Madam Mochi suddenly found herself standing upon a small wooden boat, drifting along a vast river.
A river of memories.
As the boat moved forward, visions formed along the water's surface-moments from Kuzuno's life. The gentle memories made the river calm and smooth, the water shimmering peacefully.
But when darker memories surfaced-
The river turned violent.
Jagged rocks tore through the current, and the waters became turbulent and chaotic.
Madam Mochi watched closely.
Kuzuno's childhood unfolded before her-a fragile balance of warmth and pain. Love from her parents... but cruelty from her sister, Kayo, whenever they were absent.
Then-
The river surged violently.
A recent memory.
Madam Mochi stepped off the boat and approached it.
The scene revealed itself-
Kayo stabbing Kuzuno... and leaving her for dead.
The emotion hit instantly.
Rage. Pain. Sorrow.
Even Madam Mochi felt it.
"It's no wonder her mind is in such a state..."
Her voice was low.
"An event like this would break even the strongest will. And now... her powers awaken without control, adding even more strain."
She looked at the storming river.
"Simply telling her to 'control it'... will never be enough."
Then-
Something impossible happened.
The river split.
Into two.
Madam Mochi's eyes widened.
"...Two memory rivers?"
Her voice carried genuine shock.
"That's impossible... only one memory stream can exist within a single being... mortal or god."
She slowly approached the second river.
And froze.
A radiant white energy flowed through it.
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Ancient.
Divine.
"...This power..."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"It belongs to something far beyond a god..."
She followed the second river-and what she saw made her breath catch.
The birth of stars.
The formation of galaxies.
Planets rising... and dying.
Entire civilizations appearing-and vanishing into nothingness.
The life cycle of suns.
Creation.
Destruction.
Endless cycles.
Madam Mochi staggered slightly and summoned another boat, sitting down as she tried to steady herself.
"...This is no god..."
She breathed heavily.
"To call this a god would be an insult to what it truly is..."
Then-
A voice.
Soft.
Ancient.
Everywhere.
"Well... a goddess of tanuki. I didn't expect my first conversation in this cycle to be with you."
The voice carried warmth-and unimaginable power.
"I had anticipated speaking with the young fox... but this works just as well. Her mind is already burdened enough."
Madam Mochi stepped off the boat and sat at the riverbank, composed but respectful.
"I did not expect to encounter a presence like this... especially within Kuzuno."
She looked forward calmly.
"Which brings me to my question... what are you?"
A pause.
Then-
"I am known as Evoni'No."
The air itself seemed to tremble.
"And the closest term you would understand is..."
Before the voice finished-
Madam Mochi dropped to her knees in deep reverence.
"The Elder God of Light and Life... Evoni'No."
Her voice was filled with respect.
"I am honored beyond measure. Please forgive my earlier tone."
The radiant energy shifted.
Taking form.
A perfect white reflection of Madam Mochi herself-yet glowing with divine purity.
Evoni'No smiled gently.
"Rise. I am not one who demands worship."
She sat beside her.
Madam Mochi slowly lifted her head, still in awe.
"The elder gods... were thought to be legends lost to time."
Evoni'No chuckled softly.
"A fair assumption."
Madam Mochi steadied herself.
"There are ancient texts within DaiTanuki Castle that speak of you... and how even we once drew power from your existence. But they all say the same thing-you disappeared."
Evoni'No's gaze softened.
"Not disappeared... hidden."
Madam Mochi's eyes sharpened.
"Why?"
Evoni'No looked down at the flowing river.
"There was... conflict among the elder gods."
Her tone grew heavier.
"One sought to return everything to what we once were... The Formless."
The river rippled.
"A state of limitless existence... from which all elder gods were born."
She paused.
"But to return to that state... all elder god souls must reunite."
Madam Mochi's expression darkened.
"...Which would erase everything."
Evoni'No nodded.
"All creation. All life. All realms."
A heavy silence followed.
"The rogue elder god has already claimed three of the twelve elder souls."
Her voice lowered.
"And each one increases their power beyond comprehension."
Madam Mochi clenched her fists.
"So the rest of you... hid."
"Yes."
Evoni'No looked at her.
"We dispersed ourselves into the cycle of rebirth... hiding within mortal souls."
A pause.
"I am one of them."
Madam Mochi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Kuzuno."
Evoni'No nodded.
"But my time in hiding... is ending."
Madam Mochi spoke carefully.
"The seal discovered within Kuzuno..."
A glowing construct appeared before them.
Nine seals.
Three already broken.
"You placed this on her."
Evoni'No nodded again.
"Yes."
Her voice softened.
"I bound my power to prevent it from revealing me... but it came with a consequence I did not foresee."
Madam Mochi looked at the seal.
"It suppressed her natural development..."
"...Which is why she was born without tails."
Evoni'No closed her eyes briefly.
"It was never my intention."
Madam Mochi glanced toward the memory river-toward Kuzuno's suffering.
"That girl has endured more than most... even as royalty."
Her tone was not accusing-
But firm.
Evoni'No stood, extending her hand as the seal floated between them.
"As the seals break... my soul and hers are merging."
A quiet pause.
"Eventually... we will become one being."
Madam Mochi looked up at the sky, thinking.
Then back at Evoni'No.
"I have lived for thousands of years. I understand difficult choices."
Her voice softened.
"I will not judge you."
But her expression sharpened.
"That said... Kuzuno is unstable."
"Ice powers beyond her race... no guidance... no control..."
She stepped forward slightly.
"How do you expect her to survive this alone?"
Evoni'No looked back at the river.
Sadness in her eyes.
"...You are right."
A long silence.
Then-
She turned away.
"You already know the answer, don't you... Madam Mochi?"
Madam Mochi stood, her expression firm.
"Yes."
Her voice carried certainty.
"Kuzuno is destined to become an elder god."
The air stilled.
"She will lead the remaining elder souls against the rogue one."
A pause.
"But first... she must walk her own path."
Her gaze hardened.
"She must awaken her power properly-by gaining her nine tails."
She took a breath.
"And the first step..."
Her voice sharpened.
"...is defeating her sister, Kayo."
"No help. No intervention."
"On her own."
Evoni'No turned back-
Smiling.
Satisfied.
"Correct."
Her voice held quiet approval.
"That is why I will not reveal myself to her yet."
"I will not let her rely on a power she does not understand."
Madam Mochi crossed her arms slightly.
"Then we are in agreement."
A pause.
"One final question."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Why ice?"
"Foxes wield fire. Even royals rarely deviate."
She looked directly at Evoni'No.
"So why... is Kuzuno different?"
Evoni'No sat once more by the river.
Her gaze distant.
As if recalling something ancient.
Painful.
"There is... a story behind that."
A slow breath.
"One of ice... and suffering."