As they stepped out of the car, Ran took a moment to look around. They were in Okiwa City, the main city outside their village.
Off to the west he could see the high-rise tower of Kaitosan Industries, but right before him was Okiwa University.
Okiwa University was huge, equally the size of four stadiums, and that was just the campus grounds.
His father led them to the administration building where they took a lift to Prof. Ikira's office.
When they reached the floor, Kenija waved for them to go ahead, gesturing at a door at the far end of an open corridor.
Ran took the lead and walked straight ahead. When he reached there, he knocked and opened the door.
As they stepped into the office, the view around then changed and each of them heard heavy breathing above them.
They exchanged looks in confusion and panic. The breathing sounded guttural, loud like the low rumble of a thunder, and worst of all there was something about it that sounded primal.
They looked up and right above them was a Kin-damned kaiju staring down at them, its buffalo sized nose flaring as it sniffed them.
And then it met their eyes, its abyssal jaws opened to reveal a jutting mass of jagged, colossal teeth surrounding the void that was its mouth.
"Run," Ran called out and took off at once, pulling Kigana with him as Haru followed immediately at his call.
The room seemed to go on and on. It was huge, too big. They ran until they broke sweat, heavy footfalls of the monster following them tirelessly and getting louder as it gained on them.
Ran was just turning around to fight back when the environment faded out of sight.
The trio of friends found themselves standing in the middle of a small office, but they were not alone.
Watching them were Kenija, a young teen with baby pink hair, and a ghostly dog.
The teen stepped up to them but Ran only had eyes for the dog.
"Sorry about that. My father can be a prick sometimes, and yes I said that. Anyway, I'm Erisa Ikira, foster daughter of the man-baby over there."
He continued to watch the dog, realising what it was. It was a Tanuki, a Raccoon Dog Spirits.
Tanuki were yōkai known for their mischievous nature and association with abundance and trickery.
They can live extraordinarily long lives, especially powerful ones. Their spiritual nature gave them a form of enduring existence beyond mortal lifespans.
They were also master shapeshifters, and were often depicted transforming into humans, objects, or even inanimate items like teapots or statues to prank or interact with humans. Their transformations were often for playful or comedic purposes but could be deceptive.
But their most deceptive power was to create illusions and temporary manifestations, often through their Kin abilities. In some stories, they use their shape-changing powers to appear in multiple forms simultaneously or create deceptive duplicates to confuse others.
Their ability to stretch their bodies can also mimic the effect of creating extensions or copies of themselves.
Myth and Folktales had lots of stories that featured a tanuki transforming into a teapot, an evil spirit, and other things. They are also known for creating illusory feasts or objects, which was a form of duplicating their presence and influence.
His father had claimed Prof. Ikira was a Tanuki and here was a Tanuki right before him, and Tanukis were known to play pranks on people.
It seemed like they had just fallen for a Tanuki prank. In folktales, tanukis would create illusory doubles or transform into multiple objects to trick humans, popularly in stories where they hosted fake feasts or appeared as multiple figures to confuse villagers.
Ran sighed as the dog spirit transformed into a middle-aged, white-haired man who walked up to him with giddy footsteps.
"Era Ikira," he said, stretching out his hand.
Ran knew better than to give a Tanuki his hand or real name. He gave the man a bow. "Luce Morningstar, but you can call me Ruusu or Hikaru."
From behind, Ran heard Haru whispering to Kigana.
"We are putting him against Prof. Matsuda? Why do I feel like I should pity that evil man?" the Acolyte asked, shaking his head.
"It is nothing less than what he deserves," Kigana hissed in spite.
"We can't agree more on anything else," Haru concurred.
"Interesting name," the man said, staring at Ran deeply. "Hmmm, what is this I sense about you."
The man closed his eyes and then they lost him as he started mumbling to himself.
"Ah, the aura of a Queen of the Fairies in….hmmm…quite a powerful fey figure with a range of Kin abilities… consumed by a role as a ruler of the fairy realm… powers reflect her status as a near-divine embodiment of nature, beauty, and fey kin…. of great powers, depicted in folklore, poetic portrayals, and even modern fantasy interpretations. Interesting."
Ran raised his eyebrow as the man continued.
"Strong nature manipulation…dominion over the natural world, particularly flora and fauna in the fairy realm… ah the Feywild…. can influence seasons, weather, and plant growth, reflecting her deep connection to nature… use emotional state to disrupt the natural order, causing seasonal chaos...floods, failed harvests. Her anger can ignite wildfires, aaannd her joy can make fruits ripen instantly…summon vines, flowers, and storms at will…reshape landscapes to reflect her mood or desires….protector of the natural world and a goddess-like figure among the fey… wields powerful enchantment kin and charms, capable of influencing emotions, perceptions, and behaviors of both mortals and fey. Her charms can inspire love, obedience, or confusion…hmmm, naughty woman…"
Ran gaped at the man as he sniffed him moment by moment and continued to describe his mother to a T.
"Oh, now isn't this sexy…her presence is inherently captivating, a latent charm ability that can entrance. Her beauty and aura alone sway those around her… She can charm people, bind minds, dominate monsters, command fate just by bending others to her will with a plot or word. Now that I want. Ohhooo, and her enchantment powers make her a master manipulator, able to maintain harmony or sow discord in her court… Sounds like my perfect woman. We even match…she can create illusions to deceive or dazzle and can transform her appearance or that of others. We align, mine and her Fey trickster nature and our ability to obscure reality. She can be a radiant queen today or a humble maiden tomorrow to test mortals or interact with Kurana… She can alter appearances and also create dreamlike illusions, enhancing her mystique…. She just keeps sounding even more perfect and perfect…and lovely humor too… She's fond of using illusions to cloak her court in glamour and transforming her enemies into harmless creatures….she a queen of secrecy and mystique, a legend of the Fey realm. She's–"
Ran's eyes widened just at that very moment as he realized what the man was about to do.
He had his mouth already open before he realized it, but it was too late.
Before he could even get air out, much less a word, the damn Tanuki spoke a name that should never be spoken.
"Titania, Queen of the Feys."