Guided by the spirit's gesture, Shin and Laverna followed a hidden trail behind a crumbling garden wall. It led to an ancient stone well, sealed and cloaked in vines.
With effort, they pried open the well, revealing a narrow shaft plunging into darkness. They took only essentials and descended, vanishing into Valdorne's underbelly.
The air below the city was heavy with age, thick with with the scent of damp stone and dust. Their fox-like eyes adjusted swiftly, unveiling forgotten corridors and timeworn archways.
Laverna traced her hand along the stone walls, feeling etched markings. "These symbols," she whispered, "they match those from Alden Woods, the same language and style."
Shin moved forward, his hand resting on the orb in his pocket. The passages widened, opening into a vast subterranean chamber.
Glowing glyphs adorned the walls, flickering like dying embers. At the chamber's heart stood a mural, ancient yet vibrant, its colors defying time.
They approached the mural with reverence, their steps slow and deliberate. Its images captivated them, telling a tale both beautiful and grim.
The mural showed a colossal fox, wreathed in fire with nine flowing tails, crossing a threshold of golden light. Beyond waited a serene den, where a smaller fox nurtured a litter of pups.
Below this tranquil scene, the mural darkened, depicting black tendrils from a shadowed kingdom. They slithered into the den, snatching two pups into a void.
In the final scene, those pups returned, grown and monstrous, their soulless eyes burning with malice. They wielded blades against the heavens, crowned in cursed flames.
"The fox," Laverna murmured, her gaze fixed on the mural, "it's the same as in Alden Woods, part of the same legend."
Shin nodded, his heart heavy. "The foxes were divine messengers, protectors, but Falzath's corruption twisted them into god-killers."
A heavy silence fell, the mural's warning clear: even sacred beings could be corrupted. Kin could turn to foes.
Laverna stepped back, her face grave. "Is this a warning or a prophecy?"
Shin studied the corrupted pups' painted eyes. "Perhaps both."
As their eyes lingered on the mural, a low rumble stirred the chamber. A door materialized in the stone wall, its frame etched with symbols mirroring those from Alden Woods, pulsing with an eerie light.
A voice, not heard but felt, filled the chamber, deep and layered, vibrating through their bones and echoing within their thoughts. "Progeny of warmth and coldness, the path is tainted, yet the aim endures. Will your power shield or shatter?"
The door creaked open, revealing another orb, its surface swirling with an otherworldly glow. Laverna felt its call, a pull that tugged at her very soul, urging her forward.
Shin stood behind her, watchful, as she reached out and touched the orb. Something long asleep stirred, awakening with a tremor that shook the chamber.
The energy that surged into Shin and Laverna was not gentle. It was forceful, primal, and overwhelming, making their bodies jerk as the wave of power coursed through them.
Shin's appearance shifted first, his form flickering before solidifying into his fox form. His hair grew wilder, ears sharpened, tails more pronounced, with glowing Kitsune markings burning across his skin like tattoos, pulsing in time with the orb's light.
Laverna cried out, clutching her head as similar ethereal marks etched themselves into her body. They radiated from the gemstone in her necklace, shimmering with ancient power.
Within their minds, time fractured, and they saw through eyes not their own. They were two different people, dressed as indigenous leaders—a tribal chief for Shin, a witch sorceress for Laverna.
Their voices, muffled yet warm, carried the weight of authority and love. Nearby, their children laughed, chasing each other in a carefree game of tag.
The vision culminated in a slow, eternal kiss, an embrace that felt like it spanned lifetimes. When the light finally receded, Shin and Laverna collapsed to one knee, breathless.
Their ki and mana reserves surged, brimming with newfound strength. The aura detection and mana flow they'd sensed before now sharpened, letting them feel the world around them with vivid clarity.
Shin felt light, as if gravity itself had loosened its grip on him. His senses hummed, attuned to every whisper of energy in the chamber.
Laverna, inspired by Queen Mariam's legendary prowess, let her imagination and emotions guide her. Without incantation, she willed a Zone of Truth into existence, casting the spell with a mere thought.
The air shimmered as the spell took hold, its invisible boundary compelling honesty. Shin's eyes widened, a sudden urge to speak rising within him.
"I—ow, this hurts!" Shin blurted, wincing as the spell tugged at his thoughts. "But, gods, Laverna, you're so hot—even covered in ruin dust, it's ridiculous!"
Shin clamped his mouth shut, cheeks flushing as he realized what he'd said. But the spell's grip tightened, pulling more words from his lips before he could stop them.
"And your eyes, they're like—ugh, why can't I shut up?—like starlight in a storm, and I swear I could watch you all day!" Shin groaned, pressing a hand to his forehead, his fox ears twitching in embarrassment. "This spell is torture!"
Laverna's face turned a vivid shade of crimson, her hands flying to her cheeks as she stammered, "S-Shin, stop it! I didn't mean for—oh, gods, this is mortifying!"
She waved her hand frantically, her mana pulsing as she dispelled the Zone of Truth with a flicker of thought. The air settled, the oppressive honesty fading, leaving them both in stunned silence.
Shin, still red-faced, peeked at her through his fingers. "I… I meant it, though," he mumbled, then quickly added, "Not that I'd say it again! Nope, never. Let's pretend that didn't happen."
Laverna let out a nervous laugh, brushing dirt from her sleeves to avoid his gaze. "Right, um, let's just… focus on the orb. And maybe no more truth spells for a while."
Shin nodded vigorously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Deal. But, uh, I'm serious about the no-incantation thing—that was incredible. You're… kinda amazing."
Laverna's blush deepened, but she shot him a playful glare. "Flattery won't erase that outburst, fox boy. Now come on, we've got bigger problems than your runaway mouth."