Two years passed.
Nagisa was now six years old, and the estate had become much more familiar to her than it had been when she first arrived in this world.
She had grown considerably, although she was still very much a cub.
Her fur had become thicker, her legs stronger, and her movements more graceful.
Her ears had developed a habit of turning toward every interesting sound, which her siblings found endlessly amusing.
Her curiosity had grown even faster than her body.
She wanted to know everything.
She wanted to understand Elyra, the different races that lived throughout the world, the cultivation system, the territories beyond the estate, the strange creatures her father occasionally mentioned, and especially what awaited her on Awakening Day.
Unfortunately, she still had three years to wait.
That morning, Nagisa was lying on the floor of her room with a book open between her paws when her mother’s voice came from the hallway.
“Nagisa.”
She lifted her head.
“Yes, Mother?”
“Come with me.”
Nagisa closed the book.
“Where are we going?”
“The market.”
Her ears immediately perked up.
“The market?”
Celeste appeared in the doorway.
“We need to buy some things for the house, and I thought you might enjoy seeing the town.”
Nagisa was already on her feet.
“Really?”
Celeste laughed.
“You haven’t even asked what we’re buying.”
“I don’t care.”
“Then you probably won’t complain when I make you carry something.”
Nagisa stopped.
“…How much?”
“Not very much.”
Nagisa narrowed her eyes.
“You said that last time.”
“And you survived.”
“Technically.”
Celeste shook her head with a smile.
“Come on.”
Nagisa hurried after her.
The other children were immediately jealous when they discovered where Nagisa was going.
Sato followed them to the entrance.
“I want to go.”
Celeste shook her head.
“Not today.”
“Why does Nagisa get to go?”
“Because I only need one child with me.”
Sato looked at Nagisa.
“Why her?”
Nagisa smiled.
“Because I’m the favorite.”
“You are not!”
Hirata appeared behind Sato.
“Don’t start.”
Ren came along as well, followed by Airi.
Airi looked at Celeste.
“Can we go next time?”
Celeste nodded.
“If you’re all well behaved.”
Sato immediately raised his paw.
“I’ll behave.”
Everyone stared at him.
He lowered it.
“…Probably.”
Nagisa laughed.
Celeste gently ushered her out.
“Come on before they decide to follow us.”
Nagisa looked back at her siblings.
“See you later!”
Sato shouted after her.
“Bring me something!”
“What?”
“Anything!”
Nagisa laughed.
“I’ll think about it.”
The journey to the market didn’t take very long.
The Kiyotaka estate was located close enough to a large settlement that Celeste could travel there without spending the entire day on the road.
Nagisa sat beside her mother as they traveled.
She kept looking through the window.
The scenery slowly changed.
The quiet lands surrounding the estate gave way to roads filled with travelers.
Nagisa saw merchants transporting goods, small groups of adventurers, families traveling together, and different races moving through the streets.
She pressed her face closer to the window.
There were beastfolk with ears and tails similar to hers.
Humans.
Tall people with pointed ears.
Small creatures carrying enormous bags.
A few people with wings.
Nagisa’s eyes widened.
“Mother.”
“Yes?”
“There are so many different races.”
Celeste smiled.
“There are even more than what you’re seeing.”
Nagisa watched the passing crowd.
“Do they all use Elyra?”
“Most living beings have some connection to Elyra, yes.”
“Do all of them cultivate?”
“No. Cultivation is only one way to become stronger.”
Nagisa turned toward her.
“What are the others?”
“Training, physical evolution, bloodline abilities, divine blessings, magical techniques, artifacts, and many other paths.”
“So there are different power systems?”
“To an extent.”
Nagisa immediately began thinking.
This world was getting more interesting by the day.
She had spent years reading about cultivation, but now she was realizing that cultivation wasn’t the entire world.
There were probably countless things she hadn’t discovered yet.
Celeste watched her expression.
“You look like you’re planning something.”
“I’m thinking.”
“That’s usually when you get into trouble.”
Nagisa smiled.
“I’ll try not to.”
Her mother laughed.
“That’s all I ask.”
The market was enormous.
Nagisa stepped out of the carriage and immediately found herself surrounded by sounds.
Merchants shouted about their products.
Customers negotiated prices.
Children ran through the streets.
Musicians played instruments near one of the fountains.
The smell of roasted meat drifted through the air.
Nagisa’s ears moved in every direction as she tried to take everything in at once.
“Stay close,” Celeste said.
Nagisa nodded.
“I will.”
She followed her mother through the crowded streets.
Their first stop was a grocery stall.
Celeste purchased vegetables, grains, fruits, and several ingredients Nagisa didn’t recognize.
Nagisa watched carefully.
“What’s that?”
“Moonroot.”
“What does it do?”
“It’s used in several dishes.”
“And that?”
“Sunberry.”
“What about that?”
Celeste looked at the item.
“That’s a spice.”
Nagisa leaned closer.
“What kind?”
“One that your father hates.”
Nagisa laughed.
Celeste bought it anyway.
They continued through the market.
Nagisa noticed a stall selling small enchanted objects.
She stared at a glowing stone.
“What is that?”
“A low-grade mana crystal.”
“Elyra crystal?”
“Yes.”
Nagisa examined it carefully.
“So people can store Elyra inside objects?”
“Correct.”
“That’s incredible.”
Celeste smiled.
“You’re going to spend all day asking questions, aren’t you?”
“Probably.”
“Then stay beside me.”
Nagisa nodded.
After buying several more things, Celeste stopped at a stall selling clothing.
“I need something for your siblings.”
Nagisa looked at the rows of fabric.
There were clothes designed for humans, beastfolk, and several other races.
Some had elaborate patterns.
Others were simple.
Nagisa wandered a few steps away while her mother spoke with the merchant.
She was examining a small bracelet when someone bumped into her.
“Sorry!”
Nagisa turned.
A girl about her age stood there.
She was a fox cub too, although her fur was a warm reddish-brown rather than Nagisa’s.
The girl looked embarrassed.
“I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
Nagisa smiled.
“It’s okay.”
The girl looked at her.
“You’re a Kiyotaka, aren’t you?”
Nagisa blinked.
“How did you know?”
The girl pointed toward Nagisa’s clothes.
“My mother told me about your family.”
“Oh.”
Nagisa looked at her more carefully.
“What’s your name?”
The girl hesitated for a moment before smiling.
“Mira.”
“Nice to meet you, Mira.”
“I’m Nagisa.”
“I know.”
Nagisa laughed.
“Right.”
Mira looked at the bracelet in Nagisa’s paw.
“Do you like that?”
Nagisa nodded.
“It’s pretty.”
“My father makes things like that.”
Nagisa’s eyes widened.
“Really?”
“He works with enchanted items.”
“That’s amazing.”
Mira smiled.
“Do you want to see?”
Nagisa looked toward her mother.
Celeste was still speaking with the merchant.
Nagisa hesitated.
She wasn’t supposed to wander off.
Mira noticed.
“Your mother is right there.”
Nagisa glanced over.
She was only a few steps away.
“Okay.”
Mira led her to another nearby stall.
Nagisa’s eyes widened.
The stall was filled with small enchanted objects.
Rings.
Bracelets.
Necklaces.
Tiny charms.
Some glowed faintly with Elyra.
Others moved on their own.
Nagisa stared at everything.
“This is incredible.”
Mira smiled.
“My father makes some of them.”
Nagisa picked up a small wooden charm.
“What does this do?”
“It keeps insects away.”
Nagisa immediately put it down.
“Useful.”
Mira laughed.
The two girls spent several minutes looking at the items.
Nagisa quickly discovered that Mira was just as curious as she was.
They talked about their families, their siblings, the Awakening Ceremony, and the things they wanted to learn.
Mira wanted to become an artifact maker like her father.
Nagisa wanted to understand Elyra and eventually explore the world.
“You really want to travel?” Mira asked.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Everywhere.”
Mira laughed.
“That’s a lot.”
“I know.”
Nagisa looked toward the distant streets.
“There are too many things I haven’t seen yet.”
Mira nodded.
“I’d like to travel too.”
Nagisa smiled.
“Then maybe we can travel together someday.”
Mira’s eyes brightened.
“Really?”
“Sure.”
They shook paws.
It was a simple agreement between two six-year-old cubs.
Neither of them knew whether they would actually keep it.
Neither understood how much their lives would change over the years.
For now, they were simply two children who had met at a market.
And Nagisa had made her first real friend outside her family.
“Nagisa.”
Celeste’s voice came from behind her.
Nagisa turned.
Her mother was standing nearby.
“It’s time to go.”
Nagisa looked at Mira.
“Oh.”
Mira seemed disappointed too.
Nagisa smiled.
“Will you be here again?”
Mira nodded.
“My family comes here often.”
“Then I’ll see you again.”
“Promise?”
Nagisa held out her paw.
“Promise.”
Mira bumped her paw against it.
Nagisa turned toward Celeste.
“I’m coming.”
As they walked away, Nagisa looked back one last time.
Mira was still standing beside the stall.
She waved.
Nagisa waved back.
Celeste glanced at her daughter.
“Made a friend?”
Nagisa smiled.
“Yes.”
“That’s good.”
Nagisa looked ahead.
For the rest of the journey home, she couldn’t stop thinking about the market.
There had been so many people.
So many races.
So many strange objects.
So much Elyra.
And now she had someone outside her family she could call a friend.
For the first time, the world beyond the Kiyotaka estate didn’t feel quite so distant.
It felt like something she could eventually explore.
Three years remained until her Awakening.
Nagisa was already beginning to wonder what kind of world would open up to her afterward.
I’m accelerating the time, so has to reach the awakening day, but don’t worry I’ll still make it understandable, it’s simple math.