After Sumi finally let me go, I ran to the kitchen in order to bring her something to eat. She was first a bit shocked when I suddenly ran, but when I returned with food she begun laughing lightly.

I maybe should have told her that I go to get food, but what happened happened, I can't change the past...

The moment I said so, mana suddenly gathered around my body and in the next moment, the surroundings changed. Closing my eyes from the pressure, I suddenly feel arms around me, realizing that I am in a hug by Sumi, but how?

Looking around, I am still in the room I was before, but something changed. There was no food here, and Sumi was still hugging me. After letting go, I look around, but the room is the same one as before...

Looking at me curiously, Sumi suddenly asks if something is wrong. I then just turn my head and tell her that I will go grab some food for her, making her smile. Leaving the room, I find the unconscious maid on the floor, completely blacked out. Could it be that I passed through time?

Asking this question to myself, I walk into the kitchen and grab the food which was prepared there. The tray with the food on it remained the same, to every detail... so did I really travel back a few minutes?

While still confused, I pick up the tray and walk back to Sumi's room. Entering it, I bring the tray over to her bed, but nothing happens. While lost in thought, Sumi's voice calls out to me.

“Thank you for worrying Arin, but you can let go of the tray.” (Sumi)

Realizing that I kept holding onto the tray, I say sorry with a red face. After thanking me, Sumi then begins eating, but I don't stay. Telling her that I will check up on Uncle Black, I leave the room.

Uncle Black lived when the royal foxes still existed , so maybe he will recognize what happened to me.

Arriving in my room, Uncle Black is already gone. So I walk downstairs as I am sensing him in the living room. Arriving there, Uncle Black just enjoys a cup of tea, but the moment I enter, his eyes open wide once more.

“Seriously Arin, can't I calm down for a while... why are suddenly traces of time-magic around you?!” (Uncle Black)

As I thought, Uncle Black understands it better than me. Answering him, I explain what just happened, causing Uncle Black to hold his head.

“I know that unique magics can be unlocked through silly situation, but seriously! I only unlocked my gravity after being nearly crushed to death by a giant sludge-monster, but he only walks into a room with a tray of food, believing it was rude to leave without saying anything! Can this get any more frustrating?!?” (Uncle Black)

Releasing some of his stress, Uncle Black then sighs big time and looks me in the eyes.

“Arin, you now have both space and time unlocked, but not Illusions. But that doesn't matter currently, you have to train those two diligently from now on, otherwise they will go out of control like today, okay!” (Uncle Black)

Staring at me with a stern gaze, I only nod towards him due to the pressure. Seeing me nod, Uncle Black then pulls me onto the sofa he is sitting on and rubs my head, Laughing while yelling something along the line of me being a worthy son of Lumi.

Hearing this, I am glad, as I truly want to honor my mom who gave me so much.

That aside, the day passed over and so did the next few. School was interesting, but I had more fun when visiting the old magic-craftsmen making the golems in town. Actually, he taught me many things about formations and magic-control, as well as how to craft strong golems, even purely with magic when necessary.

The old man was very kind and helped me a lot. Actually, sometimes even Sumi would come along to visit him, also learning some things. Lately even her power increased, which is already proven by her increased physical strength. Also, she seems to be an all-element just like me, but her constitution makes it difficult to use. But, she says that when I or Luna are around, it works just fine, as though our aura neutralized hers.

Anyway, with both of us getting stronger every day, while also enjoying our time in the city and with friends, days and weeks pass by quickly.

By now, I already know how to use space to redirect attacks coming at me, as well as how to speed up time for myself, but it still consumes a lot of mana, even with my abnormal amount. My staff mastery actually reached a point where I can actively fight and not immediately lose. I mastered the basics already and am now working hard on the advanced moves and tricks. Sometimes I would even spar against real monsters, but even without using my mana in the slightest, the fight mostly ends with me winning or at least shooing it away. My practice in the sword, bow and hidden weapons also comes along nicely, but it is still reaches off from Uncle Black's level.

That aside, It seems that Mom can finally materialize herself as a phantom at least and sometimes even talks with Uncle Black. She actually enjoys being outside again, but she doesn't mention it very often.

Meanwhile, Cyan and Luna both trained using their specialties, strengthening themselves as well. Luna can now attack using advanced tier magic, in dragon terms, and even actively manipulate elements which normally would oppose each other to work together. Cyan on the other hand got a grip on his earth and water- elements while getting used to his defender form. This is the name I gave his shielded humanoid form with scales for skin. He appears like a human warrior with a scale armor on, carrying a shield his size made of the same scales. With those improvements also came his use of the shield technique while utilizing a sword. It took a while, but he is now able to reform his scales on his right hand into a 1.5 meter long sword. So with his form completely unleashed, his aura shows power and resistance, making him appear like an unmovable mountain. But even those mountains can crash under the teaching of Uncle Black, so I kind of feel sorry for him.

Also, in all this time, me and Sumi would often play together with the other kids in the fields, causing Sumi to slowly but surely pass her fear of others. Though she is still shy around others. Though within the mansion, when there are no guests, she would laugh from time to time and have fun along with us. It really feels like she is integrated into the family already.

On the side, games like Guard and robber, Werewolf, Hide and seek and other such games proliferated within the children group, while chess and Go, which I made due to sudden inspiration once, frantically spread within the adults-community. Is isn't a rarity to find dragons and foxes playing chess and go on the side of the streets or in the bars. I even heard that there is a small cafe which weekly holds a small competition. But it kind of got out of hand when that person showed up.

It was actually on a sunny day that a Dragon Representative of a Human company arrived, asking for the rights to sell the board-games. I didn't think long before wanting to answer, but Uncle Black interfered, haggling with the merchant and got a hefty profit. Uncle Black said that I can keep the money as I will probably need it in the future, so I just accepted it but entrusted it to Uncle Black. I wouldn't know what to with all this money anyway, plus there is more to come, so I will leave it to Uncle Black to manage until I now how to do so myself.

Anyway, with those events, and a casual visit from the crimson-wolf mother and her now even bigger son, weeks passed and the second month of the year closed in on it's mid-way point.

It is the 22nd day of the 2nd month, making it one month, sixty days, since the day I had my fight with rune in the arena. Me and Luna were currently training in the garden behind the mansion. She would shoot lightning-bolts while I would try to destroy them by interfering with space.

This training method is quite hard, as successfully manipulating space in order to extinguish small and fast lightning-bolts is quite taxing on my concentration. Space-magic is like a mirror. You choose a location, and what should be mirrored within it. From Uncle Black I heard that there is actually a higher form, known as void, but not even the fox-queen of ancient times archived this.

Back to space, with this mirroring I am able to make the fire ball enter and be released somewhere else. I can even temporarily safe up the attack withing the 'mirror' and later release it towards my unsuspecting enemy.

But as I think about the effects of space-magic, my concentration fails for a second, letting a quick lightning-bolt pass by and shoot towards me. If it hits it will hurt, it won't damage me greatly, but It will have a nasty sting to it. Reacting towards my own failure, I speed up my own body with time-magic, and try to dodge. I actually managed to dodge by a hairs breath, but it still grazed my side, causing me to flinch.

Seeing me get hit, Luna stops producing lightning-bolts and flies into my direction. She then shrinks back into her smallest possible form and curls herself around my left arm. Staying there, I begin using healing magic to fix myself up, but just as I want to return to the mansion, Luna stops me.

“Arin, you still smell, you should first go wash yourself up with the outdoor-shower.” (Luna)

Suddenly mentioning something like the smell, I am surprised. Normally she would not say anything of this kind, and I don't even smell that bad. But accepting her argument, I leave her in the field while washing myself up a bit and changing my clothes taken from the inter spacial-ring. I don't know why, but since this morning, everyone around me started to act strange. Even at today's training-program from the school did the others act weird.

Well, it should have been a normal day of Water (4th day) of the week, so what is happening?

While being confused by the circumstance, I finally realizes that all the clothes in my inter-spacial ring are of fine quality and made for great events. There were three kind. One looks like a white uniform for a high-ranking official, child sized of course, while the other is like a tuxedo, I believe that is what they are called, and the last one reminds me of a school-uniform one would wear at special events. In itself it wouldn't be weird for them to be in there, but I never saw any of them before, and my usual clothes are all missing.

Thinking thus far, someone is definitely planning something, and Uncle Black is deeply involved. The only ones with access aside from me, to my inter-spacial ring, are Uncle Black and mama Lumi. But mama Lumi can only see whats inside, but not interact with the items, so it had to be Uncle Black.

While confirming my own suspicion within my mind, suddenly Luna's voice again resounded.

“Hey Arin, did you finish changing?” (Luna)

Hearing her voice from outside, I quickly answer, for otherwise she would suddenly enter.

“No, there is a problem. My usual clothes aren't inside my ring. I don't know why, but do you know where the others are?” (Me)

“Aehm, no?” (Luna)

There wasn't a lie in her words, but she definitely knows that something is going on. But even now, I didn't feel any malice in anyone, so at least I don't have to be on guard.

Picking up the School-uniform like clothes, I change into them. On me they appear simple yet majestic, and perfectly suit my ears and tail. For some reason my appearance reminds me of a prince in civil clothing... I don't know how I got this idea. Though I did hear Uncle Black talking about me being royalty once. Well I know that I am a royal-fox, no... mystic fox even, but I don't know what that has to do with me being a real royalty.

Well anyway, after wearing the uniform and leaving the outdoor-shower, Luna immediately jumps onto my left arm before sinking into it and vanishing, leaving only a tattoo behind. Hiding that tattoo, I then step towards the mansion.

Wearing this white uniform with neat leather-shoes, I step onto the stone path and make my way to the back-entrance. Sadly that entrance is locked, and I don't have the key with me. Though, normally the door shouldn't be locked throughout the day, so slightly weirded out, I begin walking around the mansion to the front entrance.

Arriving there, I once more dust off my pants and march towards the door. While watching the door, I notice a small magic-circle inscription in the door that isn't usually there. I learned a lot from the old magic-craftsman, and this circle wasn't there before.

Quickly checking it, it seems to scan whose magic-aura is arriving and reacts depending on it. A new security-system?

Ever so slightly befuddled, I open the door to the front entrance hall. But the moment I open the door...

“SURPRISE!” (Many People)

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARIN!” (Other People)

Being surprised by the yelling of a large group of people I am dumbfounded for a moment. Though this only lasts until I could hear a faint voice inside my mind.

“Happy ninth birthday Arin, Mom is proud of you.” (Lumi)

Hearing Moms words and feeling a deep inner warmth, I finally snap back to reality. There I am suddenly assaulted by Uncle Black who holds me in his arms and even throws me into the air. Then he catches me again, but instead of putting me back on the ground, he lifts me onto his shoulder.

There, I finally have an overview over the whole room. The windows and walls are all decorated with different colored bands, paper cut-outs and even flowers. In the middle one can see tables with different decorations and various snacks as well as drinks on it. And then, the crowd. There are my comrades from school, friends I regularly play with, the old elven magic-craftsman Lindo, my teacher Cynthia, the whole personal of the mansion and in the end even Scyrra is present as well as some people I don't even recognize. All of them stand in front of me while loudly yelling happy birthday.

While still slightly shock-frozen, Uncle Black lifts his head, just barely managing to look me in the eyes.

“Little Arin, don't tell me you forgot your birthday? Officially you are nine years old today, so congratulations!” (Uncle Black)

Pulling me back to reality, I finally realize what is going on. The time I was in the crystal froze my aging, so I am only nine today, so it really is my birthday...

Finally hit with realization, I show a bright smile to everyone present, thanking them for coming.

Actually, the moment Uncle Black put me back on the ground, Sumi suddenly ran towards me in a dress and congratulated me personally with a smile on her face. Unlike her fur, her dress was in a beautiful green color, making a great contrast to her hair-color. When I asked her what inspired her, she even answered that it was my eye-color which did so. So I kind of got embarrassed, causing some of the guests to laugh, especially the elders.

Later, all the other people came and congratulated me, some of which I never knew. A few were three and five-tailed foxes, seemingly the new council of elders of the fox-clan, while even the dragon-elders from back in the greeting-session on the first day came here.

In truth, I actually more than once heard some of the woman call me cute and adorable, with Scyrra even lifting me up into her arms and hugging me. Her action really kind of changed the image I had of her, making her appear more like a happy grandma than a stern ruler. Some other people also tried to touch my fur or hair, but luckily Uncle Black and Sumi acted as defense, standing behind me during the greetings. It somehow even turned into a rumor of who can touch my hair or fur would have great luck in the future, just like a blessing. On that point, even I am slightly creeped out. (A.N: Arin, you are too cute. Due to the high standard with dragons and foxes after their transformation you 'only' look super cute in their eyes, but in human lands, girls and woman's hearts would melt seeing your appearance.)

Also, Rune and Feris arrived. In this month, our relationship was more or less able to be rebuilt, kind of like a restart in a game. He is back and accepted inside the class, and by now he is just like another comrade. He did drop his haughty and snob like attitude, so it wasn't such a big problem to get along with him now.

While laughing, playing and enjoying snacks, suddenly the kitchen-door opened, and a cart with a massive cake on top was driven out by the chef. It is a fruit-cake, as until now there still isn't any chocolate to be found. But even so, the cake is massive with nearly 2 diameters in size. On top, nine big candles decorate it in many different colors. Seeing the cake, Uncle Black urges me to blow them out, but sadly, the cake is on a height where I can barely reach the candles.

So after a short complaint, which once more resulted in laughter from the crowd, Uncle Black lifts me up and I blow out all the candles. Honestly, I wouldn't have managed to do so in one breath, so I kind of cheated and created air within my lungs using Magic-Power.

Anyway, after that, the cake was cut in pieces with me getting the biggest one. So, after a while, and after heaps of cake and snacks, most of us kids went outside to play while the adults remained to chat with each other. Two of the maids actually came with us, mostly to keep overview and watch over us.

The sun already began sinking beyond the horizon when the first guests left. Mostly people who had to wake up early tomorrow.

But even so, me and the other kids kept playing until nearly everyone was gone, leaving only me, Sumi, Rune, Feris and five others behind. And with Uncle Blacks agreement, we even changed the birthday-party into a sleep-over. The girls would share a room with Sumi while the guys would come with me. We even got our hands extra on some additional mattresses to sleep on.

The party then slowly ended and me and the other kids dragged our tired bodies to bed. Some of the kids parents gave some last minute instructions, such as that they should behave and go to school tomorrow on time, but that aside, what waited for me was a night of comfortable sleep.

Two of the guys actually kept on talking for a while, but I didn't notice anymore after a while as I was too tired.

And with this, the greatest birthday since arriving in this world, no, since I was born, occurred to me, as it was my first birthday with a real Family...