Without taking the final step, Grey turned around and slowly descended the slope. The curious little fox followed right behind him, hopping lightly over each snowdrift. Together they found a small cave where they could hide from the wind.
"What do you want in return for saving my life?" he asked, sitting down on a stone.
Grey stretched out his hand, intending to pet the little fox, but hesitated for a moment.
"Am I rushing this? It's still a wild animal... It could bite me. But since the little fox tried to save me, it probably doesn't feel any hostility... I'll just pet it."
For several seconds the little fox stared at the outstretched hand in confusion, as if it did not understand what was expected of it. It froze in place, demonstrating obedience. This went on for about a minute.
Since Grey stood like a statue and did not attempt to do anything, the little fox's patience ran out very quickly. It pressed its muzzle into the open palm and began gently licking it. Its tongue was slightly rough, like that of a small kitten.
"Hehehe, that tickles," Grey chuckled cheerfully. Then he remembered something and reached inside his coat. "You must be very hungry. Here, take this. It's a cupcake. My mom baked it. You'll definitely like it."
In truth, it was Grey's favorite dessert, a cupcake with honey filling. Catherine had woken up early that morning to prepare her son's favorite dish in advance, hoping to cheer him up a little and celebrate his successful recovery together. The cupcake had long since cooled, but it still carried the warmth and care of home.
Grey almost burst into tears as he thought about his foolish act. His mother loved him so much, and yet he had been so ungrateful that he had nearly made a fatal mistake. So without hesitation, he decided to share the treat with his savior.
Catching the enticing scent, the little fox shamelessly snatched the treat and swallowed it in a single quick bite, then looked expectantly at the strange boy as if asking for more.
"Wu-wu-wu."
Grey stared silently at his empty palm, unable to understand how something with such a tiny body could be so gluttonous. In the end, he could only shake his head helplessly.
So be it. The little fox had fully earned the treat, and Grey did not want to eat it without his mother and sister.
"He-he-he, you're so greedy... Sorry, but I don't have anything else," the boy commented with a quiet laugh.
He carefully picked the little creature up in his hands to examine it properly. At first glance he understood that it was a magical beast: two snow-white tails and small tufts on its pointed ears glimmered faintly in the dark cave. Wash it a little, feed it, and it would become very cute.
The little fox grew slightly confused when it felt the boy's touch. No one had ever tried to feed it before, let alone show sincere care. It froze and even grew a little wary, but gradually relaxed.
There was no danger for it here. The boy's embrace felt warm and comfortable. It would be pleasant to rest here for a while while the bitter cold raged outside. The little fox closed its eyes and relaxed. Its pointed muzzle burrowed into Grey's shirt, trying to catch the lingering scent of food.
Feeling the dry, rough nose against his skin, Grey twitched from the tickling sensation but continued to stroke the fox's tangled fur. In its company, the boy felt an unfamiliar peace and calm.
The white fur made the little fox resemble Grace, but its miserable fate reminded him far more of Grey himself.
"My little friend… do you want to come with me? I'll take care of you. I may be weak, but I'll feed you and look after you. I promise I'll be more responsible than my sister, who constantly forgets about Lucky," the boy urged seriously, looking straight into the creature's eyes.
"Wu-wu-wu." The only answer he received was the fox's confused gaze.
"Why did you stop? It felt so good," was what it wanted to say.
Deciding that the fox wanted to hear the details, Grey hurried to explain:
"Lucky is Grace's pet. He's a legendary Cerberus and will be very strong in the future. But you don't need to worry. I won't let him bully you."
"Wu-wu-wu." The little fox did not understand a single word. It was annoyed that this foolish boy could not understand what it wanted. It simply buried its nose into his shirt, waiting for more strokes.
Grey took its reaction as agreement.
"Right! Are you a boy or actually a girl? Let me see."
Grey pulled the animal away from his chest again, this time to conduct a full inspection. His shameless actions outraged the fox. She squirmed violently, trying to break free from his firm grip.
"Stop it, I'm just going to check. You need a name, after all. You don't want to be a nameless fox, do you?" Even though Grey was not certain, it seemed to him that the fox was very embarrassed.
"Wu-wu-wu."
Five minutes passed. The fox broke free from the boy's hands and stared at him with an offended look. She resembled a shy little girl whose purity had been violated by some wicked uncle.
That look made Grey feel uncomfortable.
"Alright, alright. Calm down. Now I know you're a girl. That means you need a feminine name. How about Nastya?" he hurriedly said, trying to change the subject.
The fox's fur bristled. How dare this shameless boy call her "disgusting"? She really wanted to bite him.
The fox growled as if in disagreement.
"Tanya?"
"Ryu-ryu," the animal growled angrily again.
First "disgusting," now "cheap." This boy had gone too far with his mockery. Did he have no shame at all? Maybe he was doing it on purpose?
"Alright, alright, calm down. Alice? How about Alice?" the boy tried to appease the fox.
Grey had absolutely no idea that he had done anything wrong. He did not even know that names could be twisted like that. Moreover, the fox herself was hardly capable of understanding something so complicated. In truth, she was still displeased with his rough handling and the lack of affection. As soon as Grey began stroking her again and pulled her into an embrace, she calmed down and yipped happily.
That was how she received the name "Alice."
The two of them shared a rather strange synchronization.
Watching the antics of the two from a dark shadow, Cassia felt the urge to make a facepalm. She could not understand how her mature and intelligent young master had suddenly turned into an amusing clown.
Perhaps the operation had affected his brain cells? Should she ask Celine for another examination?
Having reached an agreement, Grey and the fox headed back toward the village.
The little beast settled comfortably in the boy's arms and looked very pleased as it listened to Grey humming a melody in high spirits.
Cassia never stepped out. Grey did not need to know that she had been following him the entire time.
When the villagers noticed the boy walking home with a light step, they raised their eyebrows in surprise. They had been certain that Grey would be deeply depressed and would not return until sunset. Yet less than an hour had passed, and he was already standing before them, radiant and carefree.
"A child's mood is so changeable. How enviable," they thought, visibly relaxing.
When Grey stepped into the house, he saw a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life.
His beautiful mother and sister were laughing maniacally as they destroyed everything around them. Cups, plates, the kitchen set, everything had been smashed as if a hippopotamus had rampaged through the room.
The two white-haired girls, one tall and sensual, the other small and cute, were at that moment drawing some kind of hexagram with mad expressions on their faces.
Hearing the creak of the door, they turned their heads toward the sound and froze as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them.
Standing before them was their dear Grey. But something about him was strange. He was glowing with satisfaction. It looked as if he had not failed the operation but had just won a million in the lottery. The sight was so unbelievable that they did not even notice the small white bundle he was holding in his arms.
Could this be someone else?
The three of them stared at each other in complete bewilderment. In each of their minds spun the same single question: "What's wrong with you?"
The little fox looked around with curiosity, unaware of how ridiculous the situation she had ended up in truly was.
Having calmed herself slightly from the madness that had overtaken her, Catherine straightened her dress and asked carefully,
"Um… dear, are you all right? You came back so soon…"
"Yes, Mom, everything's fine," Grey replied. "I'm afraid I should ask… what happened to you?"
"Um… well, we were just… studying… um… witch curses. Yes… Grandma Albedo gave me a lot of homework, and I asked Mom to help, but things got a little out of hand. Right, Mom?" Grace pretended as if nothing had happened.
"Ahem, ahem… yes, that's right," Catherine lied for the first time. She was embarrassed, realizing the state in which she had appeared before her children.
"I see," Grey said simply, though his expression made it clear he didn't believe them at all.
"Emmm… Brother, why are you so happy? I thought you went into the forest to be alone. And… what's this cute little creature? Where did you find it?" Grace eagerly fired off question after question, wanting to change the subject quickly.
Now it was Grey's turn to feel flustered. He had no idea how to answer. He certainly couldn't admit that he had just moments ago been on the verge of entering the cycle of reincarnation.
"Well… I went into the forest to get some fresh air and met Alice. She was so hungry and lonely that I couldn't just pass her by, and I wanted to help… Mom, can she stay with us? I promise to take care of her. I swear, I won't be as irresponsible as Grace is with Lucky," Grey said, giving his mother his "puppy dog" eyes.
His expressive gaze stunned Catherine for a moment. His request, his plaintive voice, instantly doused the fire of her anger. Was this really the same Grey?
Her son almost never asked for anything. He always tried to solve problems on his own or kept them to himself—so unlike Grace.
And now, returning home after a failed operation, he was pleading to keep the little fox. Could she refuse? Why even ask?
"Of course you can, dear," Catherine said with a smile.
She saw absolutely no problem in it. The fox was very cute. She would make a wonderful friend for Grey. Secretly, Catherine had already decided to raise the little creature into a strong magical beast, capable of protecting her defenseless son.
"You're the best mom in the world! I love you so much," Grey said, feeling incredibly happy, and threw himself into her arms.
"Just don't feed her too much at once. A pet's diet should be increased gradually, so the little fox recovers quickly and doesn't suffer from indigestion," Catherine advised, fully slipping back into her motherly role.
"I remember, Mom. If you haven't forgotten, I take care of Lucky far more often than his owner does."
"What do you mean? I'm not irresponsible at all. I just have a lot to do," Grace quickly interjected.
"Of course, of course, little sister. We all believe you. (Not really.)"
"Fufufu. You two are so independent! Always running off into the forest without supervision. I wouldn't be surprised if soon you both feel grown-up enough to ask for your own little hut," Catherine said, pretending to be offended.
"No, Mom! We'll always be with you! You're the best mom in the world!" the twins replied.
The words, the intonation—everything was perfectly identical. They even moved in unison, rushing into her arms. No wonder—their mother constantly used this trick when she wanted to draw them close.
Catherine felt her eyes sting. Too many emotions for one day. She had just been crying, and now, in an instant, her lips stretched into a blissful smile.
She felt uplifted. The children's words, simple and sincere, meant far more to her than the opinions of others or even the gods. As long as they were happy and healthy, Catherine was completely content.
Her son had recovered from his failure. Her daughter was by her side. What else could she wish for?
Catherine had no idea that her tireless efforts and hopes for his recovery were experienced by the boy as a heavy burden. In truth, Grey's desires were simple: he did not want his loved ones to be sad.
Did he worry about his own future? No. Well, technically he had to, since everyone around him placed far too many expectations on his shoulders.
Was he afraid of an untimely death? Perhaps. But far more than that, he longed to live in the present, to savor every moment. Thoughts of the future only got in the way.
Even without realizing it, Grey sought healing not for his own salvation, but to keep up with his sister and meet the adults' expectations. When hope for recovery finally crumbled completely, he felt a sudden relief.
Understanding that nothing could be changed, the boy found a strange emotional calm.
Death from halted development? When would that come? In forty years? Maybe fifty.
For someone who had lived only a tiny fraction of that time, such numbers seemed infinitely distant. That is what separates a child from an adult. (Grey did not know how much time he actually had left.)
Only Cassia, who had watched him in that decisive moment, could grasp the source of this struggle. To everyone else, his emotions remained a mystery.
The same was true for Catherine. She could not understand her son—just as he could not see the world through her eyes. And even if she could, could she accept the outcome? Of course not. It was a matter of perspective.
Who knows what the elders, who have lived for centuries, think about? What goes through the mind of a god whose slumber can last for ages?
Mortals are simply not meant to understand a god. Though in power Catherine was closer to a god than to a mortal, she had lived only thirty years. She still perceived everything through mortal eyes.
Time is a fearsome force. It heals, and it destroys. Only time would reveal how their fates would unfold.
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