Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Me and your father fought with all our might to get you back. It was a close thing, but we managed to get the upper hand, and performed a quick banishment ritual, sealing her somewhere far away from you. Little did we know that…you had already swallowed the marble.”</span>
You placed a hand over your mouth and recounted everything you knew about Kumiho lore.
<span class="mu-s">“But…if a human swallows a fox marble, they only have one year left to live before…”</span>
Your mother nodded gravely.
<span class="mu-r">“You were dying. We only had a year left to save you, and the only one capable of removing the marble had just been banished to another plane.”</span> she confirmed. <span class="mu-r">“During that one year, we traveled the world, searching high and low for a solution to our problem. And it was only in the last four months that we discovered an experimental procedure that had a chance of saving your life.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“That’s what you meant when you said you ‘almost lost me’?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Yes. That was the single most terrifying experience of my life, Cindy. When I thought that I might lose you, I…”</span>
Your mother broke off suddenly, momentarily overcome with emotion. You squeezed her hand reassuringly, and she knelt down to meet you at eye level.
<span class="mu-r">“We needed to take any chance that we could get. You must understand-”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“What kind of procedure was it?”</span> you asked, your voice sounding a bit frail to your ears.
<span class="mu-r">“It was a ritual that mixed experimental medicine and oriental magic. In theory, it was supposed to alter the nature of your body and spirit to accommodate for the fox demon’s power still dwelling within you. And the only way to accomplish that was to-”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“Make me into a Kumiho.”</span> you concluded. <span class="mu-s">“So…I’m half fox spirit…?”</span>
She nodded hesitantly.
<span class="mu-r">“Yes. But the ritual wasn’t entirely successful. There were…unforeseen consequences. The animal urges of the Kumiho, and the vast spiritual power that you had inherited was proving too much for your small body.”</span> she explained. <span class="mu-r">“We couldn’t undo the ritual without further risk to your health, and we now had another problem to solve. That’s when I found out about the Cult of Khonshu. His worshippers spoke of a god that could communicate with and tame wild beasts…”</span>
Your eyes widened when you realized where she was going with this.
<span class="mu-s">“You…is that the <span class="mu-i">whole</span> reason we joined the church? You were doing it all for me?”</span>
She grabbed the back of your head and pulled your head towards hers until your foreheads were touching.
<span class="mu-r">“I would do anything for you. Every day I spent with you was a gift. I am, at the very least grateful to Khonshu for that, and that alone.”</span>
You had to wrestle down a fresh wave of emotion after hearing your mom say something so profoundly heartfelt, without any hesitation or embarrassment.
There was only one question you had left. You had to ask, even if it would only result in an argument. You had to know.
(Cont.)
