went under his arm, and brought the spine of the Book Shield down onto his forehead. Like perfect counter-punch from a boxer.

I followed through with my swing, the effort straining my shoulder. But all the momentum of his charge recoiled back on him and he flopped onto his back hard, his head making a hollow sound as it rebounded off the floor.

"Know your place, mortal." I said, feeling my horns tingle as I leaned down to look into his stunned face. "You have no idea who you are dealing with."

His groggy eyes looked up at me as I dropped my disguise, and went wide with shock as he realized what I was. "Im-impossible!"

But I had no more time for him. I fled into the smoke I had created, towards the now clear path towards the hourglass, I tossed a Marlboro jar over my shoulder and hid my ears and tails again.

"I'm almost there!" Kizuna yelled, the sound of a wooden desks and panicking bureaucrats, then the scream of a woman as Kizuna leapt above the smoke of the room, looking like she might clear the outer curtain wall of the Hourglass as clinging smoke trailed off of her.

Behind me was the sound of shattering pottery, and the anguished cry of someone being right next to a war-crime grade stink bomb. Someone, one of the women who had been next to the 'genius' when he arrived appeared in front of me just before I got to the rice paper screen, but I tossed a second Marlboro jar at her, rolled left, rolled right, and popped up to my feet as Kizuna landed next to me.

"Go. Now." I said as a second cloud of eternal (though, water soluble) stench erupted towards the ceiling.

This time, she hugged me as she put her hand on the Hourglass.

Location Registered

"Return dragon vein!"

The transition was different than both the trip here (thankfully, I mean, turning back into a child sucked), and through the portals back in Melromarc. Instead, it was almost exactly like a trip through the dragon veins back in Kuoh.

With an almost gentle pull, a sliding sensation over my skin, and a sudden stop as if waking up suddenly, it was done.

Location Registered

"Kizuna-sama!" Someone called out as Kizuna let me go and my status screen unfocused from my attention.

"Kizuna-sama!" Someone else called out, "You came back!", "You're free!"

I turned to face a dozen or more people, all of them looking surprised, but in that pleasant way when someone gives you a cookie from nowhere.

So, I stepped just a little closer to the hourglass, put my hands on her shoulders, and put her in front of me.

Jealousy. It was just a little bit, but it was there.

But that faded quickly to something I couldn't quite describe, as Kizuna and a gaggle of well dressed (medieval European style) pencil pushers and servants(?) crowded around her. Even if I was a head taller and wearing what most would (and have) called a 'scary mask', I was ignored just long enough to look around a little.

Unlike the extreme (but still authentic feeling) Japanese vibe of where ever we'd just left, this place resembled Melromarc. Super early Victorian/late medieval styled stone and wood work. The only thing that was similar, was this place was also used for what looked like some kind of Guild or town hall.

It wasn't long before my 'fade into the background' act was seen through, and someone who looked like either 'high ranking official' or 'nobility' rolled up with a wide armed, "Kizuna-sama! Welcome back! And... who is that behind you?"

Kizuna and the rest fell silent as she took a step away from me towards this new person, turned and said, "This is Kodori-sama." She said, then to me, "We're safe here. Unless they have been to this hourglass, they can't follow us."

Faced with what evidence I had in front of me, I decided to trust them a little. I hung the book at my hip, and took off my mask, but I did not reveal anything more than that. "Kodori Haruhime." I introduced myself, not quite sure what else to say past that. Kizuna seemed a little sad I didn't reveal my ears and tails, but didn't comment.

"Please, come with us, the King will be ecstatic you have been freed."

Unlike Melromarc, the castle we were shown to was far more modest. Modest, but also leaning more towards 'fortress'. There was far less effort put into white paint and nice walls, but the place was still clean and well cared for. Nice clean smelling torches, tasteful tapestries to help keep the cold stone from turning the place to a fridge or furnace, simple but durable carpets for the floors...

Kizuna effortlessly, enthusiastically, answered as many questions as she could about her return. But finally, it was the King himself (well dressed, alert, athletic looking and lacking a red headed snake of a daughter nearby at least), "And how did you finally manage to escape the Labyrinth Prison?"

"Thanks to this Hero from another world." Kizuna started, "Kodori-sama broke us both out of there." She motioned to me with a 'here's your prize' hand wave...

And everyone went silent.

I let my hand rest on the Book Shield, while Kizuna picked up on the sudden drastic spike of tension in the air.

"Is there a problem?" She asked, that sparkling cheer she (still) had cracking almost audibly. "She's done nothing but help me since we met."

Jealousy again... Her moment of irritation getting everyone's respectful attention, "Ah, forgive us! You are of course correct."

"Fine. But what-"

"With our two worlds at war," I started, "They're probably expecting I'd want to kill you." I shook my head, "But, past that, I have no idea."

Again that spike of tension, but this time the King spoke, "Please explain, sir Scholar."

One of the people near the throne stepped away from the wall, bowed slightly (though respectfully) to Kizuna and I, "The holders of the Vassal weapons know this, about the Waves and the war between worlds."

Like a Jester or Storyteller of a play, he stepped between the throne and the rest of us and continued, "As a Holy Weapon holder, you should also be told of this." He started, "But you have a different role than the Vassal weapon holders, a deeper responsibility than simply defending the people in times of crisis."

He must have had children, he was a good storyteller, using simple hand gestures, good voice cadence, that kind of thing. But past that, this was information I didn't get when I arrived, and had to put together myself. So I was really curious what Kizuna's world said about the Waves.

"The Waves are caused by two worlds briefly coming together, momentarily fusing together. The Four Holy Weapon holders are meant to protect, and rebuff the Waves, the monsters it brings, and the Vassal weapon holders from the other world who come with them."

This I knew, but Kizuna said, "Aside from the timer I see, I didn't know this." She said, "I wasn't summoned for the Waves."

The scholar flinched a little, but nodded, recovered, and continued, "Sadly, as the heroes fall, the invading waves get stronger." He shook his head, "If the Waves see completion, then both worlds will fuse, and be destroyed. But if the Vassal weapon holders slay the opposing heroes, their world will be saved, while the opposing world is destroyed."

"Well, that explains a few things." I said, drawing all eyes to me. "From what little I've learned, and meeting Glass and L'arc, I understand their motivations now."

Kizuna however was a bit angry, "You believe all that? That killing the other heroes or sacrificing a world is the only way out of the Waves?"

There it was again, the little spike of hostility from everyone around me, and my little tingle of jealousy at the respect Kizuna was getting. "It is what our legends say..." The scholarly fellow said, trailing off a little in the face of Kizuna's smol fury.

"Relax." I said, getting nowhere, " Relax." I repeated, making everyone in the room jump a little, a mild euphoric tingle going up my spine. "Before anything else, I knew, or at least, suspected what was going on. Kizuna and I are not enemies, and I am not here to because I have any interest in destroying your world."

I put a hand on Kizuna's shoulder and continued, my other taking the Book at my hip changing to the Shield of Marius, "I will re-introduce myself. My name is Kodori Haruhime, Shield Hero. And it is only due to very special circumstances that I was able to come here at all. Because of the Waves, and this world's Vassal weapon holders attacking, we are looking for someone named Kyo."

Someone in the room mumbled 'Vassal Book'.

So I turned to look at them, "Yes. Glass, L'arc and Therese, Kizuna's former party members, were hunting him down, and for a short time our purposes aligned." I turned back to the scholar, "What little I know of the Waves, from the legends of the world I ended up in, make no mention of destruction if the Waves conclude."

"But our-"

"I know I know... Legends, stories, etc etc. Even I suspect the quality of the information I have put together. But what I do know, is that the Heroes I was summoned with knew of the world before arriving. This tells me that it is possible for the heroes to survive, and return home." I ruffled Kizuna's hair, getting a mildly indignant 'hey!' before continuing, "That's my goal. Not murder or genocide."

People mumbled at each other while Kizuna gave me a tiny glare and took my hand off her head. She did however hold on to it while she said, "I owe Kodori-sama for getting me free, and intend to help her find the party she arrived with and hunt down Kyo." She let my hand go as everyone focused on her again. "Just because we are," She did some air quotes, "'supposedly', at war, if Glass and my friends are hunting down someone, they must have a really good reason, even if they are from this world."

The king nodded as the scholar returned to his spot near the throne. "Very well. I can hardly refuse our Hunting Hero. How do you wish to begin?"

"She is our last hero... she should stay someplace safe..." I heard the scholar mumble.

"No. I will not be put back into a box so soon after getting free." Kizuna growled. She looked to me. "You're better at planning."

"My party and I were separated before I arrived in the labyrinth with Kizuna. I need to find them." I changed the Shield back to the Book, "My 'weapon' limits my ability to attack, and she cannot harm anything but animals with hers."

The king nodded, "Sadly, you know more than we do about where her party has been."

"Ethnobalt." Kizuna said, "Call for him. He's the best person when you need to find someone!"

The king nodded, looked to the side, and someone left the room in a hurry. "It will likely take at least a day." He said, "But you will have any help you require."

Kizuna nodded and smiled up at me with a little V sign. I nodded back, and she looked to the king, "Is my villa still there?"

"Of course." He replied with a smile.

"We will be there until Ethnobalt arrives."

We walked out of the castle like we owned it, Kizuna picking up those happy-go-lucky sparkles with every friendly wave. Much like Melromarc, this big city had an outer wall, and it was within stone's throw of that when she broke the silence, "Why didn't you change all the way?" She asked.

"A bit of habit, a bit of caution. That guy who nearly got us caught? He knew what I was." I smiled, mumbling, "Felt good to put the fear into him."

"Well, with me, you don't need to worry about that. This is the country that summoned me... though..." She realized where her logic was going and fell silent.

"Yeah... You know I was summoned into a much different place. I mean, it's been fixed now, but even before all that, trust is not something I just hand out." I said as we walked past the gate, getting a smart 'at attention' heel click from the guards as we passed.

"Well you trusted me."

"The hunting hero, who didn't kill an animal." I gave her a smile, "Besides, after I woke up in my own little shrine, I got curious. Normally, I don't go for that kind of thing but..." I put a hand on her shoulder, "How far is it?"

"Are you sure?"

"You said it yourself, I don't need to worry about that."

Maybe it was guilt, feeling jealous at her good fortune to not have the same bad luck I did. Sure, getting hijacked from your home was bad enough, but she at least ended up some place where they respected her.

Maybe it was seeing those few we met on the road wonder where the hell their hero found a Kitsune, let alone one who was friendly.

Maybe it was an attempt to celebrate her freedom? Or that she was deserving of a little 'uplifting' in a literal sense?

What ever it was that kept her weight on my back from feeling like a burden, or insult, or any number of things that seemed to offend what little Kitsune nature I cared to admit I had, we arrived in another town less than a half hour later.

Laughing as she got off my back, she calmed down the two guards, reached up to give the side of my giant fox face a scrubbing with her fingers, and told me, "Okay, you can stop scaring the locals now. It's just a little farther." Pause, "Oh, you like this too? Are you purring?"

I had to force myself to shake off her scroofling hand, then compress myself into my normal body again. A moment later, once I wiggled my fingers and toes to get them to feel 'mine' again, I took off my mask and let my ears and tails show. "I admit nothing." I said, "Guardsmen." I nodded to the gobsmacked soldiers on either side of the town's entrance.

Again she played tour guide, though it was more a... shared trip down memory lane for her. 'This is where so and so gave me bread', or 'I got my starter equipment from this place here!'. That sort of thing. Of course, she had to grip the end of one of my tails to distract me from the blacksmith's stall, but I did convince her to buy a small quantity of good coal. My foxfire wasn't as hot as it needed to be yet, unless I wanted to work something like lead, copper or bronze.

My request for coal convincing her to open her coin purse for a few other little things from the market for dinner, but after a tiny trip through the market for 'stuff', we got to the other side of town. Five minutes after that, we arrived at a modestly walled (thin stone wall, just over head height to keep most things out), and what Kizuna called her 'manor'.

Built with a stone foundation, and a wooden upper floor, it was very well appointed. Nice front yard, lots of windows, good roof, sniff a lake nearby, maybe even behind the home itself...

I knew the moment I looked at it, that this was a home. But felt, as I walked past the (nice wrought iron) gate, that it was empty. Not abandoned, just... lonely.

I followed her towards the front door, "I had this house built for me." She said, taking a key from a pocket, not her weapon's inventory, "So when we weren't out there doing what ever it was heroes did, we could all rest here."

For a place that had been without its mistress, the lock made hardly any noise as she turned the big key. That alone was a little surprising. But I turned to look back towards the gate, noticing that there was no leaf litter. The small bushes and gardens were... Well not perfect, but tended to. And even the windows were clean.

"Hey... What's wrong?" Kizuna asked as I turned back to her. She'd stopped with one foot through the door.

I reached up and touched my face, "Homesick." I said quietly, "May I enter your home, Kizuna-san?"

"Yes you may." She said.

Just as nice as the outside, the inside had a warm rustic feeling. Spacious, but still feeling cozy, it was clear a lot of thought went into this place. Primitive, but running water (not heated). Sewage (actual flushing toilets!). Three fireplaces (either side of the house and in the kitchen opposite the door). Comfortable furniture (that had lost just enough of their 'brand new' feeling to feel comfortable). A kitchen with enough space for a half dozen people to cook/stand at once and not get in anyone's way and a dining room for a dozen...

It had been empty since Kizuna was captured, but it was far too clean to have been abandoned.

"Someone had to have been cleaning the place..." Kizuna said as we walked upstairs, "Probably Glass." She nodded to herself, "Before every adventure we went on, she insisted we clean up properly."

"She seemed the type. If we met under better circumstances, we'd have been friends." I mused, "I hope she forgives me, or at least understands."

"Me too. Pretty sure she will though." Even the upper floor was perfectly kept. It even had a closet for lamps and candles. "Aha, here you go." She opened a door, "You can sleep here. Though, if you changed into a fox, you could sleep anywhere." She laughed.

"Now you tease." I tried to pout, but found myself smiling, "Ah, perfect." I saw that the fireplace opposite the door extended up to this floor. "I'll be able to do a little work..."

"Glass will less understanding if you make a mess here." She said, "Dinner first?"

"As my host wishes." I nodded.

Partially because I was indeed a guest, but also because this was a 'homecoming' of sorts for her, I did the best I could with dinner. Of course, it wasn't just for her. Being domestic helped keep the bitter feeling of homesickness away, or at least... blunted the edges of it. Sadly, I lacked just about everything to make something super special, like pasta. But at the very least I could make the noodles. Egg and flour were about the same in any world...

And yes, I did promise I'd make a meal for all of them, my party and her party, if we ever sat down at this table together.

Before me lay my armour. After reclaiming it from Kizuna, and now being able to fit into it without looking like a child playing dress-up (much like when I arrived with this stupid slab of metal on my arm...), I figured it was time to add the little bits I couldn't.

CAREFULLY using the coal from the blacksmith's shop in my bedroom's fireplace, and only using the extra heat to melt down some copper and my fur, I changed my mind about what I would lay down in the last bit of space on the armour's surface. Instead of say, making a literal 'anti-gravity' enchantment, something that the Spirit Tortoise had shown me was possible, I decided that I was going to do what I'd done for my mask.

I mean, what was scarier than a fox the size of a truck? One wearing armour!

The weird rules of the world, and the drop items in it, made this easier than it would have been back home. Transmutation and Polymorphic magics were... not beyond my skill, but certainly in the upper limits. But here? It was not just easier, but there were 'naturally' occurring items that helped the process along! You could pull half the 'work' from the ground or monster loot. While the other half was a bit of focused willpower, some skill, and a 'system' that seemed...

I didn't really have a word for it. 'Soft'? The magic people could use, with the ' I am the blah blah blah' and the like, was fine for beginners. It was the most people usually learned. But everyone in my party but Clive and the 'animals' could, and had, tacked on little things 'outside' the system everyone 'knew'. Usa could channel raw electricity down his whip, without words, or make it stronger with words. Melty could dual cast ice and water magic with the same spell. We had combined magic more than once, changing little bits of the 'verse' used to cast, to modify 'intent'.

And now, I was using a bit of the leftover red cloth made from 'Ko-thread', my own mix of copper and fur, and a little willpower, to add the same 'shape changing' effects that were on my robe and mask.

I had just finished putting on my armour, when I heard Kizuna leave the house. Peeking out the window, I saw her walking towards the lake I smelled earlier. Even if it was a little late, I could understand the need to do something 'familiar' to calm the mind. She did love to fish, so much so it seemed almost an obsession. But, I couldn't fault her that...

However, armour now firmly in place, my re-growing only causing the need to adjust the straps a tiny bit, (having two people who knew how to really cook, and lots of things TO cook, made regrowing much easier... still wouldn't want to do it again, ever,) my armour needed one more test...

" yip." I said up at Kizuna's kneecap, my little armoured nose nudging her leg.

Yes, I was now a tiny fox, a little bigger than a cat, in an equally small suit of high mobility plate armour, with all kinds of nice bright copper and black lines over it.

Kizuna paused, holding her rod with one hand, and looked down at me...

And moments later, she was 'squee'ing at me, her foot standing on her Weapon's handle to keep in contact, while she hugged, rubbed, and basically did all the things she did to me the first time.

She did stop eventually, holding me at arm's length under my front legs, "Not as much fun with the armour on." She said, "But wow, that looks really cool!"

The praise was worth revealing my next trick, and with a 'click-pop-clatter' my armour fell off of me, reverting to its 'Kodori the demi-human' size between me and the ground. Now wearing nothing but my red ribbon (with my wedding ring magically tied into the knot of the ribbon, with the Shield over it) she gasped!

Then I moved the Shield out of the way with my tails, and went through another round of 'smol-dori is a pillow'.

Then her fishing rod made a noise, and she went from 'squee' to 'serious' in an instant, "Stay right there. I'm catching breakfast!"

I woke up, wondered why everything was so big, remembered that I hadn't bothered to change back to my usual self after Kizuna caught the (apparently, no matter how hard she tried) only kind of fish in that lake, herring.

I could even hear her in the kitchen now, cooking the promised breakfast while I lazily rolled around on the nice couch. While I did, little things caught my eye. For one, there were pictures all over the place. From my spot in the middle of the living room, I couldn't tell if they were photographs, or some kind of magical 'image to paper' portraits, but they were too detailed to be hand drawn or painted.

I filed that question away for later while I looked at the pictures. Almost all of them had Kizuna in them, grinning at the 'camera' while doing things to the others in the picture. Flicking L'arc's forehead, making ready to sneak up on Therese, getting lectured by Glass... There were a lot of people I didn't know of course, but it was clear she had made good friends here.

"If you stay like that, you won't be able to eat everything I cooked." Kizuna said suddenly from behind me. "Oh, I remember this one..." She picked up the picture I'd been looking at, "It was just after she'd won the Vassal Fan."

Glass was looking super serious, but not quite emotionless, as a slightly younger looking Kizuna hugged her arm, her free hand making a V sign, while Glass's free hand held the closed Fan.

"She had initially been refused, but really showed those stodgy old..." Kizuna sighed, "Not my story. But since she did win, she had to come with me. We were already friends, so I thought it was great!" She looked down at me, "Now, are you coming? Or do I have to carry you?"

I hopped off the couch, did a nice big far-better-than-it-should-feel stretch, then changed forms to my usual two legged self. "I knew she had formal training. She was by far the best I've fought since getting here."

To repay her for breakfast, and a little peek into the past, I told her why I was as good as I was with my bare hands. Now, she knew Takemikazuchi, by name at least. But didn't seem to believe me when I said He taught me.

After breakfast though, I showed her a little of what we did back home when it came to training. With both of us lacking attack power, any contact we made with the other felt kind of like a pillow fight.

Kizuna and I were laughing at that fact when a royal looking messenger appeared at the gate and called inside.

"Lady Kizuna. Ethnobalt has returned, as it waiting by the hourglass." He said with a smart little click of armoured boots.

"Thank you!" She called across the yard. "If you want to return to the hourglass, come in, if not, you can go!"

He did that heel click thing again, bowed, and ran out of sight back towards the town.

Kizuna looked to me, "Did you want to get dressed, or is that fine?" She motioned to my all purpose, no longer all black robe.

"Suppose I should dress to impress... That name is really cool by the way." I started pulling bits of armour out of the Shield, pulling straps tight as I went.

"You'll like him I think." She smiled.

With that weird sliding, wind over skin and sudden stop feeling, we arrived next to the Hourglass. Like before, we weren't alone, but this time, we were expected.

There was a little cheer from those around us, a friendly wave or two, and the heel-click of guards perking up to attention. But among them all, one person stood out. A young man in heavy robes, with a gentle face, red eyes, and white hair.

He wasn't Bell, but I felt a little sting of homesickness all the same.

Past the initial shock of someone else in the many places I'd been looking like a rabbit, this young man was taller than I was, and carried a Shakujo staff in one hand, the fancy almost clover shaped ring on top carrying a bunch of little chimes that tinkled musically with each little motion he made.

But then I saw that he wasn't taller, but floating. Under his feet, all but hidden by the heavy robes, was a small platform.

Kizuna stepped away from me while I appraised the young man, and stood beside him. "This is Ethnobalt." She did a happy 'here's your prize' wave at him.

He nodded to me, then the two turned to look at each other. "It has been a long time, Kizuna. I searched for you, but..."

The two touched palms, her hand coming up to meet his very briefly, much like Ryuu and I touching forearms. "I understand, but please don't worry about it?"

He looked a little sad, but it might have just been just how gentle he looked. But he also seemed to drop the topic of his failure to find her. He reached into his robe after the moment of contact and took out what looked like a wooden ofuda, "This one was lonely without you. Glass took care of him at first, but she..." He glanced to me, saw that I was smiling the same 'Takemikazuchi is pleased' smile, and continued, "left it to me."

To my surprise, Kizuna hugged the little wooden tag with the same 'squee' energy (no sound, just super happy looking), and with a little puff of magic smoke...

There was a penguin standing in front of her. About hip high to her, it wasn't exactly a penguin... but aside from the very expressive eyebrows it was shaped almost exactly like one.

"Pen!" It said excitedly, holding out is long flipper arms as if demanding a hug.

"It's good to see you too! I missed you so much!" Of course, when a beloved pet/friend asks for a hug, they get one, and a moment later I got to watch someone else get the 'adorable pet' treatment.

After a couple more happy, "Pen!" noises she put the penguin down, "This is Chris." She introduced her... familiar?

"A few days ago, he started to make a fuss." Ethnobalt mused, "I should have taken it as a sign to try finding you again..."

Kizuna played with the top of Chris's head, "We were behind enemy lines. It wouldn't have been safe at all for you to try." She did the same 'here's your prize' at me this time, "But, Kodori-sama broke me out of that stupid prison, and we got to an hourglass!"

"Kodori Haruhime." I gave him my very best fist-in-palm bow, "Pleased to meet you Ethnobalt, Chris."

"Pen!" The penguin managed to salute me somehow, while the gentle young man bowed to me.

"Oh right, you might know what this is, but Chris is my Shikigami." She said, her hand returning to the silly little poof of feathers on Chris's head.

"I do know what that is." I nodded, "I don't know how to make them here, not... really."

The two of them, and those around us (who had been keeping silent until now) looked at me.

"Well you have that little black fox?" Kizuna said, "But that's not a Shikigami, is it?"

The 'black messenger' appeared on my shoulder, but I poked it in the nose to stop it from 'auto casting' something. Yes, nose boop off switch. "No, this is an effect of the Shield. Normally, it just runs after a person to give them a message. But the range is horrible, speed too. So, I programmed it to cast spells for me instead."

It vanished, "Well it's not..." She tapped her chin, then perked up, "Right! Gamer speak." She smiled, "It's like a pet you can train. Half way between a party member, and accessory. It can be influenced by my Weapon, but isn't limited by it-why are you laughing?"

I forced down the sad giggles, "Oh, just another joke from the world. How are they made?"

Ethnobalt spoke, "It is not too difficult." He smiled, "Part of why I am here is to help you find your party, correct?" Kizuna and I nodded at him. "Shikigami are bound to the ones who make them, but they are not made from thin air."

"Glass helped me make Chris." Kizuna had given up playing with the top of the penguin's head, and was now just hugging it under the arms like a stuffed animal. "Because of that, I'd bet he could help me find her. But that might not help you..."

"Aha!" I said, "Well, since this silly plank of metal lets me hold what ever I want in it..." I let my eyes wander over the long list of items I had in the inventory. "Let's see..."

"You are familiar with the ritual?" Ethnobalt asked.

"Bonded familiars are a thing where I'm from. As is blood magic, ritual binding, etc etc. Back home, I could make super simple shikigami. Make paper dolls who could dance, or a paper airplane that could steer itself." I found a couple of objects, "And while not what I intended to use them for... I have three choices."

One by one, I pulled out the items in question. One of Kuro's feathers, a leftover from making 'the comfy hoodie' for Rishia. A bunch of Raphtalia's tail fur, left over from brushing it not long after freeing her. And a few of Tetsu's scales, since dragon scales were always useful for something.

NOTES!

So yes, this was already put to a vote on my discord.

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

aKAQg4bnYu for the discord!

And my actual book, Were Too? is on Inkitt.

And! I'm looking into getting some story themed merchandise made. Join the Discord to find out more!