Tea and rice crackers were prepared for Kai and Amber. They were sitting on top of a cushion in a standard Japanese way to respect Rena, the host.
Surprisingly, the temple's interior looked normal except for the altar at the end of the room. Rena sat in front of the altar and sipped the green tea gracefully.
Kai really appreciated the gesture, and he liked the way he was treated and respected. Still, unfortunately, they were sitting here to talk about something important and not just a simple visit to appreciate the foxes' home.
"How is the tea, traveler Kai, mighty Phoenix?" Rena asked with a soft smile.
He returned in a kind, "As a chef myself, I wouldn't lie about my opinion about food. And I must admit, this tea is one of the best that I have tasted." He replied.
"Indeed." Amber agreed. "This is light and delicious."
"I am glad." Rena smiled brightly.
"This tea is from a tea plant cultivated carefully by my siblings. Nature power is abundant in this place, and the plant naturally absorbs it, thus creating a delicate taste. It's not as special as a herbal tea that can recover Spirit Power, but we are proud of this."
Kai was intrigued by what Rena had just said. Something about the plant naturally absorbed Nature power. If that were true, he would like to cultivate some and test it himself. His interest didn't stop at supernatural things. Cooking was also one thing he enjoyed.
"While I wanted to explain it in a bit more depth, I guess it is time I explain how I know about an incoming attack, yes?"
Both of them nodded. Indeed, that was the reason why they talked inside the temple. To talk about someone's plan to attack the Spirit Foxes, the Kyubi's descendant.
Something that made Kai step into the problem. A chance for him to gain the foxes' favor. Added to the fact they could cultivate some plants and make them more delicious than usual, his goal to help the foxes increased.
"Japan has someone named Chiyori Chigusa. A poor but kind girl. Wretched by fate and God's plaything." Rena began her explanation with a hardened gaze. "Still, she's loved by all races. We owed her greatly. So the Slayers protected her in their home."
"Regardless of the fact, she has the power to guess, to predict. A clairvoyance. Gift from Shinto Gods."
Amber's eyes narrowed a little. Kai noticed that but kept silent. This conversation was an important one. Noticing that what Rena just said was something really important and directly related to Slayer, he didn't want to miss it.
He fixed his sitting position and concentrated on Rena's explanation.
It could maybe help him understand the situation better.
"Her shadow visited me. A protector of the Prophet. That's her title. The lone Oni did me a favor. She said many dangers would specifically aim at my siblings and me. Slayers wouldn't be able to help. They are needed to protect the Festival, as it is important."
'Ah, makes sense.' Kai nodded.
Important individuals gathered for the Oni Festival. At least for Slayers, those become priority over a small group of Spirit Foxes. Amber had once explained to Kai about the Oni Festival and how many would gather to talk and enjoy the atmosphere.
Only a few parts of territorial races would visit, but they would send someone regardless to show their support and friendliness.
Protecting those important people was of utmost importance.
"The shadow told me I didn't need to worry." Rena continued; her words surprised Kai. Didn't need to worry?
Dangers literally would come, but the shadow told Rena she didn't need to worry. Wasn't that contradicting what she said earlier?
"Why?" He asked.
"Because the prophecy also mentioned a traveler. A kind and strong traveler that will help out of his curiosity." The three-tailed fox's golden eyes stared at him as she grinned.
"And I believed her. Still, I was worried about you, so I asked you to get yourself away from the danger. Curiosity can kill a cat. Your kindness will be your demise. I advise you to please reconsider helping us again. We can protect ourselves just fine."
"I don't want to be part of a world where being kind is a weakness." Kai suddenly spoke with a serious tone. Rena's eyes widened a little out of surprise, and Amber smiled beside Kai. "Also I am a man, not a cat.
"Let's put it like this. It would not be out of my kindness if I helped you while thinking of a reward. You will hire Amber and me as a protector. Repay me with whatever you think is worth our job. Also, didn't you mention you would accept our protection earlier?"
He smirked, not giving Rena a chance to refuse.
"As he said," Amber added. "We are here to have fun at the Oni Festival. It sours our mood if we leave while still having a problem we haven't solved yet. We will offer you protection for 3 days until the Oni Festival."
"If the danger doesn't come in these three days, we will still get our repayment for our time. How's that sound?" She puffed her chest, smiling brightly as she gazed at the fox that blinked several times.
Rena felt conflicted. She planned to bring up the danger and tried to push them away. But they refused and offered help and protection. Just what kind of person were Kai and Amber? Not their races, but their very being.
Honestly, the situation was not as dire as she described. Granted, three of her siblings would be kidnapped at worst. The time the danger arrived wasn't clear either, so she didn't want to impose them any longer.
'If only there is a way to contact…' She hoped, raising her head and met Kai's clear eyes.
Maybe he himself didn't realize, but his aura was the brightest among humans she had ever met. A white aura mixed with fire. The fire was similar to Phoenix's aura, shining brightly in his soul.
From that, she knew he wouldn't leave even if she pushed them. It was her mistake to give her a warning. If only she just shut her mouth and let them… But that also wasn't an option.
The full prophecy wasn't told to her as the Prophet's shadow hid a part of it. Rena indeed didn't know the full prophecy but still believed the danger that would come to her.
Now faced with a predicament of either protecting her siblings by herself and endangering them or taking Kai's offer of help and dragging two kind people into danger, she didn't know what to choose.
In the end, she had decided on something. The safety of her siblings was more important. Maybe she was selfish, but she trusted these two people who offered help.
"Then…" She bowed her head until it touched the floor. She was doing something called a Dogeza in Japanese tradition. A way to show the utmost respect for the other party. "I will be counting on your protection, traveler Kai and mighty Phoenix."
She then raised her head and smiled brightly when she saw the traveler's satisfied face.