As she listened to Shin talking about their heritage, she suddenly asked, "Who do you think they were? The attack last night, I mean, I wasn't expecting that brave to come for the King and Queen like that. Foolish, but someone is trying to put their pieces on the board, or at least make the pieces known."
He nodded as she mentioned the assailants. "Yeah. I thought of that too, but we'll never get the information we need unless we investigate on our own. And I have a plan for the execution."
"What's the plan?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity and a readiness to take on a challenge like a good student.
When she pressed him further about what he was thinking, he simply shrugged. He chuckled and said, "I don't know."
The sunlight poured over them, warm and golden. A gentle breeze rolled in, bringing a perfect coolness that made the moment feel timeless.
"I just let the sun and the moon guide my every step," he added with a soft smile. "Ever since then, I owe them my life."
She tilted her head, thinking. "The sun and the moon? It's so strange to live as long as I have without getting to feel their rays against my skin. It's almost euphoric."
Her gaze drifted slightly as she recalled distant memories. "I remember running in the woods with my family, and how my mother would lie in the meadows with us and bathe in the moonlight. She always told us kids that the Moon Goddess loved all her children, while the Sun God bathed his children in a light unmatched by others."
Shin listened to her speak about the Sun and Moon. Foxes truly believed in the Sun God and the Moon Goddess.
Two gods in love with one another, fulfilling their duties together in the heavens. The Sun God illuminated the day, while the Moon Goddess brought light to the night with the help of the Sun's warmth.
When she spoke about the sun and moon being euphoric, he agreed. He remembered running through fields, chasing his mother and father, basking in the warm sunlight, and later sleeping under the moonlight.
As she shared her story, Shin listened in silence. Her voice carried a melancholy that stirred something deep within him.
"As a wise man once said, 'The living must pay respects and remember the dead. To live is to remember.' It still rings true to this day. When you think about it, that's the highest form of respect to them—remembering the good despite the bad."
He was right, without a doubt. The living had to keep the memory of the dead alive, or they risked being forgotten.
That thought alone broke her heart many times. Her family had been too good for this world.
They were outcasted, but that didn't make them any less significant. She preferred to think of their laughter over the bloodshed and tears.
They both had lost the most meaningful people in their lives. Those who were supposed to still be here, their laughter and love once filling the void, are now left behind.
Laverna wanted to cry for all the memories she would never have. Instead, she felt the rage.
She was sad and would always carry that sadness, but over time, anger had rooted itself in her heart. She once thought avenging her family was a dream, but with Shin, it could become reality.
She knew little about the ones who destroyed her life. Had there been others?
She couldn't remember. The burlap sack over her head had blocked everything, and she'd been too busy crying and begging.
No. She had to push that away for now. They were sharing a happy moment, and she wanted to hold on to that.
She let out a quiet sigh, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "Say what you will, I never expected my life to turn out the way that it has. It's strange."
A faint smile appeared on her lips. "My grandmother was even more into it than my mother. I barely remember them, but what I do remember is strong... and eternal."
She smiled softly, the light in her eyes both warm and sad. Thinking of her family brought her bittersweet happiness, a fragile comfort that reminded her of what she had lost.
Shin continued, sensing the shift in her tone. "We'll just do what we can. We'll know once they say something to us."
He leaned back slightly, his gaze thoughtful. "By then, we can investigate on our own by picking up clues. Asking around, looking for places, and interrogating—those are ways we can learn the truth."
He reached for the pitcher and poured water into both their glasses. "For now, we wait for their summons and settle down."
She couldn't help but stare before realizing she had been looking at Shin too long. A blush crept against her features.
She didn't want to be disrespectful, but he was an attractive man. The way he moved was as fluid as a stream and as light as the wind.
She couldn't help but be impressed with his physique. Any woman would be lying if they said they didn't find him... alluring.
Alluring? Charming? She crinkled her nose and shook her head, chastising herself for thinking of him in such a way.
He was more than just a pretty face, and she knew better. She jumped to another subject to distract herself.
"I remember we talked about the Azakashi, you know, before everything went black."
Shin nodded. She asked, "Are we going to talk to those orbs today?"
Shin instinctively reached for Laverna's head and petted her, smiling as he did. "One at a time, Laverna."
The second his hand patted her head, her genuine instinct was to snuggle into it. She rubbed herself against his palm, a soft sound escaping her chest.
She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the crest, but her body molded gently into his. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him.
Before she knew it, her arms were around him, her nails gently stroking the back of his neck. The words left her lips without thought.
His laughter filled the room, and her heart pounded as her cheeks flushed. He continued to pet her head, and her tail swayed side to side.
She nuzzled closer, taking in his warmth, her nose buried near his neck as she inhaled deeply. She wanted to stay like this, basking in a comfort she had never known.
Shin continued to pet her head, surprised by her sudden affection. She hugged him tightly, as if drawn to his presence, his warmth, and his scent.
He felt a bit uncomfortable, unsure of what to do. But her touch was not threatening, and he didn't want to hurt her emotionally by pushing her away.
For the first time, she chose to be close to someone on her own terms. It seemed she trusted him, and that trust made him feel quietly proud.
"What's with you today, Laverna? Are you feeling alright?"