Chapter 10: ~Guardian with self esteem issues~

After Alepou explained to me the procedure to enter my body again, he just started to make fun of me, but his teasing stopped when I entered again.

Waking up was painful, my whole body ached too much, but that didn't stop me from getting out of bed to start looking for my now guardian.

— Hey Alepoú, what kind of clothes do you like? — I asked to nothing, believing that he would be hidden somewhere in the room.

Not receiving any response, I began to worry about him and began looking for him around the room. I opened the doors of my closet, searched the garden, the kitchen, the living room, the bathroom, the basement, the roof, the cleaning room and my parents' room, but I couldn't find it.

Already resigned that he could have deceived me to be free in the underworld, I walked towards my room, which was on the second floor, to throw myself back on the bed, but when I did this I heard a groan. Without thinking, I got out of my bed to look under it, and what a surprise I got.

— Ahhhh!!!. Mom, Dad!!.— scared I got up from the ground and began to run to the first floor with the intention of looking for my parents.— there is a fox in the house, and I think it's coming for Ferguson!!.

Not getting a response from my parents and analyzing every word I had said, I only sighed with relief to go back up to my room, where I only said to the animal that was now sitting on my bed:

— You saved yourself from my parents not being here, so... if you haven't eaten Ferguso, do it and I'll cover you. And if you already did it... well done, you can go now. — I told him with a slight nervous smile.

The animal just sighed, it seemed really upset to which I just backed away to avoid being attacked by it. In my process of running away, a voice echoed in my mind, causing my confusion to increase.

—Oh, I'm going crazy already!.

— I am indignant!. You confuse me with an ordinary fox after having helped you escape from that crazy old woman who wanted to attack you, thank you for not recognizing me and disrespecting me... young Nathaniel.

Soon I heard that inside my mind, everything started to make sense and the feeling of shame increased in my being since I immediately thought that he was talking to me by telepathy, what a fool I am. On the other hand, the fox just turned its back on me.

— I'm sorry Alepou, I didn't want to bother you... I thought that...

He interrupted me.— I'm angry. Don't talk to me— he said in a neutral tone.

— Alepou, I swear I didn't want to...

He interrupted me again.— Don't talk to me.

— What a delicate fox, I see that you can make fun of me but I can't confuse you. — With crossed arms I approached the bed and then took a seat. — Stop throwing a tantrum and listen to me.

—I don't want you to talk to me, what don't you understand?!— He yelled at me now with a tone that showed his annoyance, but not only that, he turned to see me and stood in front of me with the intention of facing me. — First. .. you make me change my clothes and then my appearance...— he snorted.— I'm smaller than I was when I was your uncle's guardian! Even without seeing myself in a mirror I can assure you that I am too short and fluffy.

— Well... you don't have to exceed 50 centimeters in height. And the fluffy thing...— Without asking for his permission, I ran my hand through his fur to give him an answer.— Yup, you're fluffy.

Suddenly I began to hear Alepou growling at me, and like a small child, he began to jump on the bed. Honestly, I found his outburst of anger cute but I knew that if he laughed at me he would be more annoyed with me, so... I tried not to laugh and looked away.

— Young Nathaniel, do you think I find it funny?! An animal that looks like plush doesn't scare the enemies, and that's what I look like now. — He stopped jumping on the bed and lay down with his eyes downcast, he seemed somewhat depressed by his current appearance, but I didn't know what to say to him in those moments but he, with a faltering voice, spoke to me again. — they... they will laugh... they will laugh at me.

Seeing him like this made me feel partly guilty, but... what could he do? It wasn't my fault that I changed his appearance, but I had to at least do something to calm him down and make him feel more secure even though that would be hard to do.

— Alepou, it doesn't matter how you look on the outside, what's important is what's on the inside— I said before placing my hand on his head.

He sighed. — But I look like a stuffed animal, everyone will believe that there is cotton inside me.

— But you're still yourself no matter how much you've changed, you still have the personality that characterizes you and that's important. — I smiled slightly to try to infect him, but apparently it didn't work since he closed his eyes.

— I have my personality, but I'm still a tiny thing in your world and in mine I'm someone who dresses in a ridiculous way.

— Look, I'll tell you what my friend Jun told me...she said that it doesn't matter how you look, the important thing is the power and knowledge you possess. Your appearance is not what will win a battle, well sometimes it will... but just because they will underestimate you without knowing what you have to give, you will obviously surprise them.

— Well that made me feel a little better but... I feel ridiculous with the clothes I have in the other world.— he complained.

— I don't know how I did it, so it's not my fault. So... little fox, tomorrow you'll take me to my grandparents and there I'll ask them what happened so I can find a solution to your complaint.— I proposed.— We both win, what do you say? of his head and then put it in front of him with the intention that he would at least put his paw.

— I know what you want me to do — she looked at me with a certain annoyance — and I won't comply with your whim.

— Okay, then I won't change your appearance.— I threatened him for answering me reluctantly and for having left me with an outstretched hand.

I crossed my arms and turned my back to him, but in a few seconds he began to put his front paws on me, telling me that he was going to accept my proposal. I was about to celebrate internally, but Alepou started laughing out loud, causing my gaze to focus on him.

—What do you find so funny, plush fox?— I asked with feigned seriousness.

— It's funny and annoying that I can hear your thoughts, go back and put too many filters to speak. You are good but stupid.

— You're only saying that because you're a fox, according to being clever I won't let you criticize me.— I told him while he crossed his arms.

— I told you the truth, or don't you remember that I'm talking to you by telepathy?— I answered his question, shaking my head.— Hahaha, if you do the same tomorrow in town...they'll think you're crazy.

— Castelia family rumors are never lacking, so that doesn't affect me at all. One more rumor doesn't hurt —.I said resigned to the situation my father's family had gotten me into.

—Are there too many rumors for you to care?— He tilted his head slightly to one side as a sign of curiosity.

Diverting my gaze towards the window, I replied:— Yes, it's not news anymore. Sometimes I can't go outside without hearing people gossip.

— That must have made it difficult for you to socialize with other children your age.

— You're right, the saddest thing was that the children moved away from me as if I was going to bite them. I never had anyone to play with and my father made me focus on my training... so...

He interrupted me.— Your childhood must have been difficult because of the way they classify your paternal family.— he said with a tone of voice that showed his concern for my situation.

— Exactly, that's why they educate me at home. Haha, no one wants a weirdo who sees ghosts and has premonitions... my life was condemned to solitude when I was born under the last name Castelia...— with a fake smile I tried to show Alepou that I was fine, but he just kept He approached me to get on my lap and lie down.

— You will never be alone again, I will keep you company.

Hearing him say that made me almost cry but I held it in so as not to make Alepou feel more bad, who seemed to be trying to make me feel better by acting like a pet, when in fact he was my guardian.

— Do not hold back, you are human and it is valid to feel and cry.

— Alepou....

Without thinking twice I picked up Alepou and hugged him carefully while he dropped the cold bitter tears that showed my more human side that people thought a Castelia didn't possess. For the first time I felt accompanied, understood, and accepted.