It seemed like any ordinary day the sun was shining and the sea was calm. Nobody would ever guess that today would be the start of so much suffering not even the priestess of Ankoku temple Rao.
Many people would come to her for guidance or just to look at her good looks Rao despised it when men came just to seek a peak at her beauty.
She sometimes wished she wasn't so good looking so people would just come to her for advice or help, but that wish would never come true ever since she had eaten some mermaid meat accidentally when she was young and gained eternal life and beauty.
She regretted it now as she wasn't a vain person maybe this was curse it certainly seemed that way. As unfortunate as it was she had no time to worry about it, as more demons were appearing ever since the rumour that oni island had been sighted.
Could this be the reason that so many monsters were appearing? Rao shivered with fear. The bell rang another person ready to see her she sighed 'please come in' and instead of a man to Rao surprise there was a young girl maybe about seven or eight years of age ' are you lost sweetheart?' Rao asked wondering why a child would come into the temple.
The girl looked at Rao and her eyes started to well up with tears 'it's my mum miss Rao I think she may be dying' the young girl threw herself into the priestess arms 'I thought you could help her with your holy powers'. Rao put her hand on the girls' shoulders 'I will try my best take me to her and I'll see what I can do'
She followed the girl back into Sei-an City and into a small house were her mother lying on the floor she looked extremely ill Rao was worried that she hadn't made it in time, but she settled down to work 'you might want to go outside as I need concentration' all of a sudden the girl's mother coughed 'Sukai did you bring Rao?'
'Yes mom' Sukai wept 'good girl' replied to her mother and then she turned to Rao 'dear priestess I have to warn you about a vision I had about the dark lord he is searching for the fox rods if he finds them, then his power will be restored' she then coughed for the last time and slowly died.
'Mum' Sukai cried 'I'm sorry she's gone she was so near death none of my holy powers would have worked' Rao eyes were also filling up with tears she had seen this happen before, but for it to happen to a young child was so heart breaking. ' What should I do now?' Sukai was looking at her mother 'should I go to kusa village and seek out my auntie oh what should I do miss Rao? '
The decision was obvious it was far too dangerous to leave Sukai here, although Kusa village was a long way off unless you used a mermaid coin. Yes that was it Rao turned to Sukai 'do you have a mermaid coin on you?' 'no why?' asked Sukai looking puzzled
'Mermaid Springs are divine portals that allow deportation between they are found in lakes except that the portal is visible as swirling green hoops on the surface of the water' explained Rao 'by tossing in a mermaid coin you could go to taka pass the spring is right next to the entrance to kusa village you may have mine' she handed the mermaid coin to Sukai and lead her to the mermaid spring
When they arrived at the spring Rao hugged her 'good luck Sukai I am sorry I couldn't help your mom' 'Thank you miss Rao' sobbed Sukai as she threw the coin into the spring and went through the gate in Taka Pass. 'I hope she will be safe' worried the priestesses, she heard a bell ring in the distance that meant it was time for one her lectures. She quickly hurried across to temple not noticing she was being watched by a fox faced man 'so this is Rao is it she be a perfect tool for me to find those fox rods and kill queen Himiko' no question about it this was the master of oni island
Author note Part 2 will be coming on soon