The Dark Mage

Chapter 21: Awakening Solara

     It had been a few months since Souzun Yako was initiated into being a catechumen. And as time went on, he kept feeling a sensation in the base of his 8 tails every time he would partake in the life of the church and ascetical practices such as fasting from all meat, eggs, dairy, fish, oil, and alcohol on Wednesdays and Fridays and partake in almsgiving beyond simply the monetary means. He would also decide to get a job as a fisherman and as a carpenter because his artificial limbs gave him very high dexterity. It was a far cry from the luxurious life he had living in Inari's palace but in this simple way of life he found a nostalgic happiness like the days of his youth. It reminded him of the simpler times before Inari's mother conquered the Yako family tribe and subjugated his people when all that was on his mind was farming and spending quality time with his family.

     And although Souzun had lost his wife and children to Tanuki bandits and raiders centuries ago, he never remarried out of honor for them thinking it would be a betrayal of his wedding vows, even in death. For such was the way of life for centuries in the Kitsune clan, even before Father Nicholas would enlighten them in the 1200s. And that is why Souzun had become so disgusted seeing his former country betray their vows to honor, sincerity, and purity, without any intent to change their ways or learn from their errors. And for it, the Kitsune clan had gone from a once beautiful country where people could live in harmony with each other in civility into becoming the soulless concrete jungle where people had become nothing more than sub-animal in their thoughts while appearing in the shape of people. For even animals by natural instinct had more self-control and love for others than these anthropomorphic creatures.

     But while living in the Selenese village, Souzun had also taken to the time to learn the Selenese language so he wouldn't need to wear his Protogen visor all the time. After all, people felt more comfortable when he had it off so people could see his face and not just the shapes on the OLED panel. He had also manually disabled the transponder in his Protogen visor so Inari would never send search and rescue squads after him while not wanting to have anything to do with her anymore. He didn't hate Inari or anything but simply couldn't tolerate her controlling and arrogant behavior. Little did he know that she had already been greatly humiliated, and she left Vixie in charge for the time being out of embarrassment.

     And although Souzun Yako began to feel close to the people of this village, he also felt like his calling was elsewhere. But while he was in the village, he would choose to make the most of it. So, he continued to live a life pursuing virtue as his heart continually purified from the poison of his past with the sensation in the base of his 8 tails becoming stronger the purer his heart became.

     Then eventually after 40 weeks since he was shot down by James Wolf and begun his spiritual journey, the day of Souzun's baptism and rebirth had come. And with it, Souzun saw it not as the means of washing away his sins only but also starting a new life. And he even referred to himself by the name of his patron Saint, Moshi the Blacktail, rather than the name of his birth. Then even on his personal documents he had his name changed to be Moshi Blacktail with that name being the name on his now Selenese Passport as a citizen of the Selenese Empire.

     And then another thing had also happened while Souzun was living in the village. A few days after his baptism, he noticed that the burning sensation in the base of his 8 tails had ceased and he suddenly had a 9th tail. But despite this, he didn't care all that much or as if it were something important but simply went along his way pursuing a life of repentance and virtue.

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Cursed Relics

     With prince Darius's orders to have the fusion drives aboard his remaining AJDs modified into makeshift nuclear weapons, the Szolsuran military intercepted the message and had their anti-dreadnaught fleet make Darius's AJDs a top priority. And with it, the Szolsuran space force disabled them as the Confederacy of South Selene used Ironhenge to pick off each AJD as it was being disabled. And even though this meant that prince Darius's defeat was imminent, to surrender was to be the ultimate mark of shame upon a Valkyrie.