Chapter 408: I Am A Demi-Human!

At that time, Nadia had accomplished something remarkable.

She had brokered an alliance with a demi-human world that had been particularly hostile to humans for generations.

This world had been heavily influenced by the Eternal Queen’s propaganda during the war.

They had been taught to see humans as enemies—as oppressors, as threats, as something to be fought against without mercy.

Even after the war ended, they refused to give in.

They kept fighting. Kept resisting. Kept hating.

But through years of careful negotiation, through strategic deals and patient diplomacy, Nadia had finally done it.

She had brought them to the table.

She had secured an alliance.

It was a massive achievement.

A cause for celebration.

Not just because it meant peace with former enemies—but because this world had resources that could benefit both realms.

Technology. Knowledge. Cultural treasures that would enrich human society for generations.

It was the deal of the year.

Maybe the deal of the decade.

And of course, a grand celebration was held in the human world to mark the occasion.

But what made Astrid’s heart race with excitement was this:

She had been specially invited.

The other side—the demi-humans from that world—had specifically requested her presence.

Why?

Because they had heard about the seven-tailed girl.

In their culture, a seven-tailed fox was considered an incredibly good omen.

A sign of blessing. A bridge between worlds.

They wanted to meet her.

They wanted to honor her.

They wanted to treat her as a special guest, as a symbol of the connection between their peoples.

And Astrid?

She was over the moon.

"Mama! Mama! Is it true? Is it really true?!"

Astrid came barreling into Nadia’s office, her seven tails bouncing behind her like a fluffy storm.

Her eyes were wide with excitement, practically sparkling.

Nadia looked up from her paperwork, a small but warm smile already forming on her face.

"Is what true, my little fox?"

"The party! The big party! With the demi-humans from the new world! They want me there? me specifically?!"

Nadia chuckled in her own way and opened her arms. Astrid launched herself into them, snuggling close.

"Yes, sweetheart. They specifically requested you. Do you know why?"

Astrid shook her head vigorously, her tails wagging so fast they were almost a blur.

"Because in their culture, a seven-tailed fox is considered an incredibly good omen. They believe it brings blessing and good fortune. They want to meet you—to honor you as a special guest."

Astrid’s jaw dropped.

"ME?! They think I’m a good omen?! They want to honor me?!"

She shot up from Nadia’s lap and started running in circles around the office, unable to contain her excitement.

"OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH!"

"This is the best day of my entire life! Wait—wait until I tell my little sisters! And Mika!"

"They’re going to be so jealous! I’m going to be the most special guest at the most special party ever!"

Nadia laughed at her daughter’s antics.

"You’ll have to be on your best behavior, you know. These are important diplomatic guests."

Astrid skidded to a halt and snapped into a perfect imitation of a formal bow.

"Of course, Madam Ambassador. I shall conduct myself with the utmost dignity and grace."

She peeked up with a grin.

"Was that good? Was that ambassador-like?"

Nadia scooped her up and spun her around.

"That was perfect, my little diplomat."

Astrid squealed with laughter and she was elated

Not just because of the attention—though she certainly loved that.

But because she could finally be helpful to her mother.

She could finally contribute, in her own small way, to the work that Nadia did.

She could finally be part of something important.

—

The day of the party arrived, and Astrid could barely contain herself.

"Auntie Yelena! Auntie Fauna! Look! Look at my tails! Are they fluffy enough? Are they beautiful enough? Mama brushed them three times!"

"They’re absolutely gorgeous, darling!" Yelena clapped her hands.

"Of course, baby!"

Fauna nodded her head frantically.

"You have the fluffiest, most softest to ever exist!"

Astrid chuckled before proudly saying,

"When I come back, I’ll tell you everything! Every single detail! You won’t believe how amazing it’s going to be!"

Nadia appeared in the doorway, dressed in formal attire.

"Ready, my little fox?"

Astrid spun around, her dress flaring, her tails wagging.

"Ready, Mama! Let’s go make history!"

—

The venue was magnificent.

A grand garden decorated with flowers and banners from both worlds.

Demi-humans in traditional attire mingled with human diplomats.

The air hummed with conversation and laughter and the promise of a new beginning.

And the moment Astrid stepped through the doors—

Everything stopped.

A hush fell over the crowd.

Then—a wave of murmurs. Pointing. Gasps.

"There she is!"

"The seven-tailed child!"

"The omen! The blessing!"

Demi-humans crowded around her, their faces lit with wonder and joy.

An elderly demi-human woman approached first, her eyes glistening with tears.

"May I?" She asked, reaching out with trembling hands toward Astrid’s tails.

Astrid, remembering her mother’s lessons about formality and politeness, nodded solemnly.

The woman touched one of her tails gently, then gasped.

"So soft! So beautiful! Child, do you know what a blessing you are? In my homeland, a seven-tailed fox hasn’t been seen in over five hundred years. It’s a sign of hope. A sign of peace."

Astrid’s eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Really. You are a living blessing, little one."

More demi-humans approached.

They asked for handshakes. For photos. For autographs.

They spoke to her in reverent tones, telling her how special she was, how honored they were to meet her.

"You must sit with us at the main table!"

"Please, let us take a picture with you!"

"Would you sign this for my daughter? She will treasure it forever!"

Astrid had never received so much praise in her entire life.

She was so happy.

So incredibly, overwhelmingly happy.

She smiled until her cheeks hurt.

She posed for picture after picture.

She signed her name on everything they handed her.

She talked and laughed and soaked in every moment of adoration.

And the whole time, in the back of her mind, she was thinking about how she couldn’t wait to go home.

To tell her sisters all about this.

To boast just a little—okay, maybe a lot—about how everyone had loved her, how special they’d made her feel.

More than that, though, she felt her connection to demi-humans grow even stronger.

’These are my people.’ She thought. ’This is where I belong. This is who I am.’

She even thought about the humans who hated demi-humans.

The ones who wanted them gone, who saw them as threats, who couldn’t understand how wonderful they were and she just shook her head in confusion.

"Mama." She whispered to Nadia during a quiet moment. "How could anyone hate them? They’re so nice! They’re so kind!"

"They’re the best people ever!"

Nadia smiled down at her.

"Not everyone sees what you see, sweetheart. That’s why what we do is so important. We help them see."

Astrid nodded firmly.

"Then I’m going to help too! When I grow up, I’m going to help every demi-human! I’m going to be their biggest friend forever!"

Nadia hugged her tight.

"I know you will, my love."

The celebration continued.

Music played. Food was shared. Speeches were made.

Astrid was surrounded by a group of admirers, showing off her tails and giggling at their delighted reactions.

"And this one..." She said, holding up her third tail. "...is the fluffiest of all! Feel it! Go ahead!"

A demi-human woman reached out with a smile, gently touching the soft fur.

"Oh, it’s wonderful! If only my tail was as soft as yours—"

But then—

Everything took a horrible turn.

BOOM!

The ground shook.

The lights flickered.

And then—

A massive vortex erupted from above the garden.

It appeared without warning, without precedent—a swirling abyssal portal unlike anything commonly seen.

Normal portals, the kind used for travel between worlds, simply appeared.

They cast some pressure on their surroundings, perhaps, but nothing more.

This one was devastatingly different.

The moment it materialized, it began sucking.

Everything in its path—tables laden with food, decorative banners, elegant centerpieces, cups and plates and silverware—all of it lifted into the air, spiraling toward the dark maw above.

And then came the screams.

People—representatives from both sides, human and demi-human alike—were torn from their feet.

Guests, guards, waiters serving drinks—all of them lifted, helpless, unable to resist the impossible pull.

"No! Someone help!"

"GRAB SOMETHING! GRAB ANYTHING!"

"I can’t—I can’t hold on—!"

One by one, they disappeared into the vortex.

Astrid felt it too.

The terrible, irresistible force yanking at her body, trying to lift her off her feet.

She stumbled, cried out, and in a flash of instinct, grabbed onto the nearest solid object—a thick pole embedded in the floor, part of the hall’s structure.

Her seven tiny tails wrapped around it desperately, clinging with all their might.

"MAMA!"

She screamed, her voice piercing through the chaos.

"MAMA, HELP ME! PLEASE!"

But Nadia wasn’t there.

Earlier, during the celebration, the demi-human diplomats had pulled her aside.

"Ambassador Nadia." They had said, their voices hushed and urgent. "There are some final terms we must discuss privately. Details that cannot be shared in a public setting. Please, come with us."

Nadia had hesitated, glancing back at Astrid, who was happily playing with her new friends.

"She’ll be fine for a few minutes." The diplomats assured her. "The area is secure. Nothing will happen."

And Nadia—the great Nadia, the woman who had negotiated peace between warring worlds—had believed them.

She thought nothing would go wrong.

She thought her daughter was safe, surrounded by friendly faces.

She was wrong.

By the time she saw the vortex erupt in the distance, by the time she realized what was happening, by the time she started flying towards her daughter—

It was too late.

She burst into the area just as the portal began to close.

She saw her daughter—her baby—clinging to that pole with everything she had, screaming her name.

"MAMA!"

"ASTRID!"

Nadia lunged forward. Her blessing flared.

She reached the edge just as Astrid’s grip failed.

Their fingers brushed.

For one heart-stopping moment, she was on the verge of grabbing onto her.

But the pull of the portal was stronger and...

...Astrid was sucked in.

Sucked into the darkness, just as the portal closed behind her, leaving a devestated mother who couldn’t save her own daughter.