"Commander, you don't really think entertaining this idea will get us results, do you?" Halys asked. Chimera took in a deep breath before they spun around and motioned.
"Let's go to the Village." Chimera motioned.
"C-Commander." Halys stuttered. Chimera glanced at Halys and motioned him to come.
"Let's not talk about this anymore." Chimera told them. Lee Seng looked at Keng before they both followed the Commander and the Captain.
'Did I say something wrong?' Lee Seng asked.
'I don't think you did. Maybe they just don't want to give an answer now. There's many theories on how the Creator could've found out, but we need evidence.' Keng answered.
'So I should shelf this until we have more concrete evidence?'
'Entertain the theories if you want, but I think you should really focus on what's going to happen next.'
"What's gonna happen next?" Lee Seng asked, aloud.
"The Protocol seemingly showed signs of merging with the Fox form. Do you not remember this?" Keng recalled the information to Lee Seng. "Your tails went into that… Dark Matter thing and your aura as well as your core glowed golden. You honestly look like some dude outta the Tron movies."
"Did I really look like that?"
"Yes." Keng nodded. "Plus, you never asked why they tested you." Lee Seng's eyes wandered over to Chimera and Halys. They seemed to be in conversation about something his ears couldn't fully catch onto.
'They're having a conversation right there and I can't hear them. What is this?' Lee Seng looked at Keng. Keng focused his hearing and couldn't hear much of the conversation as well. They were talking in a mix of Fox tongue and a strange language.
'Something about you and the Capturer. That's all I got before they switched to that strange language.' Keng told Lee Seng.
'So when should I ask about that test then? They didn't seem to want to answer it then. And aren't you still mad at me?' Lee Seng looked at Keng. Keng didn't react right away. The delayed 'oh yeah' on his face followed by a nod and a chuckle made Lee Seng believe Keng had quickly forgotten it just like he had quickly gotten upset.
'I'm still mad about that.' Keng told him. 'I still stand by what I said. Your focus should be on getting that under wraps. You have too many powers and someone will definitely find out about your secrets.'
"I know." Lee Seng sighed. "I just don't know how to tackle the Protocol. It just feels like it's telling me I either choose being a Fox Spirit or that. It wasn't until the fight earlier that I saw an actual chance of being both."
'But that still doesn't explain the thing that happened right after that.' Images of him talking to his mom flashed into his head.
"The Protocol may have been put into you by your Father, but it doesn't mean that's the thing that'll be used against you. You've been given a second chance by that God King. You've made a real friend right in here, too." His mother's voice spoke. He felt her hand tap his chest, again and found himself reaching to touch his heart.
'What did she say? Honestly, I'm still lost on this.' Keng watched as Lee Seng tapped his heart.
"I've been given a second chance and I should carve my own path." Lee Seng whispered. He could feel the orb pulsing within him.
"What was that?" Keng leaned his head in closer to listen.
"Nothing. Just thinking to myself." Lee Seng waved him off. They quietly followed Chimera and Halys back towards the Village. Chimera's men appeared coming out of the forest as they exited. They moved together towards the Village. The sun was a couple hours past highest when they returned. The Village was in a state of bustle as they returned. Foxes bowed and welcomed the Commander and the others home.
"Chimera, you've returned without giving us a warning." Lady Vix'i happily smiled. The two hugged and Chimera pulled away.
"Business took me here, so I came unannounced. You don't have to welcome me home every time." Chimera smiled.
"We should welcome Eldest home every time!" One of the Foxes shouted. Others began to agree and Chimera smiled.
"Alright, settle down everyone. Chimera has just come back and there's still some time before the feast. We should throw a welcome party for Chimera as well as feast in honor of our brethren lost to the cursed forest and welcome our new brothers." Lady Vix'i told everyone. The crowd began to bustle about talk about the feast tonight. "Continue your duties til then! The hunters should be coming back soon so get ready for that!"
"What's this about the Cursed Forest?" Chimera asked Lady Vix'i. Lady Vix'i smiled and wrapped her arm around her older sibling's shoulder and nodded for them to go towards the Crystallium.
"I'll explain it. Lee Seng, Keng, follow." Lady Vix'i motioned with her free hand.
"Commander, what about us?" The female Fox with the pistol asked.
"Enjoy your time with the others. I'll be fine. Halys, that means you too." Chimera instructed.
"Yes, sir." The group saluted and watched as Lady Vix'i lead Chimera and the twins towards the Crystallium.
"I have yet to finish my studies on the samples you sent me last time. The last test exploded in failure and I couldn't really do much after the twins arrived." Lady Vix'i told Chimera.
"Ah, they call them the twins? How… What's the word? Cute?" Chimera thought aloud.
"Mmm, that's one way of saying it." Lady Vix'i nodded. "Take a seat here, I'll fetch some tea for all of us and we can talk business." Lady Vix'i motioned at them to take a seat. Lee Seng picked slightly across from Chimera while Keng sat between them.
Lady Vix'i came back with a teapot and floating cups and plates. The cups and plates sat near each person and the tea lifted and began to pour as Lady Vix'i took her seat.
"So, let's settle the business first." Lady Vix'i spoke as the teapot floated over from Chimera to her. It began to pour hot tea and move onto Lee Seng. Lady Vix'i picked up the tea cup and took a sip before setting it down. "General Halys explained the situation to me beforehand, but I want to know why you told him to do it." She looked at Chimera, who was sniffing the tea. He took a sip, tasting it and nodded and sipped, again.
"We've been watching Lee Seng for quite some time. Father intervening that day, was a shock to us all, but after I talked to him, he was adamant Lee Seng would be the start of a new line of Foxes." Chimera set the tea cup down on the plate. "A new generation that would set the expectations of Foxes to come. Father explained that Lee Seng would be a crucial factor in whether or not Eshra's justice happens or not. That's why I tested him. I wanted to see what power the so-called 'Protocol' had. It came from Eshra, so I'm not surprised it manifests itself so simply."
"The Protocol is from Eshra? You're one hundred percent certain about that?" Lady Vix'i asked, confused. She looked at Lee Seng who was staring at the hot tea.
'I wish I had a spoon.' He thought. He moved his finger to the top of the cup and started to swirl his finger. He watched the gravity spin the tea water around and then took a brave first sip. The taste reminded him of something sweet he had a long time ago, so he sipped again.
"It is indeed true." Chimera nodded. They took another sip of the tea before continuing. "Knowing this was a high possibility, I wanted to test him. I'm not surprised by what happened and it now brings a bigger set of questions and scenarios to my head."
"And what questions do you have now?" Lady Vix'i asked. Chimera set the tea cup down and looked directly at Lee Seng. Lee Seng took a sip from the cup and set it down and readjusted himself in his seat.
"Are you prepared for the path you're about to take? Everything you know, everything you're going to learn, is going to be different once you make your choice. This choice isn't about what side you're going to fight on, but it's about what you're going to do with your new profound powers. If you choose to embrace the Protocol, you and Keng will potentially split paths and move in different directions. If you choose the Fox Spirit, you'll lose what the Protocol gives you… So I ask you, again, Lee Seng Chang, are you prepared for the path you're about to take?" Chimera asked.
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