The sun dipped low behind the roofs of Velmira, casting warm amber hues over the bustling marketplace. Lena adjusted her hood and stepped out of the inn, clutching a small pouch of copper coins. She'd need vegetables, bread, and maybe something sweet if she could afford it.
"Alright, I'm off," she said, tying the pouch to her belt.
"You're not leaving me behind," Ashikai declared, hopping onto the windowsill, his fiery tail flicking.
"You'll draw attention," she warned. "You can't walk around glowing like an ancient spirit."
"I'm subtle," he argued, leaping to the floor with exaggerated grace. "Stealth incarnate. Like a shadow… but furrier."
"You're *orange*," she snapped. "Bright, magical orange!"
Ashikai pouted. "You say that like it's a flaw."
She sighed, grabbing the basket. "Fine. Get in. But no glowing, no talking in my head, and definitely no singing."
He grinned and jumped in, curling up. "Deal. Unless I get bored."
"You always get bored."Still arguing with herself, Lena made her way through the stone streets, weaving past carts, performers, and townsfolk.
The market buzzed with life — exotic spices perfumed the air, a bard strummed near a bread stall, and children ran with colorful kites. It was beautiful. Normal. Almost enough to forget what had brought her here.
She stopped at a fruit stall and was choosing apples when a sudden commotion erupted up the street.
"Stop him!" someone shouted.
Lena turned. A man — wiry, fast, and desperate — was darting between carts, knocking over barrels as he ran. Guards pursued, pushing through the crowd, shouting orders.
People scattered in panic.
The thief didn't hesitate. He ran toward Lena, his eyes wild. Her heart leapt—he was coming *straight at her*.
Then—*grab!*
He snatched the basket from her back and kept running.
"*NO!*" she screamed, spinning around. "*Ashikai!*"
Her arms flung forward instinctively — a surge of emotion pulsing through her.
In that moment, something awakened.
A sharp crack split the air.
From her palms, pale blue dust swirled into the air — glittering, glistening, freezing.
The thief stopped mid-step, his legs encased in sudden ice. His scream barely escaped before the frost crept up his body, covering him entirely.In seconds… he froze solid.
Then shattered.
Glass-like shards rained to the cobblestones with a sound like falling stars.
The entire market fell silent.
Lena gasped, staring at her hands, then at the frozen pieces that had once been a man.
Mothers clutched their children. Merchants gawked. Someone screamed. A child cried. Dozens of eyes turned to her — some in fear, others in awe.
The moment cracked around her.
She didn't care.
She ran.
Straight to the basket, now lying nearby. She dropped to her knees, trembling fingers fumbling at the lid.
"*Ashikai?!*"
The flap opened — and glowing golden eyes peeked up.
"I'm okay," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "You caught him just in time."
Lena exhaled shakily, brushing his fur as if to ground herself. "I thought I—" Her voice broke.
But then… silence fell again.
Not the soft kind.
The sharp, dangerous kind.
People had encircled her — slowly, cautiously. Some pointed. Some whispered. Others stepped back as if she were cursed.
"She used ice magic," someone hissed.
"She didn't chant…"
"No sigils… no spellbook…"
"She's unnatural."
"I saw her eyes glow."
"She *shattered* him."
Guards approached — six of them — armor gleaming. Their leader, a stern-faced man with a sapphire badge, raised a hand."By order of the Velmiran Guard, you are hereby detained for use of unlicensed magic and endangering public safety."
"What?" Lena stood, trembling. "I didn't mean to—I didn't know—"
The guards didn't care.
Two grabbed her arms.
Chains clinked as they cuffed her wrists in enchanted iron. The weight burned, not physically, but through the deep connection to whatever had just awakened in her.
"No—wait—please—!" she struggled. "Ashikai!"
But another guard was already securing the basket. This time, it glowed with runes. Ashikai howled as the anti-spirit cage sealed around him.
"This isn't right!" he snapped. "You don't know who you're messing with!"
"Quiet, creature," the guard said, ignoring his protest.
Lena's panic surged. "Please, I didn't mean to hurt anyone!"
"You destroyed a man," the commander said coldly. "Whether intentional or not, magic of that nature cannot go unchecked."
Tears blurred her vision, she tried to resist but she made things worse, the flowers and plants surrounding her died
Three men got frostbitten and collapsed and she gasped before surrendering
She was being dragged.
The crowd parted.
And then… she saw her.
Across the square, behind the people.
Winter.
Cloaked in shadow, barely visible beneath her hood, she stood completely still — her eyes locked on Lena's.
And then she spoke.
So softly, Lena barely heard her above the chaos.
"Everything happens for a reason."
A merchant passed in front of her.When he was gone — so was she.
Gone without a trace.
Lena was pulled forward, stumbling as her chains tightened.
Behind her, the fox spirit was silent in his cage, a dim golden glow behind cold metal.
Ahead of her, the castle gates loomed.
And in her chest… the mark pulsed.
Awake now.
Fully.
She had no idea what it meant.
But she was about to find out.
--