Koyuki, the Necromancing Foxkin

CHAPTER 321: Chatting with Friends

After my lesson with Lady Nanami it was quite late and my friends were eagerly awaiting a report. As I entered my room they were snacking on some cheese and cured meats.

"Welcome back, Koyuki." Helena said.

"Did you get extra lessons again?" Skadi asked.

"Did you get all of us extra lessons?" Cassie wondered.

"Why are you snacking in our room?" I asked.

"You missed dinner while talking with the headmaster. When all your undead left to join you we figured it would take longer, so we put some food together. We also have beer!" Helena added, while raising a bottle.

The dorm rooms were not really designed to entertain, or eat. Being second-year students meant we had slightly more space but the desk was just for work and certainly not big enough for four. We had a bed in the left corner, a bed in the right corner and a small worktable in between them, right underneath our window. There was also a wardrobe and some storage space.

Cassie and Skadi were sitting on one bed while Helena was on the other one, so I joined her. The food was on the small table between the beds. All of my undead entered the room as well and it became quite full, especially with Garm. I filled a small plate with some food and accepted a beer, which Helena cooled with her magic.

"I met a dark foxkin!" I started my tale.

"Really? The same one we met in the capital?" Helena asked.

I shook my head. "No, she is some sort of noble from Kitara, called Lady Nanami."

"Her guardian has excellent taste in fashion and appreciates neckwear!" Garm added.

"What?" Cassie asked.

What followed was a detailed account of everything I had learned.

"So you are some kind of foreign noble because of Nyx!" Helena said.

I scratched my head. "How can I be a foreign noble if I am not part of their kingdom? Empire? She said 'emperor', so it should be an empire, I guess."

"What if you are related to some nobility? You are rather powerful, I am sure someone in your family line was important." Skadi suggested.

"You can be powerful without being a noble." I stated.

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"Eh, kind of." Helena replied. "I told you how my family got our title, right?"

I nodded. "Your ancestor was granted the title for his services."

"That is how it usually works. If you are very powerful you either marry into nobility, or you are granted a title, or both. I don't think you can be a grand mage without some sort of recognition, at least not for long." Helena said.

"You always get an honorary title at least, even if it comes without land. They want to keep powerful mages inside the country, they also want to keep the nobility on top." Skadi added.

"That is why they are so interested in marriages." Cassie pointed out. "Having powerful children is important to keep their power. Any child without magic is often disowned, or hidden away."

"I wish she would have known something about my family…" I mused.

Helena patted me on the back. "It's not like she can know anything without your family name."

"There should not be too many dark foxkin on our continent, if Koyuki is from a powerful family that should narrow it down considerably." Cassie said.

"You are assuming they travelled here openly. Maybe they fled from a conspiracy! Or maybe they were a secret agent observing Ilestria!" Skadi suggested.

"You are reading too many books." I countered.

"Skadi's theories are not impossible." Kaito said.

"Really? Are you reading her books too?" I asked.

"No, but Hatsumi is." Kaito replied.

"I love the vampire maid one…" Hatsumi muttered.

"However, I would like to point out that we do not know if your parents came to Nethena." Kaito said. "You could have been abducted as a child and brought here. There is not a lot of information for us to go on but your power gives you fame, that means if someone is missing a child they will come to us."

"It also means they could abuse that." Hatsumi warned. "Koyuki does not remember her past, that means anyone could claim her as part of their family in the hopes of gaining power."

Suddenly something occurred to me: "Ilestria has a lot of foxkin who fled from Kitara after their rebellion failed. Is that why they hate me so much? The fake Eva called me an abomination."

"If the dark foxkin protect the Emperor of Kitara they likely hate them, since their rebellion failed. Their hatred of necromancy in general won't help either." Kaito stated.

"You know, it's curious that Lady Nanami did not react stronger to my presence." Hatsumi mused.

"She was kind of overwhelmed by the vampire spellblade thing." I pointed out.

"No, that is not what I meant." Hatsumi clarified. "This body was a light foxkin who tried to kill you. You turned one of the traitors into your loyal servant."

"True, but I don't think she knows your story. They are rather open about necromancy, so having a foxkin vampire in general might not be unheard of. Maybe she thought you were a dark foxkin? I should ask her when we meet again. But since you mentioned loyal servants, she seemed a bit uncertain about Nyx." I said.

I looked at my feline guardian. "Nyx, I am sorry that I bound you when you were weakened."

Nyx stared at me, then walked closer. She jumped on the bed next to me and grew slightly. Then she lifted her left paw and slapped me gently. I stared at her as she shrunk again, looked at my plate and levitated a piece of meat towards her mouth. Then she started chewing.

"I think she told you that you are an idiot for worrying." Helena commented.

Nyx nodded.

"Lady Nanami does not know Nyx. I suspect the rules are as much about respect as they are about safety." Kaito said. "The bond can be turned against you. If you drugged, or weakened a tier three to bind them they might be able to overwhelm you once they regain their strength. It would be harder for them once they are bound but if the power difference is too big they could break free. Or more likely take over the bond."

"I would not be surprised if the undead who bond Necatari are being vetted, in a way." Hatsumi added. "They make sure both parties know the deal and agree. They also make sure that no one takes advantage of the other. But it is clear that in your case Nyx has chosen you. I believe you did not just discover the bond and force it on her, she helped you discover it."

"I guess you are right." I admitted.

"I wonder what sort of abilities Nyx can unlock as a guardian." Skadi mused.

"Do you think the other cats will grow stronger with her? Since she was responsible for evolving them." Cassie wondered.

"Good question. I guess we will have to train and find out." I replied.