Chapter 4: Freedom.
I was lying in my bed when I woke up. Maybe Pops picked me up last night and moved me here. We only live in a small hut and upon waking up, you can see everything here, even the small table where we always eat. The wooden door is open, a sign that Pops is already wide awake.
At the bottom of this hut is where my Pops makes his wine. The wine is made of apples and he ferments it by means of burying it in the ground for several months. After the said span, the wine is ready for drinking and it tastes so good. I also love drinking liquor but unfortunately, in my case, Pops will always scold me whenever he caught me drinking. I frowned. It is kind of unfair. He drinks wine like it is just an ordinary water. He never stopped drinking and you can always see him getting drunk. I have to hide whenever I want some because Pops won’t really allow me to.
I got up and prepared myself. I took my small crocheted bucket sling bag with some tassels designing it. I saw some food on the table, fried vegetables, a large fried fish and a hot bun. It smelled nice and my stomach churned upon seeing it and I picked one. I started eating it as soon as I left the house. Upon stepping outside, I saw my Pops peacefully sleeping underneath the large apple tree near our house. As usual, he is holding his ancient liquor bottle. I darted towards him and lowered my body enough to meet his height. I snorted. His mouth is hanging open while snoring. I tried to wake him up by means of pulling his long white beard but took it off and I decided to just leave him alone. I smiled at him before I stand straight. I leave silently and immediately go to my favorite place, none other than the human world! I can finally eat some delicious food. I giggled when the image of pork belly and good wine entered my mind.
Unlike other Foxes, I wasn’t blessed with a complete family. But I am grateful that I have Pops in my life. It is absolutely better than nothing. Plus, he is a really great father figure. If you were to ask where my family is, Pops told me he just saw me outside his door together with the Celestine moon necklace where my name is engraved, Anastasia. I sighed softly. I am a wolf but I don’t consider myself as one since everyone abhors my race. Everyone is also afraid of wolves and I have no idea why. Hayy… I don’t know why, I never transform into one because Pops instructed me to never reveal my real identity to anyone. I am free to do anything, he never forbids me to do what I like, except for learning martial arts and going to the places he doesn’t want to mention.
Although he doesn’t want to, I always go to the human world without his permission. I always like to explore what they eat and what their world looks like. I always enjoy having some adventures alone. I have classes but ah-ah I don’t feel like going to. It’s too dull and boring. I’ll just fall asleep and the Foxes will just bully me. I pouted. I still need to find my savior, hoping I can see him there in the human world. I must find him!
I don’t let anyone see me sneaking into the portal. I broke off some leaves and used it to cover and camouflage myself. To be honest, there is an easy way to teleport in the human world. You just need to fly. Our place is located near other dimensions but unfortunately, I don’t know any spells to make myself fly. Others also have the natural ability to do so but me, ehh let us not just talk about it. I tried flying once but I only ended up hurting myself. I fell from the sky and landed in the river. So, the end game was I looked like a wet baby wolf. Hemp!
The portal to the human world looks enchanting. It is surrounded by a carpet of green centipede grass as well as vivid and picturesque flowers that made it too captivating. A formation of rocks can be found at the center, with a staircase which leads to the portal itself. A tall, massive form of a rock with an opening can be seen in the middle. Upon reaching it, a flow of magic can be felt. Numerous glittery and sparkling forms of light are also pleasingly floating around the portal.
On the way to the portal, I saw the long white haired old man. The Guardian is playing xiangqi, an ancient chess, in the middle of the portal all by himself. He gently caressed his long beard while he is too occupied on thinking what will his next move will be. He seems to not notice my presence and I should continue being this silent.
I bite my lower lips. I climb up on the rock stars while both of my hands are holding the leaves sideward as I try to not make any noise. I am almost at the last step. However, I couldn’t see it because of my disguise and I tripped. I ended up falling on the ground which made me caught the attention of the guardian. I closed my eyes and stopped myself from getting annoyed. I am such a clumsy little woman!
“Aiyoo~ What are you doing? Trying to sneak in again?” the long white haired old man asked me while still busy playing his chess. I silently groaned. It pained me. It hurts. I put on a long face. “I’m…” “Stand up,” he muttered while looking directly at me. I pouted and sat properly on the ground. I shake my hands as well as both my elbows to remove the dust off me. “Come sit with me. Don’t you ever dare think of sneaking. How many times do I have to tell you to not go into the human world? It won’t do any good to you. It will only put yourself in harm.” I immediately glanced at him and went near him using my knees. “Aiyaaa~ Master white hair, people in the human world are kind. And one more— I don’t use any magic to catch their attention since I don’t know how to. If I only know how to, I will not probably went here to visit the human world,” I whispered my last sentence while frowning.
I’m holding tightly to his hands, not wanting to let him go. I turned to him and he genuinely smiled at me and embraced me in a hug. “Master white hair, I will miss you. You will visit me and Pops, right?” I asked him and felt him nodding against me. My heart is getting torn into pieces. I didn’t know a goodbye would be this painful. “I will. Don’t worry, little wolf.” I hugged him tightly while my face was still drowning in different emotions. We both parted from our hugs and bid my goodbye. He just nodded and waved his hand at me before entering the portal. I turned my back for the last time and I saw him tilted his body to face his back at me. His other hand is holding a stick. He is aging. He’s just around the age of my Pops and he flew away from our home. My
I heard them say those words when I threw them the magic powder. It will make you blind for a few minutes and your eyes will become itchy. I saw a giant plant and I decided to hide there. “Who the hell did that!” “Come out, you little piece of sh*t!” “I will make sure to cut you into tiny pieces when I see you!” “You, go there. We go here. Go bring them back to me!” I heard them talking and cursing. They are enraged because of what I did. I giggled as I hid ourselves behind the giant plants. When they were finally gone, I took a deep breath and felt relieved for not getting caught. Maybe I have a talent when it comes to these things. Per
I pouted. For one horse, it’s too expensive. I still have things to buy and my money won’t be enough to buy all of those. “Sir, can you please give it to me for a lower price? I’m begging you, I still need to buy something and my money isn’t enough. If I will pay five silver for just one horse, I will be left with nothing,” I argued while holding his sleeves and trying to make him pity me. I even batted my eyelashes at him to make myself look adorable but he just threw me a stare of dagger. “Aiyaaa, if you can’t pay my asking price then don’t rent it. I still have more customers,” he said while leaving but I immediately gripped his elbow to stop him. “Alright, I will pay for it!” I make a face and get five silvers in my bag. Am I doing the right thing? Am I really paying this huge for just one horse? But I guess I have no choice.
Chapter 5: Heavenly Realm. When I arrived home, I tried to look around but I didn't see any trace of my Pops. He’s probably drunk again or sleeping somewhere around. Actually, that’s what all he did. It is his daily routine to drown himself in the presence of alcoholic beverages or busy himself with wine making. There are also those times wherein I’ll see him in the backyard near the pond while playing chess all by himself. The bonding we all have is chatting and playing around. I’m not mad at him for always getting drunk. I’m satisfied with everything but I also cannot help but worry about his health. Too much liquor might affect him. But based from his looks, I think it’s the other way around. I guess it serves as his vitamin. His day will be incomplete if there aren’t any signs of alcohol in his system.
“Are you done playing around?” he asked in a drunken tone. Like usual, he’s drinking again. I saw him holding his ancient bottle in his right hand. He is gripping at it for it to not fall on the water. I also fool around him whenever he’s around. I played some pranks on him and tease a little bit during those times he went here to eat. I actually miss those times and wished he hadn't left. I breathed a sigh and a sudden memory crossed my mind. I blinked several times. The other day, I was lying carelessly on the bermuda grass for me to rest. I read an article about Alois Deveraux and how he became the first emperor of heaven in the Heavenly Realm. He acquired the throne because of his immense power. It can even be compared to the king itself. I giggled because of the information. He is way too strong. I guess he’s too skillful and unbeatable. He is also an expert in terms of creating weapon
“Ah—” I handed him a glass of water and he hurriedly snatched it from my hands. He gulped every ounce of it and made sure he didn't leave any drop behind. Unfortunately, the amount is too much which made Pops spit out again. This earned a good round of laughter from the Master white haired. A heavy whap was what I received when I tried to lower down both of my arms. I closed my eyes because of the stinging sensation on my arm. “Raise your arms properly. Don’t lower it down until I order you to.” My hands are raised in the thin air while I kneeled on the cold bermuda grass. The two old men are also casually playing chess in front of me. This is the punishment for what I did earlier. I am now starting to regret the small prank I intended on doing. “Popsy, I already said I’m sorry and one
“Everything happens for a reason. People come and go. You just need to choose the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Choose those who can understand you well enough. The time will come when I’ll be gone too, I can’t protect you forever. You need to be brave in order to face your struggles and every battle. But also don’t forget to rest if you have to. If it’s breaking you, take a break and fight again but never surrender. Kiddo, in this lifetime, it is only yourself who will accompany you. Never become too dependent on someone. Be brave and strong enough to let go. Don’t forget that.” I heard Popsy’s words before I fell asleep. Because of the too much alcohol in my system, it put me to sleep. But despite that, I can still hear every word he said and it somehow made my heart ache. I woke up and my head pounded. It is aching and I a