I lost track of time as I sat in the semi darkness. I prayed to our Lady several times hoping she had a gift for me as well. But I remembered what she said. I didn’t blame her. My love for her didn't diminish. Maybe she had a place for me that I could go after death. I held on to that belief as the darkness seemed to grow.

My eyes were almost shut when I heard the sound of stones being blown apart.

I heard footsteps followed by a soft voice, “Oh, Gregor. If only I had gotten here sooner. Is there anything you can do about this?”

A man's voice responded, “I’m afraid not, Evanlyn. This is divine work. Perhaps with enough time and study I may be able to find a spell that could undo this, but I can’t be sure. Give me a moment, I’m going to cast a spell to make sure he lives.”

A few seconds later he said, “Ah, yes. He lives. Remarkable. Somehow this crystal structure has perfectly preserved him.”

“Good.” Evanlyn replied, “Then we can come back and get him out. Come, we must go before more Black Cloaks return. We will need to seal this place away for now.”

I was so very weak but I grabbed a pebble and began tapping it on the floor.

“SHH!” Evanlyn stopped, “Do you hear that?”

“I do.” Replied the man, “There.”

I heard them rush to my unintentionally barricade, “Who is there?” I heard her say.

I managed a groan. I heard them digging at the stones, making the hole slightly larger before a face appeared.

She gasped, “Young Fredrick! Can you get rid of this rubble?” she asked the man.

“I’m sorry but I can’t. I used too many of my spells getting down here, I must rest before I can use one powerful enough for this. And I'm not entirely sure moving these stones won't cause a greater cave in."

She looked through the hole again, “Can you at least cast detect life again?”

“Yes.” He replied, then said, “Oh no. His life force is fading. It’s barely there.”

“No!” cried Evanlyn, “Give me a moment!”

I heard her pacing in frustration, I didn’t expect her to come up with anything. I knew I was dying and had accepted that.

After a few seconds I heard her exclaim before reaching her hand through the hole. She had a small vile in her hand with a red liquid.

“Can you get this, young Fredrick? It’s a lesser health potion. It’s not much but it’s all I have right now.” She let it roll down the pile.

It came to a stop by my leg. Hope flared in me and gave me strength as I reached down and picked it up. I uncorked it and let it fall into my mouth. I drank every drop and winced as some of the wounds stitched themselves together. The pain was still there but I could see more clearly now.

I coughed, which hurt a lot, but it was good to be able to feel my throat again.

I squeaked out, “Mm-miss E-Evanlyn?”

The relief in her voice was palpable, “Oh my dear boy! I am glad to hear your voice. We are going to try and get you out.”

“I-I don’t have m-much time, m-my lady.” I whimpered.

Evanlyn slapped the stone and cursed, “Let me see this.” She said to the other man.

I heard pages being turned frantically before stopping, “What about this?”

The man replied, “That? It’s doable, but I will need time, material, possibly a host, and another wizard or two.”

“You get what you need to, I know a way to buy us some time.” She said as I heard her fumble through a pack of some kind.

I heard the slightest ring of metal, “Ah, there it is.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Are you sure, Evanlyn? Those aren’t cheap.” The man said cautiously.

“I made a promise, Bran, and I don’t do that lightly. Now go get what you need and meet me there.” There was a warning in her tone.

I heard a door open and close as the wizard left. A few seconds later her hand came through the hole again.

“This was originally meant for your master. But he won’t be needing it right now. Besides, I made a promise to him to keep you safe and I intend to keep it.”

A plain looking key fell from her hand and rolled to the floor. I picked it up and turned it over in my hand. It was a plain brass key with the only distinguishing feature being a small vine carved into the head.

“OK, I have it. What now?” I asked.

“The door behind you. Stick the key in the lock, turn it, then open the door. I will meet you there. Trust me, young Fredrick, please.” She pleaded.

The pain and bleeding had subsided mostly, but I was still dying and I knew it, “I-I do, Lady Evanlyn.”

“Good boy.” She said with relief in her voice.

I heard her footsteps as she left, then a door opening and shutting. I knew I had lost a lot of blood, but I could have sworn I heard music.

I turned and stumbled to the door at the back of the room. My vision started to blur again and my hands began trembling. The potion gave me a little longer but it wasn’t enough to stop the inevitable.

I reached out with the key and, after a few tries, I stuck it in and turned it. When I opened the door, I almost fell back from shock. Where there was once a caved in tunnel, there was now a tavern filled with music, laughter, and groups of people talking around tables.

My first thought was that I had finally reached the hallucination part of dying and I took a step back. Evanlyn appeared in the door way. Her beautiful ebony features were covered in worry and grim determination.

She and that wizard grabbed me and pulled me in. I collapsed in their arms and everything started to fade out. I was moving in and out of consciousness, hearing only snippets of people talking, rushing and shouting. I got images of candles, strange symbols and a robed figure chanting in a language I didn't know. Then everything went black and silent. I thought I had finally died until I heard a voice in the darkness.

It was faint and I could only make out bits and pieces, “..champion…. Only one.... Save Gregor…… remember me…” then I woke up.

I laid in a comfortable bed in a small room. It looked like an expensive tavern room, with a desk, candles, decorations and a small table with some chairs and food.

I slowly sat up, feeling very strange. I looked down at my hands and was completely shocked to find paws instead of fingers. I stood, feeling my new feline legs support me, and moved to a tall mirror on the wall. I was no longer Fredrick Alfenshpiel. I was a cat person.

I felt panic begin to arise when the door creaked open and Evanlyn stepped in.

“Oh, good. You’re finally awake. Sit down, young Fredrick. I know this is a shock and I’ve come to explain.” She wore her teal outfit and still had those teal glasses on her nose.

I felt the panic subside at her calm words and demeanor. I turned and sat down at the edge of the bed, having to move my new tail out of the way.

She sat at the table and faced me, letting out a deep sigh, “I’m truly sorry, young Fredrick. Your body was far too damaged to recover in time to save you. Our only course of action was to transfer you to a new body. Don’t worry, the one you’re in now didn’t have an original occupant. But your old body is gone and I’m afraid you’re stuck like this.”

I looked down at my body again, strangely feeling more relief and gratitude than fear or anger.

I looked up and tried my new mouth, “Ssso, thisth is me now? Whath am I going tho do? No one in my order will recognithe me.”

Her gaze went to the floor, “You… you’ve been in here for a long time, young Fredrick. The ritual and the recovery took longer than we thought it would. Time…” She looked like she was preparing to deliver bad news, “travels a bit differently here.”

“Where isth here?” I asked.

“This is the Wisteria. The Wicked Weasel Wondering the Wisteria, to be exact.”

My brow furrowed, I think, “Thaths a sthtrange name.”

“Indeed.” She smiled slightly, “But time travels differently here. While you’ve been here, the world outside has been moving at a faster pace.” She fixed her eyes on mine, “Your order is gone. There are no longer any independent knights in Pelexia. None that I have found, at least.”

I struggled to process that. How could all those knights be gone? How could all those orders with their traditions and histories just be gone?

“How long have I been here?” I asked, still getting used to my new mouth.

“A few months have passed in the real world. I..” she paused with a look of guilt on her face, “I’m not sure when you will be able to leave here, young Fredrick.”

My eyes went wide, “What do you mean?!”

She looked down again, “This place isn't cheap to stay in and you've been here for quite a while. I spoke with the owners and they agreed to let you work for them to pay off your debt. Otherwise, the bill you would have to pay, would end who you are.”

“I don’t understhand…” I said, confused.

She rubbed her hands over her face, “They deal in memories. You tell them a memory, they accept it as payment, and the memory is no longer yours. If you paid your entire bill, you would no longer have any memories. You would be an empty shell. Giving you to them as a worker to pay off your debt was the only way I could save you. I’m sorry.”

She got up to leave, “I will try to come and visit every now and then to check up on you. Fare well, young Fredrick.”

She left and shut the door behind her. I sat on the bed for what felt like hours just trying to think about what had happened. My body was so different but at least I still had my mind. I was grateful for what Evanlyn did for me.

I moved around the room for a while, getting a feel for my new limbs and senses. I could smell better and see better. I could move faster than before. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

With no small amount of struggle, I managed to get myself dressed. I opened the door and left to meet my new coworkers.