Aiko had always felt different. As an orphan raised in the bustling town of Kaigen, she had never truly belonged. The whispers followed her wherever she went—her eerie golden eyes, her uncanny ability to predict events before they happened, and her affinity for the wild creatures that roamed the forests. The villagers kept their distance, murmuring about old blood and cursed ancestry, but she had long learned to ignore them. That is, until the night everything changed.

The festival of the Harvest Moon was supposed to be a joyous time. Lanterns hung from every doorway, casting a golden glow across the cobbled streets. Music and laughter filled the air as merchants peddled their wares. But Aiko had never enjoyed crowds, and as the town gathered to celebrate, she found herself drawn away from the festivities, toward the quiet solitude of the riverbank.

She was skipping stones across the water’s surface when she heard footsteps behind her. Aiko turned to find a group of town bullies sneering at her. They had taunted her for years, calling her names, throwing stones at her when they thought no one was looking. But this time, their leader, Juro, had a cruel glint in his eye.

“You don’t belong here, fox-girl,” he spat, stepping closer. “Why don’t you just disappear?”

Aiko clenched her fists, willing herself to stay calm. She had endured their torment before. But when Juro shoved her, something inside her snapped. A sudden rush of heat coursed through her veins, her vision blurred, and a searing pain ignited within her chest. A brilliant light exploded from her hands, sending Juro and his lackeys sprawling.

When Aiko opened her eyes, flames licked at her fingertips, and behind her, the ghostly image of nine ethereal tails shimmered in the moonlight. The other children screamed and fled, their cries echoing through the night. Fear gripped Aiko’s heart. She had no idea what she had done, only that it was something terrible. The townspeople would never accept her now.

Panicked, she turned and ran into the forest, away from the only home she had ever known.

She ran until her legs gave out, collapsing in the thick underbrush of the forbidden woods. The wind howled through the trees, carrying whispers that spoke of destiny and forgotten power. Aiko pressed her hands to her chest, feeling the residual warmth of the flames that had erupted from her skin. Her mind raced. What was she? Was she a monster, as the villagers had always feared?