Ep. 319 Hunt Part 5 (Patreon)

First, I move a small amount of power through my body to my palms and then I move it out of my body. Under the control of my will it forms a small sphere floating above my hands. At first I am just entranced by the pure golden color as it spins above my hand.

Since I am keeping my will focused on it, it retains its shape and stays still, but as soon as I release my will it dissipates into the air. Just knowing I can control and shape it outside of my body is useful, but now to see if I can program it. Creating another ball of power I try to tell it to look like a fire once it hits something.

When I throw it on the cave floor it turns into a small golden flame for a few seconds before it fades away. So I really can program it, and if it is inside my body it should last longer, especially if I use more power. However, I don't want to just jump to that stage yet, there are other experiments I want to run first.

After all, I just got done going through all that work to build my core up, the last thing I want is to mess it up now. First, I test a bigger ball of power and as I thought it takes longer to dissipate. Putting a tiny amount into the center of my core I can verify that it doesn't hurt or dissipate.

Now the final test, putting a larger amount that is programmed to slowly improve my core. Thankfully it doesn't hurt, and it absorbs the smaller energy from the previous tests. Once I release it I can just barely see it starting to work on my core, but there is no progress showing yet.

It makes sense since I am a higher rank that it would take a lot longer to have an effect. I will just check it in the morning to see if it is working, at this point I have decided we are staying the night. The storm is not as intense as it was but it is late enough already that I don't think it is worth the risk.

Looking over I notice that Kechara is napping while curled around the fox. Come to think of it, I should probably give her a name, but not right now since it will take a thousand sacred power. Trying to think of a name I think back and try to remember any fox names from various anime but for some reason I am coming up blank.

There were foxes and fox-girls but I can't seem to remember any of the names. The only name that keeps popping into my head is Asuna from SAO and while she wasn't a fox she was definitely cute. Since I can't think of any other names for some reason I decide to just go with it, it's not like anyone in this world would recognize it.

Maybe it is stuck in my head because the big fox was agility based and Asuna was a speed type fighter. Either way it is a cute name so it will work considering how cute the little fox is. With my mind made up I check the time and then decide to start cooking some dinner.

As soon as I start cooking Kechara wakes up and even the little one shows signs of stirring. As obsessed as Kechara is with food, maybe I should have chosen a different name for her, but I guess it is too late now. After giving Kechara her dinner I go to the little fox and offer it a choice so I can figure out what it likes.

After sniffing and licking both, she takes the cooked food from me, it seems I am cooking for three from now on. After offering a few other things it seems she doesn't eat fruit or vegetables. Watching her eat I check her teeth just to make sure, she is a pure carnivore.

Luckily she is small right now and doesn't eat much, but if she grows fast it might become an issue. It is already hard enough to keep Kechara fed considering how big she has gotten. I think from now on when the weather allows I am going to have to have her go hunting.

As soon as the little one has finished eating she goes straight back to sleep. Considering how thin she was it isn't all that surprising, she probably has some growing to catch up on. As much stress as feeding her might cause, I kind of want her to grow up fairly quickly, at least until she is big enough to play some.

I want her to be able to play with Kechara, I want them to form a bond before I have to leave. That way I can be more confident that Kechara won't be as lonely when I am gone. It may be a silly thing for me to worry about considering what is going to happen in the future but I can't stop myself.

Since the little fox is asleep I take out the history book and read to Kechara for a couple of hours before going to sleep. In the morning I get woken up fairly rudely, as suddenly a cold wet nose gets stuck into my ear. Opening my eyes to find the little fox standing on my face I can't help but let out a groan.

The fox immediately jumps off me like I startled her, and as I sit up I can see Kechara is still sound asleep. Looking around I spot the little fox hiding on the other side of Kechara, when she spots me looking at her she tries to act innocent. Holding out my arms the little one quickly climbs up Kechara's body and then jumps into my arms.

"Little one, I am going to name you Asuna!"

SP: 725/1725

'Exactly a thousand again, I guess it is a set amount.'

The light show is the same as it was when I named Kechara, and it does wake her up. When I tell Kechara that I have named Asuna she seems surprised but quickly accepts it. Instead of bothering with the new name Kechara seems more interested in why the fire is cold and no food is cooking.

While I start cooking breakfast I ask Kechara to dig out the snow that has covered the cave entrance. As soon as she does I can see sunlight, which means after breakfast we can head back home. As soon as we get back I will start preparing everything I will need to head to the temple.