Navigating

  this situation was going to be particularly challenging. Tama, with

  her ever-flicking tail and keen, delicate cat ears, was overly

  friendly and unshakably idealistic. Her worldview was simple:

  authority stemmed purely from superior skill or strength. The nuances

  of setting boundaries—the ability to project confidence through

  presence, tone, and clarity—were entirely lost on her. To her,

  personal space was merely a matter of physical distance, not a social

  construct to be respected.

  Unfortunately, that mindset was entirely

  insufficient when dealing with someone like Tera.

  "No, Tama, you don't politely request space.

  You establish it firmly. You are in control of your boundaries. You

  state them clearly, not ask for them to be respected," I said,

  attempting to suppress my growing exasperation.

  Her ears twitched, flickering between

  embarrassment and stubborn determination. "Nya! Tama will try

  again!" she declared, straightening her posture, tail swaying

  with renewed resolve. Though we were nearly the same height, she

  seemed to attempt to stand taller, an effort at appearing more

  confident. "Tama needs you to stand back, Tera!" she said,

  voice carrying a slightly forced weight.

  Progress. Imperfect, but progress nonetheless.

  I actually smiled—she seemed to be getting it!

  It had only taken... I looked at the sun through the window. Over

  three hours. My fox ears twitched, and my tail snapped in irritation.

  I exhaled, willing myself to patience. "That

  will suffice for now. We're out of time. Let's help Tera understand

  your boundaries and resolve this matter." I said trying to hide

  my frustration as my fox ears drooped in resignation.

  I turned and walked out of the room, then

  proceeded down the hallway. I made it about halfway before Tama

  appeared at the door at the other end—of course, she had blinked

  over there, her cat ears twitching and her tail swishing.

  I ignored her impatient stare; I knew she was

  nervous and just wanted to get this over with. I reached the end of

  the hall after another thirty seconds, with Tama clearly waiting

  impatiently. She even blinked over at me and tried pushing me

  forward, her cat ears drooping in a mix of nervousness and

  excitement.

  I

  put my tail to the ground and summoned my earth to hold me in place

  until she stopped. Once she did, I continued, my fox ears flicking in

  irritation. She would learn patience if it killed us both.

  I

  finally made it to the door—to Tama’s great relief. She had begun

  pacing back and forth like I had taken days instead of literal

  minutes; her tail swished rapidly in agitation, and her cat ears

  flattened slightly. I rolled my eyes at her absurdity—if I kept up

  the habit, they might roll out of my skull at some point.

  Stepping

  into the main guildhall with Tama in tow behind me, I noted the room

  was as crowded as before. Tera and Rylan sat at a table a few feet

  away. Tera looked annoyed and Rylan looked bored. As I watched, I

  drowned out the background noise and listened to what they were

  saying. My amazing fox ears—even sharper than Tama's cat

  ears—picked up every nuance.

  "That bitch Saki needs to stay out of my

  way!" Tera said, anger and resentment clear in her voice. I

  smirked, and my tail twitched in satisfaction.

  "I don't see why you're so upset; you have

  been repeating yourself for the last three hours, Tera," Rylan

  said, his voice sounding bored and annoyed.

  Tera slammed the table and said, "Well, now

  you're annoying me. Go check if they are done yet!"

  Rylan sighed and stood. He began walking towards

  us. "Wow, he really does just let her boss him around," I

  thought in amusement as I walked toward them, Tama in tow behind me.

  Rylan saw us and looked relieved; he waved and

  walked back over to Tera, who had sat down. Tera looked up at me, her

  eyes glazing over as they landed on Tama. The instant look of desire

  in Tera's eyes was creepy.

  "Alright, Tama, just like we practiced,"

  I whispered to her, hoping beyond hope she would pull this off. (Her

  cat ears perked up in attention.) If the last three damn hours were

  any indication, it was going to be a long quest.

  Tama stepped forward and instantly tripped. I

  facepalmed hard as I felt our chances of success slipping—her cat

  ears drooped in dismay while her tail swished awkwardly.

  Tera was at her side in an instant, helping Tama

  to her feet. "Are you alright, Tama? I can kiss and make you

  feel better if you want!" Tera's words were soft as she, very

  clearly in front of everyone, attempted to seduce Tama. (I noted how

  Tama's delicate cat ears twitched uncertainly as she accepted the

  help.)

  This was apparently not new, as no one really

  batted an eye at her antics. I resigned myself to dealing with this

  obsessed girl myself when Tama spoke, "Nya! You call Tama

  Empress slave girl!" Her tail flicked defiantly as her cat ears

  pricked up.

  I paused, mouth open in shock. I quickly closed it

  as my mind caught up with what had just happened. "Yes, Tama,

  set your boundary!" I thought as hope blossomed—my fox ears

  drooping in astonishment.

  Tera looked at Tama with an unsure smile. "What,

  Tama? I don't understand." I watched as Tama looked confused for

  a moment before she put on her assertive face (though not very

  assertive indeed), her cat ears flattening slightly as she tried to

  muster authority.

  "Tama said her name is Empress to you, Tera!

  Now bend your knee and praise your empress!" Her tail swished

  imperiously, and her cat ears flicked with determination.

  This caught every single person in the room off

  guard—this was new, apparently. I grinned; this was going better

  than I hoped, my fox tail twitching in approval.

  I watched Tera's reaction carefully, in case she

  got violent. Instead, I saw in real time as Tera's eyes dilated and a

  dreamy smile crossed her face. She instantly fell to a knee and bowed

  her head. "I serve my Empress Tama," she said, her voice

  coated in respect.

  I looked at Tama to see her reaction and saw her

  eyes light up. It turned out Tama was a natural at this, making me

  feel like I had just wasted three hours of my life. "Good girl,

  now kiss Tama's feet and beg Tama to serve her!" Tama's cat ears

  perked up in delight as her tail swished happily.

  Tama said it with force in her voice. Even I

  almost took a knee before realizing it was just an act. No one else

  did—and to my shock, everyone in the room bent the knee to Tama. My

  eyes widened in shock as her solitary tail twitched authoritatively.

  Even

  Tama looked confused as she scanned the room. I realized it felt like

  my knees had turned to jelly. Whatever Tama had just done had

  actively affected me! It wasn’t just some phrase—her words had

  some kind of power. I forced myself forward, ignoring the jelly

  feeling as I reached Tama. “Tama,” I said through clenched teeth,

  “tell us to stand up!” My fox ears drooped as I struggled to

  maintain composure, and my tail swished in determination.

  Tama

  looked at me for a moment before nodding, “You may rise!” she

  said with her imperious tone—her cat ears flicking with regal

  authority and her tail swishing confidently. Instantly, everyone in

  the room jumped to their feet, crying out in shock at what had just

  happened.

  I

  felt my knees return to normal. I didn’t know what that was, but it

  was overwhelming—and my fox ears twitched as I tried to comprehend

  the sudden shift.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “You

  are even more amazing than I thought, my empress; your wondrous

  nature knows no bounds! Please, greatest queen, allow me to serve

  you!” Tera’s words were laced with honey and an extreme level of

  desire. She hadn’t gotten up like everyone else, instead bending

  forward to kiss Tama’s feet. Tera’s eyes shone as her hand rested

  on her knee, while I noted how Tama’s delicate cat ears seemed to

  tremble in anticipation.

  I

  looked down at her in disgust before an idea entered my head—aside

  from that ever-present, “erase erase erase” Earth that was so

  annoying! I leaned in and whispered into Tama’s ear, “You should

  tell her to pay you to serve you.” Her pointed cat ears twitched as

  she listened.

  Tama

  looked at me and frowned, “But Tama doesn’t want the shiny round

  things!” Her tail flicked, and her ears twitched with a hint of

  playful stubbornness.

  I

  sighed before leaning in again, “Maybe not, but she made you

  uncomfortable; this is your chance to do something that might make

  her uncomfortable!”

  My fox ears drooped slightly as I urged

  her.

  Tama

  just stared at me like I was crazy. “Why would Tama do that?

  Revenge is never right!” Her cat ears seemed to droop in confusion

  as her tail swished slowly.

  I

  felt rage bubble up inside me at those words, but I tempered it down.

  She couldn’t know—I reminded myself she was just being heroic as

  always. I tried a different tactic. “Tama, we need the money and

  she clearly wants to serve you. Tell you what: tell her to obey me,

  and I’ll make her do it for you.” My fox ears twitched with a mix

  of mischief and determination.

  Tama

  looked at me for a long moment before a smile crossed her face. Then

  she spoke imperiously again, “Tama has decided to bestow upon Saki

  the role of her advisor; all shall listen to and obey Saki!” Her

  cat ears stood tall as her tail swished regally.

  Tama

  giggled, but I stared at her in horror. “Tama, what have you done!”

  I hissed. Her smile faded and she frowned. “What do you mean? Tama

  did what you asked! You said it was a good idea!” Her cat ears

  drooped momentarily in uncertainty.

  I

  tried to speak, but the royal decree hit me like a ton of bricks, the

  magic clearly settling in. My vision blurred for a moment, and when

  it returned, everyone was suddenly outlined in colors. My fox ears

  rang with the shock of magic.

  I

  looked at Tama, and above her head it said:

  Fuyuki

  Tamaneko, Princess of the Kingdom of Trissaile, Adventurer: The Third

  Person Tempest.

  I

  stared at her title in shock, my eyes unmoving as I focused on the

  word “Princess.” My mind stopped working, and everything except

  that title faded to black as I tried to process it. For a moment,

  Tama’s cat ears seemed to shimmer with an unexpected regal glow,

  and her tail moved with newfound grace.

  She

  was… a Princess?! But how?!

  “What

  is going on in here?!” Talia’s voice came from the doorway at the

  back of the guild. The wolfkin Talia—her singular bushy tail and

  sharp, attentive ears on full display—had arrived.

  I

  swiveled and looked at the wolf woman. She was scanning the room, her

  face a mask of serious calm; her wolfkin ears betraying nothing as my

  mind raced—I had to be super careful and…

  “Tama

  dominated Tera just like Saki and Talia said too!” Tama declared, a

  wide, childish grin on her face, her cat ears twitching excitedly and

  her tail swishing with pride. “And everyone else decided to play

  along with Tama!”

  I

  felt what little courage I had drain as Tama spoke. Quickly, I

  recalculated: I could still salvage this. “Then Saki said Tama

  should make her royal advisor, since Saki is the smartest person Tama

  knows. She agreed!” My fox ears drooped as uncertainty mingled with

  hope.

  I

  was now beginning to panic; my heart beat so fast it physically hurt

  in my chest. I genuinely considered using my void to erase everything

  here—to start over from scratch… I couldn’t do that. My fox

  tail twitched nervously as my ears rang with anxiety.

  I

  looked over at Tama, and my heart sank at how happy she looked. She

  truly didn’t understand what was happening. Once she learned,

  though… her cat ears remained cheerfully oblivious, her tail

  swishing in innocent glee.

  Talia

  looked at Tama, then at me. “What happened, Saki?” she asked, her

  face serious as the last traces of color left my face. Her wolfkin

  ears stood tall, her expression unreadable.

  “Well…

  you see, I…” Before I could even start, Talia raised a finger.

  “Come with me.” I nodded and followed her back to her office. I

  noticed Matriarch Talia’s title above as we walked and read

  it:

  Grand

  Matriarch Petalia Corundurum, Adventurer: The Forge of Fire.

  Her

  wolfkin tail swished gracefully, and her ears remained alert as she

  led me.

  I

  noticed the “Grand” in her title, as well as the name people

  called her by. Also, her full name was Petalia? I snickered quietly.

  “What’s so funny, Saki?” Matriarch Talia said as she turned to

  look at me with a raised eyebrow, her wolfkin ears twitching in mild

  amusement.

  “I

  was just thinking how interesting your full name is!” I said with a

  smirk, my fox ears perking up slightly.

  “Oh,

  is that so? And what, pray tell, is my full name, Saki?” she said

  in an almost too kind tone, her wolfkin ears softening as she

  inquired.

  I

  felt my veins run cold. I considered lying but realized it was

  pointless. “Because I can see your name and title above your head,”

  I said straightforwardly, though even as I spoke, I started to form a

  ball of void—if I was going to die, I would take her with me to

  protect Tama. My fox ears drooped with determination, and my tail

  twitched in quiet resolve.

  Her

  eyes widened, and she stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. “What

  does it say my name is, Saki?”

  I

  swallowed before repeating what I saw above her head. “Grand

  Matriarch Petalia Corundurum, Adventurer: The Forge of Fire.” My

  fox tail flicked in anxious anticipation.

  Silence

  filled the hallways at my words. Slowly, ever so slowly, she spoke

  again, “And you can… see… her title?”

  “I

  can,” I said as the ball of purple void grew bigger in the palm

  behind my back, my fox ears twitching with nervous energy.

  “What

  did it say?” she questioned further. We had stopped moving and were

  both standing in the middle of the hallway, her wolfkin tail swishing

  slowly as she demanded clarity.

  “As

  Her Majesty’s royal advisor, it is not my place to give her title

  away without permission,” I said in a serious tone, not breaking

  eye contact, my fox ears standing straight in resolve.

  “Her…

  Majesty,” Talia said, her voice sounding as if it were from

  thousands of miles away as she stared at me. As in… royalty…

  like… royal family royalty. Her wolfkin ears remained composed,

  though her tail gave a subtle, regal flick.

  I

  simply nodded once as I took a step back, prepared for anything. I

  had made the ball unstable enough that if I died, it would explode

  and kill us both instantly. My fox ears drooped with grim

  determination, and my tail bristled with tension.

  Talia

  stared at me for a moment before she smiled and began laughing. “You

  are a cunning little fox, Saki—that’s a good lie! But be serious

  now—where did you learn my name?” Her wolfkin ears twitched in

  amusement, and her tail swished lightly.

  I

  laughed with her, my smile not reaching my eyes as I took another

  step back. “I am not lying; Tama is royalty, and she just made me

  her royal advisor.” My fox ears drooped in resignation, my tail

  flicking with conflicted emotion.

  Talia

  paused, her smile slowly fading. “Royalty… and you mentioned a

  royal advisor, which means higher-class royalty—most likely, at the

  very least, a Princess or Queen. Since Tama is clearly only sixteen,

  the more likely answer would be Princess.” Her wolfkin ears stayed

  still as she analyzed the situation.

  “That

  means if my guess is correct and she is a princess, and she decreed

  you as Royal Advisor, you are most likely seeing colored outlines of

  people with titles above their heads, which also makes sense given

  the fact you were looking above me earlier—seemingly staring at the

  ceiling.” My fox tail swished thoughtfully as I considered her

  explanation.

  I

  was speechless; she had so easily broken down the entire situation in

  a clear and concise manner. She took my silence as confirmation, it

  seemed, as she nodded before saying, “Prove it.”

  I

  looked at her, puzzled. “What?” I said, almost in a daze, my fox

  tail drooping slightly with uncertainty.

  “Prove

  that you are her royal advisor. If she is a Princess and she decreed

  you her royal advisor, you should be able to prove it quite easily,”

  Talia said simply, her wolfkin ears remaining still and expectant.

  I

  stared in stunned silence before asking, “How?”

  Talia

  smiled. “If you are truly her royal advisor, you hold just under

  the power she does. Meaning, if you use a decree to order me to bow,

  I will be forced to obey. Prove it.” Her wolfkin tail swished with

  a mix of challenge and curiosity.

  My

  mouth went dry at that. Was that true? If it was… no, it couldn’t

  be that simple… could it? I opened my mouth and mustered my best

  imperious voice, “I, Saki, Royal Advisor to Empress Tamaneko,

  hereby command you to kneel before me!” My fox ears twitched with

  both apprehension and resolve as my tail stood erect.

  I

  felt my cheeks go red as I spoke; my ears flattened along with my

  tail—it was embarrassing to say, and I was used to embarrassing

  things. But pretending to be royalty?! My fox ears drooped with

  humiliation even as my tail stiffened.

  To

  my shock, Matriarch Talia, after a moment, fell to a knee, her head

  bowing. I stared in stunned silence. I did that? This had to be some

  kind of trick! “Please let me up now; you have proven your point,”

  Talia spoke suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. Her wolfkin ears

  relaxed as her tail curled in submission.

  “Um…

  You may rise!” I copied Tama’s words exactly. After a moment,

  Talia stood back up, color having drained from her face as she looked

  at me. “She… she really is a Princess,” Talia said, her voice

  soft and distant, her wolfkin ears drooping slightly as her tail

  swished slowly.

  I

  didn’t respond. After all, I was dealing with the reality that I

  was an actual royal advisor—people literally were forced to obey. I

  had no words to describe the insanity I felt, my fox ears drooping in

  resignation and my tail wrapping around my leg in nervous tension.