The First White Tiger's Warm Gift

The light that spilled from the statue wrapped around my body, snug and gentle. It was so warm I could scarcely believe it had come from cold stone.

At that heavy voice—so deep it seemed to speak straight into the soul—the butlers startled and whipped their heads toward the statue. As for me, well, I'd already been chatting with Grandpa, so it wasn't that shocking. I was just curious who the statue in front of me actually was.

The instant he finished speaking, the cave shuddered. The statue moved as if it were a living creature, lowering itself to look me straight in the eye. That enormous stone head filled my vision, looking me over from whisker to tail.

"Kya, kyaung…"

Seeing it this close… it's a little… a lot… overwhelming.

The sheer difference in size hit me all at once. My tail curled tight against my body. Both ears flattened. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

I flattened myself to the ground in a full-body flinch, and a rough but gentle smile spread across the statue's mouth.

His voice is so kind—it doesn't match that enormous body at all.

The statue withdrew every last shred of the pressure that had been crushing me, then lifted its head and glanced at the butlers behind me.

I could feel the tension drain from the butlers at those words. Carefully, I lifted my head and met the statue's eyes.

"Kya, u… kyau?"

Who are you?

"……!"

"Kyau?"

The First… so that makes him Grandpa's grandpa?

My eyes went wide as I carefully studied the statue. So that's why his presence is so much greater than Grandpa's. Because he's the progenitor.

"Kyau? Kyaa!"

Then why are you a statue now? Why are you in a cave like this?

The statue gave a low, pleased laugh at my question.

"Kyau, kyaung?"

Then where did Grandpa and the other white tigers go? Am I the only one left here?

A deep apology and a flicker of sorrow passed across the hard stone face. Am I really the only one left?

"Kyaung…"

Did they all die…?

Don't tell me they're all dead, and I can only meet them as souls?

I shook my head hard, trying to fling away the grim thought that had brushed through my mind.

"Kya, kyau…?"

Th-then… do you know who the enormous white tiger in my dream a few days ago was?

At my question, the statue slowly lowered its head and gently touched the tip of its nose to the bridge of mine.

"Kyau…?"

I have a mom…?

My heart dropped.

I have a mother… Well, of course I do—I have a grandpa, and someone had to give birth to me—but hearing it said out loud still hit like a truck.

So that's why… that's why I missed her so much.

It all made sense in an instant. Why my chest had felt so hollow, so empty. My sleeping instincts had been searching for my mother all along.

The moment I understood, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the knot in my heart melted away, clean and cool. Just confirming that I had a mother was enough to ease my chest. I flicked my tail and let out a small puff of breath.

I have a mom.

The First White Tiger lifted a massive stone forepaw toward me.

The tip of a sharp stone claw tapped my forehead, ever so carefully.

In an instant, a blue light so intense it made my vision swim wrapped around my entire body.

"Kyaang?!"

What is this…?!

The heavy Divine Power of an ancient Divine Beast poured into me like a waterfall. It felt as if every blocked pathway in my body had been blasted wide open, like something out of a martial arts tale. My vision cleared.

The black stripes nestled in my white fur drank in First Grandpa's energy and began to blaze, flashing a brilliant sapphire blue.

Wuuuung—

"Kyauuuu…!!"

Feeling the power surge through me, I let out a mighty roar. The heavy aura pouring off my body made the butlers stumble back.

"Th-this much Divine Power…?"

"Blanc's stripes turned blue… that's adorable…"

My body felt light as a feather.

"Kyauu!"

Dopamine explosion!

Uncontainable vitality detonated through me. I bounced and bounded across the cave floor. I ran up the walls. I flipped through the air.

Then, unable to hold the overflowing power any longer, I threw my mouth wide and fired it off for the first time in ages.

"Kyaaaaang—!"

A condensed blue beam blasted from my mouth and cheerfully pulverized a chunk of the cave wall.

"Kyahuhu…"

That's the stuff…!

Kailian had banned it lately, so I hadn't gotten to do this much—but if not now, when?

I raced around the cave, happily blasting beams. I could do this all day!

"Haa… Blanc, again…"

"It isn't even that surprising anymore… though the output has grown incomparably stronger."

"No kidding. This cave is plastered in magical barriers, and he's smashing through them like they're nothing… I wouldn't even dare try to measure the power."

First Grandpa chuckled, watching my romp with open fondness.

After a long, wild sprint, I planted my rear on the floor and sat there, panting.

"Kyau.."

Played too hard… out of breath…

I just received a gift this incredible. Sitting still would be kind of rude.

I shot over to Kailian like an arrow.

"Kyau!"

Hey, put the bag down!

"Huh, Blanc… you want me to set the bag down?"

"Kyau!"

As expected, my butler gets it!

The moment I barked at the bag, Kailian gently set it on the floor. My butler's got good instincts. She brought this bag along.

I shoved my head straight into the bag and rummaged around. The weight tipped toward my head, and my rear and paws lifted slightly off the ground.

"Kyauu."

It was around here, I'm sure of it.

I clamped my teeth around a carefully cloth-wrapped bundle from inside and pulled it out. It was a special loaf I had pressed and kneaded myself with my jelly-bean paws before we left the Imperial Palace.

Tail wagging, I plopped the bread down right in front of First Grandpa's enormous face.

"Kyau! Kyaang!"

Eat this! First Grandpa, I kneaded this bread myself! Everyone loves it.

First Grandpa looked down at the bread on the floor and fell silent.

"Kyau!"

Yes, try it!

I nudged the bread toward First Grandpa with a forepaw.

The paw pushing the bread froze solid, like stone.

"Kyau…?"

Ah….

Smooth stone skin. Hard stone teeth. A throat sealed shut. First Grandpa wasn't a living, breathing creature anymore. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He was a statue. There was no stomach, no esophagus, nothing that could chew and swallow bread.

"Kyau…"

Damn. Did I get so excited my IQ dropped? Me, the smart one… making a mistake like this…

The moment it clicked, my face burned hot. I tried to sneakily cover the bread with a paw, but it was already too late. Mortified, the stripes that had been glowing blue faded back to black, and my perked ears folded all the way back.

"Kya… kyaung…"

Ah, you don't have to eat it… I was being an idiot…

Having just made an absolute clown of myself in front of First Grandpa, I hung my head, wishing I could crawl into a mouse hole.

First Grandpa let out a booming laugh that threatened to bring the cave down. The ice pillars on the ceiling trembled.

Please stop laughing…

Still laughing, First Grandpa very tenderly stroked my head with his enormous stone paw. I was a little scared my head might get crushed under it.

Still smiling, Grandpa gave the floor a light strike.

Kuuung—

The ground split, and an ornate altar of what looked like ancient stone rose smoothly into view.

"Kyau?"

What's this?

I peeked up at the altar.

Then Lina, who had been watching from behind, approached carefully. She examined the altar and sucked in a sharp breath.

"Good heavens… Divine Power this immense… Even The Temple's holy relics would be no more than candlelight before this."

Lina's eyes had gone completely unfocused with rapture as she inspected the altar from every angle, pouring out gasps of awe.

"Kyau."

There she goes, face all red again. Tsk.

After watching Lina's reaction for a moment, First Grandpa turned his gaze back to me.

"Kyaung?"

On here?

"……!!"

My eyes went round. Mom and Grandpa can eat my bread? Then… can they send me something from over there too?

"Kyaung!"

Then, wait—can they send me something from that side too?!

My chest swelled until it felt ready to burst. If we can communicate with that side, I could actually talk with Grandpa and Mom!

I hopped straight up onto the altar, bread and all, eyes sparkling. Can I go to that world too?

"Kyau…"

Okay…

Disappointed, I peeled my belly off the altar. Instead, I carefully set the bread in the very center. What a shame.

A soft blue light gathered over the bread.

I can't go… but I hope this bread reaches Grandpa and Mom.

And I hope they lick me again.