Chapter 3

I stirred a bit under the covers, enjoying the warmth that is enveloping me.

My body feels sore all over, especially where it hurt the most earlier.

Wait. Blanket? Bed? Where am I?

My eyes open with a start and I'm greeted with a ceiling I don't recognize.

"Uh, I don't know that ceiling. Eh, I've always wanted to say that." I laugh a little at my own joke. I think I've read a bit too much isekai novels.

My musings got interrupted by a giggling voice that I would recognize anywhere and at any time.

"Pfft, dork."

It's at this moment that I notice my hand being held on my side. I turn my head to see Anna, my dear sister, looking at me with her violet eyes filled with love and concern. And a little bit of exasperated amusement.

"How do you feel, Jane?" She ask, the concern now visible all over her face.

I smile a little at her, squeezing her hand.

"I feel as sore as after running at least two hundred meter" I answer with a shrug before widening my eyes.

"Wait... My voice?"

Usually my voice is a bit low, not as low as our father. But still unmistakably a boy that just never really got his voice breaking after his teenage years.

But now? It's gentle and sweet, sounding suspiciously girly. I almost thought there was someone else in the room with us. But a quick glance around do confirm it's really me that just spoke.

Anna looked at me with a mischievous smile, booping my nose with one of her long fingers.

"What about your voice? Isn't it yours? Like always." She barely restrain her laugh, but I can feel it in her words, making them vibrate slightly.

I glare a little at her and reach with my free hand to pinch her cheeks. But I only finished my movement when I see my own hands.

Longer fingers, more slender too. With perfect translucent nails. I freeze slightly, my mouth opening in disbelief.

"What?..."

Anna's smile widen a bit and with her own free hand she catch mine, pressing each of her finger to mine. It's almost the same size, hers are just a tiny bit longer.

"Did you realize?" Her voice is a whisper, gentle like she's coaxing a crying child.

I have a growing suspicion. But I don't know if I'm right, if I understand, if can accept that. No, that's a lie. I can accept it if what I'm thinking of is true.

But I'm scared, so scared. Not of that, but of our family's reaction. Especially our father.

"Want to see? It's amazing." Her voice still gentle and coaxing, her hand squeezing mine a little bit more. Our fingers still pressed against each others.

I don't even know. I'm not sure. If I'm honest then yes. I do want to see, confirm that my suspicion is right. But should I?

"I... Yes. Please..." My voice is barely a whisper, I don't even know how she heard me. Maybe some vampire shenanigans I don't know about.

She just give me a nod a tug on my hand, indicating me to get up and follow her.

I do, stumbling a bit with how sore my body is. She catch me in her arms with a quiet "Careful", never letting my hand go. Slowly we make way to a door near us. When she open it I see it's a simple bathroom. And right in front of us is a full mirror.

My breath catches when I see who is reflected. Two girls standing next to each other, holding hands.

One of them is quite tall with black hair, violet eyes and a gorgeous face and body. Wearing a white outfit. Anna.

But the one that catch my eyes are the smaller one, almost a head less than Anna. She has long red hair and amber eyes. Her face is soft and gentle, with hints of ressemblance with Anna. Almost like they are sisters.

But that's impossible. Anna doesn't have another sister. And that's not, strangely enough, the weirdest thing.

No, that smaller girl has fox ears as red as her hair on her head. Only the tips are a dark blue. And behind her? A fluffy tail swaying awkwardly. Red with a dark blue tip too.

I approach the mirror with small and hesitant steps, Anna accompanying me, and I see the two girls also growing more distinct. Like they are also getting closer.

I also notice that other girl is wearing the same clothes I came in with.

I lift my free hand to touch the mirror and the reflection does the same.

"That's... Me?... How?" Once again, my question is barely whispered. Laced with disbelief and fear. But there's also relief behind all that.

Anna's smile is sweet and gentle.

"Yes Jane. That's you. After you climbed the platform and closed your eyes you collapsed with a scream..." She takes a deep breath, I can hear her voice trembling at the memory. I squeeze her hand by reflex to reassure her.

"Then you started changing. Even that receptionist couldn't explain how it could happen."

I nod at that. I remember the pain, so intense. The worst I've ever felt. It makes a bit of sense. Having your body changing entirely hurts, it's quite logical.

"Are you... Upset?" She ask, a hint of fear behind the concern.

"I... No. I'm glad. I'm so glad... But I'm scared." My voice tremble a little, and I see tears falling in the mirror.

Panicking, Anna suddenly takes me in her arms. Giving me one of her crushing hugs. I can feel my tears soaking her shoulder while she run her hand in my now long hair in a soothing gesture.

"I know. It is scary. But I'm here, you know that. I'll forever be here for you, it's not easy to get rid of me." Her voice is still gentle and soft, her breath hitting my new ear and sending it in a twitching frenzy that made her laugh a bit.

"Don't say that, say it to your future wife." I giggle a bit at her words, I know she means them. And I would be so happy to have her always at my side.

But I also know she's bound to find someone she loves to spend her life with. It's normal, she's amazing.

She push me a little away to look at me in the eyes, a smile smile in the corner of her lips. One of her hands come to cup my cheek, using her thumb to wipe a tear away.

"Then I just have to not find anyone and bother you for life I guess." Anna says, sending a wink my way.

I shake my head at that, half exasperated and half panicking. I don't want her to sacrifice anything for me. It wouldn't be fair to her. My tail swishing restlessly behind me.

"No don't. You deserve love sis."

She just hummed without answering and take out a handkerchief from her bag to wipe my face gently.

"C'mon. Let's get out of here. Are you feeling better? You had problems walking earlier."

"Still a bit sore. But I'm fine now. I shouldn't wobble like a penguin this time." I answer with a wide smile, letting her go totally to take a few steps to demonstrate. Then we get out of the bathroom, but not without me looking in the mirror a last time. Taking my new appearance to mind. I see my tail swishing happily behind me.

I'll need to learn how to control that.

"Oh wait. I still don't know what resonated with me at the awakening." I stop once we got out of the bathroom.

"I can answer that Mister.. I mean Miss Denki now." A voice from the door to the... Hospital room? Answer my question.

When I turn my head, I see the receptionist that accompanied us earlier.

I tilt my head slightly, sending my ears the same way and brushing them against Anna's neck without meaning to.

She jolt a bit while those two fluffy thing twitch at the the touch, sending tingles all the way to my tail.

Oh wow. Sensible. Gotta be careful about that I guess.

I turn my head toward Anna to apologize, but freeze imperceptibly when I see her cheeks growing a slight pink.

I forgot how she loves fluff. A little mischievous idea worm its way in my head and i, as best as I can, brush her side with my tail.

She visibly stiffen at that and it makes me grin. She sends a quick glare my way while squeezing my hand she took back when we got out of the bathroom.

I simply answer that with a mask of pure innocence before looking at the lady waiting again.

She has a brow lifted at our shenanigan, but professionally don't comment on it.

"When you collapsed two column reacted. A Katana and a Dagger. They floated to your hands where they settled." She continue, her voice still with that calm but not cold tone.

I do remember two weights, one on each hand at that time. As I think of that I feel something on the back of my mind. A weird connection to two things.

Closing my eyes, I lift my free left hand in front of me with the palm up. And I try to 'connect' to one of those presence in my mind. The next instant I feel a weight on my hand.

Opening my eyes, I see a simple dagger resting here. My eyes widen at that. Yes I did see Anna's staff disappear, guessing it must have gone somewhere. But now that I do the same, only in reverse, I understand what she did.

I close my hand on the handle of that dagger and it just... Fit. Like it always belonged here.

Suddenly a grey light shone, coming from the dagger I'm gripping. It started to grow a little and a second blade formed itself in front of the handle, like a handguard but more dangerous for others.

It changed color too, taking a glassy red like it was made of precious stone.

"Eh. It matches you now Jane. Just a bit less.. Uh, fiery?" Anna sounded a little unsure about that and I threw her a withering glare.

"I'm fiery?"

"I meant the color of your hair !"

"Hmpf."

I turn my head away with a pout and focus myself on my new dagger. I turn it this and that way, examining it from all sides.

"Such a strong space element... That's amazing. But, weren't there a second weapon Miss Denki?" The receptionist ask me, making me tear my gaze away from the blade.

"Hm. Yes. There's another one in my mind. Are you sure it isn't just a pair?"

"No. If it was, because it could be possible, both would have appeared when you summoned your dagger." She shot down my idea instantly and so quickly that I can't stop my ears from laying back on my head.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you Miss." Her tone is laced with apologies and I just shake my head with a smile.

"No it's fine, I was just a little startled that's all."

I let go of Anna's hand and I swear I hear her whine a little at that, but when I glance at her there's no sign of it.

Bewildered, I just lift my right hand. Just like the dagger I reach to the presence in my mind and a pretty long katana appear. By all means I shouldn't be able to lift it with only one hand. It's not made for that.

But just like the dagger, the moment I close my hand on the handle I can feel it fitting perfectly. Like if I tried to wield it with both hands it wouldn't work. This time it's not a light that appear, but sparks of lightning. They start from the tip of the blade and rapidly spread through the blade. Everywhere it pass through seems to change the colour to a very dark blue, just like the tip of my ears and tail.

One arc of lightning touched my hand for a second and, while it didn't hurt me, it made the fur on my tail puff up, almost doubling the size. I hear a barely restrained giggle next to me and my head whipped toward the side, narrowing my eyes at Anna.

Her shoulders are shaking and she's hiding her mouth behind one hand. But I can see her eyes curved with laughter.

I dismiss the two weapon and take my tail in my arms like I'm protecting it. I know my sister, with her love for fluff she's bound to try and grab it to 'Help straighten the fur'. No way I'm letting her do that. So I take upon the task to do it myself. But it's pretty hard without a brush.

The instant I think that, I feel my nails growing a little. Like very thin but sturdy claws.

"Oooh, that's new. " I coo in wonder, using my newly discovered claws run through the fur of my tail. "I didn't expect that. It's nice."

"Wha. Hey that's unfair! I have to go to the beautician to get nails this nice! And you get them naturally?! I'm one hundred percent jealous!" Anna complain loudly, pouting a bit while crossing her arms.

I can see our receptionist looking at my claws with envy too. I guess every girl out there would love to have the same as me. And I totally understand them. I was very envious too before I changed. I mean... Did you look at those elegant nails on those gorgeous women?! But I couldn't, I was a 'man'.

I shake my head again to get rid of those thoughts. It doesn't take me long before my tail is finally in a normal state so I let it go. I catch Anna's hand lifting a little in the corner of my eyes, like she wanted to grab it. To tease her a bit I make it brush lightly over her open palm before taking it away. A little undignified sound reach my ears, confirming that my little prank worked wonders.

"Anyway Miss Denki. It's the first time I see more than one weapon answering an awakening. There's also something else. While you were asleep I've checked the archives and made a couple of calls. Your race, it's unique. Nobody in the world has the same. I can't imagine why it happened."

This took my attention away from teasing my sister. The only one? But with the population in the world it shouldn't be possible, right? I frown at that. I'm not sure if I want to be that special. It sounds like a hassle, maybe possibly getting locked-up in a facility to understand my new race.

It seems like my concerns are written on my face. Or maybe it's my tail swaying wildly that gave it away. But it makes the woman smile while waving her hand.

"Please don't be alarmed. Nobody is going to do anything to you. On the contrary I have a proposition for you" Her tone was slow and careful, like she is bracing for something.

I lift a eyebrow, curious about what she's talking about. I suddenly find it pretty weird that she could just 'make a couple of calls' to know if I'm really the only... Foxgirl? I guess?

I see her straightening slightly and she smooth down her outfit.

"First let me introduce myself properly. I'm Virina, I'm a professor at Euclydia Academy. Nice to meet you, Misses Denki." She bow slightly to us, her back straight.

Euclydia Academy? I have vague recollections of that name. It sounds like an important place. But I can't remember anything about it.

But seems like Anna do, because she's suddenly gripping my arm like it's a life-saving buoy and she's drowning.

"What?! The best Academy of the country?! And maybe of the surrounding countries too?! But aren't you 'just' a receptionist in a small city?!" She ask, her voice laced with excitement and doubts.

Oh! Now it hits me. I remember what I know about that academy. It's, like Anna said, the best academy for awakened. In here they teach us how to fight, how to master the elements we're able to use.

They also have a few Dungeons that students can use to train in. Not the kind where you know you will be safe whatever happens. No, some can die in those. And that's what is valuable. Doesn't seems much different from the Dungeons in the wild? It is. Because if you exit those at the Academy there's a team of healers at the ready to help and potentially save you.

In the wild? No such luck. You could even exit to a pack of monsters and die shredded by those.

There's a bunch of other opportunities over there, but I'm not that familiar with those.

But apparently Anna is, and she's very excited to hear that the rec- no, Virina, is a teacher here.

"Yes, that exact one. I'm indeed 'just' a receptionist right now" She look at Anna with an amused smile, my sister blushing a bit in shame and trying to hide behind me. It doesn't really work since she's taller than I am now. "But this city is my hometown and it's currently Summer. So I'm on vacation. Anyway, I'm talking about that because I would like to invite you, Miss Jane Denki, to join us." She turns her attention to me again and I fidget a little.

"But, I don't have the money for that kind of education you know?" I answer her, my voice a little down.

As far as I know, those kind of Academies are expensive. Heck, even just the one we're going to right now is quite good but still cost a bit of money. Nothing our parents can't afford. But that's actually the only 'correct' one they can.

"It's free. Lodgings, food and basic necessities. The Academy is originally free anyway. It's just very hard to get into. It's by invitations, and even then you need to pass the tests."

"There's a catch right?" I narrow my eyes at the woman. I could understand her invitation if it was only about the dual weapons. But I'm pretty sure it's not the real reason she would want me to come at Euclydia.

"Not a 'catch' per se. But we'd like you to inform us of the characteristics of your race. Whatever you discover about it, we would want to know and understand. Of course we won't do any tests or anything that would endanger your life. You'll be quite free to attend the Academy like a normal student." She seems pleased of my cautiousness and try to reassure me as much as she can.

"I'd like to discuss this with my sister, is that alright if I answer later please?" I ask tentatively.

I know Anna would love to go, it's not a dream of hers. But it's still a golden occasion. I'm very tempted of course. But there's also another problem we need to deal with. Our father's reaction to my... Changes. And I know that it's not going to be all roses and sunshine. At those thoughts my ears flatten on my head and my tail curl up around my leg.

"Of course that's totally fine. But please, do give me an answer as soon as you can. Summer is almost finished and the next round of entrance exams are right around the corner. Please take my phone number to contact me." She answers me with a nod, pulling out her phone.

We exchange numbers so I can tell her if we're coming or not. Because there's no way I'm leaving Anna behind while I go enjoy myself.

"No problems. By the way, I do hope that invitation extend to Anna too, right?"

I hear the concerned gasp a little next to me, her hands gripping my arm a bit stronger now. I wince and shot her a meaningful glance. She catch it and ease her grip with an apologetic smile.

"I was about to ask her too. She's still a quad-mage and a genius in making on her own right. She one hundred percent deserves her chance. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to do some other calls. I hope you have a good rest of the day Misses."

With another bow she turn her heels and get out of the room. I turn toward Anna with a smile.

"Well, let's go home?" I ask tentatively, my voice cracking a little.

I'm not sure I want to go home right this instant. I'm really scared of our father's reaction. Of our whole family even. I can kinda guess what our brothers will say. Probably mock me for failing to 'be a real man' like always.

Anna looks at me and the excitement she had about Euclydia fades, a soft gentleness seeping from her gaze.

"Hm, well. I'm quite starved actually. Aren't you? Why don't we first stop for some lunch?" She answers me with a smile.

I don't even have time to answer, my stomach does for me by making the loudest grumble I've ever heard in my life. I put my free arm around it, my face warming slightly, before nodding meekly.

"Well, I guess I am pretty starved too..."

Anna just start pulling me toward the exit, laughing out loud.