39 Illusions of Grandeur

  [Player: Kazuki Arata]

  [Level: 5]

  [Waza: Black Hand, Thread Cutter, Aura Sense, Dark Rider, Eviscerate, Adaptive Survival, Sword of Time]

  [Kegare: 60%]

  [Objective: Escape the Castle | Reach Mt. Zao’s Fox Kingdom]

  ---

  A wave of shimmering fox-magic drapes itself over the young fox-girl - and suddenly she stands transformed: a luminous maiden in a glittering white robe, layered over with faint pastel silks. Her hair flows thick and dark down her back. A shining circlet crowns her brow, half-moon ornaments at her temples. She is Kaguya-hime, the legendary Moon Princess.

  Kazuki’s eyes widen. He can practically feel the power in that illusion: the very air around Yua glitters like stardust. Even he feels the urge to bend his knee…

  [Waza Activated: Aura Sense]

  ...but in a moment Kazuki looks deeper and sees the golden fox reishin of a tired thirteen year old girl.

  There is a tremble in her hand as she adjusted a silken sleeve of the illusion, a tiny crack in the flawless lunar princess.

  Then the moment is gone and Yua, as Kaguya-hime, commands the guards, “Step outside. I will deal with these intruders.” The Church guards get up off their knees and shuffle out the door, looking back over their shoulders as they go trying to get one more glimpse of her celestial beauty.

  Fleet runs over and closes the wrecked door as best he can before bouncing on his toes. “Yes, yes, yes! Are you gonna do us next?”

  The ethereal princess fades and Yua makes a face like she just tasted something foul. “I suppose. Come here.”

  One wave of her hand, and illusions swirl around Kuro and Fleet in a thin haze of golden foxfire. For half a second, Kuro yelps, “Hey!” Then her figure distorts, ripples then changes completely.

  The golden magic dissipates and both Kuro and Fleet look like... monkeys.

  Each is wearing an elaborate kimono. Kuro, or Monkey-Kuro, raises her hands in a moment of disbelief, staring with wide monkey eyes at her new form’s hairy monkey arms.

  Fleet groans loudly, “Monkeys! I hate monkeys!!”

  Yua flaps a dismissive hand. “Hush. Besides, Kaguya-hime is often assisted by all sorts of creatures, right? Now, hold still. One more.”

  Kazuki tenses - he can guess what’s coming. Sure enough, Yua casts a slender thread of illusions that coil around him. A faint tingle crawls over his skin. But when he looks down he doesn’t see hairy monkey harms. Instead he sees a midnight blue hakama, nagagi and haori as well as a katana on his hip.

  Monkey-Fleet laughs and points at him, “You have a chomage!”

  “I don't think so.” Kuro’s voice is cold. Yua's monkey illusion cast on her blinks out and Kuro, under her own power, shifts into a black cat form and melts into the shadows.

  Yua doesn't notice and, in her luminous Kaguya-hime visage, fixes them all with an imperious tilt of her chin. “Now, walk behind me, keep your heads low, let me do the talking.”

  Beyond their corridor, heavy boots stomp closer.

  Yua-Kaguya-hime steps forward just as the wrecked door is pushed open. A pair of Church guards in armor stamped with the Eye of Izanami sigil come face-to-face with Kaguya-hime.

  They freeze.

  “I am Kaguya-hime,” Yua proclaims, voice echoing regally. “The Moon Princess. Stand aside.”

  The guards exchange wide-eyed looks. They know exactly who she is: A baby found in a stalk of bamboo by a kindly old couple who turns out to be the princess of the Kingdom of the Moon. Yua picked the perfect form to inspire an awe seeded in childhood by one of the oldest fairy tails.

  One of the guards wavers, adjusting his grip on his spear. “I... we....”

  “My father, the Emperor of the Moon, expects me to return safely.”

  Fleet, disguised as a monkey, waddles forward behind her. Kazuki tries to look downcast but dignified.

  For one tense moment, the guards just stare. From behind them, more men gather, each in half armor or carrying crossbows.

  “Kaguya... hime?” one repeats, baffled. “The princess? From the moon?”

  A few of them blink, uncertain. But Yua’s illusions are near-flawless. Her voice resonates, every flick of her sleeves sparkles with subtle starlight. The men stand transfixed, experiencing a living myth.

  Finally, the first guard recovers. “Are... are you real?”

  Moonbeam ripple in her wake as Yua sweeps past him. “Move,” she says, cool and commanding.

  He stands aside, unresisting. The entire throng of guards parts, letting Yua-Kaguya and her entourage pass. They’re too stunned to challenge her.

  It’s working.

  They drift through the corridors toward the courtyard exit. Guards who were just minutes ago ready to kill them now bow or scuttle aside. Yua leads them at a stately pace, posture almost perfect, face a serene mask of high cheekbones and silver eyes.

  Meanwhile, Fleet seems to be enjoying the act, occasionally flapping his arms and hopping on one foot.

  Through a half-open gate and down a castle hallway, Yua’s illusions hold strong. She passes a group of robed priests - they drop to their knees and babble prayers to Izanami, thoroughly confused. No one dares raise a hand.

  It’s almost too easy.

  At last, Yua turns onto a stone walkway that leads out of the castle’s main courtyard. It's on a slope and up ahead, at the bottom, the tall wooden gates to the outer compound stand barred. A handful of watchmen wait there, confused.

  Yua lifts her slender hand to gesture majestically. “Open the gates for me,” she calls, voice as delicate and majestic as moonlit itself. “I must depart.”

  The watchmen hesitate, eyes flicking from Yua to her monkey attendant and Kazuki, her samurai. Then they start to lift the heavy crossbar. Chains rattle. The thick gates begin to swing. Kazuki can see a glimpse of the town beyond.

  Yua steps forward, robe trailing but just as Yua is about to pass under the gate’s archway, she cocks her head over her shoulder to speak softly at Kazuki, letting the illusions swirl around them like lace: “You see? My father is King Reijiro of Zao, and our kingdom is….”

  She pivots a fraction, meaning to give him a proud side-glance. And that’s the moment that Yua’s foot catches on the uneven stone lip of the threshold.

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  She lets out a startled squeak, arms pinwheeling as she stumbles forward. The illusions around her flicker violently. Then she goes tumbling off the walkway, flipping over a low wall in a swirl of sparkling, dissolving light, and drops a meter down into a row of neatly trimmed bushes.

  There’s a muffled crash, a rustling of branches and leaves, and a painfully un-regal thud.

  “Oooow!”

  For a heartbeat, no one in the courtyard moves. The illusions around Kuro, Fleet, and Kazuki flicker. Then vanish.

  Kazuki finds himself abruptly back in his normal form, wearing traveling clothes with his machetes strapped to his back. Fleet’s fox ears and tail pop back into existence in front of an entire watch squad. Kuro, as a black cat, is sitting just outside the gate, composed and watching.

  The watchmen who let them out up the slope at the gate blink in unison before one guard points a shaking finger and yells, “It’s them!”

  They surge forward. Kazuki half-turns, scanning for Yua in the bushes.

  The four guardsmen run forward. Kazuki ducks a spear thrust, yanks a crossbow from a trembling guard, and hurls it aside. Fleet dashes low, pulling Kazuki by the sleeve.

  “This way!” Fleet points.

  They run to the flower bushes where Yua fell. They find her in an awkward sprawl trying to pull herself up. Her illusions are utterly gone, the shimmering Kaguya-hime replaced by an ordinary thirteen-year-old fox yokai with scuffed elbows and twigs in her messy black hair.

  “I... ow... my magic... ow.”

  “Can you stand?”

  Yua blinks hazily. “Of course I can.” She tries to push herself up but she looks like a turtle trying to flip itself off of it’s back. Kazuki reaches under her arms and smoothly pulls her to her feet.

  From somewhere above: “They’re down there!”

  In a moment they’ve crossed the main gate and a moment later all of them are running as fast as they can through the quiet nighttime streets of the town, slipping down narrow alleys to avoid patrols.

  It’s nearly midnight by the time they break free of the last ring of watchmen around the city. Kuro has rejoined them as a human and they all hurry across farmland by moonlight. Finally, at the edge of a bamboo grove beyond the last rice field, they stop and collapse under the rustling bamboo stalks, panting..

  Yua groans, massaging her ankle. Kazuki kneels, “Let me see.”

  She huffs, but extends her foot. Gently, Kazuki tests it. Possibly sprained, but not broken. “We’ll need to wrap it.”

  “Then you’ll carry me,” Yua declares, crossing her arms.

  Kuro chokes. “Wow. Not subtle.”

  Yua lifts her chin. “I am a princess.” Her eyes flick to Kazuki. “And you’re a prince too, right? A cursed prince, yes, but a prince.”

  “I... Where did you get the idea I’m a prince?”

  Fleet butts in with a big grin. “I told her! About how you’re a big deal, with cool Kegare magic, and how Kuro calls you a ‘Vessel’ and that might be super important. So you’re basically a prince.”

  Kazuki fumbles for words. “I... I’m not an actual prince, Yua. I’m just... someone from the human world, trying to survive.”

  Yua’s eyes sparkle. “I see,” she says softly. “You're a tragic, cursed prince.”

  She’s definitely thirteen, Kazuki reminds himself. A kid.

  An hour later, they’ve put enough distance behind them to risk making camp at the fringe of a thick pine forest. The four huddle beneath the tree canopy, building a small, hidden fire.

  Kazuki uses scraps of cloth from his pack to wrap Yua’s ankle. She sits quietly, letting him, though her cheeks stay pink the entire time. Meanwhile, Fleet rummages in his makeshift bag for leftover dried venison, offering some to Kuro. She wrinkles her nose but accepts a nibble.

  Kazuki watched Fleet playfully flick a pebble near Kuro, who pretended to ignore him before batting it away. They bickered softly, a comfortable, almost sibling-like rhythm. Yua watched them too, just for a second, her regal posture softening almost imperceptibly. A flicker of loneliness crossed her face.

  Yua began speaking softly, as if she was taling to herself, “Anyway. This is perfect. Now that I’m free, I’m heading back to my father’s domain - the Fox Kingdom at the foot of Mt. Zao.” Then she looks up at Kazuki directly. “You should come with me.”

  Kazuki hesitates, then asks “How far are we from Zao?”

  “West of here, then north,” Yua says firmly. “From the nearest human settlement, it’s maybe two days’ travel. My father’s palace is hidden in the hills. We’ll find refuge.” Her expression brightens. “We have armies, illusions, wards. We’ll be safe.”

  Kuro’s tail flicks. “Sounds too good to be true.”

  Kazuki exhales. “Fine. It’s worth a try. If your father welcomes us...”

  Yua’s face lights up, though she tries to hide it. “Then it’s settled. Tomorrow we head for the Fox Kingdom.”

  The night air is mild but crisp, crickets chirping in the tall grass. Yua, exhausted from her sprain and illusions, curls up near Kazuki’s pack.

  Kazuki tries to rest but can’t. Across the embers of the little fire, he sees her sleeping - she’s curled in on herself, looking small and vulnerable.

  Is her father the Fox King is truly the ruler of some magical kingdom? Everything in this world seems to have a catch.

  Eventually, he sleeps.

  They set out at dawn. Yua’s ankle is stiff, so she leans on Kazuki’s shoulder as they walk. Kuro mutters something about “playing the princess,” but Kazuki ignores it.

  By midday, they reach a rural dirt road. Soon the farmland is behind them; the mountains loom to the east.

  Yua keeps insisting the journey will take “two days” but to Kazuki, it feels they’re not making enough progress. Her limp is slowing them. Beyond that, every hour or so, Yua finds something new to critique about Fleet. At first he takes it all with a smile but after a while Kazuki’s friend is looking more dejected than Kazuki has ever seen him.

  At one point, Yua complains, “You don’t even know the five secret calls of illusions, do you?”

  Fleet flushes. “I know some.”

  “Then who taught you?”

  Kazuki tries to intervene. “Hey, Yua, ease up.”

  Yua just crosses her arms. “Fine. I’m just trying to help”

  Kuro, meandering behind them, smirks. “Let them bicker. They’ll be in love by next year anyway. It's obvious.”

  ---

  Night falls again, and they camp on a gentle hillside. The sky is clear, moonlight bathing the slope in silver. They share some leftover dried fish and foraged mushrooms.

  A few hours later Kuro has vanished and Fleet is snoring softly by the campfire. Kazuki is cleaning his machetes when Yua sits on a fallen log at the edge of the firelight next to him. “Kazuki?” she says softly.

  “Yeah?”

  Her cheeks color. She nods toward the forest’s edge. "I... wanted to thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For saving me back there. I know Fleet and Kuro helped, but you were the one who destroyed that cage. Without you, I’d be a sacrifice.”

  Kazuki offers a small nod. “I couldn’t leave you. And anyway, you’ve helped us too. Those illusions nearly got us all out without a fight.”

  She flushes. “Yes, well, nearly. I still can’t believe that I tripped..”

  He can’t resist a slight smile. “You’re allowed to make mistakes. You’re only thirteen.”

  She huffs. “I can’t just be a clumsy child.”

  Kazuki softens. “I get it. There’s a lot of pressure on you.”

  They sit in silence for a moment, the moon bright overhead. Yua swallows, then lifts her gaze to him, eyes shining with intensity. “Once we reach my father’s kingdom, I want you to meet him. And… maybe you can stay there. You’re a cursed prince, after all. Doesn’t that just sound... right? The exiled prince finding refuge in the Fox Kingdom... like in the stories?"

  A wave of embarrassment washes over Kazuki. Her voice is so earnest - she really means it. “Yua, I appreciate it, but I’m not a real prince. And I have my own path. People I care about are still out there...”

  She takes a half-step closer. “I could help you. My magic is strong - stronger than you know.” She tries to keep her voice confident, but Kazuki hears the quiver beneath it. She’s just a lonely kid who admires him, or thinks she does. She’s latched onto the idea that he’s a storybook hero.

  Kazuki lays a hand gently on her shoulder. “I’m grateful. Let’s talk about it in the morning, okay? Get some rest.”

  For a second, Yua’s looks down; disappointment and pride pride. Then, she raises her chin. “All right.” She steps closer, fingertips brushing his sleeve. She hesitates - leaning in just slightly...

  Kazuki’s eyes widen. Is she - she’s leaning in to....

  A sudden crack rips the air. Splinters of bark explode from the pine trunk an inch from Yua’s head.

  Kazuki lunges, grabbing her by the shoulders and yanking her down behind the log. Another thunderclap and chunks of bark bursts on the tree behind them, leaves and wood chips flying.

  A bullet.

  [Warning: Hostile Presence Detected]

  [Tactical Suggestion: Run. Now.]

  ---

  [Achievement Unlocked: Love is a Battlefield]

  [Next Chapter: The Hunter in the Dark]

  Thanks for reading!

  New chapter every day at 9:07 EST.

  If you’re enjoying the story, please consider leaving a review, rating, or comment—it really helps!

  Who is hunting them?

  Drop your theories in the comments—I read every one.