Two weeks had passed since Dolo won his first major bet against his father.
In just two weeks, his tanuki body had grown impressively. He now took short but steady steps. Though he still spoke with some difficulty, he managed to form simple, clear sentences.
Later that morning, the whole family was heading to the Church of the Two Gods for the Blessing Ceremony.
As they entered the temple, a tall, elegant elf dressed in white and gold robes approached them with a serene smile. He had long, pointed ears and calm green eyes full of wisdom.
—Welcome. I am Priest Elandor, in charge of blessings in this church. It's a pleasure to meet you.
He bowed slightly to Dolo's parents, then looked at the little tanuki with interest.
—You must be Dolo. I've heard you're already walking and talking. That's excellent.
His mother's eyes shimmered with pride as she smiled.
—Yes, he grew very fast.
Priest Elandor crouched down a little to be at Dolo's eye level and spoke in a calm, clear tone:
—Dolo, I'm going to explain why we perform this ceremony. Listen carefully.
The little tanuki stared at him intently.
When a child is born, hidden abilities from their race lie dormant within them. The Blessing of the Gods happens when the Two Gods—one of Games, one of Swindling—awaken those abilities. Afterward, the child can grow and develop properly.
He paused and continued kindly:
It is important to perform the ceremony after the child has begun walking and understanding the world, for that is when the body and mind are ready. Too early, the abilities may not awaken correctly; too late, they may emerge incomplete or weak. This is why the ceremony remains simple and straightforward, allowing the gods to formally recognize and bless the child for the first time.
The priest stood and looked at the parents.
—It's a very special moment. Are you ready?
—We're ready —Dolo's father replied proudly.
—Then let's begin.
After a brief exchange, Priest Elandor led the family to the center of the church, where a large crystal floated, glowing with golden and silver light. He gently placed a hand on Dolo's head.
The crystal began to shine more intensely.
A sudden shift occurred: a warm, powerful light completely enveloped the little tanuki. The outside world disappeared.
Inside his mind, two distinct voices spoke clearly.
[Little tanuki… we finally meet.]
[I am the God of Games.]
[And I am the God of Swindling.]
[We've been watching you since you arrived. Your way of playing, your cunning, your lack of fear… We like it very much.]
[We expect great things from you, Dolo. We want you to break the rules without breaking them. To cheat within the rules. To turn this world into your own casino.]
Both voices spoke in unison:
[We hope you do everything we have imagined. Become the player no one can predict. The swindler who makes the races tremble. The one who makes us laugh from our thrones.]
[Do not disappoint us, little tanuki.]
The light exploded in a golden and silver flash. Several blue windows appeared before Dolo's eyes:
[Blessing Ceremony Completed] [You have received the Initial Blessing of the Two Gods] [Reward: +1 permanent point to all basic attributes] [Current Luck: 11]
[Tanuki Racial Skills Unlocked by Divine Blessing]
[Skill Acquired: Natural Deception (Level 1)] Description: Innate talent for lying, bluffing, and manipulating social situations. Increases the effectiveness of your lies and your ability to convince others.
[Skill Acquired: Leaf Illusion (Level 1)] Description: You can temporarily transform leaves, stones, or small common objects into gold, jewels, documents, or anything of apparent value. The illusion lasts depending on your level and the size of the object.
[Skill Acquired: Tanuki no Tsuzumi (Level 1)] Description: By striking your belly like a drum, you can create illusory sounds, distractions, or mild auditory illusions. Useful for diverting attention during games.
Dolo felt a rush, pure and electrifying, flood through his small body. His paws tingled so sharply it almost hurt, and his mind buzzed as if awakening to a new world.
The vision ended abruptly as the light faded, and he found himself on his knees, breathing heavily.
His mother crouched down, worried.
—Little raccoon? Are you okay?
Dolo stood up slowly. His eyes shone with surprise and excitement.
—The gods… spoke to me. They said they expect a lot from me… and that they hope I do everything they imagined.
His father's expression flickered from disbelief to stunned amazement.
—They spoke to you directly? That's extremely rare.
Priest Elandor smiled, surprised.
—It seems the Two Gods have great expectations for you, little Dolo.
His mother hugged him tightly.
Her voice trembled with tight relief. "My brave little raccoon… You are now officially blessed."
His father ruffled his hair with pride.
—Now, yes, son. Welcome to Falsía for real.
After the ceremony, as they left the church, Dolo walked with steadier steps. He glanced sideways at the slaves still carrying the statue and thought in silence:
"I don't know what they expect from me… But I'm going to steal their throne."
A low, chilling laugh spilled from his childish throat—dark and strange, making both parents whirl in startled, uneasy surprise.