A few hours later, everyone had gathered in the grand dining hall of Daitanuki Castle-a place reserved only for honored guests and the most special occasions.
Madam Mochi sat at the head of the table, composed and regal. The three Biki brothers sat together on one side, while Kuroyasha and Kuzuno sat across from them. The table was covered in an extravagant spread of food and drink.
Kuroyasha immediately noticed his favorite-extra spicy duck wings-while Kuzuno's eyes lit up at the sight of fried udon noodles with tofu in a rich, spicy miso broth. The Biki brothers, unsurprisingly, gravitated toward the wide variety of sushi laid out before them.
Madam Mochi watched her sons quietly, a soft smile forming as she saw them all together again.
Then, suddenly, fanfare began to play.
Everyone stood.
A voice rang out through the hall:
"All, welcome Goddess Tsurara-Goddess of Snow and Ice."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Tsurara entered with calm, graceful steps, her presence commanding yet serene. Even Madam Mochi bowed her head in respect, and the others followed suit.
As she passed the table, the Biki brothers' faces flushed bright red, completely captivated. Tsurara took her seat beside Madam Mochi at the head of the table, and only then did everyone sit again.
Madam Mochi raised her sake dish.
"I personally welcome my fellow goddess and long-time friend to dine and stay with us. Now listen carefully-what is discussed here is of great importance and must not leave this room. Is that understood?"
Everyone nodded.
She then turned her gaze to Kuzuno.
"Princess Kuzuno, you wield ice magic-a power that foxes should not possess by any natural means. Have you given any thought as to why? Or why you have so little control over it?"
Kuzuno paused, thinking carefully before answering.
"To be honest, Goddess Minoyama... these ice powers came to me fairly recently. I don't fully understand how, but they awakened when Kuroyasha and I formed our Fox Link. Before that, I had no mana flow at all. I relied only on my physical abilities."
Madam Mochi nodded.
"Though it may pain you to hear this... your natural affinity for fire mana has been replaced with ice. Your Fox Link with Kuroyasha likely awakened that dormant power. However, because it is newly awakened, you lack control. And more importantly..."
She glanced at Tsurara.
"...there are no foxes who understand ice magic-let alone the magic of a snow goddess."
Kuzuno immediately bowed toward Tsurara.
"I look forward to learning from you, honorable Goddess Tsurara."
Tsurara inclined her head slightly.
"It is only natural to aid the daughter of an old acquaintance."
Without another word, she raised her hand.
Stolen story; please report.
"Snow Magic: Blizzard Cage."
In an instant, a violent blizzard formed around Kuzuno, spiraling into a confined vortex that trapped her completely.
The winds howled.
Ice slashed at her from all directions.
Kuroyasha shot to his feet-but-
"Kuroyasha!"
Madam Mochi's voice cut through the storm like a blade.
"Do not interfere. This is a test Kuzuno must face alone. You must trust her power-not coddle her."
Kuroyasha clenched his fists... but slowly sat back down, unease written across his face.
Inside the Blizzard Cage, Kuzuno struggled.
The cold bit into her skin. The wind tore at her body. Her thoughts spiraled.
I can't do anything...
Maybe she'll stop it...
What if she doesn't?
Am I going to die here?
Panic surged-and the storm responded.
The blizzard intensified.
Her breathing grew ragged. Her body weakened. Cuts opened across her skin, her blood scattering into the storm itself.
Her healing factor struggled to keep up.
The winds reached gale-force levels.
Her vision blurred.
This... is the end...
But then-
A memory surfaced.
Kuroyasha.
His presence.
The calm she felt when she was with him.
The storm weakened-just slightly.
Kuzuno noticed.
She focused.
That feeling.
That calm.
She took a slow, deep breath.
Her mind steadied.
The blizzard weakened further.
Another breath.
More calm.
The storm began to unravel.
Moments later, the Blizzard Cage completely dispersed.
Kuzuno stood there, breathing steadily. Her wounds healed rapidly, as if they had never been there at all.
She opened her eyes.
Everyone was staring at her in awe.
Tsurara spoke.
"Do you understand now? The foundation of snow and ice magic? What is required for control... and growth?"
Kuzuno met her gaze with quiet resolve.
"Emotional control... within myself."
Tsurara's expression barely changed-but inwardly, she was impressed.
Then, suddenly, Kuzuno spoke again-her tone sharper than usual.
"I just wish you gods would give some notice before training like this. These surprise tests are becoming... old. And rather annoying."
Silence fell over the table.
Kuzuno froze.
Her face turned bright red as she covered her mouth.
"I-I am so sorry for the disrespect! I don't know what came over me!"
She quickly sat down and resumed eating, hoping to avoid further attention.
Kuroyasha, however, grinned widely-clearly pleased.
Murasaki watched with quiet pride, as if seeing a sister grow stronger before her eyes.
Then-
Something unexpected happened.
Biki-Ba stood up.
He walked directly over to Tsurara, bowed respectfully...
...and hugged her.
Then he calmly returned to his seat and continued eating as if nothing had happened.
The entire room froze.
Tsurara herself was stunned.
Normally, such behavior would have been met with instant punishment-freezing, at the very least.
But instead...
She felt something unfamiliar.
Warmth.
Madam Mochi smiled knowingly.
"I am impressed, Tsurara. Truly. Biki-Ba does not approach others so easily. For him to take such a liking to you is rare. And you... you allowed it."
Tsurara turned her head slightly, her face faintly flushed.
"I am simply respecting the rules of your realm, Minoyama. Nothing more."
She paused.
"That is the one they call 'Skywalker,' yes?"
Madam Mochi nodded.
"Yes. Biki-Ba perceives the world differently than his brothers. His senses, his thoughts... they are unique. Among humans, there are those with similar traits. They call it autism. I have studied it extensively, and many of the behavioral and sensory patterns align with his own."
Tsurara listened, intrigued-but her attention soon returned elsewhere.
She looked back at Kuzuno.
"Tomorrow, your real training begins. And I will not be gentle."
She stood.
"While you may be the reincarnation of Yuki Hakai, your mana control is severely lacking. You've only just realized how deeply your emotions influence your power."
She turned, her icy gaze locking onto Kuzuno.
"Let me make one thing clear, fox brat-I am training you as a favor to Goddess Minoyama. Nothing more."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"Tamamo's first child was a prodigy-even by royal fox standards. And now she is being trained by the Dark Nine Tails."
A pause.
"You will need to be ready... when she comes."
With that, Tsurara left the hall.
Kuzuno trembled slightly.
Madam Mochi watched her carefully.
Time is running out...
She took a slow sip of her sake.
Kuzuno is not ready...
Servants began clearing the table.
Biki-Bi wrinkled his nose.
"Mother... I can smell your sake from here. Didn't you promise to take it easy?"
Biki-Bu leaned in slightly.
"It does smell stronger than usual. Is it a special batch?"
Biki-Ba simply covered his nose in disapproval.
Even Kuzuno noticed the scent-but said nothing.
Kuroyasha frowned.
"Mother... you did promise. That smell is strong-even I can sense it now. I never could before."
Madam Mochi closed her eyes... then smiled.
"I suppose I cannot argue with my sons. Very well-I will retire for the evening. There is much to prepare for tomorrow."
She stood.
"Kuzuno, Murasaki-you will share the upstairs suite. Boys, you know your rooms."
She left the hall.
-
Outside, Tsurara was waiting.
They walked together in silence.
"That sake..." Tsurara said. "It was crafted by the god of sake and spirits, wasn't it? Its scent can only be perceived by gods... or those destined to become them."
Madam Mochi said nothing.
Tsurara continued.
"You've been raising them carefully. The Biki brothers could smell it since childhood. And now... the scent grows stronger to them."
A small smile.
"Their ascension is approaching."
She glanced sideways.
"Even Kuroyasha could smell it."
Madam Mochi's expression darkened slightly.
"Yes... and that concerns me."
Tsurara raised an eyebrow.
"He was never able to before. Even with the Fox Link, that should not have been enough."
A pause.
"Which means..."
Tsurara finished the thought.
"The boy comes from the bloodline of a god... or goddess."
Silence.
"The question is..."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Which one?"
Madam Mochi's thoughts churned.
Beniyasha... what did you know...?
Her gaze hardened.
This situation just became far more complicated