Chapter 38 Long Lost Friend
"..."
"..."
Ely and the snow fox lady looked at each other without uttering anything. The former gave up her futile resistance because she couldn't move now. However, the latter was waiting for the movement sealing talisman's effect to wear off.
Ely felt her luck struck her at the wrong moment. She had already prepared for this kind of encounter with another legendary creature.
She was mentally prepared since she decided to disguise herself as a nine-tailed fox. However, she didn't expect this kind of situation.
She couldn't appreciate this snow fox lady hugging her so tightly. If she may say it, she was actually scared. The gravest situation for her weak self was caught with zero motion distance.
She had no idea why this authentic legendary nine-tailed fox would go so far as to catch her like this. Yet, she could now confirm the snow fox lady had no malicious intent.
That pair of bright yellow, almost golden, entrancing eyes also showed no hostility, only a pure yet profound desire for something inexplicable. However, there was also considerable curiosity and unknown emotional outbursts.
'I'd better listen to her first! Ely made up her mind.
[Yuuki (FV: 6970) | 9th Rank Peak Stage]
[Loyalty: 99%]
[Talent: 5 Stars | UR]
When Ely checked this snow fox's status screen, she found that it was a bit strange. Loyalty would only appear for her disciples and her people. It would still make sense if it was Favorability... She and this snow fox lady were supposed to be complete strangers.
And yet, it was Loyalty, and ninety-nine!?
This legendary snow fox was a Demi-God with five stars talent! Not to mention that FV was the highest one she'd ever seen. Not even the God of Light possessed such a high number.
"Gulp..." Ely was nervous.
".." The snow spirit didn't even know what to do. The snow fox pinned down the blessed lady, but the former only looked emotional and didn't intend to do anything evil.
"Have you calmed down?" The snow fox took a deep breath and regained her calm.
"I'll bite you to death if you try to do something sus. I can't beat you in a contest of physical strength but don't think my power lies there. I'm actually super duper powerful." Ely bared her teeth to intimidate. She only needed to make a small gap to take her artifacts out. It would determine her victory.
"How cute. Yes, you're super duper powerful. Then, can we talk now? I want to discover the truth." The snow fox curved her lips into a subtle smile.
She felt this shadow fox was too adorable. This shadow fox's hair and fur were midnight-black but purplish in hue when exposed to light, a unique shadow fox.
Even if this shadow fox was unrelated to the person she was looking for or had nothing to do with anything, she would try her best to recruit this shadow fox under her banner at all costs. It was dangerous for a fox-kin to roam alone, especially for such a beauty. "What do you want? If you can help me find a particular herb, I can answer your question. You are a local, right? Legendary snow fox lady?" Ely sighed as she saw her movement sealing talisman's effect going to expire in a few seconds.
"Alright, then tell me your name." The snow fox brought her face closer.
"Miko." Ely answered spontaneously.
"Hmm~ Is that your real name?" The snow fox just wanted to make sure. She stared deeply into the shadow fox's captivating purplish- blue starry night sky eyes as if she wanted to discover the truth from one's soul.
"..." Ely was resolute, but she turned her face to the side because the snow fox's face was too close to hers. "You are too close, snow fox lady. Can you please release me now?"
"No, you are not honest, but you are not lying either. Please tell me your real name. Do not be afraid. I won't eat you, little sister." The snow fox spoke softly near the shadow fox's foxy ear.
Ely trembled as it was ticklish. The other party was adamant about knowing her real name. She had no choice, and her name came out of her mouth reflexively. "Ely."
"E-eh?" The snow fox was startled beyond measure. She propelled her body to sit up and looked at this shadow fox again.
After that, she examined the shadow fox's hands, arms, and left chest area using her magical eyes. She tried to see Ely's heart and spirit.
It was faint, but she could feel her spirit resonate with Ely's. There was a dormant spiritual connection.
"Wha-what are you trying to see?" Ely covered her breasts with both hands.
"Your name is Ely, right? May, may I know... do you remember me?" The snow fox tried her best to remain calm, but her emotions got the better of her.
"..." Ely shook her head as she felt something was wrong with this snow fox. This snow fox might have an acquaintance that resembled her in appearance?
"Not even my name?" The snow fox bit her lower lips.
Ely didn't know why, but she couldn't bear to see this snow fox sad. Her mouth then blurted out a name spontaneously. "Yuu- Yuuki?"
"I know, right! You, you remember me. You are Ely, Ely! I was doubtful before, but you must have a reason and story. I've been looking for you for the past five years...." Yuuki wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. She held Ely's hands with a genuine smile on her face.
If a third party saw her current expression, they would be surprised because the frozen cold beauty smiled genuinely like a happy girl.
Ely finally could connect the missing dots. This snow fox was probably someone who knew her in the past. Her long-lost friend! However, she couldn't remember everything because her memory was still hazy. "I don't know if I am the same person as the one in your memory. Can you tell me who I am?"
"You lost your memory? You are my family, Ely." Yuuki stared at Ely's disoriented expression.
She wanted to say everything and poured her heart out. Yet, she realized the one before her was not completely Ely. Ely's nine-tailed fox appearance was clearly just a disguise with perfect transformation, one of Ely's divine-like skills.
The one before her was Ely, but not entirely Ely. It would explain why she felt a sense of familiarity, but her spirit didn't get a response from Ely. The spirit connection was still dormant.
Before meeting the 'true' Ely, she didn't dare to say much because there were too many unknown variables. However, she already put this shadow fox as part of her family. The one that she had to protect with everything.
"That is not fair... Please tell me about our past." Ely widened her eyes in surprise, but she was happy because she might be able to discover more about her past.
Yuuki then explained a few things about their past to gain Ely's trust, but not everything in detail.
Ely and Yuuki tried to peer deeper into each other's situation, and finally, they got each other's trust. The past stories exchange matched with what they remember.
At first, they were suspicious of each other, but they eventually became best friends who had not seen each other for a long time. Yuuki was a distinguished elder of Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace, the holy land of the extreme north with over a thousand talented disciples of various races. While Ely was the shrine priestess of the Sacred Sakura Holy Land.
Yuuki searched for Ely throughout the entire Tearobis Great Continent and hundreds of secret realms in the past five years.
However, Ely had suffered from partial memory loss and had never left far from Sacred Mountain.
To think the person she was looking for was just a short distance from her current location... Yuuki wanted to learn more, but she'd better take one step at a time.
'I've found Ely. I must inform the others soon, but I can't leave her. Because spiritual telepathy is still not working, our Goddess Master is still sealed in the Sacred Sakura Holy Land. I have to go there..! Yuuki made up her mind from the conclusion she drew.
"Ely, you want to find a herb, right? I'll help you. But may I know what you're looking for specifically?" Yuuki offered a favor as promised.
"Vitality herb." Ely was pleased with that help.
"All right. I have one in Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace. You may have it. Let's go there with me."
"Okay!"
"You don't suspect me at all?"
"I can see the truth. Your soul is pure. So, you can't possibly trick me."
"Eyes of Truth? I see..."
Yuuki was about to take Ely to fly, but her accumulated spiritual energy suddenly soared.
She was on the verge of a breakthrough, but because of meeting Ely, her state of mind couldn't get any clearer. Her accumulated energy pushed her to ascend right away.
*Boom!*
Yuuki broke through to 10th Rank on the spot. The impact caused a towering explosion, and Ely was again buried in the snow.
New n𝙤vel chapters are published on f(r)e𝒆webn(o)vel.com