The Dark Mage

Chapter 29: Victory Lap

     After all that Titania and her new family went through it was finally time to live peacefully. The Valkyries were permanently defeated. The American-Szolsuran war was over. And now it seemed no one was after Titania with the dark mage Isis being suspiciously inactive.

     And as a recent graduate, Titania needed some time to think about what she wanted to do now. As for Natalia and Buck Ringtail, they wanted to take Titania on vacation now that the world was mostly peaceful. And out of curiosity and hearing the news from Finnigan that things were changing in the Kitsune clan, Natalia wanted to see for herself what was going on. As for Titania, she just wanted to see her close friend Fr. Victor again.

     So, Natalia and her companions packed all the needed belongings and logged their vacation time so they wouldn't be receiving any phone calls and orders while they were traveling. And ever since Katherine put an end to the Ringtail crime syndicate, Buck felt much safer going back to the Tanuki clan. When it came time to pass the customs agency in the Kitsune clan, the customs agent was cordial and checked Titania's documents efficiently and stamped her passport, but when Natalia and Buck were next, the Kitsunes were rude as usual towards Tanukis. And for as irritated as Natalia was, she held her tongue not wanting to be detained and get into a problem that would involve contacting the US embassy.

     And after getting through an irritating customs experience that felt like an eternity, Natalia and her companions were finally in the Kitsune clan. And when they looked at the city around, there was not a single piece of trash or gum to be found. The streets were spotless, and the steel and glass and LED lighting made the city look like one big dance party as if the whole city was an oversized nightclub. Natalia then received a message from Finnigan Fennec that read...

     I wanted to give you and Buck some advice while travelling in my old country. It goes as follows.

1. If you don't speak Kitsune, don't panic. They will most likely also know Szolsuran if you're in a populated area like Inari city.

2. Don't go to the virtual reality movie theater. It's basically just AI generated interactive porn and violence.

3. If in the rare chance you run into Inari, get the hell out of there as fast as you can. She hates Tanukis with a burning passion. And she will especially hate you knowing you were the one that killed Yako whose ghost I saw when me and Buck wrecked Solara. And Yako was Inari's right paw-hand man.

4. If you want to actually experience Kitsune culture and not something manicured like in Inari city, get out of town a bit and go to places like the Yako tribe or the Reddington village. I also hoped you packed a real-time translator, because they probably don't speak anything but Kitsune and won't have signs in Kitsune ideograms and Szolsuran like they do in the cities.

5. Avoid the Arctic Fox island like the plague. Seriously, those people are buttholes... except Vixie. I like Vixie. And she doesn't live on the island anyway but on the edge of Inari city towards the direction of the Reddington village.

6. Don't visit the ancient okami Inari shrine in Inari city as a Tanuki unless you have some sort of death wish. There has been bad blood between Tanukis and their cult ever since Saint Moshi the Blacktail used to raid their caravans. You may also run into the fox queen while there which will only make things worse. Although... I'm not even sure why you would go there in the first place.

7. If in the off chance you visit the Reddington Village, ask for Todd Reddington. They'll know who you're talking about. The guy has lots of connections with many people with the tavern he runs outside the city. Just mention my name and your relationship with Fr. Victor and he'll get you in on some special stuff he wouldn't bring about with most people. Heck, if he sees you're trustworthy, he might even let you stay in his house. Just make sure to pick up after yourself and contribute while you're there. There's no need to disrespect a good man like him.