...
"*Grumble* Dumb weirdos saying they'll treat me like royalty. What Royalty? This is a prison. *Grumble*"
"Aww, What's with the long face? I told ya we'd treat you well for saving us~"
"Hohoh, seems like he doesn't want to come with us~"
Of course not. Why would I want to? You people are going BACK the way I came from!!!
MRAAA!
Going back a bit; that conversation spiralled nowhere. They basically explained that the demons were bad...
...
...
I mean...am I supposed to be surprised?
Pfft, aren't they always bad? Hm, maybe not...but most of the time they are! SO why would you think you can trust 'em??
It's not like they're actually the ones protecting us or something. Pssh, get over yourselves. There's a REASON heroes fight demon kings in video games. Beyond money reasons!
I went along with their desire to repay me since it seemed sincere, but then...THIS happened.
That sneaky little girl and the elf sat on either side of me, while the old man sits across from me within the carriage! They're bringing me back!
"Aww, He's shy! Don't you worry lil' fella! Big sister Reina here will introduce ya to everyone! The village we're going to visit is really close, and since you can talk, why go back to the forest?"
"I'm not-! *Sniffs* Huh?"
...
...
... Nya~...
*Snore*
---
---
Nya~
Stolen novel; please report.
*Snore*
...
*Snor-THUD!*
Nya-ah? *Yawn* Did we stop...?
What was I...where am I again?
"Hehehe, did you have a good cat nap, kitty?"
...Oh. right. RIGHT~ I was being 'rewarded' by them by travelling to their destination, a safe village. I see.
...
...
Should I run? If I tuck and roll, I think I can make it to one of the forests! Somehow!
But I'm scared of that old man. The ugly doll is also intimidating me with its bulging eyes and patched up claws. Where's its mouth?
"I TOLD YA QUIT FOLLOWING ME!"
"AND I SAID THAT I'M NOT! STOP SAYING THAT! WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION!"
...Hm? That first voice... I can't quite put my claw on it, but oddly enough, it sounds kind of familiar...?
"Boss Andel, Boss Reina, Sir Reagan. Children dressed in 'that' village's garb are walking towards us. They seem to be fighting."
Oh? Let's invite them in! I'm sure that their parents must be worried. Let's hear their story!
I don't... I don't think I wanna be here anymore...if those two are who I think they ar-MRAA!
"KITTY! Where ya goin'?! We haven't properly repaid you yet! That egg is a gift from Mr. Reagan! Taking you to a safe place is Sis' Andel's gift! I haven't gifted you anything yet!
So~ you~ gotta~ Stay~"
...Mraa! No way in heck no way, no way! Lemme go, lemme go, lemme g-Mmmph! Her death hug again! Can't...breathe...!
"GAH! Who are y-you folk?! Kidnappers?!"
"Hoho~ those children seem to be having fun with our bodyguards. I'll prepare some tea."
With a whish of his hand, the old man caused a similar crack as the one that the previous giant Pelican flew out of before. *GASP* Is he the one?! Will an amazing beast of outstanding enormity and mass come out that would terrify the child-like voices away?!
...
...
Oh. only a tea set came out of it.
"Kitty~ Kitty are you interested in stuff like that?"
I nod. Of course, I was.
"Is thyat like, space magic? Like the kind I saw that expyands homes to look bigger on the insyide?"
"Ohh~ *claps* you experienced spacial magic, huh? That's impressive~ Not too many use it for that anymore due to the scarcity of Space-practitioners. You also need an understanding of spacial awareness and what exactly you're manipulating. Complicated calculations and esoteric knowledge is key, causing those who succeed to be pretty~ pricey~. Besides, if you have that much money to spare, why not just physically expand your home or land?
Anyway, that crack is vaguely similar, but in fact, It’s a foundational magic, yet it marks the soul eternally. Upon first cast, the void chooses its master. It might become a Menagerie for the beasts of the field, an Armory for the steel of men, a Harvest for the fruits of the earth, or a Foundry for the raw bones of the world. Some are bound to the Wellspring, holding the very breath of magic, while others carry a Vault for their own kind. But the most envied—and perhaps the most dangerous—are those bound to Stasis, whose halls hold a moment that never ends."
WOAH...
...
...What...what does that mean?
Mr. Reagan notices my confusion, I think, because his chuckling almost makes him spill the 6 cups of tea.
"Hohoho, in simpler terms, everyone that manages to cast this spell will have their void transformed into 1 of 7 known types...well, 8 now, I suppose. A rare-yet-basic one was discovered several weeks ago that, unlike the other seven, only grant's the caster the ability to enter at will - thus dubbed The Sanctuary. Most believe the size of their void is fixed from birth—a small room they must spend a lifetime filling—but a rare few know that the walls of the mind can be pushed, if one knows where to press."
I see. Hm, so 8 foundational magic void-things, and you have the power to store stuff in 7 of them, or store yourself in the 8th.
"I gyot it. That sounds cool! I wanna learn~!"
"Ohh, then kitty! Do you want me to teach ya?"
I have a magic master, but...
"Nyea! I do I d-"
*Bang-Bang-Bang!*
"Boss, the kids are here."
"Hmph, listen, I didn't lose! I just... I just chose to let you win."
"...Haah. I didn't think the merchants were coming right now. I should have waited a little."
Two kids enter the caravan - One a short-haired youth masquerading as a noble boy. I say 'masquerading' because Roy had already pointed out her identity to me. The masculine female I was staring at today was a young lade named Rosiel, or as the villager's called her-
"Ah! Isn't this a surprise! Rosie-dear! DId you come all the way out here to welcome us?"
"N-No lady Andel, I was...uhh, I was about to begin my first journey to, uh, train myself and become stronger."
"mmmn...I'm sorry, but I can't accept it. Not like this, at least! Stay a little longer. Mr. Reagan will offer you something nice for your journey, and I'll write you a letter of recommendation. And next is...oh my! That grumpy scowl is-"
"AH! MEOWBO!"
Three amused heads turn towards me with amused expressions.
Meowbo?
MEOWBO?!
"MRAA!"
THAT. IS. NOT. MY. NAME!!!
