In ancient history, Atheria unraveled a tale of a realm far removed from the familiar embrace of her forest. It was a time prior to Atheria’s own existence, a period when colossal creatures roamed the vast landscapes. These beings, sent down by the mysterious true gods dwelling above even I, were bestowed with immense power. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate.

These colossal creatures existed solely to fulfill a grim purpose—hunt and be hunted, consumed by the intelligent beings below them. Though gifted with the capricious powers of the true gods, their abilities remained untamed and erratic. Atheria's voice resonated with a sense of melancholy as she described the irony embedded in their existence, akin to a cosmic jest. Over the eons, as intelligent races rose and fell, waging wars and birthing new civilizations, these mighty creatures gradually faded into the tapestry of forgotten time.

In the hidden corners of the world, a couple decedents still roam. One of these being a family of colossal foxes dwelling in the remote expanses of towering mountains. Within their vast den, a mother fox tended to her young, five lively cubs and one that differed among them. This mother, a colossal figure, had inherited the wisdom passed down from the last remnants of their kind. Acutely aware of the issues lurking in the outside world, she devoted herself to safeguarding her offspring.

The litter of foxes bore the standard orange fur of their kind, each cub sized in harmony with the same height of an average elf. However, among them stood an anomaly—a fox with a coat of vibrant crimson and a small stature that set it apart from its siblings. 

The mother fox showered special attention on the crimson cub, intensifying the bonds between them, much to the chagrin of the other siblings. Initially, the disparities in treatment were bearable. The mother returned from her hunts with the plumpest birds and juiciest rabbits, offering the coveted prey to the crimson fox cub before the others. An order established, with the crimson cub taking precedence in the feast, followed by the remaining siblings. Yet, the harmony of their den harbored the seeds of discord.

As the foxes played in the small grassy area near the river, their daily routine took a dark turn when their mother failed to return from a hunting expedition. Two weeks passed with no sign of her, and the den, once filled with the joyous sounds of playful cubs, now echoed with a somber silence. Left to fend for themselves, the fox siblings, still too small to hunt, resorted to eating whatever little insects they could find. They abided by the unspoken rule never to cross the river that encircled the mountains, a boundary set by their absent mother.

The distant echoes of loud noises and the sharp cracks of gunfire reached the foxes' ears from beyond the river. Intrigued and spurred by a mix of curiosity and bravery, one of the larger cubs, the biggest and bravest among them, decided to investigate the source of the commotion. Without hesitation, he plunged into the river, the others closely following his lead. However, the little crimson cub hesitated on the riverbank, uncertainty evident in its eyes.

Under the weight of peer pressure and the taunting growls of its fellow foxes, the little crimson cub reluctantly succumbed. The teasing about favoritism and the perceived ungratefulness became too much to bear. Overwhelmed, the tiny fox swam across the river to join the others in their exploration of the mysterious noise, leaving the safety of the den behind.

The foxes, having never ventured beyond the familiar patch of grass around their den, encountered a myriad of new creatures in the unfamiliar territory. Croaking frogs echoed through the air, deer grazed peacefully, and a variety of bugs buzzed around in the vibrant ecosystem beyond their home.

As they ventured further, the once vibrant forest transformed into a desolate wasteland. Fallen trees lay scattered, their lifeless forms a stark contrast to the once-lush surroundings. The grass, once lively and green, now appeared dead and tainted, a somber reflection of the deteriorating landscape.

As the foxes continued their exploration, the eerie sight of colossal magical machines and unfamiliar figures came into view. Men in armor with peculiar tools adorned with magical gems moved about, wielding them with an air of authority. It became apparent that these beings were humans, and their actions were causing devastation to the forest that housed the newfound creatures.

The little crimson fox, sensing the impending danger, refused to venture any further. The biggest fox, driven by curiosity, perhaps bravery, or just stupidity, pressed on, and the others reluctantly followed in his footsteps.

As the foxes cautiously made their way to the other side of the wasteland, they approached the cabin and peered through the window, driven by curiosity. Inside, they saw a table with a sheet of paper depicting colossal rocky buildings. Above the table, mounted on the wall, was something that struck terror into their hearts.

The walls of the cabin were adorned with the colossal fur coat of the mother, and her massive head sat on another table. The sight struck terror into the hearts of the foxes, and they began whimpering in fear. Suddenly, a cacophony of human voices filled the air, and they heard yelling. Humans wielding blades came rushing toward them, shouting that more of the beasts had arrived.

The largest fox in the litter, considering himself a champion, stood his ground and gestured for the others to flee. Despite being just a cub, he stood at the height of a human and a half, towering over his siblings. He fought valiantly, delivering slashes and bites, but the armor and weapons of the humans proved too formidable. Eventually, he was overwhelmed and brought down.

Following the defeat of the strongest fox, the remaining siblings were swiftly cut down, leaving the smallest fox to watch in trauma. Behind them, a human man, sensing their fear, threw a net covered in runes over the little fox, rendering escape impossible.

The small captive fox, now being auctioned for its rarity, found itself the center of attention in the town square under the night sky. As the bidding commenced, a cloaked Freya passed through the crowd. Sensing the fear emanating from the fox, a cloud of fog enveloped the square, extinguishing the candles. Seizing the opportunity, Freya swiftly took the frightened fox from captivity.

Atheria concluded her narrative, recounting how Freya, with compassion, brought the fox to her, seeking to heal it from its hurtful and sickly state. Atheria then infused new magical life into the fox, causing a profound transformation. The fox's fur shifted from crimson to blue, and a second pair of ears sprouted on the sides of its head. As a side effect of Atheria's magic, the fox's form also shrank. However, the trauma the fox had endured led to its past memories being suppressed by its own brain.

With the tale complete, Atheria revealed, "Arbor, that fox is you. A descendant of the colossal animals from the past. The reason your magic output is challenging to control is due to your more natural affinity for magic than others here. You can draw it from the world around you, unlike the rest who need to take it from me or seek assistance from another demigod."

In the midst of Atheria's revelations, a flood of memories surged into Arbor's mind. The sudden influx of recollections overwhelmed them, and a piercing headache accompanied the emotional upheaval. Tears streamed down Arbor's face as the weight of suppressed memories unleashed a torrent of emotions.

Witnessing Arbor's distress, Atheria descended gently, allowing Arbor to rest on her lap. With a tender touch, Atheria began to rub Arbor's head, offering comfort and understanding. Tears continued to flow freely, a release of the pent-up emotions that had long been buried within Arbor's subconscious. She began to say, “Its all ok now, Arbor.”

Atheria, able to relate to Arbor pain, commenced a soothing hum, a melody that resonated with the very essence of comfort. The harmonious song wrapped around Arbor, providing solace and tranquility. As the enchanting lullaby played, Arbor gradually succumbed to a peaceful slumber. Finding comfort in the goddess's embrace there turned into there fox form. 

After a while, Arbor woke up to Atheria patting their heads in their little fox form. With shock, Arbor jumped up, transforming back into their humanoid form, saying, "Sorry, goddess, I was just overwhelmed with emotions. I didn't mean to cry like that." Atheria responded by saying, "Its okay, Arbor; you needed that." Arbor, now a bit more comfortable, said, "Now I have some questions, goddess. You said there are gods higher than yourself; what does that even mean, and with the age before you, what was all that about?" Atheria proceeded to cut off the now-chatty Arbor before they could delve deeper into their questions. Atheria redirected the conversation to the primary reason for their presence. Freya entered the room, and Atheria disclosed a grave concern, stating, "Yes, the reason I brought you here is because, despite what I told you, my power is in fact weakening."

Atheria explained the intricacies of this threat, clarifying that the essence of the forest's creatures, usually returned to her upon death, was being absorbed by an unknown force. This disruption not only jeopardized the balance of the ecosystem but also posed a severe risk to Atheria's own vitality.

Atheria continued, "All animals in my forest are imbued with my energy, and when they die, it is just returned to me. Something outside of my domain somehow found a way to absorb the energy in these creatures and cut it off from me."

She singled out Arbor and Freya as exceptions to the vulnerability affecting the others. Arbor, with the potential to become self-reliant, and Freya, with her diminished reliance on Atheria's power due to her numerous deals with demigods, stood as unique figures in the face of this threat. Expressing her concern, Atheria admitted that, under normal circumstances, she might have considered exiling Freya. However, the gravity of the situation demanded your cooperation.

Freya, now feeling uneasy, said, "Well, I guess this problem is good luck for me." Atheria then gave Freya a look that shut her up quickly. Atheria, drawing her attention to Freya, said, "Freya, in a couple of days, I'm going to need you to gather some of your most trusted members of the legion and tell them about this threat and go out and investigate this problem. This will include your brother. I know you don't like working together, but your results are always great. That is all. I will give more information when the lesser legions return," Atheria commanded.

Freya responded with a crisp acknowledgment and promptly left the room to carry out the assigned task. Atheria then turned her attention to Arbor, addressing them as "my little one" and unveiling a mission that appealed to their curiosity about the outside world. Atheria acknowledged her desire for more knowledge and urged Arbor to explore and learn about the past of the realms beyond the forest.

The goddess issued a word of caution about the dangers that awaited outside the protective confines of the forest. Despite the risks, Atheria expressed her excitement to hear about Arbor's discoveries. To aid in the journey, Atheria gave Arbor valuable items: a finely crafted staff, a ruinbook for learning spells and creating gems, and a compass that would unfailingly lead Arbor back to her.

Arbor, filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension, said, “Thank you, goddess Atheria,” expressing readiness for the upcoming adventure. The goddess offered a warm smile, assuring Arbor that the quest would be a valuable experience and saying that they could bring their little friends too.

Arbor bid farewell to Atheria, skipping out of the enchanting sappy room and down the hall. As they reached the end of the corridor, they noticed a lonely chef who appeared to be in low spirits. Concerned, Arbor approached the chef and inquired about their well-being.

"Are you okay, chef?" Arbor asked. The chef, with a hint of sadness, expressed feeling unappreciated. He lamented that despite being Atheria's personal chef, people seemed more interested in taking his food than respecting his culinary skills.

Arbor offered some words of advice, suggesting that the chef view the situation differently. "I don't think you should see it as disrespect. People are taking your food because it's so tasty. If I were you, I would make more food and share it with everyone. That way, you could be seen as the nice guy who gives out great food."

The chef, now less despondent, contemplated Arbor's perspective. He acknowledged the merit in making his culinary delights more widely available. As he turned to face Arbor, revealing his human visage, a sudden rush of traumatic memories overwhelmed Arbor. The vivid recollections of humans cutting down their family triggered an instinctual fear.

With a panicked yell in fear, "Hu-human," Arbor swung their new staff, striking the man's shoulder, who cried out in pain. Without a second thought, Arbor fled from the room and out of the front door, arms raised in the air, emitting high-pitched screams as if a rat was found in a kitchen and the whole house had to go.

As Arbor ran outside, they found themselves enveloped in Freya's rune circle, transforming into a light bolt and hurtling back to the arena, their screams echoing through the transition. Inside, Freya, with a comforting tap on the shoulder, attended to the emotionally and physically hurt human. She then swiftly exited, leaving with another rune circle. In the wake of these events, the grand chamber fell into a heavy silence, marked by the lingering echoes of Arbor's fearful screams.