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From the darkness of a tunnel, emerged two horses. The tunnel was inclined slightly into the ground, and it’s exit was extruding in the form a rocky cliff out of a large hill. The area around the tunnel was sparsely wooded. The trees were a bright orange and red, the twigs that’d fallen to the ground dotted the terrain and bathed the area in caramel. Moss grew up the bases of trees and rocks, there were no bushes thicker than a wagon, and the under growth was minimal. The grass too was sparse; many a dirt road and stream ran through the area. These streams of water however did not produce the deafening roaring behind the horses, the roar of the river Lagrath.

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Through a berry bush, a pair of eyes narrowed in thought. The eyes spotted squirrels rustling up trees; frogs croaking near the streams; birds fluttering and chirping about; and even a dear and it’s fawns a way’s off. The eyes belonged to figure laden in a dull blue cloak. The figure was hooded, so only it’s face showed; which belonged to that of a young girl. As her eyes outstretched, no longer scanning the open forest, they shifted onto the bush a mere inch from her face. She reached out her hand, and quickly plucked a bundle of black berries from a branch. Her hands moved quickly, undoing the nestling of the berries and subsequently popping them in her mouth dexterously. Within only the span of minute, she dropped the bundle she’d picked, now bare of any berries. After a final glance through the concealment of the bush, she knelt, and picked up what she’d gathered the in the hour prior. It was a large sheaf of wheat; it’d been hastily tied together with a rudimentary flax rope. It was easy to see where the wheat had been gathered from, far out of the range of the forest, where no tree stood, were seemingly endless fields of yellow. It was a massive crop of wheat, their stalks bright and their ears brown, they surrounded the foreseeable area past the forest ends.

With the winds picking up and gently swaying the tree’s leaves, the grass, and the distant fields of wheat, she started down one of the numerous and thin dirt roads that ran about the area. Her cloak rustled too in the soft breeze, the temperature was comfortable, and the sun was shining through the thin forest canopy. The girl came to a small and algae filled pond, where the shadows of fish and tadpoles flitted across the pond’s surface. She stared into the water, seeing her own reflection. After a emitting a low sigh, she slipped off the hood atop her head.

I don’t look as tired as I thought I was…

The girl thought. She eyed her face; it wasn’t everyday someone could look at their own face, it wasn’t like she was so vain as to carry a mirror. Apart from her dark blue hair being out of place in the slight, she fine; there were no rings of fatigue under her eyes, and there were no blemishes of dirt or injury. She took a moment to adjust the two strands of her hair that were longer than the rest so that they rested out and upon her cloak, down by where her collarbone would be. She then stared intently further into the pond, through the algae cover and into her own dark blue eyes. After staring for a moment, her gaze pierced past her reflection, and she saw single fish, caught in a tangle of weeds. It struggled furiously, as if the weeds were sentient, and wrapping themselves around the fish on purpose, as to kill it and provide nutrition for themselves. As the girl was enthralled in the fight for survival bellow, her thoughts were interrupted a voice a way’s off.

“Celis, are you alright?”

She heard a holler. It was the voice of her travelling companion and master. Her head shot up, clicking on to where the shout had come from, across the pond and way’s off.

“Ah! C-coming!”

She stumbled over, heeding the call of her master.

“So, what did you find?”

The girl, Celis, approached. In front of her was a boy leading two horses. His hands were on his hips, his body covered by a similar cloak as her own. His hair seemed to almost blend with the background leaves and fields of wheat, as it was yellow; complete with a hint of orange due to a small hair clip that rested on his right most bang.

Really, this lighting makes him look even more girly.

Thought Celis. Despite her opinion of her master’s appearance, she reported what’d she’d seen. They had split up an hour earlier to confirm the surroundings.

“It was as you saw. It’s nothing but wheat as far as I could see.”

The boy brought his hand to his cheek, laying a steel gauntleted finger upon it.

“This is bad. We’ll be in the open if we leave this forest. It’s mid-day too, so we might be caught in the in the dark if we can’t cross the plains in a single day.”

Celis nodded. She raised the sheaf of wheat she was holding as if to show it off to the boy.

“I thought the wheat was well enough so I thought the horses could use some.” The boy nodded, though his brow piqued when he saw the flax rope surrounding the sheaf she was carrying.

“I used some of the rope we had on hand…” Feeling the piercing gaze of her master, she felt the need to explain herself, and so, meekly, she did so.

“Could you not make any yourself? There’s plenty of flax here you know.”

The girl’s face reddened, and she averted her head.

“Celis…you do know how to make flax rope, do you? It was one of the first things you learned at the Academy was it not?”

“…”

Following her guileless silence, the boy sighed with a rueful smile.

“I suppose you’ve long forgotten as it was of the first thing’s you’ve learned?”

“…T’would seem so…” Celis mumbled, her face seeming to redden in even more embarrassment. The boy shook his head.

“Then I’ll have to show you sometime. For now, we need to decide on a course of action.”

Celis nodded, her chagrin fading in the presence of her master’s supposition.

“I think we should move out right away, the plains can’t be large enough to not be able to cross in a day. The horses did have all that time to rest in Curlessi after all, they should be fine.” Celis said quickly.

The boy nodded. He turned to the horses following him. One was a black mare with white spots, and the other a brown stallion. Both where clad in a numerous clutter of packs and bags, as if they were more mules than horses. Though, they weren’t conditioned for speed, the horses had been prided for their endurance.

“Sounds good. I’d like to avoid any trouble, but I don’t think anything can inhibit us too badly on the road.”

Celis nodded. Before they mounted the horses however, something had grabbed the attention of the yellow haired boy. He stared at a bundle of flowers intently.

“Alisson?” Celis muttered nervously. Her words caused the boy, Alisson, to pique his head at her. He then pointed to where he’d been staring.

“There, that’s a rare plant you don’t see often. It makes for good tea I’ve heard.” Alisson approached the bouquet of flowers. He knelt in front of two particularly tall stems. They were thin and had sleek white buds.

“They grow in twos, at some point, one assumes a dominant role, and begins sapping the other of nutrients. In the end though, they both die. One has given too much, and the other has taken too much.”

He curled his palm around a bud, as if caressing it for a moment, before briefly plucking it along with the other. He stood, hiding away the buds within his cloak.

“We’ll be seeing a lot rarer of plants up here. There’s a forest that has lots of exotic flora and fauna not far from here.”

Celis simply stared at the smiling Alisson.

…Alisson likes flowers? I swear.

Within a few moments, they were atop the horses, and trotting through the forest. They’d soon be upon fields of brightly illuminated wheat; the sun seemed to make their stalk softly glow.

“I wasn’t expecting to find ourselves in a place like this on the other side of Lagrath.” The boy spoke absentmindedly, running his gaze across the endless wheat field before him numerous times over.

“Hey, Alisson…”

“Hm?” Alisson turned over his shoulder with a single eye locked on the trailing Celis atop the white spotted mare.

“…How many humans do think are around here?”

Alisson broke his lock on Celis, peering forward for a few moments of silence.

“I’d imagine there wouldn’t too be many. Believe it when I say the south is actually quite dense in human settlements.”

As the horses neared the edge of the forest, they came to a stop at the ocean of yellow. The dirt road they’d been traveling on transitioned into an old and mossy cobblestone one which cut through the wheat. It was a quite a sight before them, a single road going on and on, chopping through the yellow without a single overlap of wheat upon the road.

“Here, it’s better to see your surroundings as flat and continuously sprawling before you, instead of looking from a map’s downward perspective.” Alisson continued.

With that, the horses continued their trot, and exited the forest.

…

Alisson was not a dense man. This area, just like any other, could warrant a sudden attack. Perhaps a group of marauders could reveal themselves from the fields; it could be that a ravaging beast be fortunate enough to trample upon him and Celis; and any other number of unseen things could prompt immediate action. Due to this, despite his inability to see far with all the wheat about, Alisson still kept his head on a swivel. What also bothered him was the road. It was cobblestone. It was old yes, but it was a rare and out of place sight. This was quite an area barren of people, there shouldn’t be any roads, much less cobble ones.

Alisson sighed to himself. Even in all the peace that could be enjoyed from the environment, he still couldn’t bring himself to lax. He’d seen horrors far too often, things that he couldn’t even wish upon an enemy. Alisson wouldn’t let those things happen, not on his vigilance.

Though, this area is amazing. It’s just wheat as far as I can see. Nothing else. This land must be extremely fertile.

There were clearly no farmers close by, and even if they were, he didn’t think anybody could mobilize so many to till such a large area. Alisson wondered how many people could comfortably live here upon this mass of wheat. His memories of entire villages and towns, famished and starved, seemed trivial in the face of these fields. Images of people flashed into Alisson’s mind, begging, pleading to him as he’d passed through with his convoy all those years ago. Alisson shuddered.

As much as he wanted to be a steeled and cold casket which executed his orders, he knew very well that he was far too soft when he saw people’s saddened faces. Fortunately for him, he’d done well to let his feelings resound through him in a pang of emotion rather than a stir of action. Though, he supposed that there wouldn’t be a need to be on guard against such things here. The people here were far and few between from what Alisson had heard. The land was owned by people in word only.

As if any of them have truly explored what land they claim.

Alisson smiled to himself. Where he came from, such a thing wasn’t heard of. The area was far smaller, and the inhabitants were much more diligent. As Alisson thought of his homeland, a pang of homesickness reverberated through him. Back there, the borders marked a clear divide between wholeheartedly safe, and infinitely dangerous. The roads were well kept, and safety was wasn’t even thought of. Those in his homeland shared his feelings, they shared his goals and will; every single one of them Alisson could consider a sibling, even if he’d never met them.

It’s been a month since then.

Since he’d seen one of his kind other than Celis. Truth be told Alisson was all too grateful to have someone to talk to, despite Celis paling in comparison to his ability and experience. She was his apprentice for a reason, after all. In a true fight against people who matched or exceeded Alisson however, Alisson was all the more worried for her safety. She was young, inexperienced, and lacking in ability.

Alisson shook his head. Every time he went down this train of thought, it always lead to situations he’d rather not even think to see Celis in.

As the sun started to set, the sky above turned into a brilliant drop of orange and blue paint; one side of the sky faintly holding on to light, whilst the other rapidly faded darkly. As Alisson were about to think that they’d be stranded in these damned fields all night, his stallion rose above a small hill in the cobble road. It was the end of the fields, in front of Alisson the wheat seemed to perfectly stop in a single line across the ground. Beyond the wheat, green and grassy pastures stretched on with the occasional few trees. A single stream, a mere foot wide, ran on the outskirts of the wheat fields, the cobble road bridging over it.

Alisson sighed in relief. This was a far more familiar landscape than the ocean of wheat beside him. However, if they did continue, they’d be even more exposed in the plains as opposed to the fields. Wherein at least they had some solace in their surreptitious stalks, the plains were bare of even that. Luckily for them however, Alisson spotted another discovery in his view. It was a small and crumbled stone watchtower. It’d been perhaps a few story’s tall once, but it’s walls had fallen to a stub. Moss too grew up this structure, just as the cobble road. Alisson could only imagine that this was some sort of watchtower or resting place for a long-destroyed people. Nevertheless, he stopped the stallion’s trot by slightly shifting his weight on it back. Celis’s horse came up beside his.

He pointed to the broken tower.

“There. We’ll make camp there for the night.”

Celis nodded beside him. The tower itself was in the stalks of wheat, it’d make it all the more discreet. Within a matter of minutes, they’d pushed their way to the tower through the stalks. The tower’s walls were only intact on three of it’s sides, it was a perfectly comfortable fit for them and the two mounts with room to spare. Alisson made sure to back the horses into the tower, so that they faced out toward the only exit. They quickly dismounted and carefully prodded the area; the two of them silently searched the small cove of the tower. After he was sure there weren’t any ancient booby traps or secrets, Celis and him got to work fortifying their to-be shelter for the night. They moved loose blocks of the tower’s stones into a semicircle around the completely exposed portion of the wall. Soon, they finished their preparation. Alisson wished that there’d were trees nearby, he’d be able to set up stakes and spikes quite easily given the materials.

“Um…Alisson.”

“Yes?”

“Why, why can’t we just go through the night like we’ve been doing?”

Celis rarely spoke to him, but it seemed her questions were always delayed until after she’d done what she was questioning about. Some would probably see it as an admirable trait for a subordinate; but Alisson new she was just too frigid with him to ask right away.

“The south has many more people. The beasts of night are drawn and spread much father. Here though, we might be the only one’s around for days; if there’s anything in the area, it will seek us out."

He saw Celis shudder slightly.

“Relax. We’ll be fine. It's just that we can't afford to make a ruckus in those fields, I want to cross them in the span of a single day's light if it's possible."

Alisson said gruffly and waved a shooing motion toward Celis.

“Go fetch some water for the horses, I’m sure you saw that stream?”

Celis nodded.

…

I feel pretty irked. Alisson can just lift those massive stone blocks, things that are like a third his size, without even breaking a sweat. When I tried, I could barely lift a single one before my leg’s buckled and I almost fell.

…Am I really that weak? Alisson told me he’s not exactly physically strong…

Those blocks of stone seem ancient, even the color of the stone is like a blackish-blue.

Sighing, I withdraw two buckets that were hanging off of each horse. Seeing this, they emitted a few quick breaths of fatigue, maybe sensing that they’d reached a long-awaited rest. I felt a little bad, so I fed them the wheat I’d cut for them earlier in the day. They gleefully bolted it.

When I set out a month ago, I was never expecting to become attached to these horses but, they’ve gotten us out of a lot of trouble, so I guess a bond would inevitably form. I initially wanted to ride the stallion for the journey, but Alisson said it was uncouth of a lady to ride a male horse. As soon as I heard that, I shut up right away; The last thing I want to seem like to Alisson is a tomboy.

As Alisson began laying out all of our equipment for inspection, I pushed my way through the wheat and out of small clearing of the depressing tower. I wonder who the hell built something like that, and I wonder why there’s so much god damned wheat. Like, I love grain as much as the next Nekomata, but isn’t this a little too much? We’ve literally crossed more than a hundred kilometers of just wheat. If there’s so much of it, then why the hell isn’t there any humans or other humanoids around to take advantage then?

I sigh from my thoughts as I exit the wheat forest. To my right and left are perfectly straight lines, on one side is the stalks of wheat, and the other green pastures. Man, it’s really gotten dark fast since we stopped, it’s almost pitch black now. The moon hasn’t risen yet, and even if it did, it’s way too cloudy for that tiny thing to illuminate the sky.

I kneel near the water, and as I’m waiting for the buckets to fills from the running of the itty-bitty stream, I scan the pasture before me. Straight forward, all I see is green, until eventually I can’t see any farther thanks to the curvature of the terrain. To my left, more green. To my right, a large mountain range, brown with the final warm light of the sun of the day.

As I’m about to stand though, I see a single white blip in my vision. My heart jumps, because nature doesn’t exactly produce white very often, beasts do. I squint my eyes at the dot of white, it’s gotta be a few kilometers away. I make out a humanoid shape, standing upward and facing directly at me.

The hell? I can’t make out anything else but, that must be something…it could be a really creepy statue but…nah, I can barely see it from here.

I mentally dismiss the far-off standing blot of white and quickly make my way back to Alisson through the wheat.

…

The wheat next to Alisson rustled, knowing it was Celis, he didn’t bother to look up. He continued his quick inspections of everything they had. Before Alisson he’d laid out everything the horses were hauling with them. He’d made sure their provisions were in order, and their numerous miscellaneous tools were in their correct pouches. Before getting the large quantity of general things stowed back on horses, Alisson made sure to thoroughly clean both the saddles and stirrups of both their mounts.

Alisson had heard from Sidonia that he should be grateful for saddles and stirrups. On further questioning, she’d even called them frivolous. There was apparently a time when these things didn’t exist, and people had to make do. To Alisson, he wondered how in the hell someone was supposed to charge into a line of soldiers completely bareback on a horse. But, he’d already shoved this tidbit into the place of his mind where he kept the other indecipherable things that Sidonia had said off-hand. Sidonia had lived far longer than any other Nekomata, she brought seemingly random thoughts into conversations. For being the figurehead of the Nekomata, Sidonia’s words were oddly alien to him.

After stowing the last of their consumables, and once again affirming that they indeed hadn’t used a single one of their precious items, he sat against one of the towers wall’s. He unclipped Enhérejär and withdrew all of his throwing knives, placing them on a fur sheet acting as his sleeping bag. He then cast a single mage light within the tower’s cove, making sure to keep it dull and of the color of wheat to blend it’s light in. Understanding this gesture, Celis too sat next to him. They went about their now ritual-like habit of oiling, sharpening and cleaning their weapons. For Alisson, Enhérejär didn’t dull, and his knives were almost never used, so a whetstone for him was unnecessary. Next to him however, Celis went about honing her stiletto’s. They hadn’t gotten a chance to perform some much-needed logistics in their time in Curlessi or other human towns, it would have been far too conspicuous.

“Celis, make sure those baselards you got from that scoundrel are up to par. I wouldn’t trust a human’s handiwork.”

After Celis had finished her work on the stiletto’s, she reached her right hand onto her left wrist and her left hand onto her right wrist; she then pulled, unsheathing her baselards at the same time with a satisfying scrape. They were thin, and longer than her stiletto’s. They weren’t long compared to swords, but they could still cut, a valuable option in combat. In Alisson’s opinion, Celis was far too linear, her short weapon’s and the ability to only thrust had severely limited her options. Yes, Celis was amazing with what she had, so much so that she was the top graduate at the Academy, but in a real fight, utility and different angles could win any fight that pure skill could.

As Celis started wiping the baselards down, she looked up quizzically after a only a few minutes.

“…They’re actually in very good shape.”

She says, still staring at them as if she doesn’t believe her eyes.

“Well,” Alisson tilted his head, “That’s testament to that human’s prowess; that he had such an attitude and you still beat him. You never know who could secretly be diligent, especially when it comes to humans. Even someone like Lady Salchyon takes excellent care of her equipment.”

Alisson smiled faintly at the mage light, recalling his childhood friend. Celis silently continued sharpening, before starting to oil the blades.

“…Why do you always call her Lady Salchyon?”

Celis asked, not looking up. Alisson scratched his head with a guilty expression.

“…I don’t know actually. I’ve always called her Lady Salchyon. ‘Louise’ hasn’t ever resonated with her actions I suppose. I’ve done the same thing for Lady Maccu now that I think about it…we’re all childhood friends and yet…”

Alisson’s face broke into a frown. Perhaps seeing this, Celis hurriedly changed the subject.

“Well what kind of things does Lady Salchyon do?”

“Other than frontline combat…Hmm. I suppose she plays the violin, just like me. Other than that, I don’t know. She’s quite the mystery to me you see.”

Celis let out a hum of intrigue. Alisson hadn’t ever heard Celis like that.

“You, you play the violin?”

“I’m certainly not the greatest, but yes, I studied the violin for my creative art at the Academy. How about you then? What did you take?”

Celis looked down for a moment, hesitating to respond.

“I, I um, I drew.”

Alisson chuckled a little at his apprentice’s trepidation, in return he received an embarrassed pout.

“My apprentice is a little artist I see. You’ll have to show me some time then.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Celis looked up at him, a little pleadingly. It was clear she was fearful for whatever reason. Suddenly however, a light flicked on in Celis’s expression, and her head perked up toward Alisson.

“Only if you, if you play for me.”

She spoke assertively at first, before her body slumped and shrank away from Alisson. Alisson simply smiled at her meekness; she wasn’t even confident enough to ask for anything.

“We have a deal then. Please don’t think you can’t ask anything of me, I am your master after all.”

Celis simply nodded her head as she returned to oiling the baselards. It was baffling to think only a small percentage of humans even spoke of the arts. In Sidonia, every Nekomata had some degree expertise in such abstract fields. The Academy even required it as one of it’s main focuses. Humans who prided themselves on such concepts were far and few between by contrast. To Alisson, the arts were important, but it seemed like they were never actually put to work in Sidonia. The greatest artists and thinkers fell on battlefields, just like any other Sidonian. It never seemed like anybody actually put forward their skills out of their own volition; it was a command from Sidonia that her children would be cultured. Alisson thought that it was a bit of a waste if no Nekomata had a passion for arts; or if they did, no one seemed to show or share it.

As far as Alisson himself went, he was rubbish at drawing, so he decided to pick up an instrument. His mother had played the violin, so that’s why he’d chosen it.

Alisson suddenly wondered what Apophria might’ve studied. Although, on second thought, Alisson didn’t even think that his sister had gone to the Academy. Rumor had it that she’d been trained by Sidonia personally after showing honorary performance.

Alisson sighed. Whenever he thought of Apophria, he could only think of his own weakness. His sister was in her 800’s; but six-hundred years ago, when she’d been Alisson’s age, Apophria had still far surpassed him. He only shuddered to think how far her power had been blown out of the spectrum; assuming she had kept growing as she did.

As Alisson were about to stop thinking about Apophria, he suddenly remembered what he’d told Celis about her.

Agh! The pain! The pain of embarrassment!

Alisson silently shuddered and cringed at himself. He was still bugged by such a small thing. He knew it wasn’t a healthy trait, but by the time he’d figured that out, it was already to late; He’d already been imprinted to be perfect, and blow any minor hinderances out of proportion. Alisson cursed his own ineptitude.

Alisson looked over Celis now that she was done with her work.

“Celis, let me take a look at your armor.”

Regrettably, they definitely did not have the time to go through a piece by piece inspection of their armor; but this was the least Alisson could do. Celis nodded to him and stood, shifting her cloak out of the way and lifting her arms. Celis’s armor was in quite the good the shape for how many hits she’d taken through her apprenticeship. After they’d left Foksly, they were fortunate enough to get a full repair at the 75th’s base camp; so the only combat Celis’s armor had been through was her fight with Alfonso. The largest thing that caught his eyes was a black blemish on the exposed chainmail covering her belly. He leaned in slightly, and saw that it wasn’t a puncture, rather it was just a result from intense blunt trauma. He sighed; There were numerous dents, but no punctures or rips. She had taken a few blows against beasts on the road to Curlessi, but none of them were threatening in the least.

“You’re fine.” Alisson said as he back away. He saw that her face was red.

That isn’t really anything to get embarrassed about…

Alisson waved off Celis, and she slumped back down.

“Hey…Alisson? Can I tell you something?”

Alisson peered at his apprentice; she was now done stowing her tools and was looking up at him. She didn’t usually have anything to say, so Alisson nodded his head.

“How, how much do you know about my years in the Academy?”

Alisson had the sneaking suspicion that this had something to do with what Daventdale had told him when he’d first met Celis.

“I know your grades. That is all.” Alisson hesitated for a moment, deciding whether or not to tell her about what Daventdale had said. He quickly made up his mind on the thought that he shouldn’t keep information from his apprentice. “…I’ve also heard that something happened to your first roommates.”

Celis’s head shot up; Alisson’s little hunch seemed to be correct. Alisson tilted his head at her.

“Have you ever told anyone what happened?”

She slowly averted her head from Alisson.

“N-no. Ever since the debriefing, I haven’t said anything of it…”

“Please, if it makes you feel any better, you can tell me.”

Alisson faintly smiled. He tried his best to look consolidating. Alisson wasn’t only sympathetic, he wanted to know for himself whatever this was that had happened. It nagged at him whenever he didn’t know everything about a subordinate of his.

“Well…It happened a few years into schooling at the Academy. We were drilling on infiltrating guarded compounds. The other two who were with me, were Yttri Isonale and Gwilyn Vebrvev.” She spoke her old teammates names fluently; she clearly hadn’t stuffed their memory. Celis inhaled, “…Yttri had used a war-hammer, and Gwilyn a sabre. It was our first excursion from Sidonian land, for them, it’d be the first time in their lives. We’d travelled out to some town in Principality, former Kitsune land, for educational purpose. A few days went by, and the mock-scenario started. The game revolved around a warehouse, it was capture the flag. We were given a rough description of the compound and let loose into the city.”

Alisson furrowed his brow. Just how could anything bad happen? Apprentice teams were always shadowed on such drills; especially on ones that took place outside of Sidonian territory.

“…After an hour of stalking the city, we thought we’d found the right place. It, it wasn’t.” Celis went silent for a moment, “Yttri and Gwilyn went on and on about it being the right place…I was even quieter back then than I am now, so despite my objection, I went along with them…I warned them you know.”

Celis fell silent once more. At first, Alisson had inferenced that it’d been Celis herself to pick the place wrongly; He’d seen time and time again how the person to survive and harbor the guilt was ironically the one responsible for the sorrow in the first place. Contrary to his assumption, it seemed this was not case.

“…But, by the time we made it over the walls, the three of us realized it too late. I don’t know exactly where we stuck our necks in, but it wasn’t some training area, that much I do know. Our stealth was broken almost immediately, and before we were able to turn tail, we were surrounded. With our backs to a wall, and no one running to help, we only had one choice.…At first it was going well. We bit back, and hard. We almost broke through them y-you know?”

Her voice faltered, but before Alisson could look any closer, she quickly swiped at her eyes, shaking her head.

“Yttri fell first. She was surrounded, so I couldn’t see her. I only heard her scream, and then, I never heard her voice again.”

Celis stared down at the ground, her eyes wide.

“Gwilyn and me were on the back foot after that; we lost more and more ground, until we didn’t have anything run away on. Gwilyn got grabbed, and, they slit her throat.”

She looked up suddenly, as if remembering the scene for herself.

“…After that, I thought it was the end but, our instructor, my…my…” Celis seemed to doze off in thought for a moment. She suddenly looked up, a little surprised, “I-I’m sorry, I don’t know why I had trouble remembering, it, it was my brother that came leaping over the walls…The field was covered in bodies before I knew it; I was pulled out of the city, given a gag order, and that was the end of it.”

Alisson simply stared in silence. His apprentice’s expression warranted every ounce of pity he could give. Seeing your allies cut down before you, to watch as they uttered their last gasp of life, then having to live, to live not only with the guilt, but with the single thought,

It should’ve been me instead, it was a fearful chain of events.

It was puzzling to Alisson.

Soldiers flashed wide smiles as they plunged to their own deaths, without care for their lives.

But, those same soldiers broke down to tears, like children, if the same fate met their comrades.

It left everyone in grief but those who died. In that sense, was it really better to have lived? Or would it have been easier to throw it all away?

Alisson wondered what in the hell warranted Rickard being so late to the rescue in the first place. Just what was he doing? Alisson couldn’t exactly ask him however.

After a few minutes of silence, Alisson shook his head. He stood and placed a single hand on Celis’s shoulder. He had not clue in hell how to console her; much less anyone else. He was not a parent, and he wasn’t on the receiving end of such things to learn either. Only one thing came to his mind.

“…Let’s spar. Sweat it out of your system.”

Emotions came out in the form of liquid no matter what, better to point it toward some productivity.

The two of them went about their normal routines and drills, washing out this bad taste with the comfort of the norm. Routines were soothing in a way, to do the same things, to know what stands ahead, to see the same people, it was the same whenever he was in Sidonian lands.

“Hah…hah…”

Celis panted before him. It’d only been about a half an hour, but it seemed she hadn’t taken her practice lightly. Any trace of her previous melancholy had faded, and it was as if the whole conversation had never taken place. Such as a norm that Alisson quite thoroughly loathed, why talk of such serious matters if no one brought them up again?

“I see you’ve worked up some fatigue, why don’t I teach you how to really throw a weapon then?”

Celis, counter to her tire, still looked up with the last of her vigor, and nodded her head. Alisson had long wanted to amend Celis's technique. What she'd used against that street rat was the form taught at the Academy, though the minute details were all out of shape. She'd used brute force to throw her weapon, and that was simply unacceptable.

“Hand me a baselard.”

She did so.

“You see, throwing isn’t all in the arm. It is in the wrist, the way you rotate your forearm and twist fingers all matter. Your arm should be a simple motion, but pay attention to the small parts, else you’ll never hit damned thing.”

Alisson went through the motions whilst he spoke.

To her credit, after some explanation, Celis’s throwing arm had taken a dramatically better turn. It was amazing what some simple pushes in the right direction could do. Though, she still wasn’t physically strong enough to throw a baselard with enough strength to actually harm an armored opponent.

“Your stilettos, try throwing one as well. It’s much more horizontal, the tip should always be pointed toward it’s target, like a dart.”

It was certainly harder to throw a singularly tipped weapon rather than an edged one, and it took Celis a few tries, but she seemed to be at the very least on track for further learning. Alisson wasn’t anywhere near the point of telling her to actually use it in a battle however, throwing your weapon was an extreme risk. If you screwed it up, or if the results were disappointing, then you’d have to face the reality of being down an armament, simple as that.

Alisson smiled bitterly at himself, he’d really gone off and passed over Celis’s earlier poignancy, how uncaring of him.

“Well, good work Celis. The you a couple months ago wouldn’t hold a candle to you now.”

Celis’s brows furrowed, but she took the complement in stride.

“Thank you, master.” She bobbed her head.

“Well, we really should get to bed, it’s already late as is.” Alisson said, peering at the black night above them. It really wasn’t all that dark as it usually was, the clouds had cleared and the stars stretched across the night sky. It was beautiful sight, and a rare one at that. To sleep under such a band of stars imported good fortune, so superstition said.

“Hmph. I’ll take first watch.”

Celis looked up, and frowned in a begging sort of way.

“No, I’ll, I’ll be fi-.”

Celis stopped dead in her words. She stared past Alisson for her moment, her eyes wide.

...Another hallucination?

"...Celis?"

Celis continued staring at Alisson, she shakily rose her hand and pointed toward Alisson.

"B-Buh-Behind you!"

She whispered in a rush. As soon as Alisson processed her words, he turned in a blur toward his backside. Sure enough, a figure's outline contrasted the stalks of wheat behind Alisson. It was a woman, larger than both Alisson and Celis. She had long charcoal black hair that fell to her hips, and she had bright red eyes. They seemed to glow in the darkness of the night. Though, Alisson knew immediately that this wasn’t any passerby. The first sign was obvious.

The woman before Alisson was completely nude.

The second most noticeable, was the size of her chest. Inhuman was an apt description.

The last oddity of this woman, however, was what sent Alisson into a panic. She had a pair of blackened horns atop her head, and a thin black tail ending in a club waved back and forth jutted from her hip. These two additions instantly identified her.

This is no her, this is a beast!

Alisson rose his arm in a blur, his fingers already wafting a yellow aura.

This is a damned succubus!

“Back, beast!”

The succubus clicked her tongue and shook her head slowly. Seeing this, Alisson’s eyes narrowed, and he shot off the few Pict spells that he’d completed with the few seconds he had. The beast’s eyes widened in shock, and with a clumsy twist, she barely managed to escape the four spells by a hair. The spell’s flew and plunged into the wheat behind the beast.

“Woah! Take it easy there buddy!”

The beast let out a comment in a syrupy and deep voice,

In Sidonian. Alisson wasn’t expecting to hear his Lady’s language out of any mouth but Celis’s for the duration of his time outside the homeland; it momentarily shocked him.

Before Alisson could compile his thoughts, she pounced upon him, closing the distance within the blink of an eyes. In a blur Alisson was pushed toward the ground, she held his arms against his back and pushed down on him with a single knee. His face was pushed straight against the dirt. Alisson saw Celis, in apparent shock, in his view.

He opened his mouth to call out, but Celis was faster; after giving Alisson a single glance, she launched into action. She surged forth, leaping with a roundhouse kick at the beast. The succubus evaded sideways as if it’d glided out of the way. Alisson was now unbound, and relief filled him. Celis followed up her attack with two cobra-quick jabs at the beast’s face. The succubus simply tilted her head side to side and evaded the two punches inhumanly easily. The beast brought a hand up and grabbed Celis by the collar of her armor. The succubus brought her free hand up to Celis’s face, and after a tense moment of silence, she flicked Celis’s nose with her index finger.

“Come now, why can’t we just talk? I thought you were supposed to civil ones.”

The succubus then gently placed Celis back on the ground. Celis simply stood in surprise; staring at the beast, before slowly backing away to Alisson’s side. Alisson stared in indecision for a moment. He’d heard of succubae many times before from his elders and his fellow Sidonians; it was public knowledge. General norms dictated he shoot first and ask questions later, and so he’d done so on instinct. This thing had just tried to pin him down, yet now peacefully let go of his apprentice.

I don’t want to fall for any tricks, but I feel bad about attacking again if it’s not going to try anything…

On that thought, he was once again reminded of his own softness; he shook his head with the singular thought,

This is no person, this is a beast, no different from a Goblin.

Alisson laid a hand on Enhérejär.

“What do you mean by that?”

Alisson asked. He wanted to buy some time to let Celis and himself prepare for the large chance of a real confrontation. As much as he wanted to abstain from even speaking to beast, and thus ratifying it’s humanity, to indulge in it’s sociality was sure way to bide his time.

“I’ve been watching you ever since you entered my hunting grounds.”

That doesn’t explain her talking about us being ‘Civil’. She must know more than that.

The succubus rose her hands to her chest and looked up theatrically,

“Thank you mashter! I rwrery appreciate it!~”

She was clearly mocking Celis, though Alisson pushed the beast’s antic’s out of his head.

“Hunting ground? You look more like a cow than predator.”

“That’s a really mean thing to say to lady you know?” She didn’t seem the least bit offended as she tilted her head with a smile. “But a cow huh? Sure then, I’m but cattle grazing fertile fields, and you seem to be quite a ripe sheaf.”

She licked her lips.

“One more word of tempt and I shalt cut your head from your neck, beast.”

“You seem to only have a toothpick there, how exactly would you hope to decapitate me? It seems there’s a paucity of variety in your options, boy.”

She glanced at Enhérejär with a demeaning glare. Ignoring her jab was the easy thing to do; but if he negated his apparent weakness, he’d appear stronger. So Alisson decided to play along to discourage the succubus from thinking he was easy prey. As things were going, he might have a very real chance of talking her away. Alisson pushed his pride away, and inhaled.

“I am not so linear a man as to only thrust forward.”

Her face shot up toward Alisson deviously.

“So you’ve come here to place your plough then?”

Her words instilled nothing but disgust within Alisson.

“I am no farmer. Even if I was, I wouldn’t plough upon fields grazed by a beast like you.”

She could take that two way’s, either as an insult or as Alisson seeming benevolent. Both placed Alisson above her; with which he needed to appear if he were to talk away the creature.

I haven’t had a good battle of words for a while, but it seems like I haven’t become a dunce.

She smirked at Alisson.

“…It seems you are a farmer; You show remorse for the nature, but don’t do a thing about it; Though, if it really were to stand against you, vile exploiter, you’d run for the hills.”

-This isn’t some idiot I’m dealing with!

Completely contrary to any response Alisson was expecting, it looked like she’d saw through his attempt at curving her away. If he didn’t respond once more, above her, then he’d be falling behind, and acknowledging that what she’d inferred was completely true.

“Even if I am a farmer, the land I till is far from here; I care naught for the life here.”

Her eyes narrowed once more.

“You do not?” She looked away, still smirking.

Crap.

It was evident that she hadn’t bought Alisson’s words.

“Well what’s this about you not being from here then? How about you tell me, I’ve been dying to hear something interesting for a while you know.”

Alisson had a hard decision to make. He could either indulgence further in this beast, or he could attempt to attack right away to drive it off. Alisson briefly considered her evident fighting strength. She seemed fast, and highly mobile. Succubae had wings, although they weren’t currently present to Alisson, the beast before him could easily outmaneuver him with her on-demand flight. Her skin appeared soft, and almost inviting with it's glow, but this was a beast. Her skin was probably just as hard as his armor. There was a reason she wasn’t wearing any clothes; a beast such as herself simply had no need of them. When the cold or heat cannot pierce your skin, and when clothes would do little more than get in your way, why even bother?

All in all, given her speed, and most probably a physical strength disparity within this cramped cove, it was looking to be a taxing fight. They wouldn’t be able to outrun her either, succubae were fast, terrifyingly so with their damned wings.

The succubus laid her hands on her hips and stared intently at Alisson. Pressured by this, he quickly made up his mind.

“…Fine then. I will talk.”

It wasn’t necessarily the worst option he could’ve picked. Given the time he’d most likely be able to make his own options; on that thought he cursed himself, he’d been pressured by a beast. Not just a beast, but one that was the very incarnation of Sidonian detest.

The succubus took a step forward toward Alisson, before she could take another, Alisson drew his blade about an inch on instinct.

“Not one step closer.”

She rose her hands.

“Okay, okay. You don’t look to be too courteous a people, not even any food or warmth for a friendly visit. I’ve really been craving a something hot to drink…”

The succubus lazily slumped to the ground on cross-legged, filling the exit of the cove. Alisson momentarily stood, staring at the succubus, his mind prodded at him to avert his eyes down, but he quickly threw the disgusting thought’s out of his head. He thought quickly.

“…Might I interest you in such a drink?”

The succubus looked at him, flushed with surprise. Evidently, it didn’t seem she was expecting for Alisson to actually respond.

“…I happen to have some exquisite tea on me.”

The succubus’s disappointment seemed immeasurable.

…

Er…what the hell kind of situation has Alisson got me into…?

…I have a succubus sitting not a meter away from me on the other side of a fire.

Alisson really took that whole tea thing to heart, I almost had a heart attack when he was talking about ‘Thrusting’ and the whole drink thing; That was all on top of being right next to a succubus! I really can’t tell if Alisson was being immature or if he just didn’t notice what he was saying. Him being unaware makes him sound way too pure, so I’m going to go with that he was just being immature. Well, props for saying that kind of stuff, to a succubus of all people, with a straight face. I mean, she’s naked! How has Alisson not dropped dead in embarrassment! She surely doesn’t seem to care, and Alisson hasn’t even stuttered!

I sigh.

The more and more time I spend with Alisson, the weirder he becomes.

In terms of pouring tea for a succubus, I thought the whole idea was dubious at first. I can’t very well ask what’s going through Alisson’s head right now, and I was dreading the whole fire thing. The first thought that occurred to me, was that we could easily start wildfire, the second, that we’d be able to be seen for miles.

Upon further thought, I think I’ve found applicable rebuttals. The fire is surrounded by a thick, and ‘relatively’ tall wall of stone- the tower we’ve made our camp in- the wind isn’t blowing toward the unwalled segment of the structure; so the smoke is gathering and venting at a window a dozen meters up. The whole visibility thing is a double-edged sword, yes beasts could attack, but I think that’s what Alisson is actually hoping for. If we do get swarmed by real monsters, then we could easily leave the succubus to die and book it on our horses-they’re pointed out and toward the exit for a good reason.

After Alisson was done pouring tea for both me and himself, he poured a third cup. He lifted it, and reluctantly, extended his arm toward the succubus. Okay, scratch that whole unfazed thing, he does look uncomfortable getting closer to her.

On the thought of his unease, I’m glad Alisson didn’t allow it to get any closer, else, else…

Gah! I’m so stupid sometimes!

“So, where are you two really from huh? I haven’t seen any travelers come through my territory for a few years now, so I’ve gotten I a little worried about, you know, humans.”

“They haven’t died-” Alisson cleared his throat, “We haven’t all died out, not yet at least.”

The succubus narrowed her eyes.

“Hah…Really, I’m getting annoyed here. You two, are not human.”

Surprisingly, neither me nor Alisson reacted at all.

“I bet you’re just dying to find out how I figured you out huh? Well, explain yourselves first, maybe then older-sister will let you off the hook for trespassing on my territory.”

Alisson sighed.

“…I suppose you won’t exactly share anything you learn. We’re Nekomata. From Sidonia.”

“…And?”

“I’m not authorized to tell you anything else.”

“Come on! I figured out that much just by how you smell and talk! You gotta give me something to work with! I’m practically starved on entertainment over here!”

The succubus jokingly complains.

“Do you, do you even know what kind of world there is beyond your fields?”

Alisson asks reluctantly.

“Oh, I’ve heard enough from the people that have come by. Sounds boring. My country, is my hunting ground. My enemies and competitors, are my fellow peers in this part of the world. We’ve divided up the lands a very long ago you see; Of course, I have just about the smallest part of the fields, so maybe that’s why I barely get a decent catch.”

She shrugged.

…Great, just great. There’s more than one succubus, and they’re all just hiding out in this massive wheat field. Granted the area’s gotta be pretty large, but I wonder how many succubae there are total. They’re said to be quite a rare species.

“The place we came from, there’s always people smuggling goods from a nearby town who use the same exit we used, why don’t you speak of them?”

The succubus put her hand to her cheek.

“Ah, things used to be so easy, but now, everyone travels in groups. I can’t very well strike convoys and caravans of people, so I just eavesdrop out of boredom.”

“Why’s that? You succubae should easily be able to overwhelm any number of lethargic merchants.”

“Eh…Call it something we just don’t do. Like how you Nekomata are prudes.”

‘Prudes’. Sure thing, literal demon of, ahem.

“Well, I hope we’re the first Nekomata you’ve seen then?”

Alisson asked.

“Oh-ho, nope. Not, at, all.~”

Alisson’s expression darkened.

“Hey, I know you really want to kill me now, but think of it this way, I’ve lived pretty long, and you people are really just the most delectable little things, adorable really, compared to what I normally see.”

“…”

Alisson didn’t respond for a while. He shook his head.

“I wanted to ask. How do you understand us?”

“Oh, don’t ask me. I haven’t a clue what this thing you sentients call ‘language’ is. It sounds like a big hassle.”

What kind of answer is that?

Regardless, Alisson sighed, in relief if I’m not wrong.

Yeah, it’s better that this succubus didn’t say that she actually knew our language, that’d be a big problem.

“Fine then, what about that whole display you pulled when you appeared, you tried to-”

“-Make no mistake boy…You fricking shot at me! With spells! What else was I gonna do, sit there?”

She chuckled.

“I, I…My apologies.”

Alisson actually apologized? To this beast? I wasn’t expecting that. He looks really guilty, the more I listen to this beast the more human it sounds.

-Gah! I can’t let myself fall for it’s tricks! For all I know, it could just be playing the long game with us. This ‘Bored’ succubus could totally do that, playing with it’s prey and all.

“Man, even if you two are super cute, you two don’t seem at all attracted to me, you, boy, you haven’t taken your eyes off of my face, am I really that unappetizing or are you just not into women? I can change that if you like. Or could it be that you’re not at that age yet?”

She eyed Alisson.

Well maybe that’s why she’s acting so informal with us, she doesn’t actually sound as though she’s trying to hardcore-seduce us, she's just really loose and facetious.

“Don’t get any funny ideas. You are a beast. I am Sidonian. Our will is ironclad, it shan’t be bent.”

The succubus let out a huge sly grin.

“If only you saw the dozens of others like you that came by; I had them practically begging me like they were slaves. They really were just so cute.”

Alisson went silent again. In fact, the whole atmosphere just seemed to die with her words.

“I’ve seen all too many horrors upon my fratello…Can I at least ask if you treated them well?”

“They all lived long and happy lives in my care.”

The succubus’s face turned motherly, almost.

“Let it be known, I hate you. Every single comrade of mine and even my Lady herself no doubt harbor pure disgust at your very being, they’d order your death. I above anyone else would be the happiest to do so. To avenge our fallen, vengeance is a strict duty upon all of us. It is our duty to avenge our sibling’s pride. I hate you, and I possess the means to slay you here and now.

…But, know that I acknowledge your kindness. Though I will not ratify it. You are a beast. Nothing more.”

“…”

For a moment, the succubus seemed to be at a loss for words.

“Well, let it be known then, that I don’t hate you. I don’t love or like you either. I’m not forced to do what I do out of my own volition. The only reason why I haven’t bound both of you, is out of selfishness. I really do try to be as kind as possible, but it’s not like I was wanted to be born this way, surely you understand.”

“I don’t. You are a beast. Your words are only replications of speech. You are unique in your ability to converse, but that doesn’t mean that you actually understand what you say. Your instincts only point toward what would help you achieve your goal. You, succubus, are no different from the creatures that roam the tunnels beneath our feet.”

Once again, the succubus fell at a loss for words.

Jeez Alisson, is that really all necessary?

…I feel, kind of bad…

“I see. Well. I’ll take my leave. Farewell, travelers.”

Then, she disappeared, she vanished from my sight, I didn’t even blink. The only thing that remained was an empty cup still steaming with heat, from which Alisson had poured tea into. We sat in silence. After meeting someone like that, it really feels lonely now that she’s gone.

She was, she was so nice. I, I should’ve at least taken the chance to talk with someone like her…

A hand fell on my shoulder, and I turned at Alisson.

“Don’t worry, I know how you feel. The sense of emptiness, let’s not take each other for granted, okay?”

He tilted his head with a smile toward me. His smile however, quivered.

***

Addendum

“It seems you had a fun time.”

“I suppose, it’s better than nothing in these god damned fields. That blue one kept staring at my chest, so it was entertaining, I suppose.”

“You're so lucky, you shouldn’t be talking like that; I’m still wondering why you didn’t just capture them as soon as you had the chance.”

“Because, they’re too appetizing. Anybody who caught prey like that would have a large target on their backs. That one with the lion’s share of land, whatever she calls herself, she probably would’ve killed me. So, for now, I’ve only told you about it. If anybody else finds out, the ones of us that are left will eat each other alive.”

“I won’t tell anyone else; you know me.”

“Thank you.”

“We’ve learned many things from the prey, but we never use it for each other, don’t you think at least some of the thing’s they’ve thought up are good ideas?”

“You talk boldly. The other’s would ostracize you.”

“Say’s you, the one who just let two perfectly healthy ones go.”

“You’re still going on about that?”

“I respect the territory agreements. So even if I wanted them, it’s not like I’d cross over into your land.”

“Fine enough. What’s this you speak of the prey’s ideas? Just now, I don’t think I’ve ever thought so hard in my life with that boy, his care was genuine, but he didn’t believe a word he said; I don’t know what to think of him.”

“The prey didn’t want to be eaten, so it drove you away, it just happened to be with it’s words.”

“I don’t think that’s the case, they didn’t want to kill me, they were just like the other Nekomata, they were sad. How is it that the sadder ones push us away harder? Prey is odd."

“…Prey. They really have stopped coming to us. To think, we used to span the globe, but now, us, the ones in these fields, we might be the last dozen left, we need to adapt, we need to change, just like the prey-they do that all the time and look at how many there are of them. They have to outnumber us at least by one thousand.”

“…One thousand really is a scary number. I thought only in our glory days could reach that high.”

“Yes, you’ve heard of what the prey do, their ‘counties’ and ‘alliances’- they work together, and they’re better off for it.”

“I’ve long thought the same, but I didn’t think any other shared my revelation, you’ve surprised me again, friend.”

“So what’s this you’ve thought off then? Did something in your conversation with them impart an idea?”

“An idea, what a nice thought, to think we are capable of such. No, it’s not an idea. It’s something I’ve picked up from them of course. That whole ‘Sidonia’ place they speak of, it seems like exactly what we need to be. Everyone helps and loves each other, all of those Nekomata are friends. Good friends.”

“You want to start a country here then? In these fields?”

“Yes.”

“That’s awfully intuitive. How would you plan to go about it?”

“Well, it seems the hardest part has already been overcome; already another can see where I come from, you, good friend, see where I have derived my concept from; so we can surely impart our knowledge on others, just like the good days, when everyone talked a lot and were friends.”

“…I don’t care what you say, it sounds like an idea, a grand idea. I’ll help you, friend.”

“Thank you.”

Deep within the field, under a starry sky and bright moon shinning against the ears of wheat, one with red eyes, and one with green eyes, made a pact.