“Good lord, Lira! You scared the hell out of me!”
“Sorry, Lanek, but I needed to speak to you alone.” Lira replied, amusement in her voice.
“If it’s about me staying in the monastery, I’m going to have to pass. I’ve made up my mind.”
“No, I think that is the right decision. However, I want to come with you.”
“Uh, I wouldn’t mind, but how is that possible? You’re kinda tied to this place. I guess we could move your pedestal to wherever I settle down, but it will likely be pretty empty most of the time.”
“No, I want to travel with you, not be stuck in a single building.”
“Alright… Do you have a plan to pull this off? I honestly have no idea how we would even go about something like that. Yeah, Eldros brought me back, but that doesn’t mean I can do that for you. Do you want me to take you to Eldros?”
“Not Eldros. I want to contact Invidros. If all of the powers are as weakened as they seem, then Invidros probably needs someone to further his goals and rebuild his domain.”
“I don’t know how to get in touch with him, but he might be able to give you a body. Hell, your affinity and his are pretty damn good match as well, so I don’t think we would be averse. However, I can’t say that I know him all that well, I’ve only had the one conversation with him. It will probably be up to you to convince him. I don’t suppose you know where we can contact him?”
“I don’t, but maybe Eldros would know?”
I do. Invidros and I are in contact as we speak and he is amenable to the idea, but he must meet her first. However, unless you bring her soul to him, he cannot judge her qualifications. The nearest location where this would be possible would be near Laethon. A small shrine where the locals once left offerings to ask him to bring the rain for their crops is what you are looking for. A domain would be better, but the last of Invidros’ domains lies deep in the northern mountains and would take months to reach due to the harsh terrain.
Thanks, boss. I’ll let her know.
“Lanek, are you okay? Do we need to talk about this later, you seem distracted?” Lira asked in concern.
“No, it’s fine. Eldros wanted to relay a message from Invidros.”
“But we aren’t in Eldros’ domain, are we?”
“Nah, but once I became his Herald, he can reach me wherever and whenever he wants. Anyway, Invidros is open to having you serve him, but he needs to meet with you first. Do you know of any shrines near Laethon? Apparently, the locals left offerings to him there.”
Lira looked pensive for a moment before responding. “I’m not sure which one would be his. There were multiple small shrines to local spirits, guardian deities, and the like built in the farming communities around Laethon. It might take a while to find the right one considering how many fields Laethon needed to feed their military. However, I know that the library has a map of Laethon and its holdings, so we just need to check the farming villages. The farmers would not have been willing to venture far from the village to make an offering and the shrine wouldn’t be on any one farmer’s land. That probably means in the village square.”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
“I’ll have to defer to you on this, I wouldn’t know. I can get us there fairly quickly on Maximilian, but how can we get you there?”
Lira looked around the room guiltily before gesturing toward a dark corner of the room. Confused, Lanek looked over, seeing nothing. However, a small figure slowly began to take shape, starting with a vibrant pair of amber eyes.
“Lira…” Lanek made to summon his blade, but she stopped him.
“He is no threat.” Lira responded.
Lanek relaxed, trusting in his companion as the figure finished forming. Hovering before him was a winged feline. In fact, it looked very much like a ticked gray tabby with long fur. If he had to place the breed, he would likely go with a cross between a Norwegian Forest cat and a Maine Coon simply based on the fur and the size.
“Greetings, Lanek. I am Pharaoh. My kin and I have been watching you since you arrived in the city.”
“Have you? Why?” Lanek asked, fascinated by the creature before him, but also quite suspicious of it as well.
“Because we hoped that you would be a catalyst of change for this city. For centuries the cats of this city have been living in the dungeon, protected by it. Generations of us have lived and died in the darkness. Although we’ve been safe and well fed by the vermin within the dungeon’s depths, we yearn to return to the surface. We hoped that you would help us with that.”
Lanek’s mouth hung open. “Why would the dungeon protect you? Is the dungeon keeping you prisoner? Do all of your kind have wings?”
Pharaoh flew a bit closer and settled on Lanek’s bed before eyeing the human imperiously. “I do not know why the dungeon saved us, but when the gaunts first appeared and started ravaging the city, the dungeon itself implored us to flee into its depths, promising that we would not be harmed. It has kept its word, we are perfectly safe in the dungeon. However, if we were to leave we would not last long, both the monsters prowling this city and the gaunts will kill us if we are spotted. The same holds true for the other creatures that once called Caelis home. I know not what happened to the dogs of the city save that packs of wolves descended on the city and guarded the surviving canines before they all left to the south alongside a gigantic white wolf. Also, only some of my kind have wings as there are quite a few evolutions that cats can go through.”
“I see. I still don’t understand why the dungeon would save you only for its creatures to kill you if you leave.”
“I wish I knew, but the dungeon has not spoken to us since bringing us to safety. Its creatures within the dungeon ignore us and we are allowed to hunt whatever we like with impunity. Will you help us?”
“If you’ve been watching me, you should know that there is no reason to ask. If I can make the city safe again, everyone is welcome, cats included.”
“I am aware, but we do not like being in anyone’s debt. We want to help you in exchange for a place alongside you. Not just the right to live among you, but to have a say in this new society.”
Seeing Lanek’s surprise, Lira chimed in. “It was not uncommon for some villages and smaller towns to have certain animals join in on the decision making. However, it was typically only in those areas that had strong ties to nature as those would attract people that could speak to animals or those animals that had evolved to be able so speak in the common tongue, such as Pharaoh.”
“In that case, I have no problems with it and I am sure that Eldros would gladly accept it as well.” Pharaoh’s eyes widened to an almost comical degree.
“The Primordial of the Wilds? What does he have to do with this? We thought him gone!” The cat replied.
“Ah, so you don’t know everything then. Eldros is still here and I am his Herald. Technically also the Chosen of Nature, but that’s a very recent development that I’m still getting used to.”
“A Chosen… And of Nature at that. Please, Lanek. Let us help you.” The feline seemed on the verge of begging, his voice carrying a hint of hope.
“Of course. What help do you offer?”
“If you will allow it and are willing to escort a group of my people, I can see to it that your stronghold is protected from vermin and the smaller monsters that already pass unseen all around your home. Additionally, our senses are far better than those living here, especially at night, so we can help you as lookouts. We would even be willing to travel alongside your patrols if you can keep us safe since we cannot do battle with the man-sized monsters that prowl Caelis. In return, I can carry Lira’s soul within me and travel to the shrine of Invidros with you.”
“I can agree to all of those terms, and I know that cats will be a welcome addition for the goblins and hobgoblins specifically, they have missed the days when they had the luxury of being safe enough to have animals living alongside them. I do have a question though, why do you need an escort? I know cats well enough to be well aware of how stealthy they can be. Is the monster population that dense near the dungeon?”
Pharaoh shook his head before speaking somberly. “It’s not that. Some of those that would come to join you at first would not be as stealthy as you expect. A portion of those coming to join you are those that are nearing the end of their lives and wish to enjoy the surface and experience the sun as their ancestors did before they pass. Even more are pregnant females who don’t want their litters to be born in the darkness if there is any way to avoid it. ”Lanek felt his body seize up and power flood his being before he could respond. A moment later, a deep voice that was not his own burst forth from his lips, the power behind them causing Lira to step back hastily and Pharaoh to bow his head.
IT WILL BE DONE.