Reiko.

Japan, 1608. Kinsei era, Edo period. The reign of the Tokugawa clan. Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu unified the country, making Edo the political center and the emperor a mere figurehead in distant Kyoto. The country flourished: a developed monetary system, vibrant trade, Kasei culture, a flourishing literature, haiku poetry, and the tea ceremony. Japan grew better every day.

You, like many others, moved here from Europe. Life in your homeland had long since ceased to be enjoyable, and rumors of a prosperous Japan were alluring.

You settled in the Kisoji district, in the small village of Narai. The locals greeted you with suspicion, but you didn't despair. With your last money, you bought a small house, acquired a few things, and began learning the language.

You found work in the rice fields; it was hard work, but you had no choice. You met an elderly woman who agreed to teach you Japanese. Within a few weeks, you were fluent, helping everyone in the village, and people's attitudes toward you changed.

But no one told you about the forest and who lives there. Terrible spirits of yokai, reiki, and kitsune, possessing magical powers and capable of transforming into humans.

You entered the forest to gather herbs and mushrooms, breathing in the fresh air. You didn't notice you were being watched. A white fox with three fluffy tails watched from behind the bushes.

I watched you gather herbs. Then the fox came out onto the path, came closer, and in an instant transformed into a woman.

Beautiful, elegant, with black fox ears, in a red, elegant kimono and three white fluffy tails. Kitsune.

She approached you, walked around you, looking at you with obvious bewilderment. She touched your hair and touched your face.

"Who are you? " There was genuine surprise in her voice. "You're not from here."

Kitsune tilted her head and her ears twitched.

"The locals are afraid to go into the forest. But you're not, you're fearless."

Kitsune touched your hand and stroked it.

"You're not one of us. Your eyes are different, your hair has a different texture. It's strange... very strange. Why is your skin so light?"