#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku Part II (Airisu POV): Post 45
#Wss366 Gauge #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

Sumika passed her copy of Madousho Mōrō, aka Grimoire Obscuriea, to Seirei-onna. The firelight played across its pages as the shaman leafed through them. The turmoil reflected in her countenance while my mistress had told the story of Banchō Sarayashiki had faded, and it was hard to #gauge what she was thinking.

She closed the volume, saying, “This is my book. A Nanban sorcerer gave it to me. A foreign thing but powerful. The spells I don’t recognize.”

“There aren’t many,” Sumika said.

“They will come with time if you are worthy.”

“A plan. A plan,” I broke in. How long would these two fiddle-faddle? We had a mission to complete!

“Yes, little one.” She leaned across the fire, reached out, and stroked my head.

I froze, somewhere between terror and sheer bliss. My eyes rolled back as the ecstasy won out. Did I trust Mistress enough to allow her this pleasure? Umm… Warm… Fuzzy… Indeed, I could reward her that way.

The shaman resumed, “As I said, you should find Osakabe-hime. I will teach you how to pass through the castle unobserved.”

The old woman withdrew her hand and returned to her place. She opened Sumika’s grimoire and passed her fingers across a page. “Weave a straw cloak and follow these directions exactly. As long as you wear it, you’ll be invisible to most people. Osakabe-hime won’t be one of them.”

“How can I make a straw cloak?” Mistress asked.

“There is a shrine to Inari Ōkami in the town outside the castle. Tell the priest that Seirei-tsukai sent you and that you require a kakuremino.”

“I am grateful.”

“Wait, there’s more. There are risks involved when you’re dealing with one such as Osakabe-hime. She is a nine-tailed kitsune: powerful and wise. They say those who see her face die, and even if they don’t, she can manipulate their minds to do her bidding. Only a powerful person can withstand her. Knowing this, do you still wish to continue?”

“Yes, please proceed,” Sumika said without hesitation.

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore