Chapter Text
~ 🔫 ~
Rain lashed against the church's roof, creating a rhythmic backdrop of desperation. A brunette man and his sleek black cat stepped into the dimly lit sanctuary for shelter. Moonlight filtered through the glass windows, casting an ethereal glow on the serene faces of the carved saints and angels, their watchful expressions seeming to guard the night.
The brunette man took off his hood and patted off some excess water from his coat. He then darted around the church, searching for any sign of danger. He turned to his feline companion, who shook his body to remove the excess rainwater. "Roto? Are you sure we can stay here?"
Roto strolled down the aisle, his tail twitching with excitement. "You heard what the locals said, Kanae. The innkeeper vanished. There's no one to take us in except the priest here." He released a velvety purr, completely unfazed by the tension in the air.
“Yeah, but in the middle of the night?” Kanae muttered as he glanced around uneasily, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows that seemed to reach for him.
Roto pressed on, meowing inquisitively. "Do you have any better options?" He then turned to his human companion and settled down on the soft, red rug.
“There are some abandoned—”
Suddenly, they heard a window shattered, followed by a blood-curdling scream echoing through the hallowed halls, freezing Kanae's heart in his chest. He reached out to the feline, "Roto!" At his command, Roto transformed instantly, shifting from a playful companion into a pair of gleaming dual revolvers that rested firmly in Kanae’s palms.
Kanae rushed toward the source of the noise and arrived at what seemed to be the priest's room. A low growl rumbled through the air, sending shivers down Kanae's spine. He pressed himself against the cold stone wall, his heart pounding, and peeked inside the room.
What he witnessed made his blood run cold. A hooded figure loomed over a grotesque monster, its claws stained with crimson as it stabbed the priest in the chest. The priest dangled helplessly in the air, his eyes wide with pain and disbelief, blood pooling beneath him and soaking into the floor.
The hooded man slowly raised his staff and commanded the monster to apply more pressure to the priest's wounds. "Where is it, you damned priest?!"
"You bloodsucker will never find it." the priest gasped, coughing up blood that splattered against the floor. He struggled to grip the arm embedded in his chest, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"There's another way. I can get information from you, Priest." The hooded man leaned closer, his shadow stretching ominously over the priest as he placed his hand on the man's forehead, a dark aura radiating from him.
Kanae could no longer wait. He raised the revolvers and fired a shot, the sound echoing like thunder in the confined space, hitting the hooded man squarely in the hand. The staff clattered to the ground, and the priest fell to the floor, gasping for breath.
The monster turned to face Kanae, its eyes glowing with malice, ready to attack. Without hesitation, Kanae shot the creature in the head, successfully killing it. As the body crumpled to the ground, Kanae caught a glimpse of the hooded man's face, whose hand healed immediately from the gunshot, and grabbed his staff.
"Red eyes? Pointed ears? Grey skin? Is he even human? " Kanae was puzzled by the man’s appearance.
Before Kanae could aim at the hooded man again, the figure leaped out of the window, transforming into a bat and flying away into the rainy night. Kanae rushed to the window, attempting to shoot the bat, but it deftly dodged his bullets. Frustrated at his failure, Kanae clicked his tongue and quickly turned back to aid the priest, only to find that the wounds were too deep; the man had lost too much blood.
"Thank . . . you . . . for stopping that monster." the priest coughed, more blood spilling from his lips as Kanae stared at the dying man. "My time has finally arrived . . . I can't . . . let that monster . . . have it . . . Please protect . . ." The priest's voice trailed off, and he stopped breathing. Kanae gently closed the priest's eyes and whispered a prayer for him to rest in peace.
Kanae inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly. "This is not how I wanted to start my night."
Roto transformed back into a cat and scanned the bloody room. "What a start to this story."
Kanae gazed out of the broken window, noticing that the rain had finally ceased. Roto jumped up beside him. "What a wasteful sight," Kanae murmured.
The clouds parted, and the moonlight shone brighter, its silvery glow reflecting off a field of pure white lilies that stretched out before them. The delicate flowers swayed gently in the breeze, their petals almost luminescent in the night.
"This beautiful field of lilies must have been tended to with great care by the priest," Roto observed, his feline eyes narrowing as he took in the serene sight.
Kanae turned his attention back to the lifeless body of the priest, wrapped in a blanket. "Roto? Can you help me bury him here, in the flower field?" he asked. "The rain has stopped, and the soil is moist, making digging easier."
Roto rolled his eyes dramatically, then transformed into a young boy with raven-black hair and a thick scar marring his neck. "What a drag," he grumbled, but he followed Kanae as they dragged the priest's body outside.
They found a shovel in the storage shed and set to work, digging a grave amidst the sea of white petals. Once the priest was laid to rest, they sat down on the muddy ground, catching their breaths.
"Kanae," Roto said, breaking the silence. "This place needs a priest; it's what keeps this town alive."
Kanae nodded solemnly. "I know." He rose from the ground and helped Roto to his feet. "Let's clean the church and make it befitting for a priest once more."
Together, they headed back inside, Roto closing the door firmly behind them. Roto went back to the Priest’s room, and absorbed the remnants of the monster's body, leaving the room eerily quiet. Kanae returned from the shed to gather cleaning supplies.
As they begin to clean the church, Roto stares at Kanae mopping up the blood. "What kind of story will this be, Kanae?" he asked, curiosity glimmering in his eyes.
Kanae paused the weight of Roto's question settling over him. "I don’t know yet, but it has to be one worth telling. This town once flourished with its fields of lilies and gold trade. It would be shameful to end like this."
Roto nodded, "Then let’s make it a story of hope."
~ 🎲 ~
"Young Master Aleksandr, your lunch is ready," a pig-humanoid announced, his snout twitching as he carried a tray. He presented it to Aleksandr, who was lounging comfortably in his chair, watching shows projecting from the crystal ball.
"Excellent timing, Buta!" Aleksandr exclaimed, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the juicy meat. He eagerly opened the cloche, the aroma of the perfectly cooked steak wafting through the air. Without further ado, he sliced into the meat, savoring the way the knife glided through the rare center, the bloody scarlet color glistening on his plate.
"Mmm, the chef has truly outdone himself this time," Aleksandr declared, his eyes lighting up as he sliced another piece of steak. The sound of the knife gliding through the meat was like music to his ears. He closed his eyes, savoring the explosion of flavors on his tongue.
Just as he was about to take another bite, a small, winged messenger swooped into the room, landing delicately on the table. Aleksandr's gaze followed the creature as it unfurled a small scroll, which unrolled to reveal a message in elegant script. His brow furrowed in concern as he read the words.
"Buta," he muttered, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Yes, Young Master?" Buta responded, his ears perking up.
"My parents summon me to their office. Prepare my formal robes at once."
"Right away, sir," Buta said, disappearing in a swirl of flames to fetch the requested attire.
Aleksandr quickly finished his steak and hurried to his closet, where Buta was already holding out his royal robes. With Buta’s help, he quickly dressed, smoothing out the intricate embroidery on the sleeves. Once he was presentable, he strode out of his room, Buta trailing behind him.
The walk to his parents' office felt longer than usual, a sense of unease settling in Aleksandr's stomach. What could be so important that they would summon him so urgently? The ornate doors loomed ahead, intricately carved and imposing. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and pushed them open.
Inside, his parents sat on a plush sofa, their expressions inscrutable. The room was elegantly decorated, with rich tapestries hanging on the walls and a large window draped in heavy curtains. Aleksandr dropped to one knee, beginning the formal greeting. “I greet the lord and lady of the Kveskneli—”
His mother opened her intricately designed fan with a loud ‘whoosh,’ halting him mid-sentence. “Sasha, we both know we despise formalities between family.”
Aleksandr blinked in surprise but rose to his feet, meeting their gazes. "Forgive me, Mother. I was merely following protocol."
His father gestured to the space in front of them on the sofa. "No need to apologize, my son. We understand you were simply being respectful. Come, sit down. We need to discuss something important."
Aleksandr nodded and sat down on the couch, his unease growing. “I was in my room. I didn’t cause any problems with Aniki. Buta can vouch for that.” he offered, trying to reassure them.
His mother closes and lightly taps on his head with her fan. "This isn't about your antics, Sasha. Although I must admit, it's good to see you're not getting into too much mischief."
Exchanging a knowing glance, his parents seemed to share an unspoken understanding. His mother activated a crystal ball, and images flickered to life within its depths. It revealed Carcerum, a notorious prison, in complete disarray. Guards and wardens scrambled to contain the chaos as prisoners surged through the halls, their faces twisted in desperation.
Aleksandr's eyes widened as he watched the scene unfold. "What in the world . . . ?"
“Your brothers are busy hunting those who successfully escaped from Carcerum,” his father began.
His mother leaned forward, “However, a convict shaman has escaped and transported himself to Aetheris.”
“Aetheris?” Aleksandr echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“One of the realms inhabited by humans.” his father answered.
Aleksandr scoffed. “Humans? You mean those fragile creatures?” He leans on the couch with the thought of Humans.
His mother lightly shakes her head at her son's response. His father coughs to get his son’s attention to the mission. “Those fragile creatures, as you call them, are not the problem. The shaman poses a significant threat, and we need to send you to Aetheris to capture or eliminate him.”
Aleksandr crossed his arms, skepticism etched on his face. “Why can’t you execute him earlier? Surely, you have the means to do so.”
“His execution was scheduled for today,” his father stated, firmly but weary as if he had anticipated this line of questioning.
“Enough already, Sasha.” his mother interjected, “We don’t know how long this mission will take. Bid your brothers' farewell and prepare your belongings; you will be sent to Aetheris tomorrow.”
Aleksandr released a long grunt but had no choice but to accept his parents’ order. “Understood.” He bowed respectfully to his parents and left their office.
As he left the office, Buta awaited him, his humanoid pig servant formed a comforting presence amidst the chaos. “Young Master Aleksandr?” he greeted.
“Buta, prepare my necessities for a long mission,” Aleksandr instructed, quickening his pace. “I’ll be in my room, speaking with my brothers.”
“Yes, Young Master Aleksandr,” Buta replied, bowing slightly before disappearing down the corridor to gather the supplies.
Aleksandr made his way to his room, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the silence. His mind raced with thoughts of the mission ahead. Aetheris was a realm he had only heard about in stories—filled with fragile humans and their strange customs. He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled in his stomach. What if the shaman was more powerful than they anticipated? Or was something else waiting to thwart him on this mission?
Upon entering his room, Aleksandr turned off the show he had been watching earlier and called his brothers through the crystal ball. The screen flickered to life, revealing them engaged in a heated discussion.
"You can't just let him roam free, Mikhail!" Leonid argued with his oldest brother.
"Calm down, Leonid," Mikhail replied, "We need to focus on the task at hand."
Aleksandr cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Aniki, I have news. I'm being sent to Aetheris tomorrow."
The room fell silent, and both brothers turned to him, "Aetheris? Why? Aren't you still grounded from exploring Daimones?" Mikhail exclaimed, his eyes wide with worry.
Leonid leaned closer to the screen, his brow furrowed. "What do you need to go there for?"
"To capture or eliminate the escaped shaman," Aleksandr explained casually, though the weight of the mission pressed heavily on his shoulders. "Aniki is busy with the other convicts, so I have to go after the furthest one."
His brothers exchanged worried glances.
"Sasha, will you be alright? This is your first time leaving Kveskneli," Mikhail urged, concern etched on his face.
"I'll be fine. Aniki.", Aleksandr replied, shaking his head to dismiss their worries. "It's better than staying cooped up here."
After bidding farewell to his brothers, he heard a knock on his door. Buta stood outside, carrying a bag filled with supplies.
"I have prepared all the magic tools you need for your long-term mission, Young Master Aleksandr," Buta announced, his snout twitching with pride. "Here are also the latest developments in Blood Pills. This should last for a year. Please notify me if you need to send more supplies by communication crystal or summon me with the summoning circle."
Aleksandr grabbed the bag and tossed it into his inventory. "Thank you, Buta. Help me get out of this stupid robe. I want to sleep now."
"Yes, Young Master Aleksandr," Buta replied, his voice respectful.
Buta bid him goodnight after Aleksandr removed his robes and changed into comfortable pajamas. Aleksandr jumped onto his bed, sinking into the soft mattress and savoring his final night in his room at Kveskneli. Tomorrow, he would leave for Aetheris, a realm teeming with humans and unknown dangers. He didn’t care about the inhabitants of Aetheris or the realm itself; his only goal was to kill the shaman and return to Kveskneli.
Sound easy enough? Right?