Nyxian didn't move for a long moment.
Neither did the shadow ferret.
The forest around them had gone strangely quiet, as though even the trees themselves were waiting to see what happened next.
Then the tiny shadow creature tilted its head.
And chirped.
Nyxian let out a shaky breath.
"…I did it."
Jax knelt beside her.
"You did."
She scooped the little shadow ferret into her arms immediately, holding it carefully against her chest like it might disappear if she loosened her grip.
"It answered me," she whispered softly.
Not because I forced it.
Not because I commanded it.
Because it wanted to.
Jax nodded once.
"That's the difference."
Nyxian looked up toward him, and for once there was no teasing in her expression.
No bravado.
Just understanding.
"I get it now," she said quietly. "Shadow summons aren't about dominance."
Her fingers gently stroked Echo's spectral fur.
"They're about alignment."
"Exactly."
Nyxian smirked faintly.
"Still sexy though."
Jax laughed under his breath.
The tension finally broke after that.
Echo climbed up around Nyxian's shoulders, curling comfortably around her neck like a living black-and-purple scarf while they continued deeper into the forest.
The training shifted after that.
Now Nyxian wasn't trying to force power into existence.
Now she was experimenting.
Learning.
Understanding.
And suddenly—
her progress accelerated rapidly.
About an hour later they spotted a large Bearcat prowling through the underbrush.
B-rank.
Massive shoulders.
Long claws.
Predator instincts.
Jax stood openly in front of it while Nyxian disappeared silently into the surrounding trees.
The beast lowered itself instinctively, eyes locked onto Jax.
Then—
Nyxian stepped lightly onto the creature's shadow.
The effect was immediate.
The Bearcat froze.
Its body locked violently in place while its muscles strained desperately against invisible restraint. Its jaws trembled trying to open while panicked growls vibrated through its throat.
Jax blinked once.
"…That's going to be useful."
The Bearcat finally managed a distorted roar.
Then Jax moved.
Its head hit the ground before the sound finished echoing.
The body remained standing for half a second longer—
then gravity reclaimed it.
Nyxian stepped from the shadows looking deeply satisfied with herself.
Her system chimed instantly.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN SHADOW SUB-SKILL:
SHADOW BIND
Jax's own system activated at nearly the same moment.
He blinked slightly in surprise.
Interesting.
Apparently understanding a skill conceptually allowed his system to learn it as well.
Not wanting to steal Nyxian's moment, Jax casually turned slightly away so she couldn't see his screen.
"Yes."
SHADOW SUB-SKILL LEARNED:
SHADOW BIND (RARE)
Nyxian narrowed her eyes immediately.
"…You learned it too."
Jax looked innocent.
"You noticed?"
"Of course I noticed."
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"You watched me do it once."
He shrugged slightly.
"My system seems to flag abilities once I understand the mechanics behind them."
Nyxian stared at him flatly.
"…That is deeply unfair."
The two of them continued through the forest afterward collecting beast corpses into Jax's storage system whenever possible.
A boar.
Two Madness Deer.
Several wolves.
The inventory steadily grew.
Eventually Nyxian glanced sideways toward him curiously.
"What did you learn from the others?"
Jax answered casually.
"Some healing techniques from Zee."
He counted on his fingers afterward.
"Unlimited storage and binding effects from Llandra."
Nyxian blinked.
"What?"
"Controlled earthquakes and an air-step ability from Bunny."
Nyxian stopped walking entirely.
Jax finally noticed the silence and looked back toward her.
"…What?"
She stared at him in disbelief.
"Do you understand how absurd that is?"
Jax shrugged helplessly.
"I mean—"
"No."
She pointed accusingly at him.
"Most adventurers spend their entire lives hoping to acquire one rare skill."
Her voice rose slightly while counting.
"ONE."
She gestured wildly now.
"And somehow your ridiculous system is just casually collecting abilities like trading cards."
Jax rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"When you say it like that—"
"Because that's what's happening."
Nyxian looked genuinely stunned.
After only two weeks with Jax:
every Vixen now possessed multiple rare abilities
each had obtained a Legendary skill
and Jax himself had learned nearly ten advanced techniques simply by observing them
It was absurd.
Dangerously absurd.
Nyxian exhaled slowly.
"Your system is amazing."
Jax smirked slightly.
"You just really like the iPoints."
Nyxian laughed despite herself.
"Well yes."
Then she pointed at him again.
"But that's not what I mean."
Her expression softened afterward.
"The power to permanently improve other people's base abilities…"
She shook her head slowly.
"…that's world-changing."
Jax looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Honestly," he admitted, "I still think the immortality skill would've been cooler."
Nyxian stopped walking again.
This time her expression turned serious.
Completely serious.
Jax finally noticed after taking another step.
"What?"
Nyxian walked directly toward him until she stood only inches away.
"I want you to really hear me right now."
Jax blinked slightly.
"…Okay."
"I don't believe in fate," she said quietly.
"Or destiny. Or chosen ones."
Her hand gently wrapped around his forearm.
"But your system absolutely wanted you to have the iPoints."
Jax frowned thoughtfully.
"Why?"
Nyxian's fingers slowly slid upward along his arm.
"Because of who you are."
Her hand rested against his chest.
"Your real strength doesn't come from your muscles."
Her eyes drifted downward briefly.
"…Though those are admittedly very distracting."
Jax snorted softly.
Nyxian smiled faintly.
"No. Your strength comes from empowering people."
That made him pause.
Really pause.
Nyxian continued softly.
"Look at what you've done already."
"Brannic and Merriweather."
"Solmere."
"The school."
"The Vixens."
Her hand pressed gently over his heart.
"You help people become better versions of themselves."
The forest breeze rolled softly between the trees around them.
"You didn't just make us stronger, Jax."
Her voice softened even further.
"You made us believe we could become strong."
That hit harder than he expected.
Nyxian slowly moved her hand from his chest to his face, fingers brushing lightly along his jaw.
"I'm sure immortality would've been useful."
She smiled softly.
"But because of your iPoints…"
Her eyes met his fully.
"…we'll become strong enough to protect ourselves."
Jax looked at her quietly for several seconds afterward.
Actually thinking about her words.
Then—
because he was still Jax—
he ruined the emotional moment immediately.
"So basically," he said dryly, "you just appreciate having a socially acceptable excuse to sleep with me."
Nyxian barked out a loud laugh.
"You're damn right I do."
Echo chirped approvingly from around her shoulders.
They finally reached the edge of the forest as distant lanternlight from Solmere became visible through the trees.
Nyxian looked practically radiant now.
Confident.
Powerful.
Alive.
She stopped walking.
Then slowly turned toward him.
"So," she said sweetly, "everyone else got one-on-one time after training."
Jax folded his arms immediately.
"This was training."
"Oh no," Nyxian agreed smoothly while stepping closer.
"This was absolutely training."
She poked his chest lightly.
"What comes next is my reward."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"You're not subtle."
Nyxian leaned closer, voice dropping lower.
"I'm a succubus."
A dangerous smile spread slowly across her lips.
"Subtlety is optional."
They walked the rest of the way back toward Solmere in comfortable silence afterward.
Echo remained curled around Nyxian's shoulders the entire time.
When the city finally came into view, Nyxian sighed happily.
"I'm politely kicking everyone out of the room tonight."
Jax chuckled.
"They won't go quietly."
Nyxian grinned sharply.
"They will for me."
Echo chirped again.
Nyxian smiled down toward her tiny shadow companion warmly.
She had failed all day.
And succeeded where it truly mattered.
Tomorrow—
the world would learn to fear her shadows.
Tonight—
she intended to enjoy her reward.