Talia looked at me with a kind smile. "There is nothing inherently wrong with her being a kitsune, but her kind are known to be troublemakers, and they always cause suffering and mistreatment to those around them. Clearly," she made a pointed look at Saki, "this one seems to have your best interest at heart. I also do not hold the same... contempt for her kind as many do. Still, should it get out what she is, it could be disastrous. Tama, you have to promise me you won't tell anyone Saki's real species. You could put her and you in a lot of danger." My ears drooped slightly as I processed her words.

  I looked at Saki, who looked back at me with hopeful eyes. "Is that what you want, Saki?" I asked. She nodded, and I nodded back. "Nya! Then in that case, Saki is a Foxkin!" I declared it proudly, my tail swishing in excitement.

  After Talia finished filling out those forms, she did some kind of thing where she held out her hand and chanted strange words. Suddenly a shiny silver shield smaller than my hand appeared and fell in her hand.

  She held it out to me and said, "Now then, once you accept this, you must give yourself a title. This title will stick with you for the rest of your time as an adventurer, and as you become stronger, it will become well known. Choose your name wisely." I stared at the badge frowning, not sure what to put.

  "If I were you, I would put something like 'Third Person Tempest!'" Saki said as she looked over at me with a smirk. Saki's fox ears tilted playfully.

  I looked back at her and said, "That's a great idea!" I grabbed the badge and looked down at it. As if it could read my mind, the badge suddenly had writing on the front: "Fuyuki Tamaneko: Third Person Tempest."

  I smiled up at Saki and showed it to her. Saki looked at me incredulously. "I was just... sigh... never mind." Talia made another one, but before handing it to Saki, she looked at me. "Say, Saki, since you two are friends, and you helped her decide her badge name, it's only fair she gets to help you decide yours."

  I looked over at Saki excitedly. Saki looked at me, then at Talia. She must have seen something in Talia's face because her ears flattened and she looked like she was trying to make herself smaller into the chair.

  "That's a wonderful idea!" Saki said in a weird cheery tone as she smiled over at me. She looked like she was scared. I didn't know why, but I was getting worried. "Nya! Is something the matter, Saki! I can help!" As I said this, I made sure to look serious and fluff up my tail and ears, showing I was always ready for combat!

  Saki looked over at Talia for only a second before looking back at me. "It's nothing, Tama. Why don't you choose my badge name for me?" "I agree," said Talia, "what a lovely idea!"

  I looked at Saki, her ears flat, her tail curled around her, and clear fear in her eyes. I frowned. "Are you sure, Saki?" I asked.

  "Definitely!" Saki said, almost too quickly. She looked at me pleadingly as she held the badge towards me. I sighed and nodded. "I have the perfect name for my best friend!" I said with happiness as my tail twitched back and forth.

  I looked down at it with glee as I saw the name etch itself into the badge: "Autumnal Sakilera: Vulpine Mastermind."

  I handed it back to Saki, and she looked at it. Her ears perked up at the same time as her eyes. And she looked back at me. "Tama, do you... do you really see me like this?" I nodded happily. "Of course! You are the smartest, most cleverest I know! You say lots of strange things and make people do what you want!"

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  I watched as Saki stared at her badge, then she began to cry, and my tail and ears drooped. "Nya! What's wrong, Saki! Tama didn't mean to upset you! Talia, can Tama try again!"

  I had looked at Talia when Saki spoke to me: "No, Tama, it's just... this is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. I don't know how to express my gratitude."

  She let out a small sob as she smiled at me, and with a look of genuine happiness on her face, Saki spoke: "Thank you, Tama."

  I was confused why she was crying if she was so happy, but I was also super happy. We were both Adventure-Thingies! My tail waved back and forth as my ears stood tall. "Tama is super happy we got these badges! Now we can go help Saki with her quest!"

  "Not quite yet. Whatever you two have planned will have to wait until after your test. I will be right back. I'm going to go get Teranthia and her partner, his name is David. I expect the four of you will get along nicely." Talia said as she stood, her tail and ears standing at attention for a moment before her tail began to wag behind her and her ears relaxed.

  She left the room while I watched. As soon as she left, I looked over to Saki. She was looking at her badge and was crying still. But she had a smile on her face and kept rubbing the badge like it was the most precious thing in the world to her.

  "Are you okay, Saki?" I asked again. I wasn't sure how to respond. Sensei had never just randomly started crying. She looked over at me with a smile and tears in her eyes. "I am very okay, Tama. I want you to know, I will protect you and be your best friend forever if you will have me!"

  I was very confused at the sudden sincerity and kindness, but I happily smiled and nodded. "Tama and Saki will be best friends forever!"

  "Yes, forever," Saki said as she looked dreamily at her silver badge. Her tail swaying back and forth, ears leaning forward as if she could hear the badge.

  My ears twitched as I heard voices outside the door, down the hall. "I would love to help mentor Tama! She is a wondrous young woman with many desirable... er... combat traits!" I heard Teranthia say from down the hall.

  Her voice sounded like she was excited. Another voice came through as they got closer. "Tera, you have that look in your eyes that you always get when you..." a man's voice started to say but was instantly cut off.

  "When I want to help tutor and guide someone with so much promise!" Teranthia finished, cutting the man off before he could finish his sentence.

  Talia's voice came from the other side of the door. "I am sure the two of you will be lovely guides, and nothing more, Tera! For these new and powerful adventurers."

  Three forms entered the room. Talia came in first and walked behind, sitting herself behind her desk. Teranthia followed after, entering the room only to make a beeline for me.

  She stood, leaned in on her knees, and smiled at me. I smiled back. "Nya! Hi, Teranthia!"

  "You can call me Tera, Tama," Tera said with a strange smile on her face that I didn't recognize.

  The third person to walk in the room was a tall man with a chubby physique. He had black hair and brown eyes. He kind of looked like Jiggle if Jiggle was a human.

  My eyes went wide as I looked at him. I felt my tail move faster and my ears begin to twitch.

  "Nice to meet you two," he said casually. "My name is David, and I am happy Tera and I get to be your mentors."

  "Tama is very happy David is her guide!" I said before I could stop myself. My ears flattened, and I felt my cheeks heating up. "Tama meant, she is happy David is here to help train her!" My vision grew hazy as the heat built as I looked at him.

  I felt like I was about to cry and cowered in my chair, looking at Saki for help. Saki stared at me in disbelief. She looked over at David, then me, before she just shook her head and covered her mouth.

  "It is a pleasure to meet you, David. What my friend is trying to say is she is happy you are both going to be training us," Saki said, covering for me. I looked at her gratefully, and she rolled her eyes at me.

  "Yes, I am very happy to serve... I mean help you! In any way I can!" Tera said with a giggle. As she spoke, she began to gently massage my head.