![[Image: header_2_backup.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/869663908120641568/965121869575520326/header_2_backup.png)
Time had passed since that night. In keeping with their practices, they could not banish Xhu entirely from the family. She had nowhere to go, after all, being but a young child. This lead to a life of passivity, but not for very long. After all, she had been stripped of her last name- any connection to her family and the fortune they had amassed. Instead, she was kept amidst them as a 'retainer.' Due to her pursuit of forbidden magics and the omen left by the old woman, she was condemned, and treated harshly by her family. Her mother and father looked upon her with disgust. Those outside of the family who had previously shown her kindness had turned on her. The worst offender was her sister, who's shared upbringing with her sister no longer meant anything.
She was cursed- cursed to live a life as the Black Fox of her family. The girl was desperate, clinging to any sort of familial warmth that she could. Her hard work could not lead to her dismissal of status. So, in an act of righteous rebellion, she returned to the secret shrine of the Illuminated, sneaking past her enemies as he made her way to the vault. It's unknown exactly what she unearthed. As she emerged from the tomb, wielding a talisman and clutching a strange tome to her chest, she happens upon a desolate shrine, burned to the ground and kindled with strange, unending fire.
For many, the story ends there. The Illuminated mark it off as a dark secret that was buried away with whatever else Xhu had discovered. The Black Fox had enacted it's revenge, and as a result, was cast out. But you and I- we know better... don't we? We know that the cruelty of fate plays tricks in ways that we could never imagine.
It's true- Xhu Lam had stumbled upon the desolation of one of the largest Illuminated shrines. But she was not the cause. The young girl could barely manifest basic magic, so something of this caliber was far out of her reach. She rustled through the grounds, seeking out survivors and attempting to aid those who had fallen- the mistake that'd cause her to be judged as guilty in the first place. And yet, the Black Fox did not hesitate for one moment to practice the principles that she had been taught through her childhood. As she approaches the entrance, suffocating from the smoke that had been developing, she stumbles upon but one other.
The old hag- the same that had caused her prophecy.
She had so many questions. Far too many that couldn't be answered in a timely manner. But before she could ask any of them, the hag absconded in a surge of flames, leaving Xhu standing there with the looted relics.
Just as the Illuminated priests, shrine maidens and her family arrives.
To them, she had proven them right. The Black Fox brought nothing but despair to the family, and deserved no quarter. She was beaten, and tossed in a well. She was forced to eat slop, garbage, and... other unspeakable things that had left the sewer line. Her body was intended to serve as the cut-off point between the clean well-water and the sewer-line. If the villagers discovered dirt or grime in their drinking water, she would be doused with pebbles, or scalding-hot water... The forbidden magics she was practicing were stripped from her, along with her dignity.
In darkness she sat for a long, long time. Those who'd approach for well water would hurl insults to her, or drop pollutive substances down the well, leading to further punishment on her behalf. It wasn't until a group of children came by the well. They intended to pull a prank on her, but down below, they could hear the Black Fox whispering something- speaking to... someone.
. . . . . . . . . .
The next day,
the well had erupted, and the Black Fox was nowhere to be found,
along with several scrolls of forbidden scripture and talismans used for the channeling of magic.
She was cursed- cursed to live a life as the Black Fox of her family. The girl was desperate, clinging to any sort of familial warmth that she could. Her hard work could not lead to her dismissal of status. So, in an act of righteous rebellion, she returned to the secret shrine of the Illuminated, sneaking past her enemies as he made her way to the vault. It's unknown exactly what she unearthed. As she emerged from the tomb, wielding a talisman and clutching a strange tome to her chest, she happens upon a desolate shrine, burned to the ground and kindled with strange, unending fire.
For many, the story ends there. The Illuminated mark it off as a dark secret that was buried away with whatever else Xhu had discovered. The Black Fox had enacted it's revenge, and as a result, was cast out. But you and I- we know better... don't we? We know that the cruelty of fate plays tricks in ways that we could never imagine.
It's true- Xhu Lam had stumbled upon the desolation of one of the largest Illuminated shrines. But she was not the cause. The young girl could barely manifest basic magic, so something of this caliber was far out of her reach. She rustled through the grounds, seeking out survivors and attempting to aid those who had fallen- the mistake that'd cause her to be judged as guilty in the first place. And yet, the Black Fox did not hesitate for one moment to practice the principles that she had been taught through her childhood. As she approaches the entrance, suffocating from the smoke that had been developing, she stumbles upon but one other.
The old hag- the same that had caused her prophecy.
She had so many questions. Far too many that couldn't be answered in a timely manner. But before she could ask any of them, the hag absconded in a surge of flames, leaving Xhu standing there with the looted relics.
Just as the Illuminated priests, shrine maidens and her family arrives.
To them, she had proven them right. The Black Fox brought nothing but despair to the family, and deserved no quarter. She was beaten, and tossed in a well. She was forced to eat slop, garbage, and... other unspeakable things that had left the sewer line. Her body was intended to serve as the cut-off point between the clean well-water and the sewer-line. If the villagers discovered dirt or grime in their drinking water, she would be doused with pebbles, or scalding-hot water... The forbidden magics she was practicing were stripped from her, along with her dignity.
In darkness she sat for a long, long time. Those who'd approach for well water would hurl insults to her, or drop pollutive substances down the well, leading to further punishment on her behalf. It wasn't until a group of children came by the well. They intended to pull a prank on her, but down below, they could hear the Black Fox whispering something- speaking to... someone.
. . . . . . . . . .
The next day,
the well had erupted, and the Black Fox was nowhere to be found,
along with several scrolls of forbidden scripture and talismans used for the channeling of magic.
![[Image: to_be_continued_text.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/856289662398496819/964697980827500554/to_be_continued_text.png)
how scary!
could it be that the Black Fox was a witch all along?
an occultist? a true curse?
how interesting... how interesting!!
rhe rest of this is forbidden knowledge, so I'll need you to be quiet, okay?
no telling. cross your heart and hope to die.
could it be that the Black Fox was a witch all along?
an occultist? a true curse?
how interesting... how interesting!!
rhe rest of this is forbidden knowledge, so I'll need you to be quiet, okay?
no telling. cross your heart and hope to die.