"Hello, little one and welcome to my world!" (Unknown Girl)
"....Nya?" (Me)
Chapter 2
Life In Another World
"Nyaa..? Nya..nya??" (Me/???)
Where is this? Where am I? What in the world truly happened?
Hundreds of questions born from the thought above made me unconsciously meowed constantly, as if trying to ask the girl in front of me. Well, as much as I hope that she understands me, it's not like anyone ever will anyway.
"Uuuu...what are you saying? I can't understand... ah, I know!" (Unknown Girl)
Exclaiming that sentence, she began browsing through that thick looking book of hers. It's not so big so holding it up seemed to be an easy work for her. I, on the other hand, just stared at her with a puzzled face as she kept going on and on, while moving my tail for no reason and licking my paws just to pass time.
I mean, just how do she plan to make herself capable of understanding me? Oh wait, her attires explains everything.
Suddenly, the moment her face showed as if she found what she was looking for, a grin appeared on her face and returned her attention to me.
"I've got just the right spell for you! Please don't move for a bit, this won't hurt~" (Unknown Girl)
Opening up her palm facing my direction, she started chanting words that I cannot comprehend. As noted by her warning, I simply stood still because I wouldn't want to just die for no reason just because I didn't abide by her commands.
Slowly, I noticed the presence of an unknown, yet warm aura that feels as if it's engulfing me. Facing a force that I have never seen before, I trembled slightly as it kept on going. Minutes passed by as the aura simply covered my body while doing nothing.
Then without a sign, it disappeared without a trace.
Hm... I don't feel anything different. Did anything change? No, every part of my body still feels as it should. So what did that force do really?
Looking around, I just checked my body ensuring that nothing really did change. As I was done, I looked back at the girl while tilting my head. While chuckling a little, she began speaking.
"Hehehe... so, do you feel anything different?" (Unknown Girl)
"Urmm... no...?..?... , nya?!" (Me/???)
What?! I... I can speak? How is this possible? Is it because of the aura that enveloped me? No, it can't be...
That was magic?! As I have guessed, she must be a mage! No... in my world, her choice of cloths, look more similar to what the humans call... a witch. But, aren't witches supposed to be evil? But here she is, kind and humble and not even exuding even a small portion of what I'd call evil presence.
... I guess I truly should not trust the humans. They just spit a bunch of random lies, saying things are evil when it's actually not, when the humans themselves are rotten to the core.
Nevertheless, looking back at the girl, she appears to be very happy as she heard I uttered words.
"Yea, I did it!" (Unknown Girl)
Using my new ability to speak, I seized the chance to ask her the first question that came to my mind.
"What did you do, nya? How can I speak so suddenly , nya??"
"Hehehe, nothing is impossible for me! I'm the most powerful witch of all after all!"
Yeah, that confirms it. She is a witch. Wait, this is a chance, I better ask of this while she thinks of that.
"If so, take me back home, nya," (Me/???)
"What're you talking about? This IS your home." (Unknown Girl)
Stating that, she pointed her finger downward to show that the cottage we are in is now my home. The cottage doesn't look so old and shabby while in this room, it's filled with various jars that contain some colored looking water placed on top of the wooden shelves. If recalled correctly, I guess those are potions?
Well, I can stay here if I want to since this world may be free of those evil humans. I'd miss the people in the fish supermarkets, but the rate of encountering the wicked humans are higher so I can't really just live there for them. But first, I need to find out why she summoned me here.
"Putting the fact about the home aside, why did you summon me here, nya?" (Me/???)
"Huh? Why? Of course, it's because I felt lonely and I wanted a companion~~~" (Unknown Girl)
Seriously? That's it? Such thought is so pure that I can hardly believe it. But then again, she isn't exactly a normal human. Then comes the second question, there should be cats in this world, so why did she summon one from another world instead?
"Why me, nya? Why one from another world, nya? Is there no cats here, nya?" (Me/???)
"Cats? Are you referring to your kind? Ahh... in this world they are called Efaises." (Unknown Girl)
Efais huh? Quite the cool name they bestowed to my kind. I wonder if they are as intelligent as me, or as dumb as they cat in my old world? In any case, I can't wait to meet them!
"... There used to be a lot of Efaises, until the day the peoples of this world deemed them a dangerous species for they often seen partnering up with Witches thus forming a formidable threat to the world. It is in a matter of fact, we only seek companions to be with..." (Unknown Girl)
As she spoke, I perceived the change in her attitude and the mood around her. It is faint, but I can sense a slight hint of sadness as she continued to speak.
"...Then, what happened... nya..?" (Me/???)
"... Witches and Efais... both alike were massively hunted for and killed. When we only wanted to live in peace... we are deemed as a threat instead for our power. Now, only you and I are the only Efais and Witch left... huh little one? What's wrong?" (Unknown Girl)
...So it's the same... It's the same... Why must my kind suffer? Why? When they only wanted to live in peace, when they only wanted to ask for foods, when they only wanted to enjoy their life, so why? Why must it be us that have to suffer? And now, and now... they involved yet another partner of ours?!
KILL! ASSASSINATE! EXECUTE! MURDER! ERADICATE! Their very live should be taken away from them! Every single of them! THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO LIVE, NO.... TO EXIST! THE ONES THAT ENJOY OUR SUFFERING SHOULD PERISH!
Filled with rage, a surge of mana suddenly discharged from my very body and shattered every potion there is in the room while evaporating the furnitures as soon as it came in contact with my aura. The room on the other hand, was still able to withstand the force that I emitted.
Then, a sight had me instantaneously regain my sense. The girl, covering herself with a barrier and barely holding back.
What am I doing? Am I trying to kill her? No. No. I won't let it happen. I mustn't let it happen. I cannot be like those peoples.
Slowly, I retracted my mana as soon I learned how to control it. Seems like ever since getting summoned here, I gained some sort of magic power, probably possible due to the existence of mana within the surrounding. Or can it be it's something that Efaises naturally possess?
But first things first, the girl. Slowly, I walked to her while looking around in the room. Half wrecked, it no longer looks like it did before, and the circle that I was in had disappeared into thin air as it was just below me after all.
Reaching her, I started inspecting. No sign of movements. Is she dead? No, no way... did I just kill her? Various thoughts ran through my mind as I imagined how awful I must have been for hurting her.
Licking her toes, I pray in hope that she survived it and would just laugh. A few seconds later, my prayer was answered.
"Kehehe....it tickles! Stop tha- oww.. oww.." (Unknown Girl)
"You're alive! Thank goodness... I'm sorry, I lost control... nya." (Me/???)
Curling up on her thighs, I rested myself as I watched her. Huh? Is she trying to... pet me? Well, it wouldn't hurt to give her a chance. Softly, she petted me on the head. It felt nice and warm, unlike how the humans in my old world.
Ahhh... I should just live here. If it's with her, my life should be fine. We are supposed to be companions to each other, after all, so I say, why not? She must have been lonely, being the only Witch left in this world. As such, it's only my duty to stay with her as a cat...no...an Efais.
"There... there... it's fine. You didn't know that you had such power is all. These injuries, will be gone in a matter of minutes once I regain my mana, so please, do not worry. If it's anyone, it would be you I'd worry about. You released a massive amount of mana for the first time after all..." (Unknown Girl)
Now that she mention it, I do feel slightly weaker but not so much I'd just collapse out of nowhere. Oh, now that if I'm deciding to live with her, I need to know her name.
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"I... will live.. here, nya." (Me/???)
"Thank you! Finally for so long... I have a companion to live with..." (Triela)
"Name... nya. What's your name... nya?" (Me/???)
"For now.. call me Triela. Now then little one, do you have a name?" (Unknown Girl = Triela)
"No, I don't, nya." (Me/???)
"I see, then... how about Talia?" (Triela)
Talia.... hm? Wait, I think she's misunderstanding something. Isn't Talia a name for a female gender?
"Nya... I'm a male, nya." (Me/???)
"What?! Hehehe, sorry sorry. Well... Shu sounds good?" (Triela)
"Urmm... nya! I love it, nya!" (Me/??? = Shu)
Happily, I purred as a sign of approval.
Soon enough, Triela picked me up and brought me out of the room and started showing me around her cottage. It's not that big or fancy, but it was enough for me. There is the bedroom in the middle of the cottage, a library at the opposite of the bedroom, the toilet that is just beside the library and the living room at the front of the cottage. The laboratory where Triela experiments with various stuff, and also the place where I was summoned at, is located underground instead.
She didn't have a kitchen, since she can just use magic to kill animals and cook them or grow fruits to eat.
Triela placed me down as she had finished touring me around her cottage, giving me the chance to roam around the area. Naturally, she warned me to make sure not to wander off too far from the cottage. As she released me, she went walking toward her library, probably to gain some information related to Efais.
"Oh, before you go outside Shu, wear this bell." (Triela)
"Hmm? Why, nya?" (Shu)
"I wouldn't want my pet to suddenly get killed by strangers in case you meet one. Wear this bell and you can transform into a human." (Triela)
"Got it, nya!" (Shu)
Leisurely, she walked in front of me and then tied the bell to my neck. As soon as she was done, I feel as if my body was changing, forming into a human. I increased in size and height, longer limbs but I still possess my ear and my tail. Naturally, I was stark naked as I did not have to wear cloths before.
Rubbing my own body, I checked to discover of what gender and age I am. Well, I certainly hope that I don't just turn into a girl suddenly. According to a human male body... ah. It's there, thank goodness. After first confirming that I didn't experience a gender swap, I proceeded to inspecting the rest of my new body.
....
....
....
....
....
Let see... I have a green hair, just like Triela except hers are so long it reaches her waists while mine only reaches the shoulder blades. Considering my age that is proportional to my body size and height, I'd estimate myself being around 8 or so.
As I am done checking my body, I'd thought I ask from Triela to make me some cloths, but as I turned my attention to her, I can see her blushing. Why is that? Oh... I'm naked. Being a cat, naked doesn't really means anything to me since I am naked the whole time anyway. But to humans, they do mean something.
"I am your pet, nya. Why the need to be embarrassed, nya?" (Shu)
"Stupid! Any girl around my age would be! Anyway here, I'll give you a miniature version of my clothes. They should disappear whenever you transform back into a cat and will help hiding your tail and ears." (Triela)
"Okay... nya..." (Shu)
Wearing the robe and the hat, I can feel as if they are resonating with my mana. Is this what allows it to disappear alongside my transformations? In any case, I was done wearing it. When looking myself in a mirror, it looks as if I was a sibling of Triela. Though combining the hair lengths and my face which looks like a kid, I appear to resemble a girl more than a boy!
"Hmm... it looks good on you!" (Triela)
"No it doesn't, nya! I look like a girl, nya!" (Shu)
"Hehehe... anyway, didn't you want to check the surrounding area? You can go, but make sure not to wander around too far ok?" (Triela)
"Yesh Triela, nya!"
Patting my head softly, she then went inside her library to resume her work.On the other hand, I excitedly sprinted outside and was greeted by a vast view of the forest as I stepped outside.
"So beautiful... nya." (Shu)
The tranquil forest scene is different if compared to my old world's city which is filled with turmoil and darkness. Enjoying the fresh air, I ran around, jumped on top of trees and tried to scratch the branches but ended up hurting myself. Even though I'm in a human body, I still can't shake off my natural instincts after all.
As I had my fun at the front, I went at the back to check out what is there and was shocked to see a lake and a waterfall not far from the cottage. Being a cat, I didn't really dislike water nor am I afraid of them, since it is where my favorite food lived. Fishes. Without even thinking, I jumped into the water to look for them.
Ah, there's one. Quickly, I tried to grab the fish with my two newly formed hands, but failed miserably. But, instead of running away, the fish came closer and did something I did not expect.
"OWW OWW OWW NYA! IT HURTS, NYA!" (Shu)
IT BIT ME! It is unheard of for a fish to actually bite a human! Or do they actually bite? I never knew since I never had the chance to see a live fish in action, after all. Pissed off, I grabbed the fish as it still had its teeth onto me and subconsciously, released an electrostatic shock to kill it.
Stepping out of the water, I sat down under a tree to avoid the sun rays and began eating the already roasted fish. As I continued to eat, I felt a lot more energized and felt as if my mana was restored in an instant. While doing so, a clap was heard from a distance. Looking at the source, it was actually Triela.
"Hoo... so you actually killed an Esrud with a single shot huh?" (Triela)
"Esrud, nya? Is that what these are called here, nya?" (Shu)
"Yeah, one of the most dangerous water type monster despite being small usually taking over 20 people to just hunt one down. But here you are, eating it like it's nothing." (Triela)
So... in other word, fishes in this world is aggressive and powerful, so much that 20 peoples are needed to kill one? Nyaa... this world is seriously strange. Regardless, I just kept on nibbling the fish or Esrud as I felt hungry while explaining to her.
"In my old world, it's weak, nya. I don't eat anything else but these, nya." (Shu)
"Well that explains how your magic power is so high, almost equaling me." (Triela)
"How is that possible, nya?" (Shu)
"These guys possess attributes that allows one who eats them to boost their magical capability in various ways. Additionally, they helps restoring your stamina and mana in a quite large amount." (Triela)
"If so, why is there so many of them, nya? It shouldn't be this much if they were hunted every time, nya." (Shu)
Had consumed every single flesh there was on the Esrud, I stood up and walked to where Triela is. With me is a small piece of the Esrud. Trying to give it to her, she instead slapped my hands away as I attempted it. The flesh then flew away from my hands and landed on the ground.
"Oww, it hurts, nya." (Shu)
As I licked my human hands instinctively, Triela then took my hands and started healing it, silently. Afraid of her punishment, I just looked downward, avoiding direct contact with her eyes. For a few minutes, the situation continued to be that way.
Then after healing me, she suddenly pinched my cheek and forced me to look at her. With a slightly apologizing face, she spoke.
"The reason is simple, Shu. The Esruds are fatally poisonous to every species but Efaises which had caused them to be feared greatly, thus the very reason as to why they were eradicated." (Triela)
"Now, listen to me closely. You may eat the Esruds as you want, but refrain from doing so in public. If they know you can eat it, they know you are an Efais. And do not try to give someone an Esrud flesh, it is equal to wishing for them to die." (Triela)
"I'm sorry..nya..." (Shu)
While being a little regretful for my action, I simply held my hands together and resumed to look downward again. I really need to learn about the way this world works. Suddenly, I felt a soft pat on my head.
"Now, now. You are recently summoned in this world, so you still don't know various stuff, so it's okay. I'm also sorry for slapping away your hands, I subconsciously reacted to it." (Triela)
"It's fine, nya. It was my fault in the first place anyway, nya." (Shu)
"Well then, as an apology and also a reward for being able to kill the Esrud so easily, want me to teach you to control your magic better?" (Triela)
Control my magic better? If it means to be able to eat fish- err... Esruds a lot easier, yes! With an expecting eyes, I looked back up to Triela and asked her.
"Can I, nya?" (Shu)
"Hehehe, sure. Why not? But first, let's get inside and change your cloths. You're soaking wet already!" (Triela)
"Yesh... master, nya!" (Shu)
With that, marks the day when I chose to live inside a brand new world, free of humans from old world and alongside my new and very first master since I was born. Of course, there is still threat to the existence of both of us, but so long I'm by Triela's side and Triela by mine, we would surely survive the incoming calamity gearing itself in movement towards us.
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Author's Note :
NO GENDER BENDER INTENDED
I have seen various Reincarnations and Virtual Reality based fictions, so I'd thought I would try something different.
In any case, thank you for reading this chapter. :)
And as usual, advices, criticizing, suggestions are always welcomed.