The tension that followed Marcus and Leo's friendly but explosive duel had finally simmered down. The hero faction members gathered in the central training courtyard, a serene open space surrounded by ancient cherry trees in bloom. The petals fluttered gently in the wind as conversations resumed—until Joyanne stepped forward with a firm, almost grim expression.
"There's something everyone needs to know," she said, her voice slicing through the calm.
Marcus looked up, still slightly drained from his match with Leo. "What's wrong, Joyanne?"
Her gaze shifted to Kiya, who stood at the edge of the group with a faint, worried smile. Joyanne's eyes sharpened.
"Kiya… I've kept silent out of trust, but this deception can't go on any longer."
Kiya's smile faltered.
"What deception?" asked Leo, glancing between the two girls.
Joyanne raised her hand and summoned a soft ethereal circle of light that shimmered with sealing runes. "You're not what you pretend to be. Kiya, reveal your true form. No more hiding."
A pulse of magical energy surged out. Kiya's body glowed softly, and her illusion flickered like static on a broken screen. She let out a breath… then released the illusion.
A ripple of light washed over her, and the human illusion cracked and shattered like glass.
Gasps echoed around the courtyard.
Before them now stood Kiya's true form—a stunning young girl of about 17. Her long, flowing orange hair shimmered like autumn fire, her silver-blue eyes glowing with mystic clarity. Two fox ears twitched on top of her head, tipped with white fur. Behind her flowed four sleek fox tails, swaying rhythmically with barely restrained magical power. Her form was elegant and ethereal, her body slender yet curvaceous, a subtle fang peeking from the corner of her mouth.
"She's a Youkai…!" muttered Leo, stepping back.
"A kitsune…" whispered Alicia, eyes wide.
Marcus's breath caught in his throat.
"You… You're not human?" he asked, voice strained.
Kiya looked away, her tails curling slightly in shame. "I was never trying to deceive you all. I just… wanted to belong. To help. To be more than what my kind is feared for."
Joyanne crossed her arms, firm but not unkind. "You've fought beside us. Protected innocents. That hasn't changed. But hiding something this big… it could've endangered us all."
A tense silence lingered, until Marcus finally stepped forward. He stared at Kiya—no, truly saw her—for a long moment.
Then, quietly: "Why didn't you tell me?"
Kiya's silver-blue eyes glistened. "Because you're the one I didn't want to lose."