I could not understand what this feeling was.

It felt as though it pierced deep into my heart, and originated from some far off place.

What is it? Asking such a question only resulted in a single response: Danger!

It blared within me, resounding deep into my soul, as though it were instinctive.

No—a sixth sense?

That's what it felt like. A sort of perception that I had no awareness of up til now.

It was as though several strings tugged at my heart, each echoing a sense of fear and unease.

But... as I paid attention to these feelings, I came to notice—the sensations were not particularly powerful. Still, it reached deep into me, and echoed out voices of concern and anxiety. Certainly, danger was near, but not eminent.

What was this?

Another Kitsune trait?

I've never heard of something like this.

As I came into view of the village, I saw the source of my unease and panic.

Lein.

Dammit.

I thought they would miss this village, considering their maps didn't seem to mark it. But I guess they realized that the area was occupied by humans, and found the village. I shouldn't have made such naive assumptions.

As I entered the village, things became clear and in focus.

—This was the feeling of nervousness and fear that the people I knew gave off. It wasn't quite with everyone—a couple of the children I knew, some of the adults I talked to often, mother—but it wasn't quite everyone.

I could feel the worry in their hearts towards the uncertain future...

No, I should stop before I lose focus. I can't think straight like this.

What is Lein's soldiers doing here?

They were having everyone gather at the village center, and many of the villagers looked uncertain about what was happening. It seems like the soldiers only just now got here, but the anxiety was clear. I could literally taste it—honestly, it's kinda nauseating.

Still...

What were they doing, I wondered.

Looking around, I find a good place to hide myself, perk up my ears, and return the flow of time.

"Gather the children," a knight-like person commanded, as he sat atop his horse.

There was a lot of murmuring in response to this demand, for obvious reasons. What did they want with the children? Are they being conscripted? Held hostage? It was a sea of uncertainty.

In response, a man I was familiar with came to the front. This was the current village chief. He was a tall man, in his 40s or so, with a well built body. I've seen him often help the villagers in various tasks, so its no surprise that he's so well in shape, despite spending a lot of time dealing with more menial things he was responsible for as a Village Chief. I didn't really call him by name, and instead jokingly called him uncle, considering he was my mother's cousin, but his real name was Jenn Karmiish.

"What exactly do you plan to do with them?" He asked with a serious expression. I don't know too much about him, despite my familiar way of calling him, but he was a dangerous sort, that I heard went out adventuring in his youth, and even took on giant monsters, before he eventually came back to take his father's place as chief.

As such, I want to say there's nothing to be afraid of. But I don't know the level of those Lein soldiers. Do they know of Aniel's power? If so, doesn't that mean they would send very capable people?

Or are they in the dark about his powers? Then why would Lein have illustrations of him? They sent a pretty large force after the Princess, so I can't imagine they don't know about Aniel. But perhaps it's because they know the Princess is accompanied by a large number of people?

"We are looking for a group of children. Runaways," the Knight finally said.

"We harbor no fugitives if that's what you're looking for." Jenn clearly knew that this was too large a force to just look for some runaway kids.

"We'll search the village regardless. If we don't find what we're looking for, we'll move on," The armored knight responded.

Was this the danger I perceived?

Well, I suppose they don't quite know what the soldiers want. Still, they had little choice, and began to gather round the younger villagers.

Ohen village was small. I've said it before. However, I never truly realized how large the populace was, even for a small settlement. Well, it's only small when you look at them all gather in one area, but the numbers couldn't exceed any more than three or four hundred.

Well, I guess the fact that they all fit into the small village square shows how few they are.

The forty or so children were all gathered at the front, as the Knight began looking at them one at a time.

Of course, while this was going on, other soldiers were searching through the village for other children. After all, if the village was hiding someone, they wouldn't just bring them up when asked to.

However, at this time, I felt it necessary to reveal myself. There were various reasons. For one, the anxiety held by the populace was rather annoying, and I wanted to sooth their worried. However, I also had a more rational reason. I needed Lein to stay in the area.

I'm aware Lein has a state religion that worships a Spirit of a different class than I, but I figured that they wouldn't outright attack me.

With that that in mind, I stopped time, and placed myself into view, before I once against undid my ability, and spoke up.

"I want to let it be known, that if your soldiers so much as harm or steal from a single resident of this village, consequences will be paid,"

Surprise echoed through both Lein's forces, and Ohen Village's residence. However, I spotted quite a bit of relieved expressions from many who spotted me, and could even feel the anxiety that pulled at my soul, lessen.

The armored fellow was also among those surprised, as he looked towards me. It seemed he was ready to shout some command towards me, before holding holding back his tongue, as if now noticing my twitching ears and flowing tail. Composing himself in a brief moment, he looked me in the eyes.

"Please do not worry yourself over our squabbles," the armored man said. "This is between mortal kingdoms."

So he doesn't kneel or anything huh? Well, he's being humble, and somewhat polite. Can't expect him to kiss my feet or anything. Actually, might be funny to see something like that—ah, my sadism is showing.

Well then, about this guy. I wanted to calm the worries of the village, who probably are scared of being looted—or worst. They likely recognize that the armor and uniform these men wear is not Senilea's, so they're frightened at what this foreign army has in mind.

I want to issue a command, but if I do it might come up sounding like I own this village, which would come with its own heap of problems.

No, I'll just issue him a warning—something to make it clear that I'm more of a guardian. In that case, my haughty tone should still suffice.

"I care naught for your politics. You may continue to do your job, so long as you remind your men—find what you are looking for, but do not inconvenience the kind people of this village any further."

He looked at me carefully, once or twice over, as if ascertaining what my words meant. Well, I did look like a child, so doubts are understandable. Or maybe that's not what he was doubting?

...

Come to think of it... both this man and Princess Aire didn't seem too bothered by the fact that I looked like a child. They just accepted that I was a Fox Spirit, and held a maturity that wasn't quite my own age.

Hmm? Is there a detail I'm missing here?

I remember reading that there were many long-lived races, and I'm pretty sure Kitsune are among them. But, but, most of them grow into full maturity before they stop aging, right?

Ah, I'm worried. I need to go look up the wording used in books. It'll trouble me if I stay looking like a child for so long.

Well, I may be worried over nothing.

If you live in a world where not all things are as they seem, you probably come to accept that the mysterious tailed child appearing before you, may have the power of divine miracles behind them.

It's not like these people truly know the life-cycle of a Kitsune, which is a naturally elusive creature.

"May I ask a question?" I was pulled out of my thoughts by those words. As I refocusing my eyes on his face, I already concluded what he planned to ask.

"You may," I answer with a nod.

"There are a group of human youths who have recently been passing through the forest. Do you know of them?"

So what do I do from here? I don't want to sell out Aire. I still want Aniel's cooperation, and telling the soldiers where they are would be an inconvenience to me.

I could just lie. But I don't feel I'm a very good liar. Small lies, or half-truths are what I'm good at. I only require the other person to come to their own conclusions.

Well, it's not like these people know any of my quirks enough to tell when I'm lying, and a half-truth is good enough anyways.

"Of course I do. That magician boy threatened me, so I punished him, and sent the rest on their way."

It was more-or-less the truth. I left out Rojji and Ken, seeing as they don't need to be mentioned. And of course I left out what sort of "punishment" I gave, as well as the fact that I helped them.

"Then, where are the rest now?" He asked sternly. So they knew about "the magician boy", huh?

I tilted my head, and wondered whether to answer him or not.

Well, it should be fine with something vague.

"Well, that's more than one question. But I can tell you they're not in this village."

Come to think of it, looks like they realized the trail I left them was false. How inconvenient.

Still, now they have no leads. What will they do?

In the end, they still searched the village for the whereabouts of Princess Aire, but found nothing.

At the very least they did not harm a single villager, and through my supervision, I confirmed no thefts.

Perhaps it might have been better to not reveal myself at all?

A missing coin or two is of no consequence. I did it to ease the worries of the villagers, whose anxieties reached my heart.

However, that man now suspects me. I can see it in his eyes.

But he has no proof.

It's likely they will setup camp nearby—and that's fine.

I'll talk to Princess Aire about this.

But first, I need to go do some research on Kitsune, before my own anxieties drive me nuts.

I-i won't always be a short shota, right?

Author Notes:

Well, I'll see what people think next week.

For now, feedback and suggestions are appreciated and encouraged!