Blog

Cross-Generational Training

Interestingly enough, when I purchased this YCH from Marsel-Defender in December 2024, I didn’t actually ask her to use Volpes in the shot. I had only provided the references for Edmund to use for this piece. However, when I saw Volpes filling in for Edmund’s sparring partner, I was strongly in favor of the idea. As a piece of their character development, it worked to see them spar as a way of finding common ground to work from.

The concepts started churning around in my head, and like many pieces of writing on this blog, I hastily threw it together in the hours before posting to FurAffinity, at the start of 2025.

---

“Come now, welp. Your instructors taught you better than that.”

It was a pure fluke. An incident in the forest outskirts meant that Azurium was neither available for Edmund’s weekly chess week match, nor for his afternoon dinner with Volpes. With both of their afternoons freed up, both of them independently decided to fill the vacancy with some extra training.

Though technically family now, the young tigerkin and his foxkin stepfather seldom interacted, mostly because their social circles and schedules were rarely in alignment. Standing out as they do, it wasn’t difficult for them to spot each other in the fitness center.

If pressed, neither one of them would have been able to recall which one approached the other. Regardless, soon they were in the ring, the new alchemy professor using cushioned pads to deflect the incoming torrent of punches and kicks.

Against an ordinary opponent, he was confident the extra protection wouldn’t be necessary. However, his stepson had received the benefits of his titan elixir. Even at a low dosage, there was enough power behind those attacks that Volpes knew he’d at least feel it if Edmund connected.

“Don’t act tough, Foxy. We both know ya ain’t a fighter.”

Another kick deflected, both of them were surprised how quickly they began to fall into a rhythm, comfortable enough to engage in light-hearted verbal jabs to accompany the physical ones.

“Heh. I may be an alchemist, but you’d be a fool to underestimate your elders, boy.”

This time, Volpes put a bit more force into his deflection, just enough to catch his young sparring partner off guard, if only for a moment. As quickly as he could, Edmund recentered himself, fangs exposed in a toothy grin.

“Is that a fact, Foxy?”

Edmund, for his part, had seen enough. That last deflection told him everything he needed to know. It was true that without his magic, he would probably lose a fight against Volpes, his own titan enhancements weren’t as complete or extensive as the old foxkin’s. By design, they were only supposed to help him overcome his childhood frailty.

And yet, in that instant, he saw it. However well Volpes was trained, it didn’t matter. With one punch, the foxkin was pushed back, with barely enough time to steel his abs before it connected. Even with Edmund’s impressive strength, the blow was not truly serious. Still, landing a blow at all was a feat in and of itself.

Despite his “defeat”, Volpes couldn’t help but smile.

“Not bad, boy. Not bad at all. Your father will be proud to hear this.”

The match over, both of them dropped there stances, a thin sheen of sweat lightly moistening their fur. Volpes offered his stepson a handshake, and it was warmly accepted with a firm yet comfortable grip as the rough pads of their hands made contact.

“Ya really think so?”

“Absolutely. He trained me himself, you know. Taught me how to fight opponents I couldn’t just overpower.”

Edmund chuckled at the thought, running his claws through the blond streak on his head to flick off the perspiration.

“Can’t imagine there’s much ya both can’t just brute force.”

Tossing the young tigerkin his water bottle, Volpes took a drink from his own, lapping at the straw before responding.

“You’d be surprised. Care for a best of three before we hit the showers.”

“You’re on!”