My boyfriend is a nine-tailed fox

Chapter 24: First Encounter with a Spirit

The day felt heavier than usual. Even as students chattered around the schoolyard, Anita couldn’t shake the sense of unease that had lingered since the shadow's last appearance. The bell rang, signaling the end of classes, but Anita wasn’t heading home just yet.

“Here,” Jace said, motioning toward a quiet corner near the edge of the school grounds. The secluded area was lined with trees, offering cover from wandering eyes.

“I don’t see anything,” Anita whispered, scanning the area nervously.

“You won’t until it wants you to,” Jace replied, his tone sharp. “But it’s here. I can feel it.”

A cold wind blew through the trees, and suddenly, the shadow appeared, slinking out from the treeline like ink spilling across the ground. It rose into a humanoid form, its dark figure twisting and undulating unnaturally.

“You’ve hidden well, fox spirit,” it hissed, its voice echoing eerily. “But you cannot protect her forever.”

“Her?” Anita’s voice cracked.

Jace stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. “You’re not going to lay a single claw on her,” he growled, his hand glowing faintly.

The shadow hissed again, its form flickering as it advanced. “The bead belongs to us. Surrender it, and we might spare her life.”

Jace laughed darkly, his energy building as the air around them grew warmer. “Spare her? You’re just a scout. You don’t have the authority to spare anyone.”

Without warning, the shadow lunged. Jace reacted instantly, his hand slashing through the air and releasing a burst of golden energy that collided with the spirit mid-attack. The spirit staggered back, its form rippling.

Anita stumbled back, watching with wide eyes as the spirit re-formed and struck again. This time, Jace sidestepped and grabbed its swirling arm, his energy surging through it. The shadow shrieked, its body flickering wildly as it struggled to break free.

“You’re too weak to be here,” Jace muttered, tightening his grip. “Tell your master the fox bead is off-limits.”

“Otherssss... will come,” the spirit hissed, its voice growing faint. “The bead will be ours, and she will fall...”

Jace released a final surge of energy, and the shadow dissolved into nothingness. The air fell still, but the ominous weight of the spirit’s words lingered.

Anita stood frozen, her breath shaky. “What... what did it mean? ‘She will fall’?”

Jace turned to her, his expression grim. “They’re not just after the bead anymore. They’re after you, too.”

The reality hit Anita like a punch to the gut. She wasn’t just an innocent bystander in this anymore—she was a target.

“They’re not going to stop, are they?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“No,” Jace admitted, his tone softening. “But neither am I.”

Despite the fear twisting in her stomach, Anita felt a flicker of determination. She wasn’t sure how she’d protect herself or the bead, but she knew one thing for certain: she wouldn’t let this spirit, or whoever sent it, decide her fate.