I was nervous. The naming ceremony was here and Junior had been looking fidgety and unnerved for a while now. I had asked him multiple times why he was so scared and what he was so worried about, but he had always responded by deflecting the question. He said it would ruin the surprise. Whatever that meant

Viralya had come back a few hours ago as well. She seemed tired and exhausted, ignoring both of our questions in favor of falling asleep. I was still a little mad about her just leaving me alone, but I decided not to do anything about it. It would be stupid to even try anyway, being a baby and all.

Both Junior and I had been training this entire time, attacking each other and setting up fun tasks for ourselves these last few days. There was even one point where he took me on one of his hunting trips.

I couldn’t join in on the actual hunting though. He had just said I was too young and inexperienced. This felt wrong to me on multiple levels, but I suspected he was just jealous of my awesome looks and fast progress. Definitely not because I'm a bit of an uncontrollable pyromaniac with a silly short temper and a grudge to go with it. Definitely not that…

But back to the point. Training. I had actually been practicing a fire skill, believe it or not. It had leveled a few times, and I suspect it would have leveled more if I had used my own fire in the process. I had been training true fire creation so I would have control over myself if I came down with the fireball fever. And I had done so, very reluctantly. I had also only used heat from Junior's mana as a sort of compromise. My fire affinity was high enough that the skill leveled multiple times in one day, but just kind of slowed to a stop after just 3 levels.

*Your desperate desire for control and validation has given way to levels! True Fire Creation becomes True Fire Creation III*

I was still a little peeved at that one. Control? Sure. Validation? Hell no! Who would I even get validation from? Junior? The ever absent Viralya? Oh wait, I’ve got it! How about from my stoned parents from another entire realm? Oh yeah. That's gotta be it for sure!

I still practiced with the skill though. I could see what Viralya had been talking about when she said that skills and levels are a reflection of our current aptitude. I could feel myself slowly getting better, learning how to bend heat this way and that. Heat technically isn’t fire, but it's a part of it. It had felt like I was improving myself, not the system doing it for me, automatically giving me levels if I just used the skill constantly.

I had also been messing with electricity as well. I vaguely remember punching the rock of death, lightning trailing behind me, which must have looked so cool. But my experiments and results had only gotten me sparks and embers, making me adverse to accidentally creating a fire with what little practice I did with that.

Our newest training regime was Psychic grappling, which is actually way more fun than it sounds. We had managed to make a game out of it, projecting strong images and emotions through pure Psychic power and hints of telepathy. The skill had leveled like a dried-out plant to water too. Mental Expansion had as well. I checked my notification before going into battle.

*Your Psychic prowess among Viralya and Junior has been deemed marginally acceptable! Telepathy IV becomes Telepathy VI*

*You have survived and weathered against mediocre foes and survived! Mental Expansion II becomes Mental Expansion III*

My short fuse was once again, blown to bits. Mediocre foes?! Marginally Acceptable!? How the hell is Viralya supposed to judge my ability to telepathize if she's been here only for a couple of minutes! Ugh. Junior's voice broke me out of my fuming rage.

“You ready, my puny and hairless ugly brother?” Junior asked with a mocking smile that I had finally learned to read. Fox expressions might as well have been a whole language.

“Oh, you bet, my incompetently immature brother.” I grinned as well. Despite the insults, I knew it was all in good fun. Sure, I may be puny, but I packed a punch filled with more than just hot air.

I took my resentment borne from the system's newfound sass, and the frustration at my lack of knowledge for this naming ceremony thing, and began to construct a mental image, woven with Psychic threads, dense with emotional turmoil.

I sensed him doing the same, and I pushed some spare Psychic mana into mental expansion.

My mana capacity has grown since I started training and I have some to waste. When exactly 30 seconds had passed, both of us thrust our constructs across a small thread of Psychic mana and something called soul mana, the perma-bond thing.

Junior had informed me of it when I asked, and I kind of just accepted it. Too many other things in this world just didn’t make sense to me and I had no time to worry about the implications.

The air was humming with mana, purple threads going everywhere as his construct crashed against my mental barrier and sent me reeling. An image of fear came, an instinctual prey-like fear of the forest around me. I found myself weaving in between the trees, running from a dark shadow who crept ever closer. It took me a bit to fight it off, my mindscape shaking and shivering in terror that felt like an earthquake.

I breathed deeply, pushing mental expansion further and pumping my excess mana into it, strengthening its foundation and defense. The illusion faded and my sight returned. I found myself in front of a snarling fox who yipped and howled for a couple of seconds after I had woken up, frustration and anger clear on his face. It abruptly stopped, and he turned to me, with a confused and dazed look before it gave way to an angry pouting expression

“That doesn’t count! The only reason you won was because your emotions are stronger as a human! Your puny race can’t control their desires and urges! If it wasn't for that, I would have totally won, paws down!” I grinned looking at him with a smug expression on my face. Maybe he would have, and he might actually be right. But that doesn’t change the fact I had totally won.

His foxy face also broke out into a smile. “Besides! Even if you won his time, it's still 27 to 4! I’m winning by… Uh…”

“23 victories. You're winning by 23.” I said with an even bigger grin. He huffed, mumbling about stupid spirits. We threw Psychic constructs at one another 2 times before our mana ran out.

We went outside, looking up into the dark sky, staring at distant twinkling lights far, far, away. It had gone like this for a few days. Waking up and training, honing our magical skills for this naming ceremony. From what I had gleaned from the red furball, it was meant to be harrowing. I would apparently need all my skills and more to venture through this trial. That had just raised my nervousness a notch.

“Hey, Junior?” He looked over, a slight frown on his face. The stars shone on us from above, the short silence we had shared broken by a whisper of a telekinetic pulse.

“Why… Why do we need to do this naming ceremony thing? Can’t we just… You know… name ourselves and be done with it? Is it tradition? Or…” He eyed me with a faint silver and grey glint in his eye.

He was silent for about 30 seconds, looking up and not answering. I furrowed my chubby hairless brow.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to… I was just uh… Wondering…” I trailed off faintly near the end, watching Junior expel frozen heat mana and play with it in his two paws, his furry back against the grass.

“It's important,” he answered finally, my worries of offending my brother dissipating at his gentle tone. “It's more than tradition. Most spirit beasts know the tale so I just figured you did too, forgetting your… Unique origins.” He said. I listened with curiosity as a story spilled from his Psychic mana, conveying much more than simple words ever could.

“This story… Is not meant for ears that are borne of both mana and flesh. I’m not the one you should ask to tell it to you either, but I shall tell it to you anyway. I cannot tell you how Viralya would tell it, but I suspect she wouldn’t even tell it to you at all. I do not have the raw manipulation power that she does. Otherwise, I would just take you to her for its telling…” He breathed in deeply, taking in the night air as we moved to the neutral mana patch to fill ‘eat’.

“I will try my best but… It will not be nearly as good as an experienced mages' would.” I nodded my head, gesturing for him to continue.

He exhaled in quick snorts, his breath expelling heat mana at a faster and faster pace. The ambient mana around him spinning and shimmering with new heat as an image began to form.

“Long ago, when the gods took a far more active role than they do today... There were two tribes of spirit beasts.” The air formed the image of two spheres, slowly morphing into what appeared to be a lion and a whale. A tether tied both images together in a wispy sense of joy and laughter, Psychic mana conveying simple happiness

“They were the land and sea tribes. They were the original two, the forefathers of our forefathers. They accompanied all spirit beasts in either land or water, both the greatest and smallest living in one tribe. There was peace and harmony between both, our ancestors wisely chose to live without conflict rather than war. The gods were young and immature at the time, satisfied with their own games and workings. But…”

The colors flashed before my eyes and in between the whale and the lion, a flash of shimmering white began to form, taking the shape of an orb.

“One god was not.” The tether that radiated joy shattered into bits of Psychic mana, dissipating amongst the wind.

“One god, who sought change and a new start, was bored with the current state of the world. They desired something new, something more.” The crack of ominous thunder clapped as figures far above these simple spirit beast tribes began to form, a pavilion of formless colored orbs swirling with mana. Gods.

“Necesse, the god of winter and autumn came to their playgrounds, giddy with excitement and full of hope, like a child showing off a new toy. They were eager to show their peers his ideas, thinking how much fun that could be had with a new, fresh start.” The swirling and playful orbs suddenly gave way to a pure white one, standing alone amongst the others. They seemed to flock away from it, almost in fear and disgust, the Psychic mana being picked up by my Psychic perception.

“The gods did not like Necesse, never playing with them even if they asked. But they didn’t drive them out immediately, listening to their offer and deal first. But after they mentioned that they wanted a total wipe, they shunted him, throwing them out of their playground they called a court.” Countless strings of ambient mana forced their way to the pure white orb representing Necesse. The mana sparked against Necesse, thrusting the orb out of the circle of gods and into the ground below.

“Necesse was furious. They had been denied their fun and promise of a better future for what felt like nothing but petty squabbles. They raged and released horrifying creations onto our plane, despite the god's disapproval. And just like that, spirits were born.”

Shivers went down my spine as I watched ethereal figures forming humanoid shapes who all looked quasi-human, with 2 legs, 2 arms, a head, and a torso. The faint memory of an ashen circle came to mind, resonating with my soul before it faded and my focus returned to the story.

“The oblivious gods, who had already forgotten Necesse, did not notice as spirits began to infest the world, bringing great harm upon both tribes. It was only when a great gathering of faith and prayer came from the mortal plane below did they take notice. When they found the unfamiliar spirits who stunk of chilly seasonal mana, they acted in a mad fury, matching Necesse’s own. They came from their lofty realm personally, smiting Necesse’s creations into oblivion. They called for Necesse, and they came, but they had come for war, not diplomacy, refusing to talk to the gods out of childlike spite.”

Battle and blood seemed to permeate the surroundings, the mana thick with Psychic emotion and illusionistic heat.

“A war came. Both tribes were sent to battle the spirits, fighting against all. The gods battled against Necesse and his spirits, mana being flung left and right wrecking the world. It was all gods against one, and it should have been easy. But it is no simple thing to kill a god.”

The pictures of either tribe were shaken as an explosion of colors swallowed each image, leaving sunken craters and cracked spirit beasts. My breath caught in my throat as I felt the emotions conveyed in them, the fear and desperate cry for help resonating with my soul.

“They had to erase every fiber of Necesse’s being, destroying all but memories of them. And they did. But at the cost of tens of thousands of spirit beast lives, nearly wiping us out. The lives of each spirit beast dwindled to a few hundred, a shadow of their former selves. Some turned mindless from grief and starvation, consciousness fleeing them as monsters were born. Others forsook their origins, evolving to better fit their situations, and adapting bodies similar to the versatile spirits.”

The whale and the lion completely shattered, and with a somber note, were swept away into the wind. Junior's voice rumbled as the mana thrummed with vibrancy.

“From then on, the gods forbid themselves from the mortal plane, almost completely retracting themselves from mortal affairs. They now reside above, with watchful eyes as most were forgotten from history.” The mana turned into a white sun, making me clench my eyes shut.

“But unfortunately, one god still remained. Necesse. They stripped the races of their individuality, forcing the sentient spirit beasts into mindless zombies while Necesse slowly sapped their power in an attempt at recovery. But the god of winter and autumn was soon foiled again, as the gods took notice of their scheme, swooping in and saving spirit beats in a last hurrah, sealing Necesse into an ancient prison. Trapped in the prison with nothing but their dead spirits, they managed to piece together what remained of their rage, fusing the last fragments of themselves as well as the corpses of the spirits into a new race, bigger and badder than even spirit beasts. The Fae.”

The mana died down, heat and Psychic mana crawling to a stop. Junior began to whisper.

“The shattered remains of the spirit beasts were slowly brought together again, and the gods bestowed names upon the spirit beasts to prevent them from having their identity and souls stolen again, cementing them in their bodies.”

Small eruptions began to pop among the battlefield, sparkles that reminded me of the distant gods, floating up from the ground and disappearing into thin air.

“No one really knows where the Fae went. Some say they went beyond the stars, exploring vast worlds, and doing Necesse’s bidding, eventually becoming stars themselves. Some say they left our plane of existence to gather materials for a new war, biding their time. Some say they’re still hiding, waiting below the depths of the earth for their day to come when they emerge…” I was silent, eyes wide in childlike wonder that fit my physique perfectly.

“All anyone knows is that centuries later, the spirits eventually came back, different and changed. They are now just a nuisance though, a shadow of their former selves. Spirit beasts grew back from their near extinction and spread across the world, venturing away from their own lands in favor of starting their own tribes, the old tribes forgotten.”

The story ended with a burst of sparkling lights that lit up the night sky. I looked on in curiosity and reverence, all questions fleeing from my mind as I stared up at the stars. When the childlike euphoria faded, I whispered a question to Junior who seemed a little bit more tired but still fine enough to stay awake.

“Was it real?” I asked. He chuckled, a cool breeze battering my skin playfully.

“I don’t know. But it sure is a damn fine story. Makes my fur bristle every time.” He grinned and I laughed as well, the stars twinkling above us still.

“That was actually a pretty amateur telling. My village tells it way better than me and Viralya is on an entire other level. Literally.” I nodded, silence descending on us once again as I mulled over the story.

It was a fun folk tale if nothing else, and it tugged on my brain a bit. The word Fae seemed to jump out at me, trying to tell me something. After a moment of contemplation, I remembered. Hybrid Fae. That headache of a system error had said I was a Hybrid Fae. I hadn’t realized while he was telling the story, but I do now.

What did it mean? How the hell am I supposed to be a Fae? And wait a second, if spirits had just recently 'come back’ what does that make me? What the hell am I? Some kind of amalgamate between spirit and Fae? Do I have Necesse’s soul fused to mine, giving me some kind of power?

Before Junior could notice my panic, I pushed it down, promising myself I would ask after the naming ceremony… Or some other time. The perma Psychic link between us makes it hard to hide things and that story had just made me super nervous. Was it true? Does that make me an enemy of the gods? Hadn’t Viralya mentioned that at some point?

I… As much as it hurts to admit it, it's possible me being a Fae may change things between both me and Junior. What if he hates me? What if he tries to kill me? Or… What if the gods can hear me? What if they can hear my thoughts?

I had to tamper my panic down again. The silence stretched uncomfortably to me. I sensed no discomfort in Junior, as he seemed to revel in the silence.

There's no real confirmation the story is real! And how could the gods hear me, even if I did? They’re on another plane! Well… According to the story they are… I broke off from these thoughts quickly, focussing inwards.

I engaged in meditation for a minute, breathing slowly and deeply while I bathed in my personal mana river. I woke back up soon after to find Junior carrying my sleeping form on his back as we headed into the bed, foregoing his treehouse for the cave bed. I didn’t respond as I was tucked in a warm blanket, and set into bed.

I guess that bedtime stories make even weird spirit fae things sleepy. Who knew?

In the morning, both of us were woken up by the looming figure of Viralya, her silver eyes and red fur lighting up the dark cave.

“We are leaving for your ceremonies soon. Ready yourselves.” She said in a somber tone.

She left just as quickly, exiting the cave with the same grace she always exhibited. I got up with a groan. I rubbed my eyes tiredly, yawning and rolling off the bed while landing on my feet, balancing act keeping me upright.

The ground next to me thudded with a similarly tired Junior padding next to me as we left the bedroom. His ears drooped like my eyelids, his footsteps clumsy as he didn’t have a skill to assist him in walking. Dim moonlight came from the exit, the early morning stars twinkling above me, shifted to the left.

We came out of the cave, seeing the trophy room the same as ever. Viralya stood there, tension suddenly filling the air making me wake up the rest of the way. She didn’t say anything, she just leaped into the air, dangling by the force of her wind mana.

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.

She remained there in the air floating with precise control as the air seemed to still around her. I felt my body being slowly picked up. The sensation of the ground beneath my feet was stolen from me as I looked at Junior in a panic, seeing his similar situation but a much calmer face. It helped to ease my panic, while the rest of it was washed away when I felt a wave of reassurance buffeting me as we climbed into the air. The trees seemed to shrink and the forest's calls echoed faintly into the sky. The wind tickled my ear playfully, whispering from beyond the horizon of its many secrets and promises of freedom. I looked up at the sky, as we passed above on a cloudless night.

When we had ascended the height one would find oneself if they climbed 250 stories, we suddenly shot away, a bubble of win magic far more complex than my own spells enveloped me as we went hurtling across the sky.

I screamed, my voice rebounding across the air bubble. Junior sent me another wave of calm, this time reassuring me this was just air travel. He had apparently only done this once before and was immensely excited for it. I stared down, looking as the trees began to give way to swamplands.

My breathing calmed as the sense of danger left me and I silently looked upon the world from up here. The anxiety remained, but a bubbly excitement began to take place. The wind traced my face, blowing into my eyes with force that I quickly handled with a barrier of wind mana. I grinned, the feeling of flying delighting me.

Junior seemed to share this feeling as our emotions rebounded off one another, increasing their potency in magnitudes. I laughed while Junior yipped. I even thought I saw Viralya’s smile from above us, ever so slightly. My worries for the naming ceremony faded as we flew, minutes ticking into hours. Soon, the sun rose from the horizon, golden rays painting the landscape below us with sparkling clarity.

I had to release the wind barrier soon after, my control over the winds ceasing and tiring me out. The wind hit me like a slap to the face, forcing me to recover mana with meditation before I reactivated it.

We never spoke most of the time, just silently flying along and sharing in childlike glee. We may very well be at the top of the world. I mean, come on! I’m a powerful magical being flying along the sky with a quasi family, I didn’t know I had been craving!

But it came to an end a little too quickly for my tastes as swampland turned into a wide ocean. The smell of salt came to me as a distant island appeared. I looked at the sea in wonder as a distant thought of the so-called sea tribe. Breaking the silence we had been sharing, I asked Junior if there were any water spirit beasts.

He gave me a mental nod. “There actually are yes. They are quite a bit rarer than those on land but they exist.”

I looked back at the sea as we passed, wanting to break off with my own mana and dip my fingers into the water, feeling it skim between them. I knew that would be a terrible idea though, as I had tried to fly again with Junior. Unfortunately, the best I had done was to fall slower. I had no idea what I had done while chosen of flame was active, but somehow I had levitated myself.

The island soon came into view as we floated down. It was a massive barren rocky wasteland with no plant or animal life. There must not have been anything here for a while, because there wasn’t any death mana here. Like almost none, only the trace amounts you find everywhere. There was pretty much just water, earth, and hints of metal mana. The corruption was probably lighter than normal though, with the lack of matter and all.

We soon touched the ground as I felt the jagged stone cut into my feet, making me flinch. I brought out my wind mana and funneled them into the bottoms of my feet, trying to enhance their strength and stability. I certainly got the stability, but none of the strength. I scowled as I shifted my weight, the rocks cutting deeper.

Viralya chose this moment to speak up.

“We're here.” She said, her tone unreadable. “We have a small trek ahead of us. Come.” Her lecturing tone came back in hints as we heeded her command, both of us flinching as the sharp rocks dug into our feet and paws. I grit my teeth, forcing back the tears that came in torrents.

She spoke up soon after, gazing back at us with a meaningful look. “I have not explained to either of you the process of the naming ceremony for your own safety, as it would have most likely ruined your chances, and denied you access to what is rightfully yours. As it is tradition to send you off alone to brave your trial, I shall wish you luck and depart soon.”

Her whole speech didn’t surprise me one bit. Viralya was often vague and mysterious with her answers, talking in riddles. This was no different.

What really took me by surprise was the part where she mentioned neither of us knew anything about the naming ceremony. I turned around to see a cheekily smiling Junior looking at me with contempt.

I was tempted to tackle him right then and there, but a warning look from Viralya and the sharp rocks beneath our feet changed my mind faster than a thirsty guy on hot coals. Instead, I just settled for a:

“Dammit Junior! ‘Ruin the surprise’ My ass! What the hell were you talking about!?”

He didn’t even seem bothered by my name-calling. I just continued to wish him hell and he continued to give me the fox equivalent of blowing a kiss. Dammit!

Viralya suddenly stopped abruptly, turning around to face both of us as the rocky wasteland howled with the steadily increasing wind.

“Listen up.” Our heads snapped to attention. “The scar of Bethemonse is one of a great many lands hosting a god obelisk. This might just be the most important day of your short lives.” We were dead silent as Viralya looked at both of us, a serious expression that left my mind feeling naked.

“Both of you are about to trek opposite ways, traveling across Bethemose and finding your way to the god pillar.” I looked at her in confusion, staring up at her form as I voiced my question.

“Wait… If both of us are going opposite directions how are we supposed to reach the same destination? How does that even work?” She looked at me with her silver eyes, flashing with a steady burn. The winds picked up further.

“Once you enter a trial like this, you cannot leave without the help of the god obelisk. No path but your own will lead you there.” She said.

Oh, fantastic. Another weird f*@^ing riddle. How delightful.

A collection of objects and tidbits surrounded her in a circle, with a total of five or so. One looked like some kind of beetle carapace, and another almost looked like black snakeskin. The third was some kind of shiny lumpy silver rock, and the fourth was a bottle of what looked like water. the last was... The skull of a three-eyed squirrel.

Viralya turned back to the distance, wind mana oozing off of her in controlled threads that wrapped her and the air present tightly. Her presence increased further as the stones shook with power.

“I… May not have been the best mentor or even the best mother but…” Both Junior and I looked on in shock as a gentle tone overtook her shimmering visage, the air thrumming with power. The objects around her disintegrated, newly minted ash swirling up into the sky and dispersing. I had no other chance to even think about this as I might as well have crossed my eyes with the massive amounts of mana.

My paltry mana sense was quickly overtaken though. It was so overpowering it gave me a headache just to look at her. My teeth chattered as the threads of foreign wind mana invaded my body. Why did I get the feeling this was what she actually felt like most of the time? I don’t want to be the victim of the cliche trope; ‘This isn’t even my final form!’

“Despite what you think, I am actually proud of both of you. I have had hundreds of kits, even a couple of different species, but none have formed the connection you two have.” She gestured to our thread of blue that sparked purple.

“I have also never seen ones so young that are so damaged. I have also never seen a conscious spirit as well, but your broken mental state surprises even me sometimes.” She paused, taking in our gaping expressions.

“I thought distance and time would be the best healing factor, but after watching our young spirit here open up to our young spirit beast, I realized I may have been wrong.” She said with reluctance.

Her voice faded as it was lost among the massive amount of mana. I didn’t even know that sound could be affected by mana.

“And for that… I am sorry” Her words sent a shiver down my soul that seemed like it was about to burst with each and every new surprise.

If there were any more shocking events, I might have a heart attack and die at age… 3 months? 4? I have no idea how old I am.

“While I cannot change the past.” My balancing act skill was overwhelmed and crushed by the foreign mana as I stumbled onto the sharp rocks.

Junior flinched and his fore and hind legs trembled. I grit my teeth as my hands and knees bled, my mind echoing with Viralya’s power. My mind was suffused with mental expansion, scrambled together as quickly as possible. The skill took effect, deflecting a fraction of Viralya’s voice, and Viralya’s voice alone.

“I can change the present. That is why I wish you all good luck, and if you make it out alive, I promise to do better.”

And with that, the air promptly shattered as she shot up in a trail of wind that sent me flying backward. I had just enough time to glimpse a roaring wave of ambient mana, its rage and guardian intent ripping into my very being before she disappeared, and I was slowly lowered to the ground.

My balancing act spell took effect as my feet touched the ground, the grip of the air on me fading as Viralya’s mana influence disappeared with her.

I shook my head, the stars fleeing from my eyes as I looked around in a confused haze. Junior was totally gone, being blown away as I had, probably a couple of miles away. I was now alone, stewing in my thoughts as endless rocky hills cut into my feet. The only sound that was left was the steady dripping of blood from hundreds of tiny scratches, and the wind tickling my ears playfully once again.

Whatever the f^@& just happened, I'm totally blaming it on Junior.