The Birth of a Savior
This YCH from Marsel-Defender, back in March of 2021, came at the perfect time for me. I had already been outlining something the story of how one seemingly innocuous fox could become Volpes, and this pose and scene was perfect to illustrate that story.
A wry grin crossed the fox’s face, as his feet hit the ground on the other side of the lake. Not even a few hours ago, he would have never attempted this feat, let alone allow the rain to soak through his bare fur. That was his old self, to be discarded.
His peers at the Magistrum tried to dissuade him with their senseless prattle, but even his weaker self couldn’t be deterred. No, the respect and power that he desired all his life would be his. And at long last, after countless years, the toil would finally bear fruit. Animal testing had shown incredible increases in strength, stamina, and muscle mass. Finally, he was ready to embark on the ultimate test.
And yet, those fools couldn’t see. They insisted that his subjects needed to be observed for long-term health issues. Testing on full-fledged humans and anthros was “too risky at this time”. Nonsense to that!
Thus, he waited for the perfect night. A night when no one would bother him; where he could move and act, unobserved and unnoticed by society at large. The rain would only aid his cause, as none save him would have reason to go out in such a heavy downpour. His “hideout”, a small abandoned shack just outside campus ground, the sanctuary he could turn to when he needed to get away, served his needs perfectly.
It was there that he finally partook of his greatest work, drinking the elixir he had seen transform ordinary rats and rabbits into remarkable beasts, paragons of their species beyond any seen in nature. The storm mages predicted that the downpour would last all day, so he had plenty of time to let the formula run its course.
The experience of undergoing the metamorphosis was altogether different than watching it occur in his test subjects: His puny form expanding, muscles growing thicker and more defined. What took him by surprise were the intangible aspects. The notes he had left open on the other side of the room came into focus, clear as if they were directly in front of his face after he removed his glasses. There was a sense of heft and heaviness to his limbs, and yet his movements were effortless. If anything, as he began to test his arms and legs, they were faster and more responsive than before, despite the sheer weight behind them.
With his transformation complete, he finally took the time to inspect his new form. The fox could barely believe what he was witnessing as his pecs and abs slowly expanded and contracted with each breath. The muscle, the power… it was his. His biceps were expanding as he flexed them. His legs had filled out his formerly loose, salvaged pants and shoes. Not to mention the general increase in height that left him with imposing, fearsome stature. At long last, the fox’s dream had come true.
With that, his thoughts turned once more to the world around him. Those who tormented him, those who bullied him, those who would have denied him his success just when he was making genuine progress. None of them would know how to use this gift. Worse, they would most certainly abuse it. He couldn’t allow that to happen. Stashing away his notes, he set out to put his strength to practical use for the first time… in demolishing his shack and destroying all evidence that his experiment had been successful.
After his tracks had been thoroughly covered, he found himself at the water’s edge. There was still time before the rain would let up. It was only a matter of time before someone reported him missing, but he was no longer the person they’d be looking for. No, he was something different… better. The more physical types at the school would often compete to see if they could vault to the other side of the lake, but what about him? He was clearly more powerful than even the most athletic of his peers. Would it be possible for the new him to make it in a single leap?
He could feel that an impact occurred. The G-Forces worked on him as he landed with a mighty thud, prone and balanced with the aid of his bare knuckles. Though his research was safely secured in a waterproof seal, and he never touched the water of the lake, the rain continued to beat across his fur. A misty chill lingered about, and yet none of it seemed to matter. This new form wasn’t immune to these forces, but nor was it phased by them. It could handle exposure to the elements. If the former student was more of an outdoorsman, he could probably thrive.
But even now, he knew he was still a city boy. And why would he want to shy away from the world anyway? Those dullards at the Magistrum didn’t understand, but there were people who did. No matter what, even back then, he refused to avert his eyes to their plight. Those who existed on the fringe of society. Those for whom the system inevitably fails. Those who exist in places where not even the “great” Theorum Magistrum could go. They needed someone to not only stand up for them but give them a chance to fight back. A taste of power can do a world of good when you’ve never known it.
Some would call him a villain. Some would call him a Savior. Either way, Volpes, for that’s what he called himself now after discarding his old self, would invariably make his mark on history.
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