Kitsune had been hunted longer than High-Drakes where sought after, but unlike the half dragon race, their strength lies within cunning and wisdom. They could not resist a confrontation, leading to many forced into the role of a concubine or adviser.
Indentured servitude is a problem Enda and the 'misfits' have been fighting for their own personal reasons and past.
'Once you live long enough to watch a slaves entire life play out without a shred of hope, joy or love, you understand what must be done' was a sentence I'd heard many times at this point.
Arisu kept that illusion artifact on her tail whenever she was outside, knowing her best chance at survival would be to never reveal her nature. Her strength itself was that less than an average B rank adventurer. That speed she however, despite its requirements, was second to none.
Outside of those conditions of life endangerment, it was still incredibly fast. It was for that very reason I knew my life was not in danger while being tested by Rider, but I still feel ashamed by my actions. I want to face others head on without magic, at least in training, just to prove to myself I wasn't weak.
Now I stood behind someone showing the world that their race would not be defined as unable to fight back, that she was worthy of respect, and the Young Master felt fear.
He was aware of these traits, he was aware of the role his family played in driving out the one city they saw as safe, causing their dispersal. This was something neither Arisu or I had knowledge of, yet her actions led him to believe she did, now he planned to silence her.
Arisu did not even bother running, no, she walked, slowly. With her Tachi held tightly in right hand to the side, it shone bright with a will of its own.
One foot at a time she approached him, each steep only more audible than the other, almost matching his heartbeat that was rapidly rising.
His fear did not arise from the duel itself, but suspicion of a trap, one he walked right into.
"-Your wings melted the moment I drew my blade-"
He was searching for something, anything that would indicate what she was doing. All he could do now was take his stance, preparing to strike. An uppercut to disable, an overhead to dismember. A technique passed on from his family, one that caused death on the follow through, yet time to stay their blades beforehand.
The goal of that first strike from below was to simply to end a fight, if he needed to end a life, the second swing would flow without hesitation.
"-And yet I am not the rising sun, my dear Icarus-"
With no time to decipher her riddles, his hear beating faster and faster, a memory of an obtuse rumour reared its head. A conversation he overheard at the Adventures guild.
"-Nor am I the clouds you soar above-"
'They say she can cut through a thousand swords in the blink of an eye!' 'Who? They must be crazy strong' 'Uhh, I think they call her the Pale Fox of Fate?' 'Huh, Fox? No Kitsune is that strong, besides, they'd rather warm up to some lord than pick up a sword haha!' 'Ha! You're right hahaha!' he put the pieces together of a rumour that seemed unbelievable at the time, one that everyone ignored.
"-But I am the ground you come crashing down upon"
He swung with the speed achieved from the harsh practice he endured from a young age, that secret family technique never shown to outsiders. A strike that when performed in front others caused fear and confusion, often ending fights before they could begin.
In the millisecond of perfect concentration, he performed his strike, feeling no resistance. That was how he could always tell he did it right, that he mastered the stroke and yet, all that was left in front of him was an after image.
The sound of a single step behind him made a shiver run up his spine.
"You should watch who you walk upon, before the ground swallows you whole"
When Arisu normally performs a strike, she breaks the sound barrier through sheer speed. This time all that could be hear was the sound of silence, then sand hitting the floor, and finally a scream.
She cut his blade, not once or twice, but enough to form grains of small metal fragments no bigger than a grain of rice, breaking apart a second after she spoke as his aura left his blade, and he screamed.
He was bleeding in a single spot, yet his clothes had been ripped to shreds falling down to his sides. The Young Master of the Kutsuki Clan would no longer be able to have children outside of the few he already sired then left to suffer over his years of puberty.
Healing magic can only do so much.
It can repair and regenerate to an extent, with only the greatest healers able to regrow a limb and now he was missing two.
Sometimes, other things can be used as a substitute for healing, like the blood of a phoenix as it burns in crimson flames. Sadly, just like a phoenix, it cannot heal it's young so the copies must look elsewhere, but not this guy, and I think that was her plan.
She did not believe in killing, as it offered no path to forgiveness.
'The dead cannot atone for their mistakes in life' so she says.
This three tailed Kitsune was fast, wise, cunning and above all, she's kind.
The path to redemption would be laid in front of him in the coming days, as other important events would shape the leadership of this city. Identifying the cause of corruption and ripping it out by the roots was no easy task, yet it was a task certain groups had been working towards ever since I met them.
Enda, Arisu, Merrah, Rider, hell even Red, who'd been off tracking lost Water-born folk all had other work they attended to, their own lives, their own reasons to do what they do. Now during this blizzard, I was watching it unfold one by one.
Most of these events I wouldn't know about for a while, and yet each of them would have a very visible effect to the city around me.
The Young Masters screams where heard throughout the alleyways as guards came to check out the noise and Arisu called me over. She grabbed my shoulder with her left hand and started staring into my eyes with a serious look.
"The heart of another cannot be easily deciphered, whilst you may be angry at others for their inactions, you may not understand their reasons. We all wear a mask sometimes Touji, Ota's mask hides the scars you cannot see on her skin, the cuts left on her soul. She has gone great lengths in opening up to you just a little, it's time you did the same. Go find her, we'll take care of this"
"But... I don't know the way"
I knew I upset her, just not that much. I should know it was something they weighed heavily on her mind. Her actions and inactions, the way she saw herself and spoke to me about it, I messed up. How can I be someone worthy of just smiling at if I can't understand them, even with this blessing?
Anxiety and doubt filled clouded my mind, now more than ever. In my eagerness to take action I said something that I thought would mean nothing outside of just expressing my anger, did I just lose a friend over it?
"I'll take you"
"Uhhhhh.... mini Enda?"
"I am copy five million, four hundred, fourteen thousand and eighty one"
"..."
"Just call her Shinobi"
"We figured out how to manipulate the spell over time. You know thirteen, the oldest alive copy, looks almost identical to Enda, except her sick hair and gym gains"
"Can you guess the clan and members she watches over?"
Ah, not only that, she seems younger than me.
To be honest I'm kind of freaked out by her size, just because of the origin.
Enda reach around at least six foot four, Shinobi was about four foot one, smaller than anyone else here. Her voice was far more deadpan than cool or commanding like the other two I know, I had to ask.
"Does that mean a male copy exists?"
"...what a stupid question. You're not as smart as she thinks"
That wasn't a yes or no...
"Just take him there Shinobi"
I could tell she like that name, even with her urban camouflage wraps and facemask, her emotions leaking through. I could also see she wore a few bags and pouches holding various items, including the weapons attached to a diagonal belt across one of her shoulders.
Her robes had side vents revealing all too much skin as well as the fishnet body stocking underneath alongside the gap at her chest. I couldn't tell if she was trying to be sexy or quirky.
Is this big city fashion?
Maybe she just wants to look good, even when unseen.
Shinobi also wore a headband with the Nala Alliance symbol on it, that must be important for identification if she has to be seen. Her hair was tied into a tail like Arisu, but with a single sidelock covering her right eye and a hairclip on her left side. I could also see her number was in small red writing on the white iris of her left eye.
Just like Enda, all the copies had one white eye glowing with energy, and another glowing with crimson phoenix blood.
"So where are we headed?"
"You'll find your Violet bud in Roses garden of thorns, just follow me"
Why does everyone have to speak in riddles or ciphers?