Foxgrove Island (Part 2)

“What do you know about the legend of Foxgrove Island?” she asked once they had passed the torii gate on the way down the mountain.

“Only what I’ve read from the brochure.”

Leo watched her pause for a moment, tilting her head, as if trying to remember something.

“According to the legend, there was once a fox who used to stare at the moon every night. She keeps calling for the moon to show her what she lost, but the moon never responded.” She continued walking. 

“A god heard the fox and decided to help her, but alas, the fox was at her life’s end. So in memory of the fox, the god decided to place a gravestone. After a while, items started to magically appear near this gravestone. 

“People thought they were gifts at first, but when more unlikely items started appearing, they came to conclude that the place became a magnet for lost things because the wishes of the fox are still strong.”

"So what's the connection between the inn and the shrine?" Leo asked.

"They say that the land which the inn is built on was the place where the gravestone used to be."

They reached the clearing where they left the truck. Vivi suddenly stopped at the entrance of the path. A white shuttle passed by and proceeded to park in the clearing. Leo recognized the logo on the side of the vehicle as one of the largest chains of hotels in the country. 

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

"Your mask," she reminded him.

It was only then that Leo realized that he hadn't worn his mask since they ate breakfast on the cliff. He quickly placed it on his face.

A woman wearing a hotel staff uniform emerged from the shuttle, followed by a big group of people chatting excitedly. The woman looked at Vivi and gave a polite smile, which she returned.

“Seems there’s a lot of people who want to visit the shrine,” Leo asked as he got on the truck.

“‘It’s almost the Fox Festival, which is the peak season for tourism here on the island. A lot of tourists come to ask for the fox deity’s blessing. Many believe that the deity’s blessing increases their chances of success in their pursuits.”

The truck leisurely travelled down the mountain. It was still dark when they climbed up earlier, so Leo wasn’t able to appreciate the scenery. This time, he marvelled at the mountainside view of the ocean on his side.

“And you?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“What about me?”

“Do you believe in the fox deity?”

“It doesn’t really matter what I believe in,” she answered in a somber tone.

They reached the foot of the mountain and the scenery changed into vast plains that were mostly converted into farms.

Leo thought about probing further, but Vivi cleared her throat and began to speak cheerfully again.

“Apart from tourism, Foxgrove’s primary industry is agriculture and fishery, so most of the lands outside of the town are used for farming.

“We have a very self-sufficient ecosystem. The island and the sea provide us with enough food to live, the mountains give us trees for wood to make shelter, and we have wind turbines to provide us with electricity.”

Soon, the landscape changed once again as small buildings began to appear on the horizon, which quickly grew, towering above them.

Vivi parked her truck outside a big old-fashioned building. “We’ll be walking from here.”

The building turned out to be Foxgrove’s Town Hall, which had a lot of interesting architectural features which she pointed out to Leo one by one as she told him the island’s history. She also gave him a quick walkthrough of the town’s oldest buildings which surrounded the town hall, then showed him the town plaza where the Fox Festival will be held in two days’ time. 

The plaza was a wide open space paved with cobblestones and lined with palm trees of different sizes. They came up to a large raised structure at the opposite end of the plaza that served as a stage for performances. The stage was currently being decorated for the festival with colorful streamers, backdrops, and lights. Leo noticed Vivi looking at it with a sad expression on her face.

As if remembering something, she suddenly checked her watch.

“It’s almost noon,” she remarked. “Would you like to have something to eat?”

He nodded.

“I know just the place.”

She led him through the marketplace and into a street lined with food carts and stalls, each selling different types of food, from the usual staples of noodles and rice bowls to more exotic island delicacies.

“The best way to learn about the local cuisine of any place is to try their street food,” she told him with a proud smile.

They stopped at the first stall that sold dried squid on skewers, which were grilled over hot charcoal. Vivi bought two sticks and had just handed him one when she suddenly stopped mid-action and tilted her head.

“This won’t work. I forgot to consider that.”

“What?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she walked quickly down the street and ducked into an establishment. Leo followed suit.

“Vivi!” an old man greeted them as they came in.

“Uncle Mac, do you have any private booths available?”

The old man glanced over at Leo with scrutinizing eyes. “This your boyfriend?”

She laughed amiably. “Mr. Adams is a guest at the inn. I’m giving him a tour of the island.” She turned to Leo. “This is Uncle Mac, he owns this diner.”

“Nice to meet you,” Leo said, shaking Uncle Mac’s hand.

“I was planning to let him experience eating in the stalls along the street, but I forgot that he doesn’t do well in crowded areas, so can you give us a private booth?”

“Of course!” the old man bellowed.

“Thank you, Uncle!” she exclaimed, giving him a big hug. “Can you take him there while I go buy some food? Oh, and you can recommend some dishes and let him choose what he wants. Put it on my tab.” She left without waiting for a reply.

The old man laughed and shook his head. “That girl is always running around, even when she was still a little kid. Follow me, Mr. Adams.”

“Have you known her for a long time?” Leo asked.

“Vivi grew up on the island. Her ancestors have lived here for as far as I can remember.”

“Does she have a boyfriend?”

The old man looked at him with a wicked glint in his eyes. “None that I heard of. But don’t get your hopes up too much, boy. She’s a very stubborn girl. Even Anthony, her childhood friend, can’t get her to accept his affection, and he’s been hinting at her for years.”

“Maybe she just hasn’t found the right man yet.”

The old man laughed loudly. “I wish you good luck with that, young man. I really do.”

He handed Leo a menu, and they discussed which dishes he should order before he left him to prepare the food.

Vivi arrived after a while, out of breath and carrying a number of paper bags in her hands. She flashed him a grin that made her look like a child.

“I hope you’re not allergic to any seafood.”

“Isn’t that a bit too much?” he asked as she began to place the food on the table.

“I didn’t know what you would like, so I just got a bit of each of the more popular ones for you to try,” she explained.

He handed her a glass of water.

“Thanks.”

She sat opposite him and drank half of the contents of the glass before sighing. 

“Go ahead, try them.”

He picked a stick of roasted octopus tentacles and bit off a mouthful. He had expected it to be tough and chewy, but was surprised when it turned out to be juicy and tender.

Vivi smiled. “Auntie Lydia roasts the best seafood in town.” She pushed forward another plate. “Try the spring rolls. They taste good when dipped in vinegar sauce.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“How did you know who I am?”

Vivi’s hand went up to her necklace, her fingers playing on the blue gem pendant.