Primordials

Kira woke up restless, she felt drained and hungry, after finally having that gnawing feeling slowly dissipate she wasn't too keen on it making itself become worse once again, but then again it wasn't like she hadn't known hunger, this might feel slightly different but it was ultimately the same, and unlike the past was the hunger not due to need.

Kicking the blanket off Kira decided to get up and get dressed, out of pure habit she immediately went to the mirror try to fix her messy hair but much to her surprise did her hair look closer to what she would expect from leaving a hair saloon rather than her bed all she could was stare back at herself in the mirror with a slight awe, she still struggled a tiny bit with dissonance towards what she expected to look like and what she saw, but it was no longer complete denial either.

Now why did she have to be so damned short!

like she definitely would be lying if she claimed she didn't envy those tiny cute girls in her school years, but that didn't really translate into desire of becoming that small, just short enough she didn't have to look for a shirt in size XL that would technically fit two of her in it, and still somehow ride on the edge of becoming a crop top showing belly.

most of her friends figured the baggy style was on purpose, but truth was clothing that fit would need to come from specialty stores and cost an absolute fortune, and eventually the style grew on her, once she accepted she wouldn't be turning any guys heads due to her looks anyway, embraced her more casual look, and she couldn't really deny that a pair of jeans and a hoodie was comfortable.

Glancing towards the closet filled to the brim with clothes that probably collectively cost more than everything she owned in her apartment and her entire lives worth of salary it was hard to not feel tempted to try some of the clothing, but ultimately she decided it would feel too awkward, you don't just swap to dressing cute after a life worth of hiding in hoodies, and while she knew any girl would kill for her current looks did part of her still feel it would likely look silly on her so she simply shook her head and dressed in the jeans and hoodie her size and want for the door with Mischief following close behind her.

Outside the room she immediately saw Lucy sitting politely waiting for her, the raw difference between how she had looked last time compared to now couldn't be put into words, she looked much healthier and almost had a sparkle to her that seemed slightly unworldly.

"Lady Kira, while your mom didn't take too kindly to me effectively wasting your energy while you were still recovering, she respected it was your own choice to make, but asked me to petition that you don't needlessly waste more energy before you've recovered"

Lucy said giving a formal curtsy.

being completely over with pretences it wasn't like she could lie anyway

"Lucy, while I understand your attempt at formality do I not appreciate it nor like it.

If there is others than just us feel free to choose as you please, but when just us please drop the formality" Kira said not even trying to hide her exasperation.

Lucy however was unrelenting.

"Lady Kira while I understand your request can I not follow it as my pride won't allow it, also I recommend getting used to it, you gained a lot of personal servants answering only to you just the other day, with Ashs' current absence have I been tasked with overseeing both their formal training and combat training and many of them have been so pleased with the new chance you have granted them that they've been putting in quite a respectable effort, particularly fueled by the Dragon-kins recount of how you publicly humiliated their former master, and how merciful you had been towards her."

Dragon?

Kira shook her head for a moment, well if everything else exist why not, lizard traits and wings, it honestly surprised Kira she hadn't come to the same conclusion, but then again it's hard to conjure a majestic image of a Dragon while watching a girl on the ground shivering with raw fear, deciding to simply give up on Kira threw a hand in the air with a waving motion.

"I get it, I get it!

But I'm starving so can you please guide me to the dining hall?"

Lucy once again repeated her overly formal curtsy

"With pleasure Lady Kira"

Arriving at the dining hall she opened the door and stepped aside for Kira to pass through.

Once again Inari was sitting at her usual spot, if Kira didn't know better she would have suspected her mom was rooted to the spot as she always seemed to be there whenever she visited the dininghall.

Kira gave a slight nod to her mom and headed towards her usual seat, she was happy to see Mischief once again had a fancy bowl next to her place, sitting down she decided to be rude and immediately downed her chalice before Lucy had time grab the jug and position herself to refill it for her, putting her chalice down in easier reach of Lucy she refocused her attention towards her mom.

"I agreed the other day to attempt to answer any questions you might have had the other day, and I deeply apologise for my rude behaviour but I was very mentally exhausted after my trip and I needed some time to rest and clear out my head."

Inari simply nodded with a kind expression.

"I am honestly quite impressed with how much you managed to achieve in a single outing, to think you managed to strip that bastard of a man of all his assets, he have always been ever so cautious whenever I was around, serves him quite well."

Her mom said with a chuckle.

Kira blushed while scratching her left ear, scratching her head had always been a habit but she had completely forgotten her ears were no longer where they used to be, she quickly decided to just continue as her action would seem embarrassing and weird if she just suddenly pulled her back towards herself, and it was oddly comfortable.

shaking herself out of her stupor she did her best to sound a bit less embarrassed than she felt.

"Well, It's not like I had planned for any of the stuff that happened that day, everything just kind of kept escalating outside my control."

Mischief picked this moment to add his own bit.

"Outside her control indeed, she genuinely lost control of her instincts twice in that short outing, I am aware of the rumors that you decend directly from the original primordials of this realm, but it was quite a sight to behold, just the raw amount of power she was pushing out towards that fat man while he was laying on the ground, I'm not sure what he saw in Masters glance but his fear was quite wonderful it was only a shame that Master pulled herself out before she completely pushed him to the breaking point"

The reverance she heard in Mischief voice made her quite uncomfortable, she still remembered clearly how she was overcome by his fear and how she had found both pleasure and happiness in watching the man squirm before she pulled herself back towards sanity.

"Oh you're quite well informed little one!

Then again it's not like it's a particularly big secret, yes both my daughter and I decends from the original primordial nine tailed fox, as such are we not pure spiritual beings as it gives us the capability of grounding our spirit in mortal flesh. We won't die if our flesh is destroyed but it will severely weaken us, the reason my daughter is taking so long to recover is her uncertainty of her own spiritual identity mixed with her starvation making it hard for her to create her new shell to reside within.

Most of the common demons believe that this trait to roam the human realm without being bound by a human contract or overtaking a mortal vessel is simply due to our strength but it is actually because our species are different from those of common demons.

unfortunately is meeting her grandpa not going to happen any time soon, as he is currently still sealed at a location unknown even to me

we live in this location that is the closest connected to the mortal realm of earth, and our influence there is vast allowing us more or less free access, but there are plenty of other realms and our influence in some of them are very minor, finding a crack to enter those is going to be a tough challenge and it is very likely my dad is sealed within one of those realms, our forefathers had extended the demon realm and influence much further than we have, as great as we think ourselves we are ultimately just the last refugees of our race hidden away from the other corners of our own realm by countless of void beasts who have slowly been gaining strength as they have been left to their own devices."

Kira suddenly realized her mom had told her something pretty important.

"The siblings in my servitude, does that mean they are the same as you and I?"

Her mom smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Close but not quite, the siblings are far further removed from the original primodial demons, they were simply lucky to be born with such a strong tie to their bloodline considering how far they are removed, in case you're wondering their ancestor was a very powerful demonic wolf known by the name of fenris, unfortunately he was betrayed and we are uncertain if even his spirit still remains.

This is also part of the reason their loyalty towards you are as great as it is, as it is one of the primary traits of their bloodline, they tend to be fiercely loyal and protective towards those they serve"

Kira simply gave a nod, having experienced first hand the trait her mom hadn't mentioned, stubbornness, but then again she would be disingenuous if she didn't admit to her own equal share of stubbornness.

Deciding it wouldn't be too rude she decided to continue to empty chalice after chalice of that wonderful liquid, she only briefly stopped to consider that it she had been human and this was water would it have been reaching dangerous levels, but after spending quite a while consuming in silence she finally hit her bottom and she was feeling once again much better than even yesterday prior to taking off towards that disaster of a trip.

"Sweetheart, would you allow me to gauge your essence ?"

Kira just looked at her mom with a confused expression, as she had absolutely no clue what her mom was requesting.

"It's not that I don't want to answer, but I am afraid I don't know what you're currently asking permission to do?"

Kira said while once again scratching her left ear, while scratching her head had always been a nervous habbit she quickly found scratching her ear had an additional calming effect that was quite addictive, she was slowly starting why cats and dogs enjoyed their ears rubbed but quickly erased that train of thought as it was just plain weird.

"In short I want to feel your magic and your cores stability, while you are currently entirely spiritual in nature does it not mean that your being isn't layered in such a way that I can see into your core, instead will I be sending my own magic through you to sense your current ....

let's call it health as an individual."

It was clear to Kira there was more to it that her mom wasn't saying, but deciding to trust her she simply agreed.

Inari got up, this time a vastly different tempo from when she had scanned her memories, she slowly got over and put her hands on Kiras back and once again re confirmed permission.

Kira was quickly filled with an odd sensation, it was like her mom was sending cold water streaming throughout her inside slowly moving through her entire body until it settled at the middle of her stomach to where it settled.

Whatever her mom had seen or felt seemed to cause a great relief, as she sat down own the nearest chair holding her hand over her mouth, while letting the tears flow freely.

The sight of Inari outright openly crying shocked everyone in the room into complete silence.

"Mischief, I know you're the loyal familiar of my daughter, and as such already in her service but know that I shall repay you regardless in some way shape or form!"

Mischief who had been silently munching on the crushed crystals crawled over and sat down much closer to Inari.

"You're the mother of my Master, and any service towards my master is a reward in and of itself, on the other hand, I am the one who is regretful that I hadn't realized the true severity of the situation and as such am I the one being embarrassed for having been so blind, although finally breaking through several evolutionary stages due to the resources you've provided me the veil over my mind have also lifted, and I no longer hold as simple as outlook on life as I held mere days ago while still living by my masters side in the apartment"

Kira was looking towards both her mom and her cat feeling slightly frustrated.

"Would anyone mind clueing me in towards what is going on?"

Mischief was the one to answer.

"Master to put it bluntly, you were very close to dying.

What Your mom confirmed right now was most likely that your core was finally healing.

It takes a lot to kill a demon of your stature, but the mix of long term starvation and the more important factor your self denying resulted in your already damaged core coming dangerously close to shattering, the fact you were walking about acting like you normally do with that kind of damage is outright astonishing and why I honestly hadn't suspected how extreme your denial had been, and I no much better understand your moms rush in trying to make you give up your former life and everything it entailed as she was essentially clawing at threads trying to get you to accept who you were and thinking it was how you clung to the human upbringing that was killing you"

Inari gave a polite cough to let Mischief know to let her speak instead of him speaking on her behalf.

"Apologies my queen, it would likely be better explained by yourself."

giving him a smile, it was clear that his earlier suggestion of the trip while not popular with Kira had earned him a lot of brownie points with her mom.

"Sorry sweetie, allow me to unseal your magic once again, you were so close to death back then that I felt I was treading on ice, I didn't know the reason you were completely denying your own existence, but I actively felt the magic internally rip you apart when I initially force removed your illusion, that was why I sealed your magic, but even providing you the highest quality souls I could get my hands on, you were still not healing at the rate you were supposed to, and I feared the worst, I blamed it was your dislike towards your own species and I thought you were glorifying humans thinking yourself as one and only wanted to be more like them, this ofcourse also resulted in some needlessly harsh statements from me to which I apologise!

Mischief little one, you shouldn't fault yourself for not noticing how damaged my daughter truly was, she provided me the gift of letting me know her life, and we are demons specifically direct descendants of one of the the original primordial demons, one of the few things that can hurt us is mental damage and an unclear image of who we are, and the mental and physical abuse she endured growing up makes me nothing short of amazed that her core was still as intact as it was. Her will power is incredibly strong and I genuinely believe nothing short of shattering her core completely will stop her, which I'm both incredibly proud of but I'm also finding incredibly worrisome as it is not healthy to push yourself so far."

Kira had heard enough, she didn't feel embarrassed about her life, neither did she hold any regret towards her past actions, but she definitely didn't want to be praised or have her actions glorified either.

"I got it please stop going back and forth.

In short my self denial was killing me, now that I am in a bit less denial my core

whatever thing is healing, and stuff is all peachy?"

this earned Kira quite a scowl from her mom.

"Young lady, would you please refrain from brushing off how close you were to dying right in front of me!?"

a bit surprised Kira apologised on the spot, it was weird being scolded like that but it also felt nice as it let her know her mom cared.

"Now this is likely going to feel uncomfortable, and remember your magic is deeply tied towards your wishes, desires, and emotions.

This is not wizardry like all those human who pretend to bend it to their will by making spells by butchering our language as they won't ever truly understand the origin."

Kira could only frown.

"Mom, prior to a few days ago was I convinced magic was relegated to comic books and special effects in movies, I didn't even know there was humans capable of magic in the first place.

Inari gave frustrated noise.

"Sweetie what they do can't be considered magic its toddlers who dabble in something they simply will never truly understand.

but I'm getting distracted."

As Inari touched her back again she felt a brief moment of the cold but it was quickly washed away by the same burning she had felt the day, it no longer hurt, but it wasn't comfortable either.

"Your energy is stale and old, it really isn't good for your system, I would strongly recommend you burn all your energy so your body can produce some fresh as you have changed a lot in the years since it was originally created"

Kira was currently not enjoying the sensation at all, her body felt like she was being filled to the brim of slightly too hot uncomfortable slush.

"And just how exactly would I go about doing that?"

Kira was at this point almost tempted to just let her mom block it off again, but she instinctively knew that shoving the problem under a rug would only make it worse.

Smiling Inari made a call and one of the servants brought in what looked like a crystal ball.

"This was a gift from my Father many years ago, while you grow up your energy changes a lot so it's important to clean out on regular intervals, I want you to have it.

It is quite simple to use, you just put your hands on it and pour magic into it with the intention of heating it up, it will automatically negate all the heat you can produce regardless of how seemingly much, I believe the only one who can overheat the device is your grandfather himself but then again he made it in the first place"

Kira was about to put her hands on the orb but Inari stopped her.

"I would strongly suggest you bring it with you into bed and lay down, you want to drain yourself atleast this time around to you literally pass out, it might seem extreme but it is better to get all of it out of your system immediately"

Nodding her head, Kira pretty much rushed towards the door to exit the dining hall, with Mischief and Lucy straight on her tail.

It didn't take long for Lucy to guide her to her bedroom having sensed Kira wasn't in the mood for anything else than just getting to her destination, moving inside Kira plopped on the bed and thought this better work!

she poured her desire of heating up the ball out and slowly felt how the slush felt less bothersome.

Mischief gave her an amused glare and curled up beside her, quite certain that his master was going to be in for a deep sleep.

Kira on the other hand was lost focusing on heating up that crystal ball, she was tempted to stop when the slush no longer felt bothersome, as she was starting to feel light headed, but taking her moms advice she kept pushing to the point where she passed out with the ball in her hands.

quietly without making a sound, the door to Kiras bedroom opened and Ash walked in, seeing the crystal ball she gave a relieved sigh, as Inari would never have unlocked the princess magic if it wasn't because her core was healing and healed atleast to a degree where she was out of danger she picked up the crystal ball and tugged Kira under the blanket while Mischief was giving her a glare that easily showed he wasn't happy, but atleast he had the decency to respect the hirachy.

She quickly cleaned up her pile of clothes the princess had used in her human form, and put the orb at stand near the closet.

Making sure everything was neat she placed a velvet envelope near the chair beside her bed,

and left as quietly as she had come.

She was hoping that this gift from the human realm would please the princess.