After the fun weekend, school begins once again. After a chaotic breakfast because Uncle Black demanded Pizza for it, me, the girl and Cyan all left for school. The lessons themselves didn't change much, but the atmosphere became a lot lighter. Some students actually began more and more interacting with the girl, causing her to be hopelessly lost sometimes.

At least she is happy about being included. Also, it appears that Rune joins class again. Due to his sudden change as well, some students don't know how to act around him, resulting in a bit of chaos even within the classroom. But aside from those points, the class was peaceful.

Well, the boys who keep asking me about what happened at the training ward, as they weren't on the plains to play yesterday, were kind of annoying. But I am happy that some of the others took on the role of explainers for me. I may think a lot, but I dislike speaking too much, making me sometimes awkward in conversations.

Still, some of the boys were relentless and kept asking question even though the question stopped making sense at some point, at least to me. Some even asked questions about my relationship with the black haired girl... thinking of it, her not having a name makes it quite hard to effectively speak with or about her.

While being lost in thought for a moment, a certain three tailed boy jumped out and asked with an exited expression.

“Ey, I actually watched the battle at the training-spot, but you used both ice and lightning-magic, how is that possible? Do you have balance-attribute? Because father said that is theoretically impossible to have elements of opposing categories by normal means!” (Excited Boy)

Suddenly screaming that out, nearly all of the students look into my direction with a shocked expression. Seems like my small lightning-use to paralyze the shield-guy was noticed. The boy must have spectacular observatory abilities. But that is troublesome, Uncle Black said I should hide the fact that I can manipulate all elements, especially when it comes to opposing elements. But now, with everyone realizing that I actually used opposing elements, my spot is suddenly stormed by countless students, asking me about how I did this.

I can't really answer, as that would give me away, but they don't stop pestering me about it. So, just as I am about to yell out hat they should leave me alone, the classroom door jumps open and a young man in business like clothes appears. He has greenish-gray fur and three tails, probably belonging to the fox-clan. Actually, the small embroidery on his chest shows that he must be an official from the fox-clan, as it shows a fox-head with five tails.

While taking all the attention due to his sudden appearance, he just looks around the classroom, before taking out a scroll from his small shoulder-bag and walks towards the black haired girl.

Arriving in front of her table, he just makes a small bow before placing the scroll before her and tells her in a apologetic and sincere manner:

“ We are truly sorry, but for everything we have done, the current Fox-Clan believes itself not worthy of granting a name to you.” (Fox-Official)

Speaking in a sad tone, he then turns his back and leaves the room. The girl just stares at him in shock... denied of a name? She waited long to finally gain a name for herself to be called with, but until now there was never a reaction. And now that she is proven innocent, they still refuse to grant her a name?!? Slightly flustered and red in anger, the girl picks up the scroll, believing it to be just a notice about the words said before, and throws it towards the open window.

But unlike her, I feel that there is something different about this scroll. There are magic-circles imbued into it, and a very special one at that. Catching the scroll using wind magic, I open it up and read it, greatly to the dissatisfaction of the girl.

But reading through it, my eyes open wide in surprise. Inside the scroll, the new Fox-Clan leadership apologizes for their mistreatment and even added a small naming circle. Those circles are able to grant someone a name without forcing the person into a master-servant relationship. Also, this magic can be overwritten, so when she does want to accept the name from a higher being, she can be granted a new one. Normally this would be done by the leadership or the parents, but being granting a circle means granting the person the right to appoint someone else or even herself to name her.

This was one of the few things I learned from Uncle Black back in the canyon. He also said that producing those circles are rather expensive, so only bigger clans have the luxury of using them, just like the black dragon-clan that Uncle belonged to.

Reading this far, I jump from my seat and walk towards the girl, holding the piece of paper in front of her. She first wants to look away, but after telling her that it is important, she once more takes a look at it.

After reading it for a while, her face suddenly shows sadness as well as a happiness. Probably because she can finally get a name, but they had mentioned her parents in the writing, so I guess she also misses them. I wonder, I never had parents until I met mama Lumi, but losing her would break my heart, so how much pain must she have felt when she lost her real parents?

While reading through the text of apologies written by the Clan-leadership, slowly tears started to gather in the girls eyes, dropping silently onto her desk. Watching this happening, most kids stay silent as they don't want to disturb her. Actually, I can even see Rune tearing up a bit, probably because it was his parents that were at fault as well. I only know that they were judged for their crimes, but Uncle Black refuses to tell me how, saying that this is confidential information to the higher-rank individuals within the Mountains. Embarrassingly, I actually had to ask what confidential means, but I now understand the word.

Returning my thought to reality, I begin massaging the girls head using my tails, hoping to make her feel better. I don't know if it helps, but for Uncle Black it always seems to work, so I just do my best to cheer her up. After a few minutes, she then finally wipes away her remaining tears with her sleeve and then thanked me with a blushing face. Maybe she is just happy, as a small smile blossoms on her face. While slightly embarrassed of my actions, I try to return to my seat while retracting my tails, but the girl suddenly holds down one of my tails on her head, telling me not to stop as it feels nice.

Well, it might be embarrassing, but she feels good and calms down when I do so, so I will leave it at that for now. While I keep massaging her, I completely forget about the weird looks I get from my classmates, some of the girls are even whispering with each other, giggling from time to time. Well, I actually am the youngest in class, even the one after me is a whole year older than me, so I don't really understand where the problem lies, but honestly, I don't care much, I am glad I can help her.

So after a bit of final arguing between students, class finally ended. Me, Cyan and the girl all left to return to the mansion, while the girl had a happy smile on her. She literally skipped the whole way back there, making some passerby's actually look at us with warm gazes.

It didn't take long until we arrived, so all of us could get lunch early. It was while we were eating that the girl suddenly said something very important in a silent voice...

“Uhm, Arin... can you give me a name?” (Girl)

Suddenly speaking about this while I am drinking some water, I nearly begin coughing because of the shock. I could have accepted her asking Uncle Black, but me?

While still confused, she only keeps looking at me with an earnest gaze, causing me to be taken aback. It took me a few minutes, but I could regain my bearing again and ask her why she wants me to do it, as I am even younger than herself.

Her answer was simple, stating that I am someone who she can trust, causing me to be shocked again, probably because we barely knew each other for a week.

But having her say that makes me happy, so I agree, but I wouldn't know what to call her...

Meanwhile, while I was thinking, one of the maids brought out some dessert, a small cake with a lot of cream. I myself didn't really notice, but the moment I looked down again, I finally had an idea. Her features are completely black, she looks graceful and has a story behind her, so why not Sumi? If I remember right, Sumi is an art of painting using ink, mostly found in eastern Asia. While following this train of thought, I suddenly lift my head and nearly shout out the name I found.

“Sumi! That's it!” (Arin)

Due to the sudden shout, the girl nearly dropped her cake she was about to eat, looking at me with a shocked expression, but when she noticed that I just now shouted my name idea, she begins to think.

It didn't take long until she accepted, so we all went to the living-room, starting up the magic-circle. After both of us held our hand over the circle, I said her new name, Sumi, aloud, before Sumi then acknowledged it and the circle began to shine in a bright light. Actually, I could feel a bit of my mana being sucked into the formation, but the amount was barely 1 % of what a normal naming-ceremony used. Also, even though this naming isn't contract-bound, it still signifies a special relationship between granter and receiver.

As soon as she actually gained a name, Sumi suddenly beamed with joy and pulled me into a hug. Unlike the warm hugs from Mama Lumi, hers isn't as comfortable and soft, but a clumsy hug resulting from a great amount of happiness. Actually, even if she is only four years older than me, being twelve, my naturally smaller stature for my age makes me look like a small brother hugged by his big sister, giving Uncle Black and the onlooking maids a warm feeling. Actually, Uncle Black had a mischievous and playful smirk on his face, making me feel played, but even so, I can't get rid of this feeling that something natural is occurring, but I don't understand it.

But anyway, after a while, sumi stopped hugging me out of pure happieness, and actually began playing with my silvery-white hair and fur. She even touched my ears which caused me to stiffen, as my nerves there are very sensible. After a while, both of us just start laughing and later play around together with Luna and Cyan. We later actually started a small tournament in chess, but as Uncle Black and the butler Elrion joined, the whole thing became a mess.

I hadn't realized, but because all of us, including the chef and maids, had played with the utmost concentration and fun, time passed faster than anything else. Sometimes we would even have bet's, like the loser has to do 100 push-ups or has to fight a duel with someone. This way we combined our daily training with fun, and we played until deep into the evening without even eating dinner.

In the end, and after a long and hard fight against Uncle Black, I actually fell asleep on the sofa, together with Luna and Sumi. I was actually too tired to think about my actions, so I just laid my head on Sumis shoulder before falling asleep comfortably.

---POV-Change: Aaron---

Today was fun, playing chess while training with each other. Honestly, I don't remember having had so much fun since the days more than 8000 years ago.

So, while watching the pair of sleeping foxes, I reminiscent about what happened today. The training we went through, especially the duels at the end, were especially entertaining, mostly because they were unique. Who would have thought that small duels with condition, like you can only fight using your feet, would be so much fun.

Especially at the end where we could only fight by standing on one foot while using one hand to fight, that was a very new and rather interesting experience. Especially since Arin nearly beat me at it, with his small frame he jumped around like a young deer, making it hard to catch him.

Anyway, even if he is more mature than most his age, in the end he is still a kid. Sitting on the sofa and just falling asleep, that's just so like him. Well, right now I am seeing a small boy no older than nine, laying his head on the shoulder of the twelve year old Sumi while she lays her head on his, sleeping peacefully. The difference in size is obvious, especially with Arin's surprisingly small build, but the picture is just gorgeous.

While looking close, I can see the maids of this mansion watching them with warm gazes, probably because this picture would trigger every woman's motherly instinct. As for me, I feel like my obligation to protect them just increased once more, well whatever, they should be able to stay like this. Able to enjoy the simple things... now I am kind of jealous. Looking at him who hasn't even reached the age of ten, yet already surpasses me, an 9000 years old Ancient Dragon, in relationships... I don't even know if I should be proud or sad...

Well, it will be a while before he will learn of it or even get strong emotions... so for now, I am just going to keep watching over you, you little rascal.

Just as I want to move the two towards their respective beds so that they can sleep more comfortably, I see a small light being released from Arin's forehead. The light reminds me of the color released by echoes and souls, or at least something alike. Just as I begin questioning the situation, the light begins to form a thin and transparent body, yet I would recognize it everywhere...

A young royal fox, with crimson-golden eyes and white fur, staring at me with a warm and happy expression...

“It's been a while, hasn't it, Uncle...?!” (Her)

“!?!” (Me)