Biohuman

Dinner was quiet. There was barely any talking and if there was, it was just the three talking besides Keng. He quickly downed two bowls of soup and excused himself. He had only talked to Gorrum because Gorrum interacted with him.

Keng slipped into the bathroom, turning in the magical crystal lights. He stripped the itchy clothes off of him and noticed red spots across his body.

"Am I having a reaction to whatever these clothes are?" Keng whispered. He scratched his chest as he moved over to the large circle. He waved his hand over the water rune and felt the warm water fall onto him.

He let out a sigh of relief as he scrubbed his body. The itchiness was slowly fading due to the enchanted water spilling from above.

'The large circular rune keeps the water from spilling everywhere. There's a small rune close to where I'm standing that sucks the water so it doesn't flood. The water rune is slightly altered to have healing properties. It isn't much but it does make things like rashes and stuff go away.' Keng rinsed himself off and moved his hand over to another rune that released a salve for his hair and body. Lily had told him it was a combination of plants that kept the body clean. It smelled good, so he used it.

After he scrubbed himself, he washed off and moved his hand over the water rune and stepped out of the ring. Keng moved to the corner of the bathroom and swiped his hand on a circular rune with wind marks on it. Air blew out of the rune and Keng began to dry himself off. The Fox runes were really nifty and he wished Earth had something like this.

'Too bad the runes work differently there than here…' Keng sighed. He dried himself off and swiped his hand over the air rune, turning around and walking over to the door. He opened it and shifted into his Fox form and grabbed the itchy clothes with his mouth and trotted out of the bathroom.

"...you should understand we don't have time, Gorrum." Jyu'so's voice quietly spoke. He let out a frustrated sigh. "The Merfolk are demanding him and I've done my best to let him have most of this month. We would've had a couple more weeks, but now he doesn't want anything to do with us. He didn't even try to say anything to me the whole time! How am I at fault for his behavior?"

"Elder," Gorrum sighed. Keng came to a stop in front of Lily's closed door. "I understand you are frustrated, but putting your anger out on the boy won't solve anything. We should apologize like I said before and–"

"I didn't do anything wrong! I'm simply put under too much stress from the current political problem weighing over Pea'ir! The boy is needed there or else everything will go wrong! The Merfolk will think I am a liar!"

Gorrum let out another frustrated sigh. It seemed like this conversation was a long and tedious one to Keng.

"You shou–" Gorrum began to say when Keng popped out of the hallway. The Elder and Gorrum turned and noticed him immediately. They seemed like they were a bit heated and Gorrum was trying his best to not yell. "K-Keng… I, uh… We…" Keng trotted over, setting the clothes in his mouth down as he hopped onto a chair and sat himself down. The white fox looked at the older Fox Spirits with a curious look.

"I should've known the boy would listen in on our conversation. This is why–" Jyu'so began to point when Keng's voice cut him off.

"So you just really need me to help your political situation with your village?" Keng asked.

"I did not say I needed your help! I will handle it myself!" Jyu'so retaliated. Keng shook his head. His tails whipped around, smacking the chair he was sitting on. He didn't know whether or not he should be mad or not.

"You can handle this, old man?" Keng asked, unconvinced. "Can you breathe underwater?"

"And you can?"

Yup, he was definitely trying to piss Keng off. Keng let out a sigh and shut his eyes. The Elder leaned over and glared at him. His shadow started to move erratically.

"I'm pretty sure I have Hydrosphere for a reason, no?" Keng looked at Jyu'so before looking at Gorrum. Gorrum was nervous. He didn't like where this was going. The Elder could blow up at any moment and easily destroy the Tomb and kill Keng if he wanted to. The shadow whipped in a frenzy behind Jyu'so has his breathing seemed to fasten.

'This is utterly pointless.' Keng thought. 'Here I was ready to apologize, but I guess that isn't the case.' He stood up on the chair and took one last look at Gorrum before he hopped off the chair.

"Where are you going? I'm not done talking to you!" Jyu'so shouted. A large wave of shadow shot out and blocked Keng from leaving. "I have a bone to pick with you Keng! Why do you need to be the one who has to go down there?!? I would take anyone other than a useless Fox Spirit who's doomed to die a terrible death and turn into a Demon Fox!"

Keng's form switched in an instant and he found himself near Gorrum. Gorrum had grabbed him and pulled him backwards.

"S-sir! Elder!" Gorrum shouted, moving Keng away from the Elder. Jyu'so stood as his shadows began to split. "Calm yourself, Elder! The boy is young and doesn't understand the weight you're under!"

"I don't understand?!?" Keng scoffed. He bit down on Gorrum's hand which released him as Gorrum yelped in pain. "It seems like you don't understand something here, Elder! You could solve all of your problems by just letting me go early! I wouldn't be in your hair and you can deal with the Merfolk problem by yourself! It seems like you clearly don't't want me here! I don't even know why! All I did was do as you said. I went to the fucking Shaman's place to balance out my energy and got lost! You're mad because I GOT LOST?!?"

p "YOU INSOLENT CHILD!" Jyu'so's shadows flew at Keng. The shadows tackled Keng down, wounding him as Keng struggled to push the shadows away. "I OUGHT TO–"

A loud melody erupted. Music began to swirl around Keng, pushing the shadows back with ease as everyone turned to look. Lily strummed the ukulele as she stood ten or so feet away from Keng and Gorrum.

"ENOUGH!" Lily shouted. The twang of the string echoed through the air as she pulled the ukulele away with her left hand. "I can't believe this! Why must you argue over something so small? I guess living a life where you don't die from old age has made you stubborn as a mule!"

"Lily!" Gorrum hushed her.

"You shush!" Lily glared at him. She moved over and stood in front of Keng. "If you aren't going to apologize for your outburst today, leave. Go stay somewhere where they'll accept your attitude! The Saviors Tomb isn't open for you, Elder!"

"You can't just–" Jyu'so began to wave his finger at her when shadows rushed at her. The shadows moved faster than Lily could strum a note. She screamed, shutting her eyes as a bright light erupted. Jyu'so and Gorrum screeched in pain as Lily felt someone pick her up and move. The silver flames of light moved around Keng as he looked at Jyu'so with an angry expression.

"Begone. You're not welcome here." Keng shouted. "You're tainting the Saviors Tomb! I won't allow anyone, old or young, taint my comrades' space. You dishonor the Saviors!"

"I dishonor them?!?" Jyu'so cackled. "Boy, you want to play that game?" Jyu'so began to try to summon shadows but he realized it too late. He couldn't summon shadows. He didn't even have a shadow. The room had shined, brightly, for a moment but dimmed back to its regular light.

'What happened?' Jyu'so thought. 'There are no shadows coming to me… why?'

"What did you do?!?" Jyu'so rushed at Keng and Lily. Gorrum snatched Jyu'so and quickly darted towards the door. "What are you doing you big oaf! Those children need to learn their lesson!"

"Enough, Elder!" Gorrum shouted. "Don't you see what's happening?!?" Gorrum turned to look at Lily and Keng. "I'm sorry for all that's happened. I will explain everything when I can, but for now we must go. I won't be able to teach you anymore. Do as you please. I'll find you when the time is right."

Gorrum disappeared before their eyes. Feathers fell in his spot as the silver flame of light dissipated around Keng. He set down Lily and quickly shifted back into his Fox form.

"What just happened? What did he mean by that?" Lily looked to Keng for answers.

"I dunno." Keng shrugged. "Something… felt off about that. Did you feel it?"

"The Elder's temper was immense. Is he always like that?"

"I've been with him for two months. He has a temper but it's never been that bad. I wonder what happened." The two stared at the spot Gorrum was at for a while. Silence filled the room and questions began to creep into their heads.

What did Gorrum mean by 'don't you see what's happening'?