A dark drizzle sang loudly on the worn stone steps of the shrine; the sun hadn't started it's routine yet, but there was already so much to do. This brisk morning was like so many others before this one, hand in hand with his mother, a young boy made his way up the familiar stairs. His bright cyan hair getting heavy with rain water, the child tried his hardest not to fuss with the rain getting in his icy cyan blue eyes, but couldn't help but wipe the water off with the sleeve of his Kimono. The boy's mother squeezed his hand gently to remind him of what he was doing; with a small smile the boy looked up at his mother and nodded. He was a Prince and his people were watching, he must keep his head up tall no matter the weather. The red torii ahead seemed to have a gentle glow as the sun peaked up over the mountains in the East. A shimmering rainbow appeared above the temple as the family of three made it to the top of the stairs, a sign of good luck.
"Seiu, today's the day," the boy's mother smiled and prompted the child to step forward. It was his turn to welcome the day, he was finally old enough to perform the morning ritual, like so many others had done before him.
The boy stood as tall as he could muster and raised his arms up towards the fading rainbow above, he spoke the words he had faithfully heard his father perform every morning ever since he could remember. "Oh Great Spirits to whom guide our island, please bless us with another day of safe passage. We give you the offerings of our people." Seiu stepped into the temple holding out a pearl in both his hands, and placing it on the time weathered marble statue of a fox. The young boy pressed his hands together and knelt down, placing his head and hands onto the ground showing the statue the greatest respect. Seiu watched his father do this ritual his whole life and knew it by heart, he stood up with a smile and left the temple back to his parents.
Legends say that for thousands of years, the small island of Fye was watched over by the Great Fox Spirit, and the tradition of bringing a pearl to the temple has been the duty of the reigning family. This family was originally given a gift by the Great Fox Spirit, the gift of becoming kitsune, powerful fox spirits. Eventually the whole island had been given this mighty gift but only the royal family bore the blue hues in their features. The pearl given at the temple shrine was harvested new every day with the help of their gifted magic, showing their dedication and gratefulness to the Great Fox Spirit.
