51. Auslin

Chapter 51

Auslin

F or some reason, Auslin hadn't expected Kizoshi to live in a castle in the Divine Realm. Whereas Kitsuki's castle was made of stone towers in square shapes, Kizoshi's was gleaming white, with impressive spires and sloping roofs with red tiles. The stained-glass windows were even more spectacular than the ones at the Tiora castle.

The inside featured ornate architecture and beautiful detailing. Everything was decorated in white, purple, gold, and red. Things in the Living Realm were earth-toned, so such pristine whites and bright colors were unlike anything Auslin had ever seen before. He had thought Kitsuki's castle was the height of luxury, but the Divine Realm was on a totally different scale. Auslin especially admired the art and decorations.

A kitsune fox ran over to greet them. It burned with white fire, with each of its nine tails tipped in alternating red-and-purple flames. It arched up on its back feet to paw at Auslin's right hand. Like the dragon spirit that protected Auslin, the kitsune's fire somehow didn't burn him. Auslin could only stare in awe at a creature he thought only existed in legends.

"I would reprimand him for his unruly behavior, but Finini is the most stubborn of creatures." Kizoshi wagged her finger at her misbehaving pet, which nipped at the silver ring on Auslin's hand. "If you let Hibiki out, Finini will leave you alone."

Hibiki leapt out of his ring, pouncing on the fire kitsune. Their playful tussle was adorable as they both burned brighter now they were together.

"Should I be worried?" Auslin asked as Finini chased Hibiki around the room.

"No, they are dear old friends." Kizoshi gestured for him to continue following her. "Let them enjoy their reunion. No harm will come to you or Hibiki here."

"You seriously have a pet kitsune ?" Auslin asked in awe. "I thought they were only mythical creatures in books."

"That is because only a few exist as guardian spirits for certain Powers. They are magnificent beings with an unbelievable command of magic."

Auslin glanced over at Kizoshi. "I can't imagine you need anyone to protect you."

She laughed behind her hand as they entered a magnificent courtyard. "You are not wrong. Finini primarily serves as my beloved companion since danger has not existed in the Divine Realm for eons. But should the need ever arise, he will spring to my defense with a magic that almost no one can rival."

Auslin looked around the courtyard in amazement. Trees surrounded it with opalescent pink-and-white leaves. An enormous waterfall spilled into a large lake with the bluest water Auslin had ever seen. He would love to swim in it, but it felt too soon to ask in case it was a weird thing in the Divine Realm.

"Calling this beautiful almost seems like an insult," Auslin said as he sat in an oversized white chair. The sunny day was the perfect weather as a gentle breeze brushed past them. "No wonder this place is heaven."

"There is a reason I prefer to maintain my primary residence here." She gestured around the area. "As impressive as my family's castle is in the Living Realm, it simply cannot compare."

"I'm surprised Finini is the same size as Hibiki, though. I thought kitsune were massive creatures."

"Much like shifters, Finini can take either a small or large form," she explained. "If he were to materialize into his full size, he would be bigger than a mountain."

"That's amazing." Auslin was even more in awe. "But how is he old friends with Hibiki?"

"Hibiki spent almost two millennia in my care," Kizoshi said. "As I have had Finini as long as I have been alive, they have always been together."

"If that's the case, then why did you give Hibiki to me?" Auslin felt terrible for separating his fire dragon spirit from his friend.

"Do not feel badly about it," she told him in a gentle voice. "Hibiki chose to be with you as your protective guardian. Protecting you gives him a purpose in life."

"Have I been awful in not letting him out more?" Guilt ate away at him.

"Hibiki is happiest when he is by your side. Whether he is embracing you in the ring or resting at the foot of your bed, he is content simply to be near you."

Auslin resolved to let Hibiki out more once they returned to the Living Realm. As if summoned by thought, Hibiki raced over to them, with Finini fast on his heels. He didn't expect Hibiki to jump onto his shoulder while Finini pounced on his lap to bat at the fire dragon's tail before head-butting Auslin in the chest.

"Like Hibiki, you can pet Finini without being burned," she said.

It was beyond surreal to pet a kitsune fire spirit. Finini leaned into the touch, closing his pink eyes with a noise that sounded suspiciously catlike. "Is your kitsune purring ?" Auslin asked in disbelief.

Kizoshi laughed at his reaction. "Sophina has a cat guardian, who has been friends with Finini since they were babies. For some inexplicable reason, Finini adopted purring as a habit."

Auslin stared down at the kitsune in his lap in amazement. He scratched under its chin, making Finini rumble louder. "I can't believe you have a purring fire kitsune spirit."

When Finini decided he had enough, he jumped off Auslin's lap and walked over to Kizoshi. She scooped him up like a baby and gave him belly rubs. His purr was so loud Auslin could hear it. Kizoshi laughed as she said, "Admittedly, there are days when Finini is far more cat than kitsune."

Auslin reached up to give Hibiki a loving scritch so he didn't feel left out. He received a nuzzle for his efforts. The mage was about to ask another question when both creatures perked up. They simultaneously scampered away.

Their sudden disappearance confused Auslin. "What happened?"

"They went to greet our first guest," she replied.

Before Auslin could ask for details, one of the most beautiful men Auslin had ever seen walked into the courtyard. He had dark purple hair with lighter lavender streaks, which flowed freely around his handsome face. His vivid violet eyes were striking even at a distance. His indigo suit with gleaming silver accoutrements and immense aura bespoke of his high rank as a Power. Auslin couldn't help but be drawn to the man's friendly demeanor.

Hibiki and Finini were hot on his heels, nuzzling him when he stopped in front of Auslin. But the mage could hardly take his eyes off the man who felt so familiar, even though they had never met before.

Up close, amusement sparkled in the man's eyes, which seemed to change shades of purple every time he blinked. It reminded Auslin of Fersen.

"It looks like you've brought us an interesting playmate, Kizoshi," he said in a mellifluous voice. He tilted Auslin's chin up for a better look, which sent shivers down Auslin's spine despite his loyalty to Kitsuki. "The famous Auslin has finally appeared in the Divine Realm. I've been waiting for this day for what feels like forever."

The warmth of the man's aura felt startlingly familiar, considering it was the first time they had ever met. Being in his presence gave him the same feeling of comfort that reading books by Liros at the temple did. "You're Liros ?"

"At your service." He gave a flourishing bow.

Auslin was so dazed by the man that words escaped him without thought. "My brother is so going to kill me for meeting you when he can't."

Liros laughed in delight. "You can make Sephen feel better by telling him my path is fated to cross with his someday in the not-too-distant future." He took a seat across from Auslin. "It's a day I'm very much looking forward to."

Auslin brimmed with curiosity. "You're really going to come to the Living Realm to meet him?"

"Not just him." Finini jumped onto Liros's shoulder while Hibiki curled up in his lap. A cute owl materialized on his other shoulder, which looked like it was made from a cloud. "His mate also greatly interests me."

It wasn't hard to guess why. "Because he's Reskin?"

"Indeed."

Sephen would probably get mad at Auslin for saying it, but the mage's curiosity burned too brightly. "My brother has a theory Reskin holds a special place in your heart because you've gifted him with so much knowledge."

"They both have an insatiable desire for knowledge, so I've watched them both for a long time," Liros said. He petted Hibiki in his lap. When his owl chirped, he reached up to give it some loving attention. "It's been torture waiting to visit when I have so many things I wish to discuss with them. But I'm beholden to Sophina's plans, so I bide my time while watching from afar."

Sephen would be overjoyed to find out that detail. Auslin asked, "Is it weird to ask if you'd sign one of your books for Sephen?"

"It'd be my honor."

"I am quite certain of that," Kizoshi said with a knowing look aimed at her friend. The owl flew from Liros over to Kizoshi. It nuzzled against her neck with a trill. "Hello, Shikiji. I missed you, too. Go greet our guest."

To Auslin's surprise, the owl obeyed by flying over to him. It landed on his lap, tilting his head as he looked up at Auslin with inquisitive eyes. Auslin pet him, surprised to discover the feathers made of a cloud were so soft. "It's nice to meet you, Shikiji." He looked up questioningly at Liros. "Why isn't he made of fire like Hibiki and Finini?"

"They're fire spirits because Kizoshi uses dragon fire magic. I can use air magic, so Shikiji takes the form of a cloud. Thankfully, he's impervious to fire, so he can play with his friends."

Shikiji flew back over to Liros, dive-bombing at Finini to drive him off Liros's shoulder. Hibiki joined the fray as he leapt into action as the three guardian spirits began a game of chase.

Auslin watched their antics for a few moments before returning his attention to Liros. "May I ask a strange question?"

"Of course," Liros said.

"I thought Powers also spoke without contractions, the same as royal shifters."

"That's true for the rest of the Powers, but language isn't static. Its changes are informed by knowledge. I revel in the evolution of speech by using it in its current iteration." Liros continued studying Auslin with his inquisitive gaze. "I'm forever amazed at Sophina's love for your brother, Kizoshi."

Kizoshi's laughter confused Auslin. He looked over at her for clarification. "What does he mean?"

"Forgive me, I thought you knew Sophina has a vested interest in Kitsuki's happiness," Liros apologized, but amusement laced his tone.

She sighed before explaining. "Sophina has been in love with Kitsuki since they were children."

"Has been in love with?" Auslin repeated. "That makes it sound like she's still in love with him."

Liros grinned. "That would be because she is."

"You know Sophina will be displeased with you for revealing this," Kizoshi chastised her friend.

"Can you explain it, anyway?" Not knowing the full story gave Auslin anxiety.

"Before her mother's crime of abandoning her post, Sophina and Shaleia could visit the Living Realm. But once Sophina assumed the role of the Fate Power, she knew she could never find happiness with Kitsuki when she cannot go to him, and he cannot come here."

"Since Sophina is selfless, she did the next best thing by making it her mission to ensure Kitsuki's happiness by giving him a mate who was perfect for him." Liros gestured at Auslin. "That person would be you."

"But if she wanted him to be happy, why would she condemn him to six hundred years of solitude?" Auslin demanded.

"Believe me when I say it was a far better fate than the alternative," Kizoshi said.

It didn't make any sense to Auslin. "How in the world could that possibly be better?"

"Because six hundred years is nothing compared to an eternal lifetime of misery. Sophina did what she had to do while still staying within the rules, so the council did not punish her."

"What does that mean?"

"Fate's Gate was her one shot at rewriting fate without breaking the rules," Kizoshi stated. "Luckily for all of us, it worked."

Auslin had so many questions about how things worked. "If I was the alternative, who was supposed to be with Kitsuki?"

"Nasume." Kizoshi said it as if it was the foulest name she could speak. "I would rather kill him myself and face the consequences than allow that to happen."

Thinking of the wolf shifter as Kitsuki's mate nauseated Auslin. "Is that why he won't leave Kitsuki alone?"

"The good news is he's almost outgrown his purpose in the Living Realm," Liros said.

Auslin's head spun from trying to keep up with everything. "Does that mean Nasume will die soon?"

"My sole regret is I am not allowed to have the privilege of ending his miserable existence." Kizoshi pouted. "I would be more upset about it if it was anyone else who was responsible for that bastard meeting his ignominious end at long last."

"All that matters is the person who's supposed to have that victory will," Liros reminded Kizoshi.

It made Auslin burn with curiosity. "Who?"

"I cannot say, but all will be as it should be," Kizoshi promised. "It is not something to worry about now, though."

The information disquieted Auslin. "But of course I'm going to worry about it!"

"Liros is right," Kizoshi told him. "Everything happens for a reason. Rest easy knowing your future happiness is secure with the three of us watching out for you."

It helped to hear, even though Auslin knew she always had his back. "Thank you. I appreciate you looking out for me."

"As I have said before, you are clan," Kizoshi reminded him. "We always protect our own."

It made Auslin smile. He did his best to follow her advice by not worrying about the things he couldn't change.

O nce Liros left to attend to his duties, Kizoshi took Auslin on a tour of the city near her castle. All the buildings gleamed in the sunlight, making the Living Realm look downright dingy by comparison. In town squares, white marble fountains made of elaborate sculptures of historic Powers flowed with clear blue water. It was shocking when Auslin was used to bathing in cloudy rivers.

Auslin had never seen so many statues and art installations in a city before. Everything was on such a grand scale. It was a beautiful world befitting the Divine beings who lived there. No wonder Kizoshi chose to live there instead of in the Living Realm.

When they returned to Kizoshi's castle to rest before dinner, they sat on the veranda to enjoy the beautiful weather.

"I've read so much about the Divine Realm, but it's so much better than I imagined," Auslin said, still in disbelief over the grandeur of everything he had seen on their walk. "I'm honestly amazed you come to the Living Realm at all."

Kizoshi's laughter was light. "If it were not for my dear brothers, there would be almost nothing that would make me go."

"For what it's worth, I'm really glad you visit."

"I enjoy our chats too much to stay away for long." Kizoshi's smile filled Auslin with a warm glow.

Hibiki and Finini took off again.

"Sophina must be here," Kizoshi said.

Auslin's nervousness spiked at the sudden prospect of meeting the Fate Power.

Despite being half-spider shifter, Sophina was a petite woman with gossamer-white hair. It was styled with two small braids joined into one, with the rest of her long hair loose. Her dress with large bell sleeves looked like she was wearing the stars from the sky as it glittered with her every movement. Most unusual of all was how Sophina's irises were pure black, while her eyelashes were white. It reminded him a little of Satsuma, the wise owl shifter he had visited to find out more about his rewritten fate.

Auslin held his breath when Sophina approached him. Much like Liros had, she reached up to tilt his chin to either side as she assessed him. "So you are the one who stole my Kitsuki away from me."

"I-I'm sorry," Auslin automatically apologized, his heart racing in fear.

The air was heavy with a pregnant pause before Kizoshi ruined it by laughing. Sophina joined her as she patted Auslin's cheek. "Forgive me, Auslin. I should not have such fun at your expense when we have only just met."

Auslin could only blink in response as Sophina sat on the couch next to Kizoshi. Hibiki jumped into her lap and flared an even brighter purple when she petted him in greeting. "Oh, I have missed you, my dear Hibiki. Thank you for taking such good care of him, Auslin." She kissed the fire spirit on his forehead. "What a dear boy you are."

With a steadying breath, Auslin took a seat. "He's the one who takes care of me."

It startled Auslin when a small cat made of gossamer appeared out of nowhere to pounce on Hibiki. They tumbled off Sophina's lap as Hibiki and Finini gave chase to the cat guardian.

"Is that the cat spirit who taught Finini how to purr?" Auslin asked as he watched the three animals play together.

Sophina laughed. "Indeed. Kiribi is an old friend to Finini and Hibiki. They are all my Watchers."

"Watchers?" Auslin had never heard the term before.

"I have several protective spirits who watch over a chosen few. Hibiki is one of them," Sophina explained. "He helps ensure I can keep you safe."

"But why me?" Auslin wanted to know.

She smiled at Auslin with a fondness he didn't understand. "Because you are the one who has been chosen to stay by Kitsuki's side."

Kizoshi laughed. "You say as if you were not the one who chose him to stay by Kitsuki's side."

"Eh, semantics," Sophina dismissively said with a wave of her hand before the two women laughed again.

"I still don't understand why you picked me out of everyone else in the Living Realm," Auslin said.

"Because Kitsuki deserves only the best, and you are all things good and pure in the world," Sophina replied. "I would rather have been stripped of my powers and position than allow Kitsuki to suffer through an eternal life of suffering with Nasume when I knew I had a chance of saving him."

Auslin bowed his head. "I'll never stop being grateful for what you did."

"All I ask in return is that you love Kitsuki the way he deserves," Sophina requested. "His happiness is all I have ever wanted for him."

"Thankfully, Fate's Gate made it possible," Kizoshi added. "If Sophina had rewritten your fates, Shaleia would have been the first to demand you be sentenced to a miserable life in the Beyond Realm."

Sophina scowled at the reminder. "My twin is a huge stickler about following the rules because our mother is so infamous for breaking them," Sophina complained. "How she can bear to live such an austere life with no joy is beyond me."

"That is not entirely fair to say when she thoroughly enjoys torturing you," Kizoshi joked. "It has been that way since we were children."

Sophina laughed. "It is certainly true criticizing me and my occasional creative enforcement of my duties has always been one of Shaleia's favorite pastimes."

"At least she is not the one in charge of punishing you for transgressions." Kizoshi ruefully shook her head. "The only person she despises more than you would be me."

"Oh, yeah, she hates you with the fiery passion of a thousand suns." Sophina leaned over to hug her best friend. "Thankfully, I love you, which is what truly matters."

Kizoshi's tone was teasing as she returned the show of affection. "Yes, you love me almost as much as my brother."

Auslin thought their interactions were adorable, but he still didn't entirely understand what they were talking about. "Why would Shaleia hate you, Kizoshi?"

"Because she disapproves of me nudging fate into better directions from time to time," Kizoshi answered with a wicked grin.

"Your brother is a great example of that," Sophina told Auslin. "He was always destined to fall in love with Reskin, which would eventually lead him to Kisano. However, it was supposed to happen when Sephen was an old man."

"I may have suggested Kisano send his collected works to the Fate's Gate Temple much earlier than he was supposed to, so Sephen would have access to them at a younger age," Kizoshi explained.

It seemed incredibly risky from everything Auslin knew about the Powers. "But wouldn't doing that get you into trouble?"

"They were always meant to be together, so technically , we did not rewrite their fates," Sophina replied. "We merely took a chance at speeding the timeline since your passing through Fate's Gate rewrote your fate and thus affected the lives of everyone near you."

"I believed it would be in your best interests because it would allow Sephen to stay close to you, and Kisano would not live such a long and lonely life believing he was worth nothing," Kizoshi told Auslin. "Shaleia almost had my head over that one."

"Why would she care?" Auslin wondered. It startled him when Kiribi raced over to jump on his lap. He petted the cat spirit, which was even softer than Liros's cloud owl. Kiribi stayed for a few moments before pouncing on Hibiki when he came to investigate.

"Fate and destiny are always intertwined," Sophina replied. "Destiny is all about making choices, but the events are predetermined. Fate is unchanging and will happen regardless of your action or inaction."

"That has always been my understanding of it," Auslin said with a nod.

"Fate's Gate was made with ancient, powerful magic," Sophina continued. "As the legends say, it can rewrite someone's fate if they walk through the gate if the Fate Power deems them worthy enough. I took a gamble in guiding you to stop in front of the monument that night, hoping you would make the choice to go through Fate's Gate."

Auslin scratched his head. "But why would that upset your sister so much?"

"Because when that ancient magic touched you, it rewrote your fate, which then changed everyone's connected to you. Doing that affected their destinies as well," Sophina told him. "Fate is supposed to be an unalterable constant that happens regardless of anything you do. Thus, Shaleia accused me of undermining her authority as the Destiny Power in having so many lives permanently rewritten."

From the sounds of it, Sophina had massively overstepped the boundaries of what was allowed. "Then how did you not get in trouble with the council?"

"Because destiny allows choices, your proximity to Fate's Gate means you always had an option of going through it. I merely presented you with an extra opportunity to consider doing something you were always free to do. Since Fate's Gate is the magic of the ancients, it allowed you to have that new chance of fate without the council reprimanding me. If it was not meant to be, the gate would have remained dormant, and nothing would have changed."

"Luckily for all of us, the ancients agreed with our opinions, so you all were blessed with the best possible outcome for your new fates," Kizoshi added. "Shaleia had no real recourse at that point."

"She was so mad," Sophina said with a laugh. "It was absolutely worth the risk, though."

Kizoshi nodded. "We could not have written a better result ourselves."

"I don't know how I can ever repay you for what you've done for all of us," Auslin told Sophina.

"You making Kitsuki happy is all the repayment I need," Sophina assured him.

Auslin suddenly realized something important. "Wait, if fate rewrote my life by letting me be with Kitsuki instead of Nasume, that means Nasume's fate was also rewritten, which would affect Maseo."

Sophina shared a look with Kizoshi. "That is correct. Maseo exists because of your decision to go through Fate's Gate."

Guilt ate away at Auslin. "Then it's my fault he's had such a miserable life with a father who hates him, which drove him to Kio and pushed me to go through Fate's Gate?"

"There are many reasons why being a half-spider shifter is useful in being the ruling Fate and Destiny Powers," Sophina told him. "Everything interconnects like a web."

"It really is my fault Maseo has had such an awful life." Auslin grew visibly upset.

"Do not feel badly, Auslin," Kizoshi said. "This is not a bad thing."

He threw his hands up in frustration. "How could it possibly be a good thing?"

"Maseo will live a life full of love because of you, Auslin," Sophina said. "His earlier suffering ensures he will properly cherish that reward."

It helped to hear that Maseo would finally have something nice happen to him, but Auslin still felt unsettled by the revelations. "But can it really make up for him living through so much pain because of me?"

Sophina dissuaded Kiribi from playing with one of her dangling earrings when the cat spirit jumped into her lap. "You do not need to feel badly about your role in Maseo's existence. He will only have gratitude for what you did for him."

"That's impossible to believe, given some of the stuff I've heard about Nasume doing to Maseo," Auslin said with a frown. He didn't know many details, but the few he had heard were awful. He hated knowing he had any part to play in Maseo's misery.

"I would not lie to you," Sophina told him as she once again had to dissuade Kiribi from playing with her earring. "The love Maseo will have is worth suffering three lifetimes for. Just as Kio helped you understand why Kitsuki's love is such a treasure, Maseo will learn that same lesson."

Auslin wasn't sure why it seemed so unbelievable to him. "I just don't want him to suffer anymore."

"His suffering will soon be over," Sophina promised. "Then he will know a love he never imagined was possible for him, all thanks to you."

"As long as he finally gets to be happy." Auslin fervently wished for Maseo's sake that Sophina was speaking the truth. "He deserves to have a love as great as what I have with Kitsuki."

Kizoshi's smile was as enigmatic as ever. "Rest assured, Maseo will have that same chance."

When Kiribi made another attempt at biting Sophina's earring, she booped him on the nose before turning her attention to Kizoshi. "Since he keeps trying to eat my jewelry, does that mean dinner is soon?"

"Yes, and it will give you plenty of chances to ask Auslin embarrassing questions about his relationship with Kitsuki," Kizoshi teased, laughing when Auslin blushed.