Failure, Isekai and Wolf

Foebe’s eyes widened as a thoroughly disheartened Joash emerged from the back of Seija, Galdur following behind him with a booming laugh. She hurried to him at once, taking his hands, concern written plainly across her face.

“Are you alright?”

Joash nodded, but the motion was slow, hollow.

Galdur chuckled.

“He’s fine. He just watched six parchments burn to ash right in front of him.”

That explained the look in his eyes.

When Joash spoke, his voice matched it perfectly.

“I thought I’d have a knack for it. Like some isekai protagonist or something. But I’m no better than anyone else…”

Galdur barked with laughter.

“Oh, you’re a touch better than the average person. I’ll give you that.”

Joash’s eyes flickered with fragile hope.

“Am I?”

“...No. You can write. That’s it.”

The hope vanished instantly, his shoulders sagging.

Galdur gave one last amused huff, then turned on his heel.

“I expect to see you here bright and early tomorrow. Good day.”

And just like that, he was gone, leaving them standing in the cramped, cluttered shop.

Foebe searched Joash’s face.

“Hey. It’s okay,” she said gently. “I told you it takes time.”

He lifted his head at last. His eyes were glassy, dangerously close to spilling over.

“Was I really not granted anything?” he asked quietly. “Nothing at all, when I was summoned?”

Her ears drooped slightly as she shook her head.

“No-one is.”

He nodded, then lowered his gaze again.

She hadn’t expected this - not this deep, this sudden. And she didn’t know what to say to fix it.

But dinner was waiting.

So she squeezed his hand and gently tugged him forward.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

He let her lead him out into the darkening street. The walk back to the Koten house was only eighteen minutes, but if she didn’t lift his mood, it would feel like an eternity.

She thought quickly.

“Well,” she said lightly, “I helped a lot of people today.”

That did it.

He latched onto the topic instantly.

“Yeah? What did you do?”

She smiled, relieved.

“It was mostly the same things over and over. I blessed a lot of swords today, I can tell you that.”

“Was there someone handling the paperwork at the guild?”

She nodded.

“Yeah. Most guilds have an official who signs everything off. They seemed pretty relaxed though, so I’m not actually sure how much of it got recorded.”

“But you enjoyed it?”

“I did,” she said softly. “I really did.”

She squeezed his hand.

“But… I couldn’t stop thinking about how it was our first time apart.”

The realization hit him like a stone.

He’d been so wrapped up in magic - in failure - that he hadn’t thought about her at all.

His chest tightened.

“I… I’m sorry.”

She blinked.

“What for?”

“For…”

He faltered, unable to find the words without risking hurting her.

“I don’t know. I just felt like I needed to say it.”

She squeezed his hand again, firmer this time.

“Well, whatever it was, I forgive you.”

She smiled at him, warm and unshaken.

“I’ll always forgive you. Because I trust you completely.”

He smiled back, nodding.

“I want you to know that I feel the same about you.”

Their shared smiles softened the evening, and with the promise of a homecooked meal ahead, their steps quickened together.

Joash sighed as he lay back on the bed. He hadn’t even changed - he’d simply flopped down, too tired to care.

Foebe closed the door to their room, and almost instantly the noise of the host family faded, her blessing settling over the space. She locked the door and lingered there for a moment, suddenly nervous.

“Love?”

He didn’t turn his head.

“Mmm?”

“Are you okay?”

He sighed again.

“I should be. I think I’m overthinking everything.”

She crossed the room.

“That’s normal, though.”

He shrugged as she sat beside his head and took his hand.

“Maybe. I just… I don’t know. I went in all confident, and came out completely destroyed.”

He glanced up at her.

“I feel sorry for you.”

She smiled softly.

“Why’s that?”

He gave a short, bitter chuckle.

“Talking to me can’t be nice when I’m like this.”

“Well, you’re definitely a bit more depressed than usual,” she said gently, “but you’re still you under it all.”

He laughed quietly.

“Am I always depressed?”

She shook her head quickly.

“No! That’s not what I meant-”

He grinned.

“I know. Just teasing.”

She let out a small sigh of relief and smiled.

“See? You’re still you.”

She stood and walked around the bed, then clambered up beside him and lay down, taking his hand again.

“But I do want to know,” she added, “why you expected to be granted something when you were summoned.”

He smiled faintly.

“In my world, there are stories about being sent to other worlds. Magical ones like this. Usually the protagonist gets some kind of special power. Something that makes them unique, or incredibly strong.”

She blinked.

“Is that what Marek meant when he asked if you were familiar with the concept of an isekai?”

He nodded.

“So I wondered if I got the full package. Apparently not.” He paused. “I do wonder how he knows about it, though.”

“A previous summon probably told him,” she said, “or maybe one of his predecessors did.”

“Maybe so. Maybe so.”

He fell quiet again. Foebe squeezed his hand.

“Tired?”

He nodded.

“I’ll get you ready for bed then.”

He chuckled as she sat up.

“Thank you, honey…”

She smiled as she pulled the blankets out from under him. He relaxed as she began to undress him. There was no lust in the action - just familiarity and care. Sleeping in clothes was uncomfortable, and they had no proper bedwear.

He chuckled.

“We really need to get some bedwear made.”

She glanced at him, faintly disappointed.

“You don’t like sleeping naked with me?”

He shook his head quickly.

“That’s not what I meant-”

She huffed.

“Then what did you mean?”

“What if… what if someone walks in?”

“The door’s locked.”

“Okay, but what if there’s an emergency and we have to leave?”

She smiled warmly, pulling the blanket up to cover him. Her tail swayed above her like a question mark.

“You just don’t want to ‘get excited’ without something to cover you because you’ll be embarrassed, don’t you.”

Heat rushed to his cheeks as she giggled.

She leaned closer, fingers hooking under the hem of his shirt, her voice playful and teasing.

“But what if I like it when you get excited?”

He swallowed, unsure how to respond, as she laughed and tugged his shirt free. He lifted his arms to help her, then watched as she removed her own clothes - the cream-colored off-shoulder top and black skirt Rinji had made for her, followed by her undergarments.

She slipped beneath the blankets and found his hand, her tail curling around his leg.

As soon as their fingers intertwined, he spoke.

“Foebe?”

She blinked at the sudden seriousness in his voice.

“Yes, love?”

“I’m stupid.”

She squeezed his hand.

“Why’s that?”

He sighed.

“I was granted something. Something more special than anything else.”

Her eyes widened. She already knew what he meant.

“What’s that?”

He rolled to face her, smiling softly.

“You, of course.”

Her heart fluttered. She’d guessed - but hearing it still made warmth bloom in her chest. Her smile grew.

“I love you.”

He shifted closer, bent his neck, and kissed her waiting lips. They parted only long enough for him to answer.

“I love you too.”

They kissed again - gentle, unhurried, and full of meaning. When it finally ended, they lingered close, smiling at one another, both knowing sleep was needed if they didn’t want to miss breakfast again.

But for now, they kissed, and the world revolved around them.