༄ Let's meet again...༄

༄ 49. The True Zodiac Story

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A man, later to be called "God", had lived on top of a mountain for several years, all alone. The man had lived a thousand lifetimes and possessed a thousand different powers. Since God knew he was not like the humans at all, he came to fear them, specifically to get hurt by them.
But then, one day, a cat and fox came to visit. The man was very shocked by the sudden visitors. The cat confessed that he had been watching the man quite some time, and that he couldn't help but be drawn to him. He expressed his desire to stay by the man's side. The fox confessed that she had seen his future, and that she couldn't help but pity him. She expressed als her desire to stay by the man's side to change his future. And so, the cat and the fox held their words and never left the man's side. This made the man very happy.

Eventually, the other animals, those who are considered part of the Chinese zodiac, went to see the man. After that occasion, the fourteen animals and the man would have a banquet every night the moon shone. In their banquets, they all had a great time, as they sang, danced, and laughed.

But one night, the cat and the fox suddenly collapsed. "God" and all the other animals were devastated and it made them realize that all living things were destined to die, and that their wonderful banquets would eventually end. "God", not wanting their friendship or banquet to end, and only yearning to make their bond last for eternities, created a spell by drawing a circle in a cup of water with his finger. This drink, later revealed to a spell which would make their friendships last for all eternity, that they would be reborn and no matter how many times they were reborn the bond of their friendship would remain.

"God" had the cat and the fox, still unconscious, drink it first without telling them what it was. All the other animals drank the spell willingly, the Rat going first. However, the cat briefly regained consciousness and was devastated by the fact that he was forced to drink the spell-water. He explained that he didn't want to be reborn for all eternity, and was steadfast in his belief that all things must come to an end. After saying his piece, the cat passed away. After that the fox woke up, who was furious that she had drunk the spell-water against her will. She tried to cast a curse spell which she learned by the holy God named Inari. Unfortunately, the spell backfired and made all her descendants receiving the backlash. The other animals, however, neither wanted to hear to the cat's wisdom nor acknowledged the fox's curse and had already made up their minds that the cat and the fox had betrayed them.

And at last, the day came when "God" too left this world. However, he was not afraid because of the promise they had all made so many years ago. He knew that his friends, the animals, would wait for him and that all of them would be reunited.

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