"Nova!? Come back here!? You damn fox!?" Just as I exited the restaurant, I heard Kayda screaming at me.
"Haha, come and find me, Miss Dragon!?" I yelled back, springing onto the nearest rooftop. Tiles cracked under my weight before I pushed off again, heading south. The night air felt sharp against my cheeks, carrying the faint smell of grilled meat and soot from the street stalls below. My scroll buzzed, and with one hand steadying my run, I flipped it open to answer.
"Where the hell are you!?" Amari's voice boomed so loud it nearly ruptured my ear.
"Geez, don't yell like that," I winced, ears twitching. "I went and found some food for myself."
"Food?" she snapped, irritation heavy in her tone. "Couldn't you at least tell us? We only realized you were gone when we arrived at the guild!"
I grimaced, leaping over a chimney stack. "I was going to, but I, uh, ran into that granny from this morning again."
There was a pause. Then, in that flat, emotionless voice of hers: "And you decided to run, didn't you?"
"Well, anyway," I said quickly, brushing past the accusation, "I'm heading south toward the center. Where are you guys?"
A long sigh hissed through the scroll. "Whatever. Find the train station. We'll meet you there."
"Okay, BOOM—!?" A deafening explosion rattled the tiles beneath my feet. My ears rang. Spinning around mid-stride, I saw Kayda landing on the same roof I'd used earlier, her crimson hair disheveled, her eyes glowing like coals. She looked anything but pleased. "Shit, she found me."
"What was that?" Amari's voice asked through the scroll.
"Haha, nothing. I'll see you at the train station!" I laughed, jamming the scroll into my storage. I hurled myself sideways just as two balls of searing light scorched through where I'd been a heartbeat ago. Heat washed against my cheek, making the air shimmer.
"Wow, you're a scorch dragon!?" I shouted, landing and rolling before springing to another roof. "Here I thought you were just fire, seeing those red scales!"
Her growl vibrated through the air as she chased me.
'She said she's level 680, legendary class… Speed should be around 6500. Damn. But we're in the city, cramped rooftops, so she can't use it all—maybe 3000, give or take. Still way faster than me. Flash Step only doubles my speed, and it eats mana. If I shift down into my tiny fox form, maybe I can outpace her. Hopefully.' As more scorch balls arced past and burst into cinders across the tiles, my thoughts raced as quickly as my legs.
At least she wasn't aiming for lethal blows. That much I could tell. My gut said she was more irritated than murderous. However, getting hit by a scorch ball to the chest would definitely ruin my day. I could always reveal my true identity to her and put an end to this chase, but… why would I do that? Where was the fun in that? Additionally, teasing her provided its own benefits.
"I'm going to get you, you stupid fox!" Kayda bellowed, hurling another orb of burning light.
"Hey! That's not very nice—attacking your new friend like this! I thought we got close back there!" I teased, vaulting over the blast.
"Like hell we're friends! You cast a spell on me, didn't you!? To make me believe you, to trust you!"
"What? Huh? I can't even use spells like that!" I called, darting over a slanted rooftop. My boots scraped loudly as I landed, momentum nearly carrying me off the edge. I steadied myself and kept running south.
"Where do you think you're going!?" She snarled, hot on my heels. Her claws dug into the tiles as she pursued, chunks of roof cracking under her weight.
"Tsk, really hope this works," I muttered. Clicking my tongue, I dropped into a dark alleyway, shadows swallowing me whole.
"I know your smell," Kayda warned as she landed behind me, her tone dripping with predatory confidence. "I'll find you."
"Ooh, kinky," I called back, letting my voice echo through the narrow walls.
Her lips curled into a smirk. "Darkness won't hide your smell, dumb fox."
"No shit, lizard, but it does mess with your eyes," I replied, flinging a spread of ice daggers toward her boots.
She danced back, sparks bursting where they struck stone. Her eyes flicked toward the source.
"There you are!" she barked, unleashing a volley of spells that tore chunks from the building wall.
"Wow! Trying to kill me!?" My voice carried from behind her this time.
She whirled, fire already blazing in her palms.
"I see… You can see in the dark," she said, teeth glinting in amusement.
"Haha, of course. Well, now that you know… it's time for me to go. Cheers." My shadow flickered in place as I bolted.
"No, you don't—!" she snapped, lunging, but then froze. Her eyes widened as she glanced down. Both her boots were coated in ice, locking her to the ground. "What the—!?"
My chuckle drifted from the rooftops as I darted away, this time in my small fox form. Paws barely touched the tiles as the city blurred past me.
'Yeah, this way is faster. Way faster. About double my normal speed… which means, if this logic holds, my giant form should be terrifying. Still, there is so much about me I don't fully understand.'
I was so lost in thought I didn't notice the shadow above until it was too late. Someone dropped in front of me.
"—!" I collided with her back, both of us crashing onto the next rooftop with a loud thud.
"Owie," came a surprisingly adorable yelp.
I scrambled up, dusting off my fur before shifting back, and blinking down at her. She groaned, tail swishing in irritation—red-scaled, barefoot, hair a mess from the fall.
'Oh crap. How did she get in front of me so fast?' I thought, inching toward the roof's edge.
"Ouch, what the hell hit me?" Kayda muttered, pushing herself upright. She turned, spotting me, her expression shifting from confusion to suspicion. "What the hell are you?"
I tilted my head, ears flicking, but didn't answer. My muscles coiled, ready to spring.
She stared for a moment, then sighed in exasperation. "Whatever. Have you seen a demon fox running around on the rooftops here?"
I just tilted my head the other way. Her brow twitched.
"You don't understand me, do you?" she muttered. Another sigh. She brushed past me and ran on.
I smirked. "For a researcher, she's kind of dumb. Whatever. I'll ask Mom later about magic training." I resumed toward the station, finally thinking I was free.
Then—
"Come here, you damn fox!!" Kayda's furious roar chased me. Looking back, I saw steam literally pouring off her body, shimmering in the moonlight.
"Wow, you really are mad, huh?" I called, a grin tugging my lips.
"Shut up! Be a good fox and stand still!" she yelled, baring her teeth in a grin that promised trouble.
"Nope." I bolted again.
"Fuck you! I'll catch you!"
"You can try!" I laughed, ears flat with adrenaline.
Her restraint finally cracked. I saw it in the way her spells swelled larger, brighter, and more dangerous. "I'm done holding back! I can't let you run around with my secrets anymore!"
My eyes widened. Her scorch balls had ballooned in size—each one could wipe a block clean. "Oi! Civilians live here, you know!"
"I don't care!" she snarled, launching them anyway. Her grin twisted. "I was planning to retire from Black Ops anyway!"
"Are you insane—!?" I snapped, summoning blades. I hurled them, colliding midair with her scorching orbs. The explosions rattled the night, shattering windows.
Kayda stared, stunned. "Your swords… they negated my magic. How!?"
I smirked. "I'm not going to explain my tricks to someone I don't know."
Her eye twitched, but instead of rage, a grin spread over her lips. "Well, whatever. I still need to catch you."
"Oi! At least don't throw the big ones at me!" I said, lobbing daggers to intercept more blasts.
"Like hell I'll hold back!" She snapped her wrist, conjuring a spear of water laced with crackling lightning.
"Sigh…" I backflipped, catching it midair with my right hand. Frost spread from my palm, freezing the spear solid. Landing, I spun and hurled it back. It shattered into mist just before striking her, enveloping her in cold fog.
"Wha—!?" Kayda's voice echoed in shock.
I didn't wait. I sprinted for the station.
"Hopefully, she calms down before she catches me again," I muttered under my breath.
"There you are! What took you so long!?" Amari shouted the moment I vaulted off a roof and landed beside the station.
I brushed dust from my sleeves, trying to look casual. "I ran into some trouble. Like always."
"This trouble," Zagan said flatly, pointing upward, "wouldn't have to do with her, would it?"
I turned. Kayda stood atop the roof I'd just jumped from, hair wild, glaring daggers at me. Her bangs stuck up in ridiculous tufts from the mist.
"Haha… yeah. I may have pushed her too much," I admitted, rubbing the back of my head.
"Why is Aunt Kayda after you?" Amari asked, eyes narrowing.
"Aunt? Huh? Well, sis, I'd love to tell the whole story, but she clearly hasn't calmed down yet." I kept my gaze on Kayda. "Mind calling Mom and letting her know I messed up… again?"
Amari groaned but pulled out her scroll. "This happens a lot, doesn't it?"
"There's nowhere to run now, stupid fox!" Kayda shouted, vaulting down to ground level. The impact cracked the cobblestones.
"She's really lost it," I muttered.
"True," Zagan agreed beside me. "Kayda is a sage. She should've kept her distance."
I cut him a sharp look. "And what do you think you're doing?"
"Helping you," he said, puffing his chest.
"You're doing jack. Go back to Rachel," I said, jabbing a thumb over my shoulder.
"Man, that's cold," he muttered, sulking off.
I turned back to Kayda, lifting my hands, ice already curling around my fingers. "Well then, Kayda. You want to catch me, right?"
"That was the plan," she admitted, but a dangerous grin tugged her lips, eyes glittering. "But now I want to see just how far your magic can go."
"What, seriously!?"
"Of course," she said, smiling almost sweetly despite her chaotic hair.
"You are one weird-ass aunt," I muttered, lowering into a stance as frost crept up my arms.