1 The Legend (1)

Every state had its own beliefs, tales, and legends.

In an empire called Zeph, there was a wide-known legend that made its way through generations. This legend told the story of a prince inheriting the seat of a monarch and a fox spirit of a temple.

According to the legend, the prince of the Zeph Empire was weak and docile, yet his father, the emperor, crowned him. Because the crowned prince was like putty in one's hands, the vassals of the emperor doubted his abilities to rule the empire.

The prince grew weary of the people's uncertainty. He thought of a way to flaunt his strength and gain their trust: taking part in the yearly monster-hunting competition.

He was confident, but not brave enough to strike a blade on a monster's neck. Downhearted, he tried to return and withdraw from the competition but got lost in the wild forest of Zeph.

Time went by, the sun hid under the horizon and the full moon reigned. The poor crowned prince was cowering as he took shade in a cave temple. He knelt, prayed to the spirits all night for protection.

"Quiet, human! You're disturbing my sleep!" answered a voice.

The crowned prince quivered upon hearing the yell. He thought an intelligent monster followed him inside the cave temple. However, when the full moon's light gleamed from the immense hole of the cave's ceiling and lit up the temple, the crowned prince saw the spirit of greed.

The fox spirit.

The crowned prince was lucky to see a supernatural being. After all, spirits only visit the human world in 12 full moons a year.

He wished for the spirit of greed for protection, but the fox spirit only laughed at him. "...I can't give you protection without a condition," she said, "Pass me your most precious item, and I'll grant your desire."

So the crowned prince gave her a ring: it was the royal family's heirloom.

"You wished for protection, but I see something in you differently," voiced the fox spirit, accepting the prince's ring. She wagged her nine tails and declared, "Since I'm bored, I will not only give you protection, but I shall also help you with your deepest desire. Expect to be severely punished if you fail this condition, as I grant your greed. Ready your ears, because I will only say it once."

The fox spirit pointed her index finger that had a sharp nail at the prince. "You shall visit me in the following 11 full moons. If you fail, one of your descendants will come across a war that will bring tragedy to your empire. He will slowly lose everything till the root. In the spirit world, you went, you will watch your empire crumble to thousands of pieces."

The fox spirit flashed a smile that reached her eyes. "You shall mark my words because this is my condition." A red light glimmered from her finger, floated toward the prince, and kissed his forehead.

Within a second, he fell asleep.

As the night passed and the sun reigned the horizon again, the crowned prince walked back to the royal palace without encountering a breathing monster in the wild forest of Zeph. All by the fox spirit's guidance.

But before he could leave the cave temple, the fox spirit advised him to the first dead monster he would see in his way. So the crowned prince did.

He returned home with the first lifeless monster he spotted: a green dragon. Because of this, he could not please the emperor and his vassals.

"The fox spirit knew his selfish desire in one glance," the wizard, Draz Willian read the last line on the page. "Amazed, the crown prince recalled the fox spirit's condition. Hence, he waited a month for the next full moon to meet her—"

A loud thud interrupted the wizard's storytelling. Everyone sitting at a long table placed in the middle of the council chamber flinched in fright. There were members of the intelligence, military, and finance council present in the meeting.

"We don't have time to hear this unauthenticated story! We should talk about the ongoing war!" yelled Leofric Alexander sitting on the other side of the long table. His pair of eyes blazing red aggravated the tension.

"Y-Your Majesty, doesn't the condition of the fox spirit apply to our time? If we met the fox spirit again, we might—"

"A legend is a legend. It is not proven, wizard," Leofric answered.

With the legend book in his hand, Draz discussed, "Your Majesty, there is a record that a royal family's heirloom went missing in the similar period the late emperor brought home a green dragon! There is no hurt believing! This is our only resort! Please hear this legend, Emperor Leofric!"

"Then, tell me about your little plan. Is it to look for the invisible cave?" snorted Leofric. A corner of his lips curled up, yet his amusement didn't reach his eyes. "The legend's truth-seekers have never seen a single spirit temple. The 7 spirits are all but myths."

"Your Majesty, we worship the 3 holders of the 4 elements who created the 7 spirits," Draz argued. He shared gazes with the emperor. Instantly, he felt a cold sweat run down his forehead.

"...I don't worship anyone." Emperor Leofric's short mutter sounded firm.

All went silent. They had no intention of participating in the conversation. Except for Duke Truman Mullins of the finance council.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty. I believe His Majesty, the late emperor, had really met the fox spirit. It might happen that greed consumed His Majesty," Truman trailed. "And evidently, the legend's truth-seekers couldn't see the fox spirit because they do not show an intense desire within them. Especially hunger for wealth or power."

The rest of the members of the councils landed their eyes at Duke Truman. Some showed terror in their faces, while others thought Truman was foolish. What did he know about legends when he should be busy auditing budgets for the war?

"Are these your words telling me that the late emperor was greedy for power?"

"...I have no intentions to offend you, Your Majesty. But that is the fact," Truman said. "We know when the late emperor was the Crowned Prince, he was a docile royal member. If he hadn't brought home a green dragon, the Second Prince would have stolen his title and became the new heir for the throne."

Emperor Leofric pressed his lips. He couldn't bring himself to agree with Duke Truman, although what he said was true.

"Even after successfully ascending on the throne, the late emperor's wife, the Empress, became the first Empress Regnant in history. She shared the same power as ruling the Zeph Empire because of the late emperor's incompetence and negligence to political and economic affairs," Truman chattered. "Your Majesty, I believe showing your greed for winning this ongoing war will be the ticket to see the fox spirit. We need strength from the strongest aide," Truman persuaded.