Page 61 of Foxes of Legend

I was sweating and covered with soot several hours later as we whacked at the metal. With their diligent help, and the magical heat of the Forgefire, the weapon began to take shape over the next day.

Once we achieved the general proportions of the sword, we smoothed it out and added the handguard. I carefully wrapped the hilt with black string and attached the pommel.

The weekend had flown by as my katana reached its finished form.

“You did well,” Kairos said, placing a hand on my shoulder as we admired the weapon together. The blade wasn’t perfectly smooth or even, but it was a real weapon.

“You’re stronger than you look, little fox,” Enko said.

Seven scoffed, taking the weapon as he examined it. “It will do, I suppose, as a first weapon.”

I took it back and secured it to my belt loop until I could get a sheath. Once I bound the weapon to me, I would be able to carry it in fox form, wrapping magic around me to secure the weapon.

It was stunning, the metal gleamed a bright silver white.

“Now you have to imbue it, infuse your magic within it, allowing you to carry your weapon in all forms. You will bond your magic with your weapon’s metal,” Kairos said delicately. “We need to be in the shrine.”

It was a short walk across the temple to the goddess’ shrine. The shrine’s white marble reflected the lights above. The Holy Foxes bowed as we entered. One asked, “Are you here to perform the ritual?”

We nodded. “We will guard the door until you are finished.” They bowed again, closing the door silently behind them. The process was a well-kept secret by kitsune. Even after growing up in a temple and reading a thousand books, I didn’t know the exact procedure.

Enko shook his head. “I can’t watch.”

“Enko—” Kairos began before Enko closed the door behind him. “Seven, do you have the medical kit?”

Seven held up a black bag.

“You’ll have to slice your hand along the edge of the blade. Then rub in your blood to the metal and shift into fox form while holding the blade. Can you do all that?”

“Coat your blade well or you’ll have an Achilles heel,” Seven hissed from right behind my ear, my hair tickling my neck, startling me and almost beginning the ritual.

“What if I can’t shift again?”

Kairos stepped up to my side, nodding at me. “We’re right here if you need us, Dove. Now that you’ve shifted once, all you have to do is call that magic back.”

“It’s more like a spirit,” Seven said. “Certain emotions that appeal to you.”

“Are you ready?”

“I think so,” I said, turning to face the goddess as my grip hovered around the blade.

With a gulp, I stared into the eyes of the statue of the goddess, gripping the blade tightly. The warmth of the blood oozed out. The blood dripped down the handle to the white floors. Each drop crashing and sounding off. My breathing sped up, sweat beading on my forehead, the statue of the goddess swayed.

Kairos and Seven gripped me from both sides. “You did the hard part, rub the blood into the metal and shift.”

“Stay with us. Finish the ritual.” I couldn’t tell who was talking, when I looked at their mouths, they weren’t moving. Nauseating dizziness consumed me. Taking a deep breath, I coated the blade, held the handle.

I can do this.

I closed my eyes and summoned that warm fuzzy feeling. I opened my eyes, expecting to see nothing, but the entire room glowed brightly with my magic flooding into the sword. I hadn’t felt it releasing.

I shrank down in size, my glowing white paws covered in my own blood.

The katana was missing, but I could sense it attached to me. It pulsed as though it had a life of its own, begging for me to kill something.

37

Dove

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