It took a moment to grasp the consequences of what was just revealed. At first he thought of Onyx, but then he realized that his brother was several centuries younger than him, and as such couldn't be this sibling mentioned.
His throat ran dry when the full weight of what was revealed sunk in.
"Are.... are you saying I have a t-twin?!" Stuttered Leyocan.
"A sister, yes. After you and your sister was discovered, their clan and ours debated what we should do with the children.
We eventually reached a compromise, the male child would be returned to my clan, while the daughter would be raised by the sisterhood.
I tried to secure custody of you both, but both clans didn't want a Nogitsune raising a Kitsune.
A sinking feeling suddenly formed in Leyocan's gut.
"Celestial!! Is she...?"
His father chuckled in response.
"Would that have made my refusal to accept your relationship easier for you to bare?You need not worry, son.
I looked into her origins when I first heard about her.She's the biological daughter of the former Matriarch and an elf.
Who are both from a completely different clan than your mother. So you and your childhood sweetheart are safe on that front. " Explained his father.
Leyocan breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Why didn't you tell us all this sooner?" Asked Leyocan irritability.
"My plan was to tell you all of this once I relinquished control of the clan to you, but then our feud started up and we haven't seen each other in centuries. "
"You could have sought me out!" Said Leyocan.
"Would you have listened if I came to your doorstep unannounced?" Retorted his father.
"... no... I'd have probably sent you away..." said Leyocan.
His father nodded.
"How much do you know about the Nine Tails and the throne?"
"The throne of Lupinos and Jinko?
It's stood empty since their original occupants died. Waiting for the next Nine Tails to be revealed. It's nothing more than ancient myth.
There's never been a Nine Tails born after them and even the remains of the original has never been found." Explained Leyocan.
"Follow me." Said his father.
He led him down into the cellar.
Which was mostly filled with junk and the occasional perserved food.
Leyocan couldn't understand why his father would bring him here.
Until his father pulled on a torch on the wall.
A secret door opened up, revealing what Leyocan identified as some kind of ancestral shrine. Several murals were located around the small room, depicted what Leyocan assumed was the deeds of it's occupant.
It was custom among both Nogitsune and Kitsune to enshrine the remains of truly notable figures amongst their race.
Though they didn't technically worship these figures, they maintained such monuments in order to honor their deeds and to remember them throughout the ages.
Leyocan saw the body of a Nogitsune wrapped up in bandages and carefully preserved behind a pane of glass. First thing he noticed was the tails, nine of them specifically.
"Is that....!!" Exclaimed Leyocan.
"Lupinos? Yes. Our family is a direct descendant of him, it has been our family's sacred duty to protect and maintain his shrine since his passing.
When a Sensei of our family becomes too old to continue leading the clan, he retires and takes on the duties of shrine keeper.
I inherited this position from my own father a century ago when I handed control of my clan to your brother. My wish was always that you should take my place." Said his father.
Leyocan frowned.
"Shouldn't Onyx also be here for this? He's the clan leader now? Isn't he expected to take your place as shrine keeper when he retires?" Asked Leyocan.
"I love your brother, and I'll tell him.all of this when the time is right. Normally this isn't revealed to anyone until they take up the shrine duties. But your circumstances are unique because of what you are." Explained his father.
"What am I exactly?" Asked Leyocan.
The twin thrones of our kind has stood empty all these years as you are aware. Waiting for a Nine Tails to appear. Nine Tailed Nogitsune and Kitsune only forms from a union between our two halves. They are extremely rare, in fact, I'm only aware of two right now. "
"You're not seriously suggesting..." started Leyocan.
"That you and your sister are Nine Tails? That's exactly what I'm saying. "
Leyocan shook his head.
"You need to learn to count, father.
I don't have Nine Tails. " said Leyocan.
"Not yet, but you carry the gene.
I suspect that you will grow into it in time." Added his father.
He gestured towards the murals on the wall.
"These depict events that have not yet happened. It foretell a catastrophe will strike our race, but that Lupinos and Jinko reborn will unite our two halves and combat it.
I suspect that the figures mentioned in the prophecy are you and your sister."
"This is crazy, father! Me? Lupinos reborn?
I can't be the only 9 tails out there!?" Exclaimed Leyocan.
His father shook his head.
"The prophecy is pretty detailed.
Some of the events foreseen has already happened to you.You are the figure prophesied in the murals, I have no doubts. "
Leyocan couldn't believe this.
He came here to apologize to his father, only to have a mountain sized destiny dropped on his lap. This was too much to take in at once.
"I'm leaving!!" Said Leyocan as he started to walk away.
"Leyocan wait!!" Called his father.
He ignored him and continued walking.
"Your sister might be in danger!!"
Leyocan stopped dead in his tracks.
He cursed to himself before turning around.
"What have you heard?!" Growled Leyocan.
"Nothing! And that is what worries me!
After she was taken from me, I tried to keep tabs on her. But she simply vanished without a trace.
No news about her exploits. No home address, no friends or caretakers.
It's like she never existed. " Added his father.
"That doesn't mean she's in danger!
She could just be living the quiet life!" Explained Leyocan.
"Your mother's clan was the Shadow Mantis clan, boy!!"
Leyocan's heart immediately sank when he heard that name.