Foxfire: Veil of the Nine Phantoms

16: Whiteout I - Training Ground

November 27 - Melanie

Over the span of a month, Hoshiko and Satsuki had delved into the depths of Toronto, tirelessly scouring for any trace of another nine-tailed kitsune. Hoshiko had cleverly assumed the guise of a police officer, interviewing various fox spirits residing in the magical realm for any sliver of information. Yet, despite her earnest efforts as a fox spirit detective, her investigation had yielded no fresh insights. On a parallel track, Hoshiko had reached out to wild foxes within the ordinary world, inquiring about any potential encounters with nine-tailed foxes. This avenue held more promise, as whispers of alleged sightings of such majestic beings had been circulating throughout mundane Toronto. However, a formidable dilemma emerged - Hoshiko realized that some of these sightings could very well be attributed to herself, given that many described a rare silver nine-tailed fox. With a touch of irony, Hoshiko, being a silver vixen, found herself in the disconcerting position of potentially misidentifying her own appearances as sightings of a different fox.

I dedicated a significant portion of my time to honing my skills at Satsuki's mansion, Bonaire Villa. The opulent home had become my training grounds, especially since delving into the intricacies of fox magic. As I immersed myself in this arcane art, I began to notice changes not only in my magical prowess but also in my physical abilities. Strangely, I experienced a rapid increase in physical strength, even though outwardly, I appeared no different. When I had sparring sessions in the kickboxing gym, I suddenly felt like I could hang with the heavyweights. It felt ridiculous, given that these heavyweights had to be a hundred pounds heavier than me. However, the sensation was undeniable, and I consciously restrained myself to pretend that I wasn't stronger. Hoshiko had anticipated this development, explaining that, as a quarter-kitsune, I could expect to have some superhuman strength, and she reminded me of the story of a kitsune's quarter-yokai granddaughter who had the strength of a hundred men.

Today was another day of rigorous training for me, standing on the grounds of Satsuki's mansion. It was the end of November, the chill in the air had intensified, and the month had ushered in the inaugural snowfall, a harbinger of the coming winter. The world around me was draped in a gentle cascade of snowflakes, each descending with a tranquil grace, tenderly brushing the earth before dissolving into delicate droplets. The same ethereal flakes found their way to me, melting into my clothes - a uniform reminiscent of kendo garb, comprising an uwagi and a hakama.

Hoshiko, mirroring my attire, stood opposite me. And as the snow fell, it painted a serene tableau against which our training unfolded. Satsuki, a silent yet watchful presence, occupied a place to the side. With a cup of tea in hand, the tengu observed both of us.

The kitsune emitted smoke from her fingertips that gradually took form, shaping itself from a gaseous mass until the illusion solidified into the form of an oni. It was a perfect emulation of the oni she had killed one month ago, and it towered over me like a hulking mass of brute strength. The idea to simulate the factory oni was my idea, since I wanted to have an understanding of what Hoshiko had to face. The challenge was simple, yet nearly impossible. I had to cut the oni down with my skills in swordsmanship and adeptness in wielding magic; unfortunately I was a novice at both.

Despite my best efforts, what resulted was a streak of one hundred and thirty eight failures. I failed in every way possible. Again and again, the oni would just effortlessly defeat me with a single blow from his war club. But I persisted, even after every disheartening failure. I persevered over and over, because I wanted to prove a point to Satsuki and Hoshiko that I could belong in the same league as them. If I couldn't handle the illusion, how could I handle the real deal?

"Are you ready?" Hoshiko said.

I raised the Kogitsune-maru, pointing the tip towards the oni's head. "Ready."