The Fox

"I have no such desire. So scram." Arthur states plainly to the bowing fox girl before him. 

"But, Master! Don't you want a loyal, beautiful fox girl such as myself following you around?" She asks with a pleading gaze, her eyes becoming slightly misty as if she is a wounded animal. 

"Stop calling me master; I have no such weird tendencies. And no." Arthur says, turning around and continuing on his way. 

"I won't give up so easily! You are the strongest I have seen thus far in my journey, so that makes you the best choice! We foxes are known for our determination." She says as she rushes to catch up as Arthur's figure begins to speedily disappear in the distance. 

And even though she can now no longer see him, she is still able to follow him from his scent and with her powerful senses. 

"So beast-humans exist in this world like they did in some of the novels I read back on Earth. Ah, such a distant memory. Almost hazy and gone. But even seeing it in person brings me little interest. Only the strong give me desire now." Arthur mutters as he continues his fast walking pace deeper into the city fortress, towards the barracks. 

Before he knew it, there he was. In front of the largest building within the city, the barracks of the guards that protect this fortress and everything beyond. Even from out here, Arthur can feel a somewhat strong aura within the building. The presence is on the top floor of this five-story building that nearly takes up an entire block. 

Even outside the building, there stands two guards, each radiating the aura of an A-rank adventurer, showing them as captains. 

"Oh, now this is more interesting. I want to see what this commander individual is like. Though not a threat, maybe I can see more about this so-called magic that seems predominant here." Arthur lightly says as he approaches the building. 

But before he can get closer, a shadow blurs in front of him as the fox girl from before suddenly appears directly in his path. Her face slightly pouty as her two tails swish left and right excitedly. 

"You again. Do I need to kill you?" Arthur raises an eyebrow in slight surprise at how she caught up to him yet still asks this as if it were normal. 

"Eeeek! Don't kill me! What kind of person are you to threaten to kill me so quickly? Wouldn't you feel bad killing a harmless, cute girl like myself?!" She yelps after hearing the word kill and feeling the murderous intent from Arthur, but quickly composes herself and asks back with a defiant look on her face. 

"No." He says back plainly. 

"Seriously?! Oh, well, I still want to follow you to become stronger! Plus, a harmless gal like myself needs to know how to protect herself. Won't you please take in this poor fox?" She says once again with puppy-like eyes as her fox tails and ears swish about, trying to act cute. 

"You sure like to lie, little fox. Most others in this city might be fooled, but I can tell you are anything but weak. Well, weak compared to me, but in this city, you are amongst the top in strength. I can feel that you are at about the same level as the man at the top of that building." Arthur replies back with a straight face as he then points towards the top floor of the barracks.

"Tehe, so you could tell. Hmph, that just makes me want to follow you even more! After all, you are the first to be able to see through my illusions that hide my aura. Come on, just let me come along on your journey. It can't hurt, right?" She continues to try and act cute even after her act is found out. 

"I see no benefit to myself in this proposition. In fact, it seems like a waste of time. No, you will more likely just be in the way. You will definitely, one hundred percent, die if you follow me on my path. I should just put you out of your misery here and now." Arthur says in thought and starts to nod his head as if he just got a good idea. 

"No, no, no, no need for that. I am quite capable at keeping myself alive, so no need for any killing or deaths. Let's get away from that subject! Plus, the point of me following you is to get myself stronger, so I expect danger, plenty of it! And, well, your benefit is, of course, me! Hehe, having such a beauty following you, who knows, maybe I will fall in love! That is quite the benefit." Lily at first backs away, waving her hands theatrically to get away from the death talk. After regaining her composure, she then puffs out her chest as she proudly proclaims herself as a benefit. 

"Don't need it." Arthur replies with a blank face as he starts to rear back his hand as if to attack. 

"Wa-wa-waaaiiit! I was just joking, okay! Just a joke! Come on, of course, there are actual benefits of having me along. I can tell that you are quite new to the area and to many other things. I know a lot of stuff and have even traveled a little ways into the Abyssal Mountains. I can be a guide and answer any questions" Lily states proudly after nearly freaking out at the murderous intentions projected by Arthur. 

"I see. I still don't think it is quite worth it. Sounds like more trouble than it's worth." Arthur puts his hand back down before muttering in thought. 

"I also know lots and lots of unique and cool magic spells! Hehe, they might come in handy in the journey." She says to add on, feeling as if she has him on the hook and just now needs to reel him in. 

"Hmm, I am curious about magic. And I guess if I regret it, I can always just get rid of you. Maybe it would be worth it." Arthur says casually as he strokes his facial hair as he thinks out loud. 

"I will just ignore that comment. But what do you mean about magic? As if you aren't using magic?" Lily shows momentarily concern at a certain comment he mentioned but then asks back in wonder at how he phrased his wonder of magic.