Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!-Chapter 400: Foxhollow

Three days of travel left Melisa with a sore ass and a new appreciation for normal carriages.

The magical variety moved fast, sure, but comfort wasn’t part of the package. Every bump in the road translated directly to her spine, and Zephyra’s constant chatter had filled every moment that wasn’t spent sleeping in the cramped quarters.

But now, finally, they’d arrived.

Foxhollow sprawled among ancient trees like it had grown there naturally. Wooden buildings with curved roofs nestled between massive trunks, connected by rope bridges and winding paths. Lanterns hung from branches, swaying gently in the breeze. The air smelled like pine and something floral that Melisa couldn’t quite identify but liked.

Kitsune moved through the village with easy familiarity. A pair chatted near a well, their tails swishing. A group of children—all girls, of course—chased each other across a bridge, laughing. An older kitsune tended a garden, humming softly.

"Beautiful, isn’t it?" Zephyra stepped out of the carriage, stretching with theatrical flair. "Yalmir’s smaller villages are something special, as I’m sure you know. Syux could never."

"It’s definitely different."

Melisa grabbed her bag and followed Zephyra down the main path. Villagers waved or nodded as they passed. Some stared openly at Melisa’s horns and tail, curiosity bright in their eyes.

Then Melisa saw her.

A kitsune woman, maybe mid-twenties, leaning against a building for support. Her skin looked pale, almost grey. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. She moved slowly, carefully, like each step required concentration.

[Is she sick?]

The woman noticed Melisa watching and offered a weak smile before shuffling away.

"Zephyra, was that—"

"Our lodgings are just ahead!" Zephyra pointed to a cottage at the village outskirts, built around the base of an enormous tree. "Cozy, private, perfect for our research."

[She completely ignored my question. Cool. That’s not suspicious at all.]

The cottage was indeed cozy, though. Two bedrooms, a common area with a fireplace, a small kitchen, and windows that overlooked the forest. Someone had left fresh flowers on the table and stocked the pantries.

"Make yourself comfortable," Zephyra said, dropping her bags in the larger bedroom. "We’ll start research tomorrow. Today, you should explore. Get acquainted with the village. Meet people. Foxhollow, like the rest of Yalmir, is friendly to nim—you’ll fit right in."

"What kind of research are we doing, exactly?"

"Advanced essence manipulation techniques." Zephyra’s smile turned mysterious. "Among other things. But you’ll understand better once you see it in practice. For now, just enjoy yourself. Consider it a working vacation."

[A working vacation where she won’t explain the work.]

Melisa unpacked her things in the smaller bedroom, changed into fresh clothes, and headed back outside.

Time to explore.

Foxhollow was bigger than it initially appeared.

The village spiraled outward from a central square, buildings connected by bridges and elevated walkways. Shops sold everything from cloth to enchanted trinkets. A bakery pumped sweet smells into the air. Children played in a small park, supervised by watchful adults.

Normal. Pleasant. Picturesque.

Except for the sick kitsune.

Melisa spotted another one near a tea shop—a woman with pink hair sitting on a bench, her breathing labored. Then another by the market, pale and shaky. And another near the bridge, being helped along by a friend.

[Okay, that’s at least four people who look seriously ill. What the hell is going on here?]

She approached a kitsune tending a fruit stand, a middle-aged woman with amber eyes and a friendly smile.

"Excuse me. I’m new to the village and I’ve noticed some people seem sick. Is everything alright?"

The woman’s smile didn’t falter.

"Oh, that. It’s just a seasonal thing. Happens every year around this time. Nothing to worry about."

"A seasonal thing? What kind of seasonal thing?"

"You know how it is. Change in weather, shift in essence flows." The woman waved dismissively. "They’ll be fine in a few weeks. Always are."

[That’s the vaguest explanation I’ve ever heard. ’Seasonal thing’ my ass.]

"Has anyone tried healing magic?"

"Of course. Our healers do what they can. But some things just need time to run their course." The woman’s expression remained pleasant, unbothered. "You’re that nim mage from Syux, aren’t you? Melisa Blackflame?"

[News travels fast.]

"That’s me."

"Welcome to Foxhollow! We’re delighted to have you. If you need anything, just ask. We’re very welcoming here."

The conversation ended with practiced smoothness. The woman returned to arranging fruit, humming a tune.

Melisa walked away with more questions than answers.

[Everyone’s acting like sick people are completely normal. Either they’re hiding something or they genuinely don’t see a problem. Neither option is great.]

Evening settled over Foxhollow, painting the sky in shades of purple and orange.

Lanterns flickered to life, casting warm glows across pathways. The village took on a different character at night—quieter, more intimate. Couples walked hand in hand, disappearing into homes or heading toward what looked like a communal bathhouse.

Melisa found herself drawn to sounds of laughter and music. A building near the village center, larger than most, with light spilling from its windows and a wooden sign reading "The Laughing Fox" in elegant script.

[A bar. Perfect. Bars are great for information gathering. And drinking. Mostly drinking.]

Inside, the atmosphere was lively. Kitsune filled tables and booths, talking, laughing, drinking. A small stage in the corner hosted a musician playing something jaunty on a stringed instrument. The air smelled like alcohol and roasted meat.

Melisa made her way to the bar, sliding onto a stool.

The bartender turned, and Melisa’s brain short-circuited slightly.

Silver hair cascaded past her shoulders, catching the light like moonlight on water. Red eyes met Melisa’s with open interest. Her features were sharp and elegant, beauty mark beneath her left eye mirroring Melisa’s own. Her figure curved in all the right places, displayed by a dress that was technically modest but somehow incredibly suggestive.

She smiled, and Melisa’s tail did an embarrassing little flip.

"Well, well. You must be Melisa Blackflame." Her voice was smooth, warm honey over gravel. "I’ve heard so much about you."

[How does everyone in this village already know who I am? Did Zephyra send out a newsletter?]

"That’s me. And you are?"

"Sylra." She extended a hand across the bar. "I run this establishment. It’s not often we get visiting nim, especially not famous ones."

"I’m not famous."

"You cured a plague before it could ramp up, saved a king, and became the first nim mage." Sylra’s smile widened. "That’s pretty famous."

[Fair point.]

They shook hands. Sylra’s grip was firm, confident. Her eyes traveled over Melisa with obvious appreciation.

"What can I get you to drink?"

"What do you recommend?"

"For a nim?" Sylra turned, grabbing bottles from the shelf behind her. "Something with a kick. You can handle a little bit of intensity, right?"

"I guess I’ll find out."

Sylra mixed something together, pouring liquids in precise measures. She slid the finished product across the bar—a deep red drink that sparkled slightly in the light.

"Foxfire Special. Strong, sweet, and guaranteed to make your evening interesting."

Melisa took a sip. Flavor exploded across her tongue—berries, spice, something that burned pleasantly down her throat. Her tail swished with approval.

"This is really good."

"I know." Sylra leaned on the bar, her ample chest pressing against her dress. "So what brings you to our little village? Research, I heard?"

"Something like that. Zephyra Vortell brought me here."

"Ah. The Court Mage?" Something flickered in Sylra’s expression, too quick to read. "She’s certainly a character. Well, if you need anything during your stay—information, recommendations, company—you know where to find me."

The emphasis on "company" was not subtle.

[She’s flirting. Definitely flirting. Am I flirting back? I think I’m flirting back. Aria would... no, we never defined what we are. I’m allowed to flirt.]

"I’ll keep that in mind."

Another customer called for Sylra’s attention. She winked at Melisa before moving down the bar, leaving Melisa alone with her drink and her thoughts.

[Okay. So. Sick kitsune that everyone’s weirdly casual about. A charming nim bartender who knows who I am. And Zephyra being mysterious about our actual purpose here.]

Melisa finished her drink, the alcohol warming her from the inside. She left payment on the bar and headed back outside, the cool night air a relief after the crowded warmth of The Laughing Fox.

She walked through the village streets, drink still buzzing pleasantly in her system, letting her feet carry her wherever they wanted. Lanterns swayed overhead, casting dancing shadows across wooden pathways. Somewhere nearby, someone was singing, their voice drifting through the trees.

[Three weeks in this place. Learning whatever Zephyra wants to teach me. Meeting interesting people like Sylra. And trying to figure out what’s actually going on with the sick kitsune.]

Melisa took another sip of her drink, watching the stars peek through the forest canopy.

[This is either going to be educational or a complete disaster. Possibly both.]