The Great Fox Empire was one of the most legendary empires of ancient times. The streets were filled with citizens and royalty with fox-like features who believed the whole empire was protected by a demon fox named Odel. However, as years went on th...
Only time can tell when Odel will be able to show himself once again. He was always so silent but very active. Usually, demons are banished and surrounded by evil, but for Odel it was different. He does not want to resolve things through evil, he wants the opposite. Odel was no normal protector or demon of the empire. In fact, many stories have noted that in the early years of Odel, many elders within the shrines have seen Odel within the city, but not in the form that you expect. Stories mentioned he was a small fox, while others mentioned a young boy, and others mentioned a fox-like human. This may explain why he may be able to control his evil demon-like ways as rumours and tales have said. No proof was ever confirmed, it was just all rumours and tales. However, that never stopped Odel from protecting as much as he can.
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The small fox slowly fell asleep along the way of the young girl's path home, to which Emi looked down and smiled. She has taken care of animals before, but never really had a pet of her own. As she arrived, she gently went to her room and lightly took a cloth, wetting it before lightly cleaning the fox's wounded tail. Meanwhile, the fox continued to sleep peacefully as if it felt no more pain, which was relieving for Emi. She then wrapped it in a warm sheet letting it rest as she went to change and start on her chores.
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As she finished, she stepped out of her room and soon was met with her Mother staring at her as if she just saw a ghost. "Emi, what on earth are you here so early? where is Kana?" she asked worriedly out of a sudden, but Emi just raised an eyebrow all confused about why she was acting this way, as she soon crossed her arms and looked to the side. "I came home early. Kana stayed at school for her meeting... Is everything okay? you look so puzzled Mom" she asked softly before looking at her again, seeing her Mother let out a sigh of relief hearing that her sister was still at school. She soon shook her head and put on a smile, as she held her hand. "No it's nothing, it's just you always come home with Kana... after all, you both were always together" she explained, as Emi looked at their hands before nodding slowly and soon letting go. She grabbed the supplies she needed to clean the shrines before looking at her Mom. "As long as everything is okay, I will always do my best for the shrine" she soon replied back to her Mom before soon starting to clean, as her Mother stopped and just looked at her worriedly.
She knew something must have happened, she could read her daughters well, after all, she was the one who raised them alone after her husband disappeared. She also knew that it affected them both when he vanished, mostly Emi as she was always looking up to him. She sighed but smiled back at what she said. "And I am grateful for that... I will be going out for a while, let me know when your sister has arrived... I am going to town to fetch some supplies for our upcoming festival this year" she smiled happily. Emi's eyes widened as she mentioned the festival she turned to her in excitement. "I thought it was all rumours, is it true the festival is coming back?" she asked in shock, to which her Mother giggled softly and nodded her head. "Yes, it is coming this year after hearing people say to bring our old celebrations back to celebrate another year of Odel protecting us" She responded.
The festival was always grand. It was filled with food provided and cooked by each villager in town. It was also filled with laughter and many bright lights from handmade lanterns all over the town and streets. Fireworks with different designs were always up in the air for everyone to see. Each and every person in the town knew it as a way to celebrate old traditions, but just like how the empire fell, as years went on fewer people started to care. What used to be such a festive event was turned into memories. However, now that people were slowly starting to remember and miss the event, it was gladly coming back! That meant that the Keiko family was in charge of how it'll go and the traditional lantern launch.
The lantern launch was a traditional offering to Odel from the people to give thanks to him as they send their light in the air. Light is sometimes represented as happiness, and when it is being offered, it is like you are content with the person you are offering it to. This was always Emi's favourite part as she always did it with her Dad and they all would launch a huge lantern in the air together that they have built.
However, things are different now that he was gone, but that didn't stop Emi from being excited overall. Hearing this only made Emi's day even better! "Mom, if you need any help, I'd gladly give you aid in whatever you need! maybe, we can even ask Kana and her student council pals to help out too!" Emi explained bursting with excitement, as her Mother nodded in agreement. that was a great idea, with more help, the festival will not only be a success but it'll only bring everyone back together again, like how it used to be. Maybe, just maybe, even bring Odel to show himself again.
Now that boosted Emi's energy even more! Soon after, her Mother left. Emi finished up all the chores on her own and soon sat down gently on the steps sighing with satisfaction that she has finished everything she needed to do. She looked at the entrance of their home waiting for her sister to arrive, but nothing. She shook it off and shrugged thinking that she may be late due to her meeting and soon entered her room to go rest up. As she stepped in, she looked to the side to check on the fox, but surprisingly he wasn't there. Her eyes widened thinking he have ran off, and she then quickly started to look around for him. She checked every corner, every small entrance, under her bed, under her sheets, but nothing. "Hey, little guy! where did you go?" she called out, but no response. She soon started to panic and soon rushed outside, but nothing either. She ran back inside and still nothing. She sighed and lay down on her bed, as she stared at the ceiling worriedly. "Poor little guy, I'm sorry... where ever you are, I hope you're okay.." she said softly
Suddenly, there was a sound at the door, as if it has been opened. However, it wasn't the entrance door to her room. It was, the bathroom door? She immediately sat up and looked in that direction. "Kana?" she called out, but then her eyes widened at what she saw in front of her.
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"Oh! My apologies, I guess I should have asked first to see if I could use your bathroom, huh?" he chuckled softly...
