Tiddles had taken a long time to clean, and Kyto had grabbed a broom and used it to scrub him down. Tiddles had stood there enjoying being pampered and had moaned in pleasure at the brush scratching his skin through his thick fur.
"You need to do this more often," he said.
"I am not your damn slave. If you could kill things more precisely, we both would not have been covered in their remains." Kyto replied.
"I am just a beast, after all," he replied, smiling.
Eventually, after much longer than Kyto had expected, he cleaned himself up, and TJ dropped some clothes off. They were ill-fitting but at least clean and not smeared with Geblex remains. They returned to the barracks and were directed back upstairs to the dining area. Sitting back down at the table they had been at before, it was not long until Tabs arrived.
"Thank God you are okay," she said, seeing the pair, walking over, and kissing Kyto's cheek. He smiled back at her fondly.
"How is it going outside?" he asked.
"Chaos. The whole town is in a state. Some authorities are trying to sort things out, but rumour is that several left first thing this morning rather than stay around."
"No way. They have left?"
"Yes. Apparently, the talks about a second wave have spread, and several townsfolk and members of the authority have panicked and are packing up to leave or have already left."
"It has only been a few hours since the fighting which we won, and people are already leaving. It just doesn't make sense. Why are they not staying to defend."
"I can understand some of them going if nothing keeps them here. There is a rumour that Mr Cooper has left the township as well. I am not sure if it is true, though."
"If he has gone, who the hell is running the place?"
"A woman called Miss Agnos seems to be doing most things and has set herself up at the control tower."
"That is her usual office. She was the woman I saw about the contract at the fishing district. She is not someone to mess with from my experience of meeting and dealing with her."
"That is what has been said. Many people appear fearful of her, not because she is nasty, but because of her temper."
"She is definitely a no-nonsense person. I need to go and see her as well."
"Oh, why?"
Kyto explained to Tabs what had happened in detail and that she had ordered him to come here. They sat talking for a while, and Matilda brought them some coffee.
"Thanks, Matilda. This is Tabs, my girlfriend," he said as he introduced her.
"Hi, nice to meet you." Tabs said, smiling at the woman.
Matilda looked Tabs up and down before replying. "She will do." turning and walking off.
"She is rude, isn't she?" frowned after her.
Kyto chuckled in response. "She is nice underneath that exterior. I think she uses it for defence."
"Well, if you say so."
"I hate being stuck in here."
"I know, but your suddenly proclaiming yourself Enlightened has just added to the chaos in the streets."
"What do you mean?"
"You have the zealots who are after your blood, and then you have the other extreme now calling you a saviour."
"What? I am no saviour."
"Think about it for a minute. You have suddenly appeared, stating you are Enlightened just at the time when the town is facing its worst crisis ever and can perform healing without using anything. I know we are used to you and your abilities, but those who have no idea about you or who you are will jump to conclusions."
"That is a little deep for you, isn't it? I think you have been spending too much time with Elizabeth."
Tabs hit him in the shoulder hard, glaring at him.
He chuckled again, rubbing his shoulder.
"Hang on a minute. Stand up." Tabs said.
"Why?" he said.
"Just do it."
Kyto stood and turned to face Tabs. "What?"
"I know those clothes are not the right fit, but you look wider."
"Aye? What do you mean?"
"Your shoulders are broader."
"Oh. I did increase to level 26, which gave me an extra stat point in each attribute."
"What? Why did you not lead with that?"
"I did not even consider it."
"Well, next time, maybe you should."
"Noted." he smiled at her fondly.
A guard entered the dining area and walked over to them. "Miss Agnos wants to see you."
"Here we go," Kyto replied, standing.
Tiddles stood to join him. "Just you, not the beast." the guard said.
"I will stay with him." Tabs said, stroking Tiddles on his head as he slumped back down onto the floor, moaning bitterly about being locked up.
Kyto followed the guard back downstairs. Rather than walking to the front of the building, he was escorted to a side entrance Kyto had not noticed. The guard opened it, glancing out into the square. Kyto could hear calls from the front of the building, and the guard led him away and across towards the control tower. No one seemed to pay them any attention as they walked along, and Kyto assumed that most people would have been staring at Tiddles, not himself.
On arriving at the control tower, many people protested with the guards at the entrance, trying to get inside. The guard led Kyto to a fenced-in compound at the rear and let him through into the back of the building. Inside the compound was what could only be described as a private garden, with what he guessed in summer months would be an immaculate area to sit.
He was led over to a door at the rear of the tower and let through. The guard escorted him, leaving and handing him to another man inside. The man was dressed in the authority's dull grey attire and nodded to him, asking him to follow him. He was led through a part of the building he had not seen before and then directed up some stairs. "Just follow them to the top. Miss Agnos is in the main office."
"Thanks," Kyto said as he walked up the stairs. The stairs swept following the control towers' curved exterior. There were windows which allowed for views out onto various parts of the town. On reaching the top, he was confronted by a large white door, which he knocked on gently.
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"Come in." the female voice of Miss Agnos replied.
Kyto entered the main office area and walked up several steps, which took him further. He then saw a fantastic panoramic view. From the top of the tower, he could see 360 degrees because all sides were constructed with glass. He had seen the building from the outside, but standing in it and looking around gave the town a whole new perspective.
"Hi," he said as he stepped onto the platform.
Miss Agnos was sitting at a desk with Captain Reece seated in a chair in front, with a second chair to his side.
"Ah. Mr Kyto, come in and sit down," she said authoritatively.
"Just Kyto is fine," he replied, smiling at her.
Her gaze did not alter as she watched him take his seat. Reece smiled at him as he did.
"It appears you have some explaining to do, and the sooner you do it, the sooner we can finish the plans for this rumoured second wave," she stated.
"Where would you like me to begin?" Kyto asked sincerely.
"Try the beginning."
Kyto spent a lot of time explaining what had happened since the system upgrade. He did not cover all the details, but enough to explain his skill tree and abilities. He left out the part about drawing mana from others.
"Interesting tale you tell." Miss Agnos said when he finished explaining.
"Very," Reece replied.
"Now, what about your beast?" she asked.
"That is a little more difficult to explain as he is not mine."
"What do you mean not yours?" Reece asked.
"If going by general understanding, he would be Sniffer's beast, but he is not even really Sniffer's anymore. He is his own beast."
"His own?"
"Yes. Beasts usually imprint to their owners, but as part of the upgrade, Sniffer lost his connection to the beast."
"So who controls him then?" Miss Agnos asked.
"No one. He chooses to remain with us because he is our friend."
"Friend? He is a beast."
"He is more than a beast; he is also Enlightened."
They both stared at him in disbelief. "How do you know he is Enlightened?" Miss Agnos eventually asked.
"Because I am in a party with him and can see his status," Kyto replied.
"A party and see his status? This does not make any sense." Reece stated.
"I agree. It doesn't really make much sense, but it is what it is." Kyto said in response, shrugging.
"Are there any more of you?" Miss Agnos asked.
"Enlightened. I have no idea. I would hope that there are more of us somewhere. Myself and Tiddles only met by chance."
"Tiddles?" Miss Agnos said.
'Oops,' Kyto thought to himself.
"Erm, yes, the beast is called Tiddles."
Reece grinned, and Miss Agnos looked confused. "You named him Tiddles?"
"No, I did not name him Tiddles. Sniffer did when he was still a pup, and he has always been known as Tiddles."
"How do you know you can trust him, though? He is a Wild One, after all."
"I just know. He will never harm anyone without reason or justification, and he is loyal to his friends and will do anything to protect them."
"So, what do you plan to do now?" Reece asked.
"Whatever we can to help. New Talisia is our home, after all, and since we have arrived, we have settled in and do not plan on leaving anytime soon, so we will defend it with what we can and help where we can."
"That is a commendable reply, but what if the town does not want you here?" Miss Agnos asked.
"Why wouldn't they? I can help heal people now openly, and we can help defend the town from the next attack."
"Some will not want you here and will mistrust what you stand for. You have already seen the effects of Yen and his gang," Reece stated.
"I do not care what others want of me. I am here to help, and if I can, I can only do that by being given the freedom to do what I need to and not being kept in a barracks block."
"This needs to be addressed at the town level. I will call on the head merchants to discuss their thoughts," Miss Agnos said.
"Where is Mr Cooper?" Kyto asked bluntly.
Miss Agnos's expression changed at the question, and he noticed her glance at Reece briefly before responding. "Unfortunately, he is tied up and cannot be here himself to see you."
"So it is true he has left the township," Kyto replied.
Miss Agnos could not hide the expression of anger from her face at the comment and did not reply.
Reece looked at her and then turned to Kyto. "Yes, he has left the town. He went first thing this morning and is heading towards the fuel depot in Cleveland. The owners are his relatives, and he will be staying there for now."
"So he abandoned the township as soon as it got challenging and left you to sort it out for him," Kyto replied.
Neither replied.
"Well, I have told you what I can do to help. When will you speak to the merchants to get their thoughts?" Kyto asked.
"I am meeting them soon. We have called a town meeting to discuss the potential second wave as we will need their support in providing resources."
"So you have a defensive plan?"
"We do," Reece replied.
"Well, that is one good thing to hear. I need to go and find this man who can make the ammunition. TJ mentioned that the supplies are running low, and I want to see if I can help him."
"And how can a healer help?" Miss Agnos asked.
"My profession was as a tinkerer and free thinker. I have always focussed on engineering, so I may be able to support."
They spoke for another few minutes before Kyto was offered to leave. Miss Agnos lifted a device on the desk, speaking into it after a moment.
"What is that?" Kyto asked inquisitively.
"It allows me to speak to the desk downstairs. It's an intercom or something like that." Miss Agnos replied. "It was something Mr Cooper had commissioned a long time ago."
"I have heard of one but never seen one that worked," Kyto replied.
"They only work with power," she replied.
There was a knock at the door, and a guard entered.
"Time for you to leave. Please remain at the barracks until I confirm with the merchant leaders."
Kyto stood and bid them farewell before leaving the tower. The view over the township had been amazing from up there, across the whole site, from the close-knit streets to the open field that lined the perimeter where the Keefir breeders and some crops were grown within the confines of the stockade walls. Kyto had not realised the true expanse of the site until now, and it was impressive. The guard escorted him back downstairs and out of the rear entrance again.
The sun was high in the sky, meaning it must be midday or close to by now, and the weather was currently fair. The breeze from the lake was not as biting as it could be, although there was the feeling of moisture in the air as though it may rain soon. As they approached the barracks, Kyto heard the shouting and commotion at the front. He looked over and could see a rather large crowd of people. The guard he was with was wearing a long grey cloak.
"Can I borrow your cloak?" he asked.
"Why?" the guard replied.
"I want to go and see what they are saying."
The guard looked at him reluctantly.
"Please, just one minute and then I will be straight back." he pleaded.
The guard unclipped his cloak and handed it to him. "One minute and only because I know you saved Will this morning."
Kyto looked at the man and suddenly recognised him. He was the guard who knelt by the unconscious man's side when he healed him.
"Thank you."
Kyto pulled the cloak around his shoulders and then pulled the hood up. It covered his face well, and his face was hidden under the hood. He walked to the front of the building, witnessing the groups for himself for the first time. On one side was a small group of people calling to see the saviour, and on the other was a larger crowd of angry-looking townsfolk. He recognised two of them from the morning, the man and woman who had been with Yen and had stepped to grab him. They were chanting and shouting abuse at the guards between the two groups.
Kyto had never witnessed mobs before, and even on the small scale that they were, he could see how it could quickly get out of hand. The bitterness being cast between the two sides of opinion is in some ways as bad as each other, even though one side supposedly supported his concerns. He had always been more of an introvert, and with this new outgoing behaviour, he was still uncertain if he was being truthful. He kept airing a show of confidence and conviction, which hid his true feelings. In all honesty, he would have been content to leave the issues behind him if he could, but he knew that he now had a higher calling that he had to respond to.
He stood quietly on the outskirts of the square, watching the scene for some time before eventually walking back to the rear of the barracks. The door was locked and had no handle on the outside, which he had not realised before, so he knocked sharply. He stood for a few minutes, knocking again several times, but no one responded.
'Shit' he thought. He made his way to the front of the building, ensuring the cloak was pulled up and around his face. The crowds were not dispersing, and considering they had been there all morning, he doubted that they would disperse anytime soon. He slowly began to ease his way through the nearest crowd who were those seeking Yen's freedom. He pushed between them, listening to their angry calls, and eventually reached the front. Stood separating both sides and the entrance to the barracks were a group of six guards. He did not recognise any of them and was roughly shoved back as he attempted to step forward. "I am here to see TJ," he called to the guard who just pushed him.
"I do not care who you are here to see. Only the guards are allowed inside the barracks," he snarled at him.
Obviously, the guards were just as angry as the gathered crowds and unhappy with having to contend with them.
"I need to see TJ," he repeated.
"And I said, ' I don't care. No one is entering the barracks, ' " he snapped back.
"I think you should let me inside," he said again, giving the guard a pleading look.
"You want to go inside, do you? Well, it will be my pleasure to take you to a cell." the guard said as he hit Kyto in his stomach with the butt of the rifle he held.
Kyto grunted, not expecting the strike, and doubled over forwards. As he did, the guard grabbed him by the cloak and dragged him forward. Another guard grabbed his other side, and they frog-marched him into the barracks. Kyto could not catch his breath, the wind being taken from him and being held doubled over as they hurried him to the back of the barracks and straight into one of the cells. There were cries from the other cells as he passed them. It appeared that several people had since joined Yen in the back. They roughly pushed him inside, and he fell to the floor.
"You got your wish." the guard snapped as he slammed the cell door.
Kyto straightened himself upright and took some deep, slow breaths, easing the pain in his stomach and pushing his strands to clear the throb from the strike. It soon subsided, 'At least I am back inside', he thought.