Pausing, Ventus looks back at Avery. “So uhh, has the process changed? Either in location or ease of use?”

Avery just smiles faintly, mild pity in her eyes. “Location hasn’t changed, but the ease of use, well that is worse than before since they have to register you under what your new body appears to be. Thankfully I’ve sent ahead much of the paperwork, so that part won’t be an issue. We’ll need to see Lamu for your military ID though, since you’ve cleared the lab tests you can finally pick that up.”

Nodding, her shoulders falling slightly as her ears splay and tails drag on the ground. “Okay, shall we go then? Sooner we get this done the sooner I can delve into the crevice again.”

Blinking, Avery shakes her head, “Nope. You’re supposed to be resting tonight, so no cavern for you.”

Tilting her head, Ventus asks, “Why no crevice for me? It’s not like I have any other orders for the day.”

“Ventus, the squad you’re in heads out tomorrow. They came back early due to the mana flood, so they still have a lot more to do down there.”

Nodding with a sigh, Ventus understands. “Got it, well you ready to go?”

Nodding, Avery grabs Ventus’ hand, after which Ventus blushes a light silver and travels along the fabric to Lamu’s office, choosing to land outside and knock on the door rather than go as she normally would. 

The door starts to slide open, allowing Ventus to see Lamu talking on his phone with a finger to his mouth once Ventus and Avery come into sight. “Yes, she’s here now. Yes, I’ll be handing her her military ID.” 

After a pause, Lamu grins. “Really? You’ve  confirmed a medal for her, fantastic. It will need to wait a few weeks in order to grant it to her though, she’s diving tomorrow morning. That’s okay, well good. Farewell sir.”

“So what was that all about Lamu? Something good for me it sounded like.”

Nodding, Lamu chuckles, “Indeed. You’re to get a medal of valor, though the name hasn’t been decided yet. This also means that awoken can now earn medals for overwhelmingly meritorious contributions, so on behalf of all awoken in this nation, thank you Ventus.”

Blinking at the sudden thanks, Ventus chuckles, "No worries. I was just helping everyone while trying not to kill them. If anything, Avery here also deserves one. I wouldn’t have been on guard if not for her, well obsession with me would be a term for it.”

Laughing, Avery shakes her head. “No, that isn’t something I would deserve a medal for. You’re plenty powerful to have been able to notice the problem even if I hadn’t been controlled. However, I do want to be there for your ceremony. Lamu sir, please invite those two for the ceremony as well. I’m sure you know the two I mean.”

Scratching his horn, Lamu nods. “Well okay then, I had already planned to, but if they can’t come then I’ll make sure to give Ventus here a copy of the recording to share with them. Back to more important matters though, has the bird finished being analyzed?”

Avery sighs, before nodding. “Yes, and it’s as you suspected. It was mutated by mana into that form, which I’ve named Roc. It even had a tracking bracelet inside of its leg due to the way the growth occurred.”

Blinking in surprise, Ventus exclaims, “You didn’t know that?! I fought a giant mantis back in the caverns under the crevice. A tiny mantis had turned into that giant within a few seconds.”

Avery wraps herself around Ventus’ arm, while grinning at her. “Any other interesting tidbits to share? Such as what kind of attacks that mantis could use?”

Blushing slightly due to what her arm is squeezed between, Ventus stammers out, “It could slash with mana, causing the slash to go past its scythes. Pretty good response time too, though that could in part be due to my lack of experience.”

Nodding, Avery smiles at Lamu, though it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Did you know about the mantis sir?”

Sighing, Lamu nodded. “Yes I did Avery, but I forgot due to everything that’s happened since the eclipse.”

Avery sighs, before nodding. “Yes I suppose that does make sense. Well you have something for Ventus, don’t you?”

Chuckling, Lamu hands Ventus a laminated card, “Here, your awoken military ID. It’s made from some of the materials scavenged from the caverns, and then laminated. Send some of your mana into it to bind it to you properly.”

Tilting her head, Ventus nods, flowing a small amount of mana into the card, which cracks. “Eh? I barely used any mana, why did it crack?”

Lamu stares in shock before looking towards Avery, “What, did her mana test read?”

Avery chuckles and pricks Ventus’ finger before guiding the blood to drip on the now exposed ID. “It couldn’t be read, apparently her soul stage, whatever that means, is above initial stage. Due to that I had to improvise a test with one of the liquid repelling rings. Turns out, with her wearing it, she can completely displace water, she stepped into a tub and the water just rushed away without her getting a drop on her. As for drain, she claims to intake far more passively than what the ring uses.”

As her blood drips onto the ID it glows and repairs itself before flying into Ventus.

Blinking in surprise, Ventus mutters about strange mana objects before smiling at Avery.

Looking at Lamu, she adds “It seems you can smooth the flow of your mana through meditation. I can’t say how everyone does it, but I follow the flow from my intake as it spirals around my body and then flows into my brain. Hell for all I know, it’s exclusive to me.”

Lamu blinks in surprise before rushing towards a filing cabinet nearby, grabbing a report. “Some Buddhists noticed similar things, though they could use the state to absorb mana faster. They claimed parts were stagnant but that by absorbing the extra mana parts of the stagnant flow started to clear.”

Ventus groans, face in her hand as her ears and tails twitch. “So you mean you’ve known about this method, and just had it filed away?”

Lamu nods, “Yes, after all it is far faster to kill a beast and absorb their mana. Why would we take the slow method?”

Avery sighs and starts to open her mouth before Ventus shouts, “Why? Why he says. Not every awoken is a combatant you idiot of a commanding officer.”

Lamu blinks in surprise before sighing and sitting down in his chair. “You’re right, of course you are. It also seems that doing so helps the stagnation issue based on the report and your statements. Thanks for yelling some sense into me Ventus, but you do need to be punished for the yelling.”

Avery shakes her head, “No Lamu. I was about to say almost exactly what Ventus did. This is a vital method for everyone, and it was kept from us. If anyone here needs punished, it is you Lamu.”

Todd enters next, having heard the shouting. “What’s going on here sir? Why was Ventus yelling about non-combatants and you being an idiot?”

Lamu stares at Todd before answering. “Simple, a method for improvement was kept since not enough was known about it.”

Todd blinks before glaring at Lamu. “She’s right, you are an idiot for that decision. Shall I tell the rest of the awoken that such a thing was kept from them? I do have full authority to contact all awoken here.”

Chuckling darkly, Ventus walks towards Lamu, tails twitching in anger as she drags Avery along. “You sir need a long sit to think about your actions. That will be your punishment.”

Mana rushes out of Ventus, surrounding Lamu and his chair before separating the space while allowing air flow. Next she alters the flow over the fabric, causing the little separate space to flow 18 times faster.

Avery stares at Ventus, eagerly observing what she can about the mana flow. “You have so much mana, this is insane.”

Ventus just continues to glare at Lamu, continuing the flow for ten minutes before letting it drop while she clutches her head. “Three hours in there should have helped you think things through.”

Lamu stares at Ventus, before grinning. “Can you do that at any time?”

Tilting her head, Ventus shrugs before nodding. “I can now, yes. Why do you ask?”

Grinning, Lamu looks at Todd. “Spread the method, right now. I’ll hand you the documents, but this is important. I’m done playing on the defensive waiting for orders. My squad will continue their assault while everyone else gets stronger as they can. If we can get strong enough, even a flood that causes hundreds of beasts to appear won’t stop us.”

Looking back at Ventus, he asks several questions about how that ability works. 

“Well first, it can be used over a larger space, but that will up the consumption. I can also alter the increased speed of the flow, so I could make the area larger but the flow a bit slower to have the same upkeep cost roughly. Second, in the caverns I could probably hold what I used on you for a minute before needing a break, even if my regeneration down there is faster, I don’t think it is fast enough to allow for a tactics meeting while we fight.”

Nodding, Lamu smiles. “Okay Ventus, deal with what you had to do today and then go into the crevice. You’re to use your method to power up as much as you can before our actual expedition. Your gear is ready, so it will be here when you’re ready. As for who will go with you, what about you Avery? Will you protect Ventus while she meditates?”

Nodding happily, Avery squeezes Ventus’ arm tighter against herself. “Yes sir, second order today that has made sense hehe. I will protect her with all I have, and all I am.”

Fiddling with his device, Ventus gets a notice on her phone from her bank. “Wait sir, I’m still on disciplinary action for my pay. Why did I receive a month’s worth of pay just now? I haven’t even been here a month.”

Chuckling, Lamu smiles at Ventus. “Your pay has been reinstated with a promotion. Also, you’re getting a bonus. Officially it will be for resolving the Senta issue without death, but the truth is it’s for talking sense into this old bull demon.”

Avery starts to drag Ventus away. “Come along Ventus, we need to get your ID and bank information changed so that you don’t have problems in the future. If we wait much longer we may not be able to get both done today.”

Ventus is just staring at Lamu as she gets dragged away, mouth wide open in surprise. Stumbling at the door, she starts to drag Avery down with her before Todd catches her. “Careful there Ventus, there is a lip. And Avery, have you considered not dragging her around? Ventus is definitely the faster one of you two afterall.”

Smiling at Todd, Ventus fully stands up and then bows to him. “Thank you for catching me Todd. I truly appreciate it.

“Any time for a cute kitsune like you. Now then, I’ll be coming along to get your actual ID. I’ll be reporting the military matters. Lamu can’t due to being busy, and Avery isn’t an officer. I guess if you’d rather you could have Vincent vouch for you, you’d just need to go grab him. He’s probably at the gym right now.”

Nodding, Ventus smiles at Todd. “Thank you, and I’ll go grab Vincent. Nothing against you.”

Shrugging, Todd gives directions to the gym, which is in the men’s wing. “Just be careful when you go, you’re strong enough to not have problems but people will try things.”

Blinking, Ventus tilts her head, tails cocked as she looks confused. “What do you mean they will try things, that’s harassment.”

Nodding, Todd explains, “Yes, but sadly the awoken are too badly needed. The most the punishment can be is confinement outside of beast attacks. Excluding attempting to take over the government of course, that’s a bit too far.”

Sighing, her tails and ears sagging, “Yeah, and it was my fault. If not for me Senta wouldn’t have had the chance to take control of so many.”

Avery flicks one of Ventus’ ears. “Enough of the pity party. She would have done the same no matter what, just with a different source for the power.”

Yelping, Ventus starts to take off towards the gym, hands flying up to cover her ears. “Okay okay, no need to flick my ears, it hurts.”

Smiling mischievously, Avery follows along. As they reach the gym, Ventus drops her guard of her ears. At that moment, Avery blows into them, causing Ventus to shriek. “Can you not do that Avery! It feels… hot when you do.”

Vincent walks over, having heard the shriek. “You okay Ventus? That was a loud shriek.” Glaring at the walls he adds, “You should flood the area with your mana, now Ventus.”

Looking confused, Ventus shrugs before doing just that, not assigning a task to the mana it just sits there. Vincent and Avery are struggling to stay standing while several yelps from behind the wall are heard, along with the sound of faces hitting linoleum. 

“Is that enough Vincent? I see you’re both struggling to stay standing.”

Nodding, Vincent stands up once Ventus draws her mana back in, devouring it within a second. “Yes, the onlookers should be dealt with now, and everyone here should know not to mess with you now. I’m sorry you have to assert yourself like that, but these idiots are just like that.”

A voice from behind the wall yells out, “At least I don’t drag mostly naked women out of their room without warning.”

Vincent sighs, and releases his own mana. Avery quivers slightly but has no trouble standing, and Ventus doesn’t really notice any pressure at all. “You’ll all forget about that, now.”

Releasing his mana, Vincent asks the real question. “Why are you two here? Want to work out or something else?”

Ventus activates her ring, sending the sweat covering Vincent away rapidly. “You’re going to help my ID and bank information to be altered. We can’t have you sweaty for that, so all that is gone. Would you mind cooling him a bit Avery?”

Laughing, Avery nods, kissing her fingers before blowing, frigid mana pouring onto Vincent. Not enough to harm, just enough to cool him down.

Smiling, Ventus grabs the two and teleports to city hall. Upon arriving, she winces at the long line. “Wow that’s quite a few. I wonder what the occasion is.”

A nearby worker blinks upon seeing Ventus before grinning. “Come along Miss Ventus, you have an appointment already. Let’s get your ID set up.”

Tilting her head, Ventus follows along, dragging Vincent and Avery. “Why do I have an appointment sir? I didn’t schedule one.”

Chuckling, the worker points to the tv on the wall. “You’ve had a reserved spot since saving this nation. You didn’t have an awoken ID yet so we were under orders that when you showed up you would be top priority.”

The other people that were starting to get upset paused. They looked at the tv and then at Ventus, before nodding, and several saying that it makes sense due to her service.

Ventus enters the private room along with Avery and Vincent, who sit to the side of her while she takes the seat in the middle. The worker smiles at Ventus. “So, I will need your previous ID so that I can make all of the changes necessary. Do you have it with you?”

Nodding, Ventus pulls it out, handing it over while paying special attention to everything but the photo on the ID. “Here you go. I know I look vastly different now hehe.”

Looking at the ID the worker shrugs before filling the paperwork, making sure to file Ventus’ new ID as female. Looking over to Avery and Vincent, he asks for the military documents and the awoken’s mana type.”

Vincent hands over the documents, which the worker only takes a brief look over before nodding. "It looks to be in order, so I’ll just need to know her mana type, quality, and quantity.”

Avery laughs awkwardly. “Well her type is space/time. As for her quality and quantity, we can’t judge. All I can say is that her mana is incredibly pure, and her reserves vast.”

Nodding along, the worker fills out what he can before turning the screen to Ventus. “Does this all look to be in order, Miss Ventus?”

Taking a quick scan of the screen, she can quickly read it all despite taking only a few seconds. “Yes it is all correct except for species. I’m not a fox. You could call me kitsune to keep it with western ideas, but more accurately I’m a youko. Due to my number of tails you could also put kyuubi no kitsune, but in general youko is more accurate.”

Nodding, the species is quickly updated to youko. “There we go, I do need a last name though. Have you decided on one?”

“Hmm, let’s go with Yuki. I like snow, and my hair and tails certainly are as white as pure snow, minus the extra colors hehe.”

So Ventus Yuki? Very well, you’ll need a picture for your new ID, though I get the feeling I’ll need to back away to be able to capture you entirely. Stand over there and I’ll get the photo.”

Nodding, Ventus stands in the designated square, a natural smile on her face. Her tails are waving slowly but happily behind her while her ears twitch happily.

The worker stands back and snaps the photo. Showing it to Ventus, who nods happily with tears in her eyes, the worker smiles. “So Miss Yuki, are you ready for your ID?”

Chuckling, Ventus nods, rubbing her eyes gently to clear them of tears. “I am ready yes.”

Nodding, the worker prints out Ventus’ new ID. Handing it over, he smiles at her. “Pleasure helping the nation’s hero. If you need anything from city hall again, ask for Buli.”

Smiling, Ventus nods before Avery speaks up. “Buli, as in Buli Trevor? The current mayor?”

Winking, Buli nods. “Yes, I’m the current mayor. I help out where it’s needed though so it’s okay. I’ve contacted the bank and they’ve already altered your account, you just need to show both IDs and then it will be changed officially.”

Nodding, Ventus takes both Vincent and Avery back to the dorms. “I’ll handle the bank since it seems so simple. You get your gear packed Avery, we’re staying the night in the caverns after all.”

Nodding in response, Avery shoves papers into Ventus’ arms before she  goes to grab both her and Ventus’ gear while Vincent blinks before grinning. “I’m coming with, that way if any creepy crawly beasts appear I can protect you both. Avery isn’t good with them.”

Ventus shoves the papers into her spatial pocket before chuckling softly.

Avery turns back, glaring at Vincent. “You didn’t need to share that Vincent, but fine, grab your gear.”

Ventus smiles as she appears at the bank. Walking in, she is immediately recognized once more. In fact she sees in the windows there are several images of her in her kimono framed on the wall. “I’m here to get my bank details switched.”

Nodding, the only attendant not busy walks over, hands trembling in excitement. “Right this way Miss, we’ll get you sorted quickly. Do you have the two IDs and documents proving your genetic match?”

Blinking, she hands over her IDs before frowning. She reaches into her spatial pocket and grabs the papers Avery shoved into her arms, “Are these it?”

Taking a quick look at the papers he nods. “Given the changes on your body there are few markers we can use to identify who you used to be. Thankfully you still match with your mother to the point she’s 99.1% certain to be your mother. That’s enough for the bank account change due to you also matching with your father with nearly the same percentage chance.

Wincing at the mention of her father, her tails twitch in anger. “I see, well do I need to do anything else, or are we good here?”

The attendant slides over a document. “You just need to sign here, guaranteeing that it is in fact you, and if you are falsely claiming it you accept the maximum term of imprisonment.”

Chuckling, Ventus signs right away. “Sure, no problem. I am me after all, so I’m not committing fraud.”

Nodding, the attendant then hands over Ventus’ new bank card. “Here you go Miss Ventus Yuki. I hope you continue to use our bank.”

Nodding, Ventus grabs her things and then vanishes, appearing at the front of the dorms. She messages Vincent and Avery, asking where to meet. Seconds later, they respond, “Crevice entrance of course.”

Nodding, Ventus goes there and waits for them to arrive.