Chapter 09
Photo: Google?
410 Years ago
Southern Lands
Library 2nd floor
Kira lay on the floor, gazing up at the ceiling as her thoughts wandered. “I need a mage…” she remarked with a hint of boredom. She was so engrossed in her studies that she didn’t even notice her two guards were missing. The only person present with her was June, who was sharing knowledge about the demon realm.
June glanced up from the table where she was seated and smiled gently. “I know a mage you might find interesting,” she said cheerfully.
Kira straightened up and beamed. “Really? Can I meet him?” she asked with excitement.
The mage returned her smile. “Of course. I sent Kue to fetch him a little while ago, so it may take some time.”
Kira’s excitement waned as she let out a sigh. Rising to her feet, she approached the table. “Well, then tell me more about the demon realm,” she requested, her enthusiasm diminished. She disliked studying, yet understood the importance of knowing about the realms connected to Elyasia.
June sighed softly and nodded, placing a book in front of Kira. “Alright, I mentioned there are four territories—north, west, east, and south, correct?”
The blonde princess confirmed with a nod. “Yes. Raizen rules the north since he’s the strongest there.”
The mage affirmed, “Exactly, and Sin resides with him, training the demons alongside him. It seems the lord is the only one unafraid of our fire mage.”
Kira giggled quietly. “Sin is intimidating but fascinating.”
“Indeed. Now, who is the lord of the west?” June inquired.
“Oh, the dog lord... um, his name is...” Kira paused to think. “InuTaishou... I believe.”
June acknowledged with a nod. "Exactly. So, who is his son?"
"Oh Sesshomaru. Akito shared stories about him with me."
"Okay. Now let's focus on the East."
Kira pondered for a moment. “To the south, there is a lord of foxes... and to the east there is....”
"There's a cat demon named Mikya in charge, and she's quite harsh regarding who is allowed into her territory," a voice remarked from the entrance of the library.
Kira glanced over and offered a gentle smile. "Hello, Raiko."
Raiko approached the princess and the mage with a gentle smile. As a nine-tailed fox demon allied with Kira, he possessed long silver hair complemented by silver ears. Though he concealed his nine tails, Kira was aware of their beauty, which matched the color of his hair. He wore black robes resembling a kimono. “Greetings, my dear princess. What shall we explore today?”
June offered a gentle smile as she gazed at him. "We are exploring the Demon realm because our understanding of the Shadow realm and Spirit realm is quite limited."
The princess sighed and remarked, "The human world is quite dull right now because they are engaged in a war."
The fox acknowledged with a nod and a grin. "I understand. I'm here to assist with your studies, just let me know what you need."
The mage chuckled gently. "That's certainly accurate; a yokai would have greater insight into their own domain."
Kira pondered for a moment. “Could you share some information about the Wast? I feel like we aren’t very familiar with this new lord.”
He paused for a moment. "From what I've gathered, Mikya ascended to power just last year. Her father held the title before her. Despite that, she is incredibly formidable, and no demon dares to confront her. They call her a black cat with two tails," he explained to the girls.
The princess let out a quiet gasp. "A cat with two tails... is that really possible?"
June agreed with a thoughtful expression. "Indeed, it’s quite fascinating. While it’s uncommon in most cases, any type of demon can possess multiple tails, not just the well-known fox demons. This phenomenon can manifest in various forms, showcasing the unique characteristics and powers of different demon species."
Raiko agreed wholeheartedly, saying, “She’s absolutely correct. Foxes are renowned for their distinctive tails, which have become a characteristic symbol of their kind. Having nine tails at birth is extraordinarily unusual, as typical foxes tend to gain additional tails as their strength and power develop over time. This gradual accumulation of tails signifies their growing abilities and status within the demon realm. While it is true that other types of demons can also possess multiple tails, the phenomenon is quite rare among both feline and canine demons, making the sight of such beings even more intriguing and noteworthy in our world.”
"However, it's not uncommon."
Kira gazed at the pair, her eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and warmth, and offered a gentle smile that seemed to brighten the atmosphere around them. "You both have quite a bit of knowledge on this subject," she observed, her voice filled with appreciation. "It's impressive how well-versed you are, and it shows just how much effort you've put into understanding it."
The fox chuckled gently. "After all, I am a fox, so it's only fitting."
The mage grinned. "I've been dedicating a significant amount of time to studying the Yokai."
The fox gazed intently at her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he blinked slowly, a gesture that seemed almost deliberate. "You aren't going to reveal this to her, are you?" he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the very mention of it could summon unwanted attention. He was specifically referring to the delicate secret of June's heritage, the unique truth that she was half fox, a detail that could change everything if brought to light.
She grinned and shook her head. “Not at all.”
Raiko let out a sigh and then faced Kira. "What can you tell me about the South?"
Kira contemplated for a moment. “The southern region is governed by a nine-tailed fox known as...Lady Nyra?”
He gave a nod. "Okay. But are you aware of anything regarding her?"
She glanced at June, who merely shrugged. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “She assumed power... a few months back...?”
He let out a gentle sigh. “So, Akito kept quiet, huh? Well, let me share what I do know... Nyra is a nine-tailed fox with black fur who ascended to power last month following her mother's death. This fox enjoys her games a lot...” He fell silent as memories started to resurface.
The princess observed him for a moment before glancing at her mage. “Is he involved with the female fox?”
June glanced at him, her expression heavy with resignation, and then let out a deep sigh that seemed to carry the weight of their situation. “It certainly appears that way. I think it’s best if we leave him here and make our way downstairs. Kue should have returned by now, and I’d rather not linger any longer in this place.”
Kira gave a nod and paused. She dashed out of the library, followed closely by June. Together, they made their way down the stairs to find Kue with a guy who had green hair.
Kira rushed over and embraced Kue with a warm smile, causing him to flinch at the sudden hug. "It's great to have you back, Kue," she said cheerfully.
Kue shot an intense look at her before turning his gaze to June. “What’s going on with the princess?” he inquired, his voice low and menacing. He pulled her arms away and approached the mage.
June beamed at him with genuine warmth in her eyes. "You truly rescued her from the monotony of studying, transforming what could have been an endless afternoon of boredom into a delightful escape filled with laughter and engagement."
He glanced at her, giving her a peculiar expression. “Is that it?”
She gave a nod. “That, along with the fact that Raiko is present.”
"I believed she had affection for that cunning old man."
"She certainly does, but he was assisting her with her studies on yokai."
He let out a sigh. "I understand now." His gaze shifted to Kira, who was engaged in conversation with the youthful-looking man. "Kira."
Kira glanced over and gave a smile. “What is it, Kue?”
"That's Anaru; he's a practitioner of blood magic."
She blinked and turned her gaze towards Anaru. "What exactly is a blood mage?"
Anaru smiled gently. "I hail from the Shadow Realm as a mage. I'm referred to as a blood mage because my magic relies on my own blood." He had short green hair and vivid red eyes that appeared pinkish. Beneath his left eye were unusual markings, which he previously explained were just face paint.
The princess inhaled sharply. "Is it truly your own blood?"
He gave a nod and replied, "Indeed."
"Is it painful?"
"Not at all. I recover quickly and I don't require much blood. Everything is just fine."
She gave a gentle smile. "If you hail from the Shadow land, would you mind sharing some details about it?"
He glanced over at June, a hint of regret in his eyes, before shaking his head slowly. "I truly apologize, but I'm afraid I can't do that. My King wouldn’t approve at all if I were to share such information, and I have to be mindful of his wishes and the trust placed in me."
Kira made a small pout. “However, it’s the only world I'm unfamiliar with....”
After contemplating for a moment, he leaned in and gently placed a finger on her lips. "My dear princess, I promise to share all my knowledge with you someday, but for now, it's just not possible."
She briefly blinked, then felt a rush of warmth to her cheeks as she nodded slowly. "Alright..."
From that point on, she acquired her third guardian, a development that shifted the dynamics of her relationship with Akito. When he discovered this new addition, his reaction was intense; he complained loudly and growled with frustration, clearly expressing his displeasure with the situation. In an attempt to calm him down, Kira leaned in and kissed him softly, an action that surprisingly seemed to have a soothing effect on his agitation. After that moment, he appeared to come to terms with the new arrangement, but there was a noticeable shift in his behavior. He began to kiss her much more frequently than he had before, each kiss filled with an intensity that spoke of both his affection and his need to reaffirm their bond amidst the changes surrounding them.