Chapter 4 – The Fox’s Revenge
The Royal Academy courtyard buzzed with energy.
Students filled the massive training grounds. Some practiced sword techniques while others showed off magic to their friends. Noble heirs stood in small groups talking loudly, already trying to prove who was stronger.
Kael walked through the courtyard calmly.
His uniform was simple but clean, the dark academy coat resting neatly over his shoulders. His silver hair moved slightly in the morning breeze.
Inside the system storage, Ash rested quietly.
Kael could still feel the fox’s presence in the back of his mind, like a small spark waiting to be called.
Whispers followed him as he walked.
“That’s him…”
“The hated prince.”
“I heard he’s weak.”
Kael ignored every single one of them.
He had better things to focus on.
But someone stepped into his path before he could reach the academy building.
A tall boy blocked the walkway.
He looked confident, almost arrogant, with three other students standing behind him.
Friends.
The boy crossed his arms and smirked.
“Well well… look who finally showed up.”
More students started paying attention.
“The useless prince himself.”
Kael stopped walking.
His silver eyes met the boy’s.
“Move.”
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The boy laughed loudly.
“You think you can order me around?”
Students nearby began forming a loose circle.
Fights were common at the academy. No one was going to stop this.
The boy stepped closer to Kael.
“Tell me something, prince,” he said mockingly. “Did you come here to embarrass yourself?”
Kael’s voice stayed calm.
“You’re in my way.”
The boy’s smile disappeared.
“Alright,” he said, cracking his knuckles.
Then he swung.
The punch came fast, aimed straight for Kael’s face.
Kael moved instantly.
He slipped to the side and slammed his fist into the boy’s ribs.
The sound of impact echoed across the courtyard.
The boy grunted and stumbled backward.
The crowd murmured.
Kael didn’t give him time to recover.
He stepped forward and drove another punch into the boy’s jaw.
The boy staggered again.
Shock spread across his face.
“Wait… what?” someone in the crowd whispered.
Kael grabbed the boy’s collar and slammed him hard onto the stone ground.
The impact knocked the air from his lungs.
Now the crowd was fully watching.
Kael raised his fist.
The fight was over.
But before he could strike—
Hands grabbed him from behind.
Kael’s eyes widened.
One of the boy’s friends pulled him backward.
Another slammed a fist into Kael’s stomach.
A third kicked his legs out from under him.
Kael crashed onto the ground.
Before he could stand, they were on top of him.
Fists rained down.
A kick slammed into his ribs.
Another hit struck his face.
Pain exploded across his body.
The crowd began laughing.
“Look at him!”
“The prince is getting jumped!”
“Pathetic!”
Kael tried to fight back, but three people holding you down made it almost impossible.
A boot slammed into his chest and forced him flat against the stone.
The boy Kael had almost defeated slowly stood up.
He wiped blood from his mouth and walked toward him.
“You almost got me,” the boy admitted.
Then he laughed.
“But you forgot something.”
He gestured to his friends holding Kael down.
“You’re alone.”
More laughter spread through the crowd.
Someone shouted mockingly,
“Maybe his little fox can save him!”
The crowd laughed even harder.
Kael lay there, breathing heavily.
Blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
His entire body hurt.
But then his anger surfaced.
Cold.
Sharp.
Controlled.
His lips slowly curved into a small smile.
“You’re right,” Kael said quietly.
The boy frowned.
“What?”
Kael looked up at him.
“I’m not alone.”
The system responded instantly.
Kael spoke one word.
“Release.”
Golden light flashed beside him.
Ash appeared.
The small fox landed silently on the stone courtyard.
At first, the crowd just stared.
Then someone laughed.
“That’s it?”
“That tiny fox?”
The boy looked down at the creature and scoffed.
“You’re serious?”
But Ash’s eyes glowed faintly.
The fox’s tail flicked once.
Then the illusion ability activated.
Suddenly—
Three foxes appeared.
Then five.
Then ten.
The courtyard filled with moving shadows of foxes circling the boys.
The laughter stopped immediately.
“What the hell—”
One of the boys panicked as a fox lunged at him.
He tried to kick it—
But it disappeared.
Another fox jumped at him from the side.
Claws scratched across his arm.
He screamed.
“It’s real!”
The boys holding Kael released him instantly.
Kael stood slowly.
Ash moved like lightning.
The fox darted forward and bit one boy’s ankle before disappearing into another illusion.
The boy screamed and fell to the ground.
Another student swung wildly at a fox that wasn’t there.
The real Ash leaped onto his back and clawed across his shoulder.
Panic spread instantly.
“These things are everywhere!”
“It’s attacking!”
Students in the crowd backed away quickly.
Even an F-rank beast was dangerous to normal people.
Within seconds, the boys who had jumped Kael were scrambling away.
One tripped and fell.
Another ran straight out of the courtyard.
The boy who started the fight stared in horror as the foxes surrounded him.
Kael walked toward him slowly.
The illusions faded one by one until only Ash remained.
The fox sat calmly beside Kael.
The courtyard was completely silent now.
Kael looked down at the boy.
“You said I was alone.”
The boy didn’t respond.
Kael wiped the blood from his lip.
Next to him, Ash flicked its tail proudly.
The crowd that had laughed earlier was now completely quiet.
No one was laughing anymore.
