《We will prevail [LitRPG]》


 1. What a way to die

    <u>Chapter 1 ¨C what a way to die.</u>


    ¡°Wow impressive¡± Alice snickered as Kato attempted and failed a backflip for the third time.


    ¡°I told you I¡¯m getting better.¡± He grinned back at her blood running from his split upper lip. ¡°Looks like it.¡± Alice replied, voice full of mirth. ¡°How¡¯d you even cut your lip, you landed on your back?¡± Alice asked.


    Kato spat blood on the floor, trying to remove the metallic taste from his mouth. ¡°Bit it when I hit the ground¡± he admitted, warily.


    Laughter interrupted him, Alice was doubled over and clutching her side, ¡°of course you did!¡± she exclaimed before straightening and wiping tears from her eyes.


    ¡°Hey, I aim to impress, and you can¡¯t tell me you expected even that.¡± Kato smiled, rakishly.


    Taking a couple of deep breaths, Alice found herself with the ability to speak again, ¡°As you already know my foresights not good enough for much, else I wouldn¡¯t be kicking around the backstreets of Redusk with a lowlife like you.¡± She smiled, teasingly at Kato, laughing lightly, but the smile wasn¡¯t returned.


    ¡°Yeah¡± he muttered, kicking the ground absentmindedly.


    Alice Stormwhisper was the latest in a long line of forecasters accurately predicting and preparing the city against sandstorms. They had regularly ravaged the pitted, solid, stone walls that circled the city for longer than Kato had been alive. He was trapped in this city as much as others could pretend otherwise, he couldn¡¯t.


    As Alice¡¯s laughter faded into the warm evening air, her smile dimmed slightly. Her eyes betrayed hints of sadness as she gazed at Kato, she knew a ¡®lowlife¡¯ like him wouldn¡¯t stay a lowlife for long and it wasn¡¯t because he was likely to suddenly get a respectable job.


    ¡°Kato, you don¡¯t have to go back there. You know that, right?¡± Alice looked at him, but her eyes were already resigned.


    ¡°You know I do a man¡¯s got to eat.¡± Kato said, softly, his head turned to the side. This wasn''t the first time they''d had this conversation; it wasn''t even close to it. She had tried and failed to convince him to ''go legit'' each time they had met for the past few months.


    ¡°I know what I do is frowned upon¡± he started, his voice catching at first but becoming more and more resound as he continued, ¡°but this is who I am¡±.


    ¡°A thief¡± Alice spoke, bluntly.


    ¡°Maybe, who can say? I''ve never been caught,¡± he smiled at her, so wide it appeared his cheeks would break.


    ¡°Yet¡± Alice said teasingly, letting the topic drop.


    Kato stood, unsure of how to make his leave. ¡°Romero¡¯s expecting me, and you know what happened the last time.¡±


    She rolled her eyes, would he ever let that go?


    Kato smiled ruefully at her, ¡°I really do have to go." He grinned at her, then winked, "wouldn''t want to upset the old crook."


    Alice softly chuckled, ¡°so you must," a warm, blush spread across her features, as she raised a hand out towards him in silent farewell.


    Kato turned, leaving the well-lit city streets, and the faint hanging scent of freshly baked bread behind choosing instead to favour for the darker, less patrolled and neglected areas that he called home


    The acrid scent was the first thing that hit Kato, no matter how many times he did this journey it always took him by surprise how suddenly, the pleasant scents of a well-kept city could devolve into those of decay and misery.


    The streets of Redusk were not a fun place to be at night, at least not where Kato lived. If any more proof of this was needed, then Jeb was the one to give it. He was a fat and portly man with a complex. He knew others looked down on him for where he came from, who he worked for and the work he did.


    He was both feared and scorned by others, but he took it all on both of his waggling chins. After all it was more than justified. To say it wasn''t would be a blemish on Jeb¡¯s character. He had worked hard, some might say too hard, to achieve his less than stellar reputation.


    It was in the way he spoke, the way he acted, even in his choice of garbs. He was a thug, and he was proud of it. Since he was young people had told him, time and time again that he would never amount to anything. And where were those same people now? No one knew. No one except Jeb that is. People who crossed him didn''t live to do it again.


    He was proud of the man he had become, the persona he had crafted. Every bit of him was chosen to accentuate his character, from his accent to his mannerisms even to his choice of clothes.


    His signature ensemble was a dark, heavy overcoat, chosen specifically to blend into the night and stick out during the day, and he was never spotted without it.


    Meeting Jeb at night was never a pleasant experience, but usually a small, covert nod from Kato and he would pass on without much more than a grunt in response.


    In theory, there was no reason for Kato¡¯s heart to beat faster, but it sped up all the same, as he walked into the dusty courtyard before his lodgings. A lone, aged broomstick was propped up against a wall, next to a rusty orange bucket, they had been there for days, he didn¡¯t know who had left them.


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    Large, unloved buildings hemmed the courtyard from all side, a single short arching passage, the only entrance and exit. Standing in the centre, cigarette in hand, stood Jeb. The light of the burning end illuminating his stubbled face in the darkness.


    Kato met Jeb all the time, this was nothing new, admittedly they weren¡¯t on the friendliest terms, not after their last encounter, but who was these days?


    It took Kato a second to work out why the small of his back felt cold. Jeb was smiling, he never smiled, and he especially never smiled at him.


    ¡°Hey there Jeb,¡± Kato muttered, awkwardly, as he lowered his head, his stride lengthening slightly as he made to pass him as quickly as possible without appearing rude.


    ¡°Stop!¡± a rough, guttural noise accompanied the command, the silence of the night, well and truly broken.


    Kato turned to face the speaker, his dark, emerald, green eyes, met Jeb''s intense black gaze.


    ¡°What¡¯s up man? Long time no see¡±. Kato smiled slightly, but even as he made to de-escalate, his body tensed, preparing for the inevitable conflict.


    Jeb began walking over to Kato, slowly. The ground shook from the sheer mass of the lumbering brute. He towered over Kato, bending down slightly, he looked him dead in the eyes.


    Kato looked back at him warily, waiting for an explanation, but was only greeted by a thin smile.


    ¡°Too short if you asked me,¡± Jeb stated plainly, as a thin blade emerged from his right sleeve, the silvery metal glinting, slightly in the moonlight.


    ¡°Hey that''s not nice!" Kato began, then he saw the blade. ''Come on! You can talk your way out of this.''


    Kato looked up at him, as he slowly took a step back. "Wow that is really cool, any idea where I could get one of those, I''ve always really wanted something like that, I mean who wouldn¡¯t and may I say it really fits the whole broody, vibe you¡¯ve got going on, good on you man, I mean I for one- ¡°


    Jeb hacked up a wad of phlegm and spat it on the ground, the throaty noises interrupting Kato¡¯s efforts. His smile widened ever so slightly at Kato¡¯s sudden look of disdain; a cruel amusement taken in his discomfort.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far this time kid¡± Jeb muttered his voice laced with venom; he took a step closer. His words were palpable in the midnight air. ¡°You''ve done it now, stole from the wrong people this time and now it has come to this. I don''t know why Maya puts up with you." He sighed and looked off to the distance, his warm breath, fogging in the chilled air. "Listen kid I take no enjoyment in this, Maya''s been good to me, really good to me and if you weren''t one of hers, I doubt we would have ever spoken.¡±


    His words were surprisingly articulate, and for the first time in any of their interactions Kato wondered if Jeb had gotten a bad rep. He didn¡¯t give reasons; he didn''t have friends, and he certainly didn''t feel bad for his actions.


    ¡°And why exactly are we speaking?¡± Kato began slowly pacing backwards, a bead of sweat running down the left side of his face.


    Jeb shook his head mutely, the silence speaking words he didn''t.


    ¡°Maya doesn¡¯t want me to die¡± Kato blurted, desperately, trying to bargain with the man; seizing upon the only thread of compassion Jeb had, as far as he knew, ever displayed.


    But the words fell flat. Jeb remained unmoved and his earlier consideration was all but forgotten, without even a sneer or some last, poignant words he lunged.


    Kato threw himself back, acting on pure instinct. ¡°Hey, uhh, you nearly got me there,¡± Kato quipped with false bravado, ''that was far too close, you need to rile him up, make him angry, make him complacent,'' he thought to himself.


    Plan made; Kato acted. He waggled a finger, mockingly, at Jeb, "do better," he said, condescendingly. Kato did not wait to see if the large man reacted, as he deftly pivoted on a heel and broke into a full sprint.


    Only to immediately feel searing pain, pure agony radiated from his abdomen. His body convulsed as he staggered back, toppling over, his once pale hands coated in red, as they tried, time and time again, to pull the shaft of a spear out. But all he accomplished was spreading the red, painting the shaft in a macabre display of art, his hands slipping futilely.


    ¡°Ahh the arrogance of youth,¡± a voice that was already rapidly fading, began to mock him. Kato strained to catch sight of the man behind the voice but couldn¡¯t find the strength to even turn his head. ¡°To think they would only send one and it be Jeb.¡± A short harsh laugh cut the air, and Jeb¡¯s darkening expression was the last thing Kato saw before his consciousness slipped.


    Kato rapidly jolted awake, a man¡¯s hand clenched his shoulder. His bones, slowly crushed in the vice like grip. He could hear them cracking. Tears filled his eyes. Kato turned, his blonde hair, flopping over his face as he regarded the owner of the hand. But he was greeted by nothing.


    The man¡¯s face. If that was what he was, was entirely blank. No eyes. No mouth, they were completely devoid of any meaningful features, the only similarity between them and a human was the shape.


    Kato stilled, what type of monster had he found?


    It was as if the thing was a hollow shell, its personality erased. There was no way to communicate with something like this, it might as well have been a hammer, for all of the humanity it possessed. The perfect soldier. it would never falter in its goal, never be convinced to change, there wasn''t even a way to try.


    The man-creature-thing picked him up, it didn''t care that Kato was now awake, it probably couldn''t even tell.


    ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯ Kato thought, bedraggled, ¡®is this a dream?¡¯


    The creature¡¯s hands dug into him, ¡°AHH!¡± Kato cried out in pain, this was no dream, it was more of a nightmare.


    "Stop!" Kato begged; desperation painted his features. "Please," the creature didn¡¯t even look at him, as it proceeded to dump him unceremoniously in the ground. Kato fell and kept falling, the hole he had found himself in was dug deeper than he was tall, far deeper.


    ¡°Eugh¡± the impact knocked a sharp breath of air out of his lungs. He gasped for air, desperately, trying to stand, but it was to no avail, his legs chose this moment, out of all moments, to betray him and they collapsed to the ground. His strength sapped and blood pooled in the wet mud below, more pain and more suffering the only rewards for his effort.


    He couldn¡¯t move, and a strange creature had tossed him around like a sack of potatoes, ''all this over petty theft?'' His heart beat frantically, ¡®this isn¡¯t the end, it can¡¯t be!¡¯ He took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to force his mind to think rationally. ''There must be something I can do!'' But he remained motionless, sprawled out on the damp, bloody ground. ¡®How did it come to this?'' he thought bitterly. At least it couldn¡¯t get any worse.


    A clump of dirt hit his face and before he even registered it, a second did. ¡°Why?¡± he managed to exhale one last strained word as he looked up at the creature above him.


    Its expressionless gaze rested on him for a second, then it moved. Another clump of dirt flew over the edge hitting his face with a wet thump, dirt ricocheting into the air.


    Kato looked up to the sky one last time, his heart unnaturally calm, ¡®goodbye.¡¯ His eyes were covered a second later, the pressure across him slowly mounted and the world went dark.

 2. Man, strange plants sure are tasty

    <u>Man, strange plants sure are tasty</u>


    Kato woke up soundless as a man used to sleeping in dangerous places he¡¯d long since learnt the value of noise. His eyes cracked open, slowly seeing nothing at first, his head pivoted, looking for anything.


    Darkness was all that greeted him, painfully aware of how vulnerable he was Kato stayed perfectly still. His eyes were firmly closed, more liable to see things that were not there than the tangible in the dark. His mind focused completely on his hearing.


    Minutes passed, and the only thing to break the silence was the slow beating in his chest.


    Gracefully he sprung up, then in shock touched his stomach, nothing, no sign he¡¯d even been involved in a fight just minutes before. Even more perplexing the dull ache that had been his constant companion for years had disappeared; his left shoulder was healed.


    He rubbed it slowly, tentative his disbelief faded into acceptance.


    A single tear slid down his face ¡°the pain it¡¯s gone¡± he whispered, a brief smile crossed his lips. Years ago, on a job he never should have taken, a nasty tumble had sent him falling farther than just the distance to the ground.


    What good was a slow thief, it had taken far too long for him to prove himself afterwards. For days he had to deal with the inane "did you have a nice trip?" Question repeated again same words different faces, it was funny he guessed how a mistake he regretted to this day was nothing more than a passing joke to others.


    He hadn''t even finished the job, the only reward for his trouble, a bollocking from Maya. It was a miracle he¡¯d survived and if it hadn¡¯t been for her, he certainly wouldn''t have. His shoulder had served as a warning to him ever since.


    "Don''t push yourself thats too dangerous thats too risky" now the pain was gone and with it that voice was fading. For years he had listened and now that it was gone, he felt free, pushed on, it was as if Cogul the defiler himself screamed for him by his side urging him to take it all.


    Not one for second guessing a second chance Kato began to explore the room he found himself in, mapping out its dimensions and discovering that it was not a room as he¡¯d initially thought, but a great cavern.


    There were no caverns in Redusk, even to the most unreasonable man it was clear that he wasn¡¯t there anymore. By itself this was alarming Redusk had been locked down before the 20-year-old Kato had ever been born, the great walls a constant reminder of the land his life was locked to.


    The immediate question this raised was vocalised soon after ¡°where am I?¡± Kato breathed out his hand running down the cavern wall in wonder.


    But questions like this one were for people who could afford to waste their time thinking about nothing. Philosophy was for layabouts and fools. This had been Kato¡¯s opinion for years now and it wasn¡¯t likely to change anytime soon. He had never embraced Cogul, the Mendot¡¯s god or any one of the opposing pantheon of gods that the Afodites championed. He was a simple man and would not be swayed so easily. He was clever or at least he thought so, he just didn¡¯t like wasting time on things that only his thoughts really affected.


    Following this vein of thought, Kato moved on tracing the wall until he found an opening. Even jumping with his hands stretched far above him, he could not reach the top of it. Silently, he followed the sharp turn of the wall, when after mere moments his leading leg crunched into a stalagmite. ¡°Because of course I did¡± he muttered angrily. Kato scanned the floor around him, his eyes having partially adjusted to the omnipresent darkness, could now make out the stalagmites that littered the floor by the opening.


    "Looks like teeth" he breathed out softly, the jagged spikes rose from the floor in a roughly semi-circular pattern as if following the curvature of a jaw.


    Trying to ignore the startling imagery of him walking into a creatures mouth he pressed on into the belly of the beast.


    When is enough, enough? The question had surfaced unprompted about an hour ago, or at least that¡¯s how long he guessed it had been. With no way to track the time he relied completely on his instincts, the instincts that had presumably led him to this place to begin with. He paused, ''best not think about that.''


    Roughly estimating he thought it had been around 3 hours now, but for all he knew it could have been twenty or none at all. The only confirmation of time''s march was his stomach. Where before he had been surprised to feel no pain at all, now it felt as though a monster was gnawing away at his insides looking to escape... through him.


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    It was as if he had awoken with the hunger of the dead. With no obvious solution to his cravings and nothing better to do he continued, resigned.


    ¡°Crack¡± the silence was broken so suddenly Kato was sure he¡¯d imagined it. His footsteps nonetheless hurried on.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there¡± his mouth spoke before his mind could catch it. He stopped and visibly face palmed, his silent journey over hours interrupted by what, boredom? And at possibly the most dangerous time of all.


    He waited patiently, but only silence waited with him.


    ''Getting real sick of this now'' he thought bitterly. He made an effort to internalise these feelings and moved forwards. He stepped on something that immediately folded beneath his foot, now this is different! he thought excitedly. He examined the ground around him vigorously, his hands trailing the ground searchingly.


    ¡°Mushrooms¡± he whispered, ¡°different¡± his mind cautioned, ¡°food¡± his stomach growled. His fingers hovered over them as his instincts warred within him, the pros and cons being weighed carefully as he debated whether or not he could afford the risk, ''If i ate them it wouldn''t be safe becau-'' "Nom!" Kato engulfed the fungi, his stomach roared as his hunger screamed victory. ¡°That was smart¡± he said before visibly face palming again for the second time in such a short period. He gathered some more, they would be useful later he assured himself deliberately avoiding the thoughts that rebuked his impulsiveness as he focused on stuffing them into what he now realised were unfamiliar pockets.


    Kato looked around suspicious, no one did anything without reason and this felt like an expensive gift, even more concerningly he didn''t remember dressing himself, ''really hope I didn''t get rescued uh kidnapped by a deviant'' he rubbed the back of his head, this was confusing.


    Just minutes later the surroundings began to grow brighter, and brighter, and strange symbols crossed Kato¡¯s vision. ¡°Ahh man this is why you don¡¯t eat strange mushrooms isn¡¯t it, I really wish someone would have told me this beforehand, because in all scenarios the logical move would be to eat plants that you don¡¯t know without any prior knowledge. He sighed loudly, ¡°This is fun¡±. If he stopped to think he would probably have noticed that he seemed to be becoming less and less cautious, but he did not.


    He continued on noticeably louder than before, until he emerged into another large cavern, this one was of stark contrast to those that had come before it. A large reflective pool filled the centre of the room and glowing fruits hung on large vines that coated the ceiling.


    Kato sprinted and dive bombed into the water, the liquid exploded out from beneath him, and he began furiously drinking.


    After Kato had his fill, he stood up drenched and stared at the rippling features beneath him. He stood slightly above average height at six feet tall; he was skinny and with pitch black hair in a fringe haircut that slightly curled on the left side of his face. Kato looked down shocked, his hair used to be blonde, his eyes ran over the rest of his reflection. His eyes once emerald, were now much darker and flecked with red. Apart from that he remained, at least visibly, he thought the same. He had slight stubble and an ever so slight point to the top of his ears that many of the citizens of Redusk shared.


    Kato turned, somewhat shocked, but those who had nearly died as he supposed he must have, were bound to have some changes, he reasoned. After his dad disappeared his mother¡¯s hair turned a startling white, he came to the conclusion that this response to overwhelming stress must just run in his family.


    He turned, his previous fervour regarding the water now mostly forgotten and regarded the fruits hanging around him. They glowed a light blue and looked somewhat like an ortic, a juicy oval shaped fruit from Kato¡¯s home. The most striking difference between that, and the fruit in front of him was the somewhat scaly texture and of course the glowing. ''I don¡¯t think fruit is supposed to do that'' Kato thought blithely.


    He looked around the cavern, seeing nothing more he returned back to the fruit, looked at it with distrustful eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t live on mushrooms forever¡± he paused ¡°please don¡¯t die, please don¡¯t die, please don¡¯t die¡± he repeated the words as if this mantra would protect him. Then in one swift movement he picked the fruit and bit into it only to be greeted by the warm taste of blood filling his mouth.


    ¡°Owth sharp¡± Kato spat out the scaly exterior of the fruit that had lodged into his gums and proceeded to throw the fruit across the cavern. He sighed angrily, and a moment later picked a different one. Learning his lesson Kato bashed it against the ground to reveal its fleshy interior.


    He looked at it, his eyes even more distrusting than before, then shifted his eyes to his pocket the bulge of the hallucinogenic mushrooms evident. He bit into it.


    Second after he collapsed, the flavour was unlike anything he¡¯d ever had. Perhaps the Stormwhisper family had eaten something like this but for him this was truly special. Over the next few minutes Kato repeatedly gorged himself.


    His body began glowing light blue, but in his gluttony he either did not notice or did not care, glowing brighter and brighter till on the twentieth lumen fruit as Kato had taken to calling them, his muscles suddenly expanded outwards then contracted and the glowing abruptly ended.


    Kato felt surprised, but more than that he felt strong, really strong, ¡°maybe this place won¡¯t be so bad after all¡± he remarked. He was much more jovial than before and flexed his still skinny, but less so arms in front of him.


    ¡°?//?//????//????¡±


    Kato turned suddenly looking for the source of the strange noises a creature stood slightly hunched looking at him, a vicious sneer marring its features.

 3. This shouldnt all fit in one bag

    <u>This shouldn¡¯t all fit in one bag</u>


    ¡°Um hi, I guess.¡± Kato rebuked himself almost immediately ¡®I guess? real strong opener man.¡¯ The creature just looked at him quizzically.


    It had a somewhat humanoid appearance; hunched over like an old man, with its'' bony frame wrapped in a robe, that seemed ancient. It was tattered and wouldn¡¯t have been out of place in a museum. The creature looked as if it had been mauled by a big cat, a chunk of skin was missing from its right shoulder, that had been exposed by a matching hole in its attire.


    Beady eyes over a long-hooked nose stared expectantly at Kato.


    ¡°///??///???//¡± It made its noises again; they were harsh and guttural sounding, the sneer that had marred its features, was seemingly emboldened by Kato¡¯s lack of comprehension, and twisted further, its cheeks turned up and beady eyes crinkled in.


    Kato, not one to judge based off appearance, decided maybe it just didn¡¯t like him being unsure. ¡°Hi¡± Kato said again, much more resolutely.


    The creature just stared.


    ¡°Hmm¡± Kato mused, then quickly jumped to the next logical sequence of events, ¡°Hi, hello, sup dude¡± Kato thought for a moment after the creature still didn¡¯t get it. ¡®It must just not like me dispensing of the formalities¡¯ he thought. ¡°Salutations¡± he said quite proud of himself, accompanying the word with a long sweeping bow.


    The creature taking this as a sign of Kato¡¯s superior intellect, finally acted. It¡¯s clawed grimy hand disappeared into its robe, and after moments a small bag made of what appeared to be leather was flourished in front of it.


    Kato, the master of social scenarios, was quick to catch on, ¡°wow, a bag,¡± he paused ¡°I mean so cool who doesn¡¯t love a good bag, me personally I never leave the house without one¡± Kato instinctively went for his. After finding nothing his hands fell by his side ¡°Right, the strange place, strange clothes thing¡± he muttered under his breath.


    The creature looked at him, a somewhat sardonic glint in its eyes.


    ¡°Ok I don¡¯t have a bag, no need to lord it over me¡±.


    The creature¡¯s hand reared back, and Kato instinctively took a step away. ¡°Listen I don¡¯t need a bag its fine alright¡± Kato¡¯s hand raised in an effort to placate the creature. A short sharp guttural laugh, at least that¡¯s what Kato presumed it to be, emerged from the beast. Kato glowered at it, and the creature¡¯s arm suddenly swung forward.


    Kato took another step away and was greeted by more harsh laughter and a soft thump. Kato, with his cheeks rapidly reddening, he did his best to ignore the creature¡¯s mocking laughter and instead focused on the soft thump.


    It was a bag. The creature¡¯s bag, and it was in front of him.


    ¡°For me?¡± Kato looked at the creature questioningly.


    It paused for a moment then stared at him blankly. After a couple more moment of silence passed, Kato knew what he must do, repeat the question it must have not heard him, he triumphantly thought. ¡°For me?¡± he asked again.


    The creature, stunned by Kato¡¯s ability to ask questions more than once, made its noises once more. ¡°///???///??//?¡± while emphatically pointing at the bag and then Kato.


    ¡°For me¡± Kato said again whilst leaning over to pick it up, ¡°you shouldn¡¯t have¡± he opened it with a brimming sense of excitement that was barely contained. ¡°It¡¯s empty¡± he looked back to the creature, who was doing its best to act tough. Not letting the hurt that must have been caused by Kato¡¯s statement to show.


    ¡°I mean bags are really cool, I love bags, just as I was saying earlier¡± Kato smoothly recovered. The creature, still doing its best to act tough and emotionless regarded Kato, then pointed at him again, then at the lumen fruit hanging up around him.


    ¡°You want one of those, little guy? Ok don¡¯t say I don¡¯t look after my guests¡± Kato picked one of the glowing lumen fruits and then remembering his manners said ¡°if you¡¯re thirsty I have water¡­ in the pond¡± he trailed off. Luckily the creature seemed unperturbed by his statement and gave him a warm smile that didn¡¯t quite reach its eyes.


    Kato walked over to the creature and made to pass the fruit to it.


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    ¡°//???///???/////?¡±


    ¡°Huh you want me to put it in the bag¡± Kato looked at the creature now making a motion for Kato to put it in the bag.


    ¡°This bag is way too small¡± he said to the creature, now using a soft voice as one would when talking to a child in a manner not to upset them. The creature repeated the motion.


    Kato held the fruit by the side of the bag ¡°see its too big, it just won¡¯t fit¡± Kato immediately felt embarrassed, ¡®perhaps a poor choice of words¡¯ he thought. The creature however, in what must have been a supreme act of willpower didn¡¯t even laugh, it just repeated the gesture.


    ¡°Fine¡± Kato muttered now convinced that the creature was waiting for him to try so that after he had proved that the bag was too small it could laugh again. To his great shock the fruit not only fit but disappeared after passing through the opening.


    Kato turned to the creature then held the bag out with its end open and facing the creature. It looked unimpressed. ¡°Right, right it¡¯s your bag of course you know how it works¡± Kato ran his left hand over the back of his head feeling somewhat foolish.


    ¡°Moving on¡± he stated. ¡°What¡¯s next little buddy?¡± the creature pointed at another fruit. ¡°Hungry, are you?¡± Kato couldn¡¯t blame it, just minutes ago he had eaten enough to keep him sated for days. In fact, he felt sorry for the creature, ¡°don¡¯t worry little guy, I¡¯ve got this.¡±


    Fruit after fruit went into the bag, miraculously he wasn¡¯t any more burdened than when he started there were no signs of the weight it must have encompassed. Half an hour at least passed, fruit after fruit disappeared into the bad, with the creature and Kato just enjoying the silence of each other¡¯s company. When he got to the last fruit Kato turned back to the creature and said loudly ¡°last one¡± with a wide grin plastered his face.


    The creature grumbled and pointed to the last fruit. ¡°Okay grumpy¡± Kato said, picking it and dropping it in the open bag with practiced ease.


    The floor started shaking, then the walls. Kato was no geologist, but he was pretty sure they weren¡¯t supposed to do that.


    The creature was either unalarmed or had an unbelievably good poker face.


    Kato, with the bag incident fresh on his mind trusted the creature¡¯s collected demeanour, that was until the stalactites began to fall. Great jagged pieces of stone at their smallest easily three feet long and over a foot wide, weighing more than a large man, began crashing around him. ¡°Run¡± Kato exclaimed shouting at the creature. But it just walked to the middle of the cavern and stood there waiting, for what Kato didn¡¯t know.


    He was tempted to run and just leave it, but this was the first friendly face Kato had seen since he¡¯d got here, and he wasn¡¯t prepared to lose the type of guy who would gift strangers bags.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I''m coming!¡± Kato ran, rapidly covering the distance between them. He put a hand on the creature¡¯s shoulder in an effort to get its attention, only to be met with a closed fist denting his stomach sending him sprawling across the floor, ¡°Little buddy?¡± Kato wheezed, the creature¡¯s eyes met his, cold, calculating, and apathetic.


    Before Kato even had the chance to register the sudden betrayal the wall exploded.


    Calling the creature that emerged from the wall a serpent would give a false impression of its sheer size. Larger than a house and with pitch-black scales easily larger than a hand. It had spherical blood red eyes, slit with a sword shaped pupil.


    It looked like a monster, but more than that it radiated the sentiment best described as you have seen me, now you are dead. It was as if on an instinctual level the behemoth¡¯s very presence instilled fear.


    This was all before it opened its mouth. Large, white fangs were exposed, with globules of dark green liquid concentrated on the glistening tips, dripping down on the stone beneath with great hisses as the venom bored through solid stone. A shrieking sound filled the air as the creature arched backwards.


    Before the snake, that was what Kato could only assume to be nightmares brought into flesh, stood the creature. It didn¡¯t even look like it cared. ¡®Just another day¡¯, Kato nervously thought to himself.


    Kato watched, unable to look away, it would die and then he would be next. Kato really didn¡¯t like dying it was something he had tried really hard to avoid int the past. ¡®To be given a second chance and then to go out like this? To some monster who only viewed him as food or worse entertainment. This would not do.¡¯ Kato stood defiant in the face of defeat, and grabbed a fist sized rock, he hurled it at the monster, empowering the throw with pure adrenaline and hope. The rock sailed across the cavern, flying towards the beast, before losing momentum and crunching into the floor with less than half the distance needed covered.


    ¡°No¡± Kato whispered the realities of the situation seeming to finally hit him, his life would not end here, he wouldn¡¯t let it, not again. ¡®Again¡¯ he thought in shock where did that come from?


    The creature, however, was not aware or just didn''t care for the spiritual realisations happening a stone¡¯s throw, or perhaps two stone throws away from it. It appeared steadfast and resolved, a beacon of hope, when everything looked to be lost.


    The snake reared back, and before it could even lunge, died. A hole had been carved straight through its centre, and on the other side, the creature stood, coated in blood. It turned and looked at Kato, a malevolent grin plastering its previously blank expression.


    A chain materialised into its clawed left hand and hit the ground with a heavy thump. Kato took a step back and the creature laughed, the previous joy Kato had felt evaporated. Fear taking its place.


    The creature whipped the ground in front of it and a sharp crack reverberated throughout the cavern. It began walking towards Kato, slowly, savouring his growing horror.


    A lone stalactite fell, arcing through the air, finally giving into the forces that had shook the surrounding subterranean expanse. The creature was impaled, and Kato started laughing, softly at first, but growing more and more maniacal with every second.


    Kato circled his chest with his right index finger. A comforting sign, thanking Cogul for his good luck and approached the corpses.

 4. How does a bag, bag?

    <u>How does a bag, bag?</u>


    Kato looked over the massive snake, and involuntarily shivered. ¡°Man, you really were one scary thing ¡°he said the words with veneration; but then proceeded to kick the snake letting his boot bounce off its thick skin. The tension left his body, it was really dead. ¡°That¡¯s for scaring me¡± he muttered the words, ¡°prick.¡±


    After Kato had finished with his touching eulogy, he made his way over to the humanoid creature. ¡°You were the first being I met here, away from home and with no one else to turn to¡± his voice caught ¡°you could¡¯ve done better, been better¡± then realising the futility in arguing with the dead he paused ¡°thanks for the bag dude¡­ I¡¯ll use it well¡±.


    Kato dropped the chain in the bag. It didn¡¯t make a sound one minute it was there, the next it was gone. He cast a furtive glance around, guilt pricked at him, but he pushed it aside. ¡®It¡¯s only practical¡¯ he nodded to himself.


    When Kato had woken up, he didn¡¯t think he would spend his evening picking over the dead looking for anything to help him, but life was like that, it was messy and disorderly and ¡°oh look, a sword.¡±


    Kato had patted down the creature and found a honed blade as long as his forearm. It was beautiful, the handle was carved from a dark, rich wood, and bound in leather that wrapped around its exterior.


    Holding the blade at an angle it appeared to briefly flash silver and Kato felt a stir in his gut. His fingers ran over the pristine weapon, ¡°I should rob graves more often¡± he grimly chuckled.


    The blade had clearly been well loved, kept sharp and polished it was a sharp contradiction to the creature lying beneath him.


    Kato looked down, its clothes already in tatters were now worsened by the giant spike of stone that had torn deep gashes throughout its garbs. Mud covered its body and it clearly cared little for personal hygiene.


    ¡°Guess you just weren¡¯t one for appearances, huh¡± Kato mused.


    Kato found nothing more hidden in the creatures¡¯ attire. He regarded its hands, they were grimy and scaly, nothing obvious stood out. Yet it had slashed through several feet of an armoured monster with no sign of stopping.


    Kato recognised their worth, the faint, greying claws did not scream of wealth but a material that strong¡­ Its value could only be measured in gold. He could practically taste his path out of Redusk¡¯s slums. ¡°Sorry about this¡± his new blade sang, and he had crossed another line he thought he never would. The claws joined the chain.


    A ring clattered to the floor the metallic noise cutting through the silence. Kato froze, shocked he hadn¡¯t seen it earlier. He glanced at the creature, for all he knew its grey pallor might¡¯ve given way to a startling purple after a good bath. Thick layers of grime coated the creature. It wasn¡¯t unbelievable for the ring to have been hidden beneath the filth.


    He grabbed it, rubbing off some of the muck, revealing a cool, pale blue metal beneath. The ring was engraved, strange swirling symbols mapped the inner band. He¡¯d never seen anything like it. A thick signet adorned the side, bearing the profile of a cloud carved in great detail. Idly Kato turned it through his fingers, before succumbing to his hoarder instincts and letting it disappear into the bag as well.


    Kato paused, regarding the body. ¡°Rest in peace,¡± He circled his chest and moved back over towards the snake.


    He stared into its vacuous, unblinking eyes, the striking sword shaped pupils calling out to him. If Kato had been asked just days ago what he saw himself doing, it would not have been butchering a giant, not even one of Alice¡¯s dreams could have convinced him of it.


    Yet here he was, wrestling with a head larger than he was. As soon as he had walked up to the eyes, he had felt the call. A silent promise of power, it was hard to explain, but he would not leave without them.


    The eyes made a wet squelching noise as his blade, slick with gore, pried them free. ¡®Thwop¡¯ Kato one of the head-sized eyes met the floor and kato struggled to resist the urge to be violently ill, bile rose in his throat and his eyes watered, but he would not stop now. ¡®Thwop¡¯ the next one soon followed it. Kato stumbled back, coughing. ¡°Eugh¡± he groaned and just stared at the gooey mess, ¡®what is wrong with me?¡¯


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    After he overcame his revulsion, he returned to the scene. His eyes darted from the beast¡¯s eyes to his bag. ¡®These definitely won¡¯t fit¡¯ he thought glumly, upset he¡¯d wasted his time.


    Not one to immediately count out the bag, Kato strode over towards the slimy orbs and held the bag over them, nothing. He felt stupid, of course the bag only obeyed some physics.


    ¡°Dumb bag¡± he muttered. Kato paced for a few seconds in an effort to quell his irritation.


    ¡°Sorry, that was unprofessional, its not your fault, physics, physics¡± he stated apologetically to the bag.


    The bag must have been seriously offended because it didn¡¯t even respond.


    Kato sighed and got back to work pound after pound of the snakes¡¯ flesh disappeared into the bag, even some stray scales, that had become scattered around the room. He tried prying up some more, but they were firmly locked to the carcass.


    He approached the beast¡¯s still open maw cautiously. The fangs still coated in glistening venom and a part of him wanted that too, but he just couldn¡¯t justify the risk. He imagined all the ghosts in the afterlife bullying him, ¡®you grabbed venom and expected to live?¡¯ he would be a laughingstock, ¡®a spectre-cle¡¯ for their entertainment. He laughed briefly.


    He gave the mouth a final look over, looking for a chest or a pile of gold or something, who knows what he expected to find in a mouth aside from the norm?


    Needless to say, there was no gold.


    After overcoming the disappointment of not finding a treasure trove in the monster¡¯s mouth Kato turned away, returning to the eyes. It felt wrong to disassemble them, but he had to, the strange urge still compelled him. Each eye was carved into 3 long gelatinous chunks and deposited into the bag.


    Kato felt proud, he had done it. ¡®I will prevail no matter the cost¡¯ he thought to himself and steeled his resolve.


    After Kato had finished stroking his ego, he walked over to the pool, now a deep blood red, and a mixture of thirst and anxiety settled over him. He had spent far too long here and without water he was in trouble. He moved.


    Returning to the monotonous journey that brought him here wasn¡¯t something Kato was particularly looking forward to, but at least it was a break from the intensity of the recent past.


    He started walking following the long barren tunnel that bisected the cavern, there were two exits, and he was relatively confident he knew where he had come from, so he chose the other path.


    It was dark, really dark, he¡¯d nearly forgotten how dark the tunnel systems could get. The lightly glowing vines that the lumen fruit had clung to now felt like an act of cruelty, a vicious trick designed to remind him of what he lacked.


    After several hours of the oppressive darkness, the cavern began to brighten, and strange symbols scrawled across Kato¡¯s vision. ¡°Can¡¯t still be the mushrooms. Can it?¡± the words came unprompted. ¡®Must be stress, gotta be stress¡¯ he calmed himself, forcing a smile.


    Of course, this hadn¡¯t happened before he came to this place but that probably didn¡¯t mean anything, right?


    Kato didn¡¯t want to overthink it, and his stomach was already beginning to murmur, he reached for his bag aiming to sate his mounting hunger.


    Only to then come to the striking realisation that putting things into the bag and taking things out of the bag required two entirely different sets of knowledge.


    He turned the bag upside down and shook it. Nothing. He reached in with his hand and thought, hard, about a lumen fruit. Nothing. The snake¡¯s flesh. Nothing. Even its eyes. Nothing. He thought for a moment more. Then placed the bag on the ground.


    He took a step backwards then stretched his right arm towards the bag, foodus comeouticus. Nothing. It had been a long shot anyway.


    With nothing else to do Kato returned the bag to his hips.


    He glared at it for a moment hoping it would get the message and help him out. Nothing. ¡°You better not be cursed¡± he muttered and continued on.


    Hours past, and still Kato traversed the tunnels, going from cavern to cavern with no end in sight. There was nothing of note in any of them, so he kept pressing forward, until it became foolish to do so. He found a smooth-ish patch of rock and let exhaustion take him.


    His dreams were vivid, he hadn¡¯t dreamt in this much detail for years. He plummeted for what felt like hours, until his journey ended when abruptly he crashed into an arena. It was straight out of a history book. He stood, armed and strange blurry creatures jeered at him from the sidelines.


    ¡°????///??¡± It was a cacophony of noise and Kato couldn¡¯t understand any of it. A brute walked toward him swinging some strange double handed weapon that seemed to be a cross between a hammer and axe. He rose his hand, his new blade raising to meet its descent.


    That was when he woke up, if his body had the moisture to spare, he was sure he would be sweating but as it was, he wasn¡¯t. Kato was breathing, heavily, adrenaline surging through him, and he was fully alert.


    He picked himself up and marched towards the exit, he would not be struck down this day or any other. After only minutes, the cavern began growing brighter and brighter. Kato tensed preparing for the strange symbols, but they did not come. Relieved he continued, soon seeing where the light came from.

 5. An attitude problem

    <u>An attitude problem</u>


    Kato continued to follow the cavern walls, searching for the source of the light. Reaching a bend in the tunnel, he froze, then took a step back, circling his chest, the ground ahead of him was split as if the Cogul himself had struck the floor.


    It was clearly out of place, a crater, where above was just solid rock. The power to generate such a force, without the time to build up momentum in the open sky ¡­ it would have been immense.


    Cracks spread throughout the ground in a roughly concentric pattern, a testamentto the shockwaves that would have emanated from the site of impact. Splinters and large shards of rock, some larger than his forearm were disorderly scattered about the tunnel as if the ground had thrown a tantrum and flung its possessions around it.


    If it had wanted to make a statement, it had succeeded. Kato strained his ears, searching for anything, but he heard nothing. He wasn¡¯t exactly certain what he was listening for, but it never hurt to be cautious.


    After calming himself down, Kato felt slightly less daunted by the prospect of being trapped underground with yet another monster.


    He regarded the crater, it glowed brightly, for a moment, Kato wondered if it was still hot from the energy produced by whatever had happened here, but he would¡¯ve felt it. The air would have at least been warm, but it was as cold as it had ever been. He quickly rebuked himself; he would¡¯ve heard it if this was recent, it was likely the entire tunnel system would have shaken, whatever happened here for all he knew could be measured in aeons not mere hours or days.


    Kato did not want to go in the crater, it was not high on his list of things he wanted to do, not by a long shot. But just like curiosity had been the end of the cat, Kato was destined to go out the same way, he just couldn¡¯t help himself, and took the first step down.


    The crater must have only been 20 feet deep, but to Kato it felt like an eternity. Each step he took dragged on longer than the last. Adrenaline and fear working in tandem to warp his perception of time.


    Despite his growing sense of unease, Kato reached the bottom. There was nothing, just more glowing, and better yet it came from under the rock. Kato looked at it, the sheer disdain in his eyes could have bored through concrete ¡­ Unfortunately, the ground stayed mockingly still. He sighed.


    Kato set to work on uncovering the source, it was tempting to just leave, but he couldn¡¯t, not now, not with what the light could mean. Escape. Sunlight. He pushed himself on, there was no stopping now.


    Thankfully the bottom of the crater was not solid and instead built of the same loose shards from above. Funnelling these pieces into his bag, that never seemed to fill, he made quick progress.


    To say Kato was disappointed would have been an understatement. ¡®No exit¡¯, Kato rubbed his temples gently, fighting the urge to groan. ¡®There never had been and most likely never will be¡¯ Kato thought morose. ¡°Another rock, oh but not just a rock, a glowing rock, uh-mazing.¡± Kato stated, his voice flat.


    Kato stared at what he had exposed. It was a sphere, likely composed of some type of stone or another. It had a rich, dark purple complexion and glowed softly, casting out a light, golden hue.


    ¡®That¡¯s strange, but it doesn¡¯t help a lot¡¯ Kato ran his hand back through his hair. He thought briefly of leaving it behind, even though it was an oddity,that was all it was, it didn¡¯t hold the key to his escape, and he was a little angry he¡¯d wasted his time even getting to it.


    Perhaps in other circumstances he wouldn¡¯t have reached for it, held back by his irrational dislike for the object, but he did. The instant his fingers brushed the object, the world around him warped. ¡°AHHRHHRRRH¡± a wrenching cry filled the air sound of pure terror. Was that him? or the world screaming in pain as it was twisted apart. He firmly screwed his eyes shut, just focusing on himself, ¡®this is not happening.¡¯


    Seconds later Kato¡¯s sense of balance returned, and his eyes flashed open. ¡°Finally lost it have I? guess it had to happen eventually¡±.


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    When Kato opened his eyes, he was not in the crater, he was not even in the tunnel system.


    Relief washed over him, the darkness and cold stone that had been his unwanted companion over the last few days were gone. ¡®Had it really been days?¡¯


    Free, for now. Unless of course the ceiling had been painted the colour of the sky and was now imperceptible to the human eye. ¡°Knowing my luck¡± he trailed off and examined the surroundings.


    The ground beneath his feet was filled with natural cobblestone, smoothed by countless footsteps. This pattern stretched outwards in a wide circle, its edges giving away to a carpet of soft, brown earth.


    Kato could practically taste the life in the air. Further back, lush greenery pushed its way skyward and animals unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen mingled in this otherworldly paradise.


    A gasp escaped his lips. There were houses, real houses ahead of him! admittedly they looked weathered and abandoned, but still, it was a sign. ¡®People¡¯ the world pulsed though his mind, as he trembled with excitement.


    ¡°///??????////?//??¡±


    Kato startled out of his reverie, immediately span in a 360-degree arc, searching for one of the same creatures that had spoken to him earlier. Maybe he would get another bag, this day just kept getting better and better.


    ¡°Hello¡± he called out looking for the creature.


    Slowly tuning when a sharp pulsating stabbing pain in his head brought him to his knees. It passed moments later, and he scanned his surroundings again, ¡°hope it¡¯s not one of the bad ones¡± Kato reminisced, on edge, thinking back to the creatures¡¯ betrayal.


    ¡°Recalibrating.¡± It was definitely the same voice as before, but this time it spoke to him in his own language.


    ¡°Hello¡± Kato said hope flaring within him ¡°where are you? I can¡¯t see you.¡±


    ¡°Adjusting to new language, recalibrating based on new users¡¯ attributes.¡± The disembodied voice stated robotically.


    The world warped again, and Kato found himself staring out at... no houses, no lush wildlife, even the paved cobblestone had been taken from him.


    ¡°What?¡± he stammered out, realisation setting in.


    ¡°NOOO WHERE¡¯D IT GO? BRING IT BACK!¡± He yelled.


    ¡°Processing request¡±


    Kato stopped, broken out of his dismay, hope blossoming within him, only to be swiftly killed moments later.


    ¡°Request denied.¡±


    ¡°Please¡± Kato softly said, the hurt in his voice apparent, but the voice did not deign to respond.


    ¡°Well, what do I now?¡±, Kato muttered staring at the grey desolate landscape ahead of him.


    ¡°Training module 1 for the sick and frail available¡±


    Kato looked around him, it was empty ¡°I guess if there¡¯s nothing better to do,¡¯ he said resigned.


    ¡°Do you have anything suitable for me¡± he asked clearly unimpressed with the option previously stated.


    ¡°There are no lower options than training module 1 for the sick and frail, regrettably¡± the monotone voice stated plainly.


    ¡°You think I''m sick and frail?¡± Kato said perplexed, he was at least, in his own esteemed opinion, faster than the average person. Perhaps he lacked in strength, but he certainly wasn¡¯t sickly or frail.


    ¡°Best estimates put current attributes at approximately a fifth of those of somebody who was sick and frail, it is surprising you are not dead.¡±


    Kato waited but the voice did not speak again.


    ¡°Can you at least make it less insulting¡±, he stuttered ¡°just call it training module 1 or something.¡±


    ¡°Processing, updating naming conventions to deal with fragile ego, training module 1 of wow look at him he¡¯s so brave, trying his best, truly an inspiration now available.¡±


    ¡°Passive aggressive much¡± Kato muttered, ¡°damn voice, I will try my best and then you¡¯ll see my true strength¡± he said resolved.


    ¡°All newborn kittens will fear your name in time¡± the voice said. Kato, not sure if it was his imagination or not, thought he caught a teasing undertone in the otherwise monotone voice.


    ¡°Damn right they will, for I am Kato the bane of kittens¡± he proclaimed with great braggadocio. He immediately felt foolish, silently hoping the voice would not pick over his boast.


    ¡°Newborn kittens.¡± It stated, Kato¡¯s face began heating up, colour filling his cheeks.


    After a small pause its then said, ¡°in time.¡±


    Not a hint of mockery could be heard in its voice, but Kato was cut to the core, ¡°Cogul bless me¡± he moaned into his palms.


    "If it has upset you so, that I wanted the name changed you may change it back" he stated, hoping to make peace with the voice.


    ¡°That is acceptable¡± the voice said ¡°calibrating¡­ training module 1 for the soft, weak frail man with the black hair, slightly above average height, with weird eyes and who has to complain about everything he comes across for no particular reason available now.¡±


    Kato stood back stunned, did it just-


    ¡°Do you wish to proceed?¡± The voice stated, not a hint of animosity could be detected, even when its words strongly implied its presence.


    ¡°Um yeah, just give me a second alright, I¡¯d like to ask you some questions.¡± Kato began.


    ¡°Confirming¡± the voice said, then a moment later ¡°one second has now past, beginning training module 1 for the insecure little weak dumb-dumb standing over there now.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t literally mean one second¡± Kato started. But it was too late the machine had made up its mind, and the space around Kato began warping again.


    ¡®This is happening way too often¡¯ he thought to himself as his surroundings settled again. He looked over at the new environment, ¡°great¡­just great¡± he stated grimly.

 6. This training is unfair

    <u>This training is unfair.</u>


    When, what you used to take for granted is gone, you realise how much you miss it. Kato had come to understand this phrase all too well. He desperately missed the days when something or another didn¡¯t try to kill him.


    Snakes, thugs, and even those he thought were his friends. Every living thing he¡¯d met recently wanted him dead, it was hard to not take it personally. ¡®Maybe if they just got to know me, they¡¯d see how cool I am.¡¯


    Kato could do a lot to assuage his fears of having a distasteful personality, these beings hadn¡¯t even given him a chance. A much harder pill to swallow, however, was that the world wanted him dead. He might not have been the most spiritually inclined, but the coincidences were stacking up.


    First, he¡¯d been dumped in an endless tunnel, where he¡¯d only found supplies once. It was starting to feel like the very land was conspiring to starve him out. Unfortunately for it, Kato refused to give in, surviving on his stubbornness alone, with what little sustenance that could provide.


    When he found a world that appeared habitable, it was held out in front of him, just to give him enough time to stroke his desire for a better life. Then cruelly it was stripped away dashing his hopes and replacing them with a grey barren wasteland.


    Now this, and the only positive Kato could think of was that it wasn¡¯t grey, and he was looking, really hard, for positives.


    It looked somewhat like the tunnel Kato had come from, but it was noticeably different, for one that place hadn¡¯t stunk of rotting eggs, the smell by itself was nearly enough to make Kato retch, but he held strong, firmly clenching his gut.


    Kato could hardly breathe, a noxious gas had filled his lungs and coughing wracked his body, this was his death. He knew it in his gut, yet a part of him yearned for more, ¡®we will prevail¡¯, the voice had come from nowhere and filled Kato with vigour. He ripped his right sleeve off and tied it around his face, covering his nose and mouth in an effort to filter the air.


    It helped, but not enough. He looked around the location, his coughs loud and echoing. He had been thrust into another dark environment. Someone really had it out for him.


    Kato had never seen anything like it. Living fire crawled across the ground, illuminating the area around it. In the patches of glowing red shadows of hulking monstrosities were cast out, a shiver ran down Kato¡¯s spine. Certain his mind was playing tricks on him. He turned to gain distance from the ungodly flames.


    His eyes were greeted by even more infernal depictions, towers of fire rising from the ground, spitting embers. Fissures running through the ground full of bubbling magma. Ash billowed out from one close to him, a storm of the tiny particles enveloping him, his hair caught and violently pulled back by the sudden onslaught of wind.


    Bang! A fat bubble, larger than Kato¡¯s head exploded, spewing blazing hot magma across the room drops landed just feet away from Kato. ¡®I have to get out of here fast.¡¯ He desperately thought.


    Kato began his journey in the direction he hoped was the least likely to get him killed. The going was slow, bouts of dizziness plagued him, only interrupted by coughs that caused his whole body to shudder. His head pounded violently, it was as if the artillery that stood upon Redusk¡¯s walls had decided to drill inside his skull, firing round after round of vicious throbbing that demanded Kato¡¯s attention.


    And yet he continued, he refused to be beaten, not by this. The environment by itself could not beat him, he would not lose, this he swore. His hand lethargically rose, and he drew a circle over his chest. ¡°Cogul¡± he wheezed. ¡°Help¡± his voice rasped a reminder that he was thirsty even before his body was attacked by the sweltering conditions.


    Nothing happened and he didn¡¯t expect it to, this place was probably hell. Or at least it looked like it.


    Cut off from everything, he knew he was truly alone, for this was a place that not even the Gods would look.


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    Even if Kato was being overly melodramatic, Cogul wasn¡¯t known for his benevolence, you didn¡¯t get the nickname of defiler because you were such a nice guy. He wasn¡¯t even really devout, there was no way he would get sympathy, not now, not when Kato only really prayed when he needed help.


    The Vandots, the protective military core of the Mendots, and Cogul¡¯s most staunch followers would have jeered at him and called him a leech. With demands for personal sacrifice for even the chance to beseech their god, but Kato could afford to give no more.


    Snap! Kato¡¯s head wearily turned in the direction of the noise, his eyes unfocused and bleary. ¡®How were the sick and frail supposed to survive this¡¯ he thought bitterly.


    He didn¡¯t see anything not even a shadow thrown out by the fires that burned seemingly without fuel.


    His mind had given up on the rational it seemed. Snap! Another sound produced by a phantom apparition. Kato looked for the source but found nothing, he was getting more and more certain these noises were figments, produced by a feverish mind. He had heard of this before, auditory hallucinations tricks of the mind playing with his senses.


    The sounds of a grinding chain, slapping against the ground joined the chorus of noise assailing him. It was as if a monster, once chained, had escaped its confinement and now walked the world, dragging its once fixed bonds behind it.


    Currr the grating metallic noise grew in volume, yet Kato persisted.


    He did his best to ignore the sounds plaguing him and continued on, to what he didn¡¯t know. ¡®I will not give up¡¯ this mantra had begun in his head several minutes ago and had since continued non-stop, filling him with determination and the will to succeed. He would not falter. These were his thoughts right up until the moment he collapsed and met the ground with a heavy thud.


    Kato lay there on the hard stone floor; it was surprisingly cold considering his surroundings. He breathed heavily, his eyes struggling to stay open. ¡®No, I will not give up¡¯ he tried to push himself up but found that he lacked the strength to do so.


    He reached his bare right arm ahead of him, grabbing onto a lone protrusion jutting from the ground and began to pull himself forward. He made it less than halfway, his arm faltering and falling to the ground, his strength abandoning him. He switched to his left but found that it couldn¡¯t even drag him forward an inch.


    He lay on the ground. His left arm outstretched hopelessly grasping onto the lump of rock in front of him. His right arm lay limply in a crook by his head, he desperately pleaded with his limbs, but they refused to listen, locked into place. So, this was it.


    They say when you know for certain that the end is nigh, you see what you did with your life. What Kato saw would¡¯ve made him sick if he wasn¡¯t already. His life flashed in front of him. Fights with his parents, the last time he saw his dad, his mother retreating in herself. Smiles, laughter and shared special moments interrupted the bleakness, weaving the good with the bad. But it was rare. So much wasted time and nothing to thank for it, missed opportunities and regrets had followed him, through it all.


    ¡®That will not be my story¡¯ he thought fiercely.¡¯ This would not be his end. His body surged forward, resolve flooding his limbs. He moved an inch. If that. A last futile burst of strength and that was it. His eyes closed.


    Kato woke up shaking, unsure of how long he had slept for. It could have been seconds; it could¡¯ve been hours. ¡®We will prevail¡¯. The voice again. Here for him when no one else was.


    The bag on his hip trembled, violently.


    Kato was tempted to ignore it, his earlier resolve tempered by the harsh realities of his situation, but he did not.


    His right hand moved slowly to the bag. It was a feat of impressive will, getting his limb to move at all. Defiant in the face of his weaknesses, he clutched the bag, feebly struggling to unhook it from his side.


    The violent shaking intensified, and the bag slipped. ¡°No¡± Kato gasped, the word escaping from his cracked lips. The bag had hit the ground and turned on its side. Kato knew he did not have the strength to reach for it again.


    But the bag continued to shake and for the first time since he¡¯d picked it up, something had come out.


    Six gelatinous chunks, vibrating so violently, that Kato thought they were about to explode. He mentally braced himself, ¡®I¡¯m not even going to have the dignity of going out with a clean death¡¯, he thought sardonically and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle bitterly at the irony, the hollow sounds from his cracked lips marking the grim play on words, that just about summed up the cruel absurdity of his journey getting here.


    Disregarding Kato, the chunks began swirling through the air. Kato tracked their patterns, enthralled by the hypnotic movements. Suddenly three of them collided, morphing into a blood red eye that shifted, becoming fixated on him. Its pupil pulsated once, twice, before settling into the guise of a pitch-black sword.


    The other three then formed into a second, level with the first. ¡°Guess you came to watch me die, as I did with you, huh?¡± Kato rasped bitterly; a hollow laugh followed his words.


    The eyes ignored him and surged forward, upturning him, and striking his chest, where they melded into his very being.


    Kato felt rejuvenated, more strange symbols spun across his vision and strength returned to his body, as he rose again.

 7. A sticky situation

    <u>A sticky situation</u>


    Kato stood, he clenched and unclenched his hands, then rolled his shoulders back and a smug smile crossed his face. He felt strong, this wasn¡¯t a minor enhancement like the fruit had given him. This was different; he could tell, and he wanted more. He needed more. Greed twisted his features, as a cold hunger settled within him.


    Kato tried to temper it, but this new power was intoxicating. He looked down at the rock jutting from the ground, a sneer marring his features. ¡®How did I ever think this was the way forward?¡¯ He shook his head and reached down towards it.


    Lacing his fingers around the rock, he squeezed. It would turn to dust for its false promises of salvation.


    Nothing happened. Kato stood back, blinking in shock. He had felt so strong.


    The sneer left him, and his face settled into a much more humble visage. What had he been thinking?


    He looked half-starved and in need of a long rest. Deep set shadows lingered under blood shot eyes and his arms, barely thicker than sticks, trembled as they dangled out of the tatters he was currently calling a shirt.


    He turned and looked over the land that had tried to defeat him. ¡°Nice try¡± even his voice had strengthened, slightly deepening and its previous rasp, at least temporarily defeated. The eyes had apparently even nourished him, at least, he wasn¡¯t thirsty anymore.


    ¡°What just happened¡± Kato muttered. The eyes had come and saved him when everything seemed lost. His fate set in stone. He didn¡¯t know why they chose to help; he didn¡¯t even know if they could make that choice, all he knew was that they had.


    Uncertainty crept in; he had been faced with impossibility after impossibility. It was hard not to doubt his sanity. First the eyes of the dead had come to save him, and now the sounds that had haunted him, that he had brushed off as mere symptoms of his sickness had returned.


    Currrr, the grinding scrapes were still loud, but now they seemed much less threatening. As if the noises were more mechanical in nature and not from an eldritch horror roaming the land, hunting specifically for him.


    Kato could have stood there for years, pondering, trying to make sense of it all but that seemed foolish to him so he did not.


    He took a deep breath and was immediately startled; the air once acrid and poisonous, now seemed to go down a lot easier. Kato continued on towards the sound, his coughing subdued, but by no means gone.


    ¡®It¡¯s a lot easier to cover distance when you¡¯re not on deaths¡¯ door¡¯ Kato thought mockingly. The lesson, obvious in hindsight, was one the gods had felt the need to teach Kato. He really wished they hadn¡¯t, he had learnt it was easier to walk than crawl as a child.


    ¡°Cogul¡¯s blessing¡± Kato whispered under his breath tracing a circle over his chest. He wasn¡¯t sure if the god had helped, but it never hurt to be safe.


    Kato wandered on, soon reaching a courtyard filled with training equipment. There were mannequins in an organised row stood waiting alongside a great wall. The wall must have been thirty foot high and another five thick. Made of stones that could only have been lifted by giants, each one larger than Kato was tall.


    It was an impressive feat of structural engineering; and yet, somehow, despite this, it paled in comparison to Redusk¡¯s own.


    The mannequins were made of cloth, adorning bodies that had been stuffed with straw. Kato could see it poking out from several of the vaguely humanoid figures. Stitches had been ripped open and straw littered the floor, some had been luckier than others, but all had suffered to some extent.


    One had been exposed by deep long gashes that ran from its right shoulder to left hip, as if it had been clawed apart. Another¡¯s¡¯ head hung weakly to the side, mere threads were all that stood between it and the ground. The others had various puncture wounds, and weirdly one had a bite mark.


    ¡°Who bites a training dummy¡± Kato said perplexed.


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    Kato looked over to a small, weathered bench, where a long, thin, and knotted stick rested on a plump red cushion. It was around four foot long and looked as though it would snap on contact with a feather.


    He continued to examine the area, there were multiple other benches holding cushions, but they all held nothing. ¡°Guess people didn¡¯t want the stick.¡± He muttered, walking over to the only occupied bench, and gingerly lifting the wood. ¡°Don¡¯t worry little guy, people didn¡¯t want me either.¡± He paused, taking a breath, unsure of how much he wanted to discuss. Afterall this was only a random bit of driftwood some guy had decided to stick on a bench.


    ¡°People-¡± his voice caught ¡°they aren¡¯t nice, they¡¯ll do stuff like give you bags and then try and kill you.¡± Kato said, somewhat maniacally towards the stick.


    It looked back impassively, not saying a word.


    ¡°I know, I know, who would give someone a bag and then try and kill them just hours later?¡±


    The stick remained stationary.


    ¡°Yes, just hours, I couldn¡¯t believe it either.¡±


    The stick continued sticking.


    ¡°You need a name¡± Kato paused. ¡°Sticky¡± Kato declared triumphantly, he nodded, proud of himself. ¡°What a wonderful name, truly I am a modern savant of wordsmithing.¡±


    Armed with his new adventuring companion, Kato continued onwards following the curved stone wall. The sound was getting louder and louder.


    The relentless metallic scraping filled the cavern: currrr¡­., currrr¡­.., CURRRR, the noise once at a reasonable level was now deafening. Kato supposed this made sense. It would have to have been loud for it to have reached him as far away as it did.


    A giant metallic sign, battered, weathered, and coated in a thick layer of rust hung forlornly. Kato supposed it had once proudly displayed some type of symbolism or message, greeting or warning those who passed. But time had long since rendered its meaning illegible.


    Now though it stood unloved, abandoned, and forgotten by all but the artificial wind, that pushed it slightly up and to the side before letting it fall and produce a screeching metallic sound.


    Kato stared at it, mouth agape. ¡®This, this, this¡¯ his thoughts trailed off. How had this instilled terror in him? Convincing him of the existence of horrors, beyond even what his worst imagination could produce.


    He laughed. It was a relieved laugh, beginning softly, but soon turning into hysterics. A full bellowing laugh burst from his core, tears streaming down his face.


    After the laughing fit had subsided, he regarded the entrance that the sign stood above. The arching opening was twenty feet tall and ten wide and had been painstakingly hollowed out from a dark, unfamiliar stone.


    It looked ominous, there was no way around it. The opening was pitch black and beckoned him into a tunnel that for all he knew could lead to hell itself. But Kato pushed down his uneasiness, refusing to be made a fool of again and walked in with his head held high.


    Currr, that sound again. Kato couldn¡¯t let it go. He turned around almost immediately after walking in, his gaze drawn back to the sign.


    It hung on the wall from a knotted rope, a dirty brown, flecked with the familiar ash that coated the hellscape he¡¯d found himself in.


    He looked at the sign then to his blade that hung at his side. It had to go. Kato couldn¡¯t just let it be, not after all the stress it had caused him.


    ¡®But how to go about it?¡¯ he thought. His blade seemed like the obvious answer, but the top of the sign was easily three Katos off the ground.


    Kato put the stick he had been carrying in his bag and launched himself at the wall, he would not let mere height best him! He made it up around halfway, before losing his footing and crashing back down to the ground.


    ¡°This is really stupid. What am I still doing here¡± he said absently mindedly kicking the ground beneath his feet.


    He turned and made to walk back towards the entrance. CURRRR. It was mocking him he was certain. Kato spun on his heel, staring at the sign, rage filling his eyes.


    ¡°You have not beaten me, you are just a sign, hanging there doing nothing but me I will leave this place and carve out my own future!¡± Kato stared at it, triumphant and lording his ability to move from place to place over the sign.


    He moved to return to the entrance, the sign sufficiently cowed, or so he thought. CURRRRRRRRRR. It did it again! This was way earlier than he would have expected the sound to come, it was mocking him!


    He returned to facing the sign, now he really couldn¡¯t let it go, his pride wouldn¡¯t allow it.


    Thunk. His blade sunk into the wall. Using it as extra support he scaled the wall again and after an immense struggle reached the top of the sign. He clung to the wall; his blade handle wedged in his mouth and maneuvered carefully to one of the knotted ropes holding it in place.


    Sawing through the fibres was surprisingly easy and after moments the rope snapped, and the sign swung violently to the side. He moved to work on the second and just watched immensely satisfied as the entire sign crashed to the ground moments later.


    Kato was already most of the way up and saw no reason to not continue. He reached the top of the wall sweating and out of breath, with a final push he clambered onto the mostly flat surface atop the wall.


    He looked over the land he¡¯d just come from, ¡°I''m on top of the world¡± he shouted, his voice full of joy, it was impossible to resist.


    Glancing around him he spotted a lone bright red plastic watering can lying down on the flat parapet before him.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s nifty¡± Kato chuckled he hadn¡¯t seen a plant since he got here. He picked it up and threw it off the side of the wall watching as it careened down and smashed upon the metal sign below.


    ¡°Hope I didn¡¯t need that for anything¡± Kato quipped and moved on without a second thought.

 8. How to make friends

    <u>How to make friends</u>


    Kato walked to the opposite side of the edge the wall was thicker here then it was in most places. This was because for some strange decision the entrance led into an artificial tunnel, whether this was to better control the flow of movement or as some type of defensive structure Kato didn¡¯t know, nor did it really matter.


    As he walked, he played with the blade, faking parries and thrust as he walked forward.


    He reached the edge soon enough; it had not been a long walk. Kato gazed over the surroundings it looked really like where he had just come from, distressingly so. For a second, he was worried that this was all there was random walls dotted over a volcanic wasted, but then his eyes caught something comfortably familiar.


    A path. Well-trodden, which could only mean one thing, ¡°Civilisation¡± he breathed excitedly.


    ¡°Garaa garahhh garahh¡± a snotty laugh broke Kato out of his reverie. And his eyes quickly scanned the ground below him, he¡¯d looked right over them. There were 3 creatures, clad in rough fitting hide, chain mail filling the gaps that had somehow been exposed.


    A sickly grey hue tinted their loose grey skin. Fangs adorned the sides of their mouths jutting down and over their chins. What was visible of their bodies were covered in scars and old wounds a testament to a lifetime of survival.


    ¡®They look like brutes¡¯ Kato thought then immediately scolded himself, ¡®that¡¯s not how you should treat strangers.¡¯


    Jagged blades with chipped edges hung stretched across the entirety of each creature¡¯s back.


    ¡®Must be butchers or something¡¯ Kato nodded thoughtfully.


    One of the creatures began pantomiming, it mimed running away then made a squealing type of noise, ¡°garahh garahhh garahh¡± it laughed thumping an old wooden table that the creatures had presumably placed in the middle of their camp.


    It was a simple camp; a fire, encircled by stone, burnt in the middle of it. There were sleeping rolls but no tents, Kato supposed they didn¡¯t need them because of the heat, but he probably still would have preferred them. There wasn¡¯t really much else to say a big cage type thing as tall as a human stood off to the side, it was the only well-kept thing in their dwelling it looked shing and new.


    In the corner of the caged area was a pile of what was presumably meat mixed with scraps of cloth must be some animal the creatures had butchered. ¡®Must have had nowhere else to store it away from scavengers Kato thought blithely ignoring the warning signs, he decided that he must introduce himself.


    ¡®It¡¯s not polite to spy; what would they think of they saw me up here?¡¯ he though firmly. ¡®Time to make some new friends.¡¯


    A chill breeze swept over Kato carrying the faint scent of ash, decay, and meat. Kato subconsciously shivered, but he ignored it his mouth salivating.


    With his plan set Kato jumped off the edge. He immediately realised his mistake and quickly course corrected to aim for one of the creature¡¯s heads. It must have been fifteen feet tall at least, Kato hoped it would soften his fall and not be considered rude by his new acquaintances.


    Thunk. Kato hit one of the creature¡¯s hard, both sprawled out over the ground in a tangled heap. ¡°Um sorry about that¡± Kato said awkwardly standing up and rubbing the back of his neck.


    The creature looked back at him unresponsive. Kato waved his hand in front of its eyes and the creature gazed back lifeless.


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    Kato¡¯s eyes ran over the creature worryingly searching for any sign of injury. There! His blade lodged in its skull. ¡®Wait, his blade?¡¯ Panic surged through him, ¡®Oh no¡¯ he thought frantically chewing on his lip, ¡®this is not how you make friends.¡¯


    Kato turned to the other two anger building rapidly on their faces.


    ¡®This is not good I need to defuse this quickly¡¯ Kato thought to himself hurriedly. He looked back to the motionless creature. And gently reached over to it, a low growl came from one of the brutes, his fingers reached its neck and nothing no pulse not even the rhythmic motion of air entering and leaving its lungs.


    ¡°Guys I¡¯m really sorry¡± he began his voice strained, ¡°I know I didn¡¯t know him that well but if you¡¯d let me speak a couple of words over him it would be much appreciated.¡± The creatures looked back at him wary and with rage simmering in their eyes.


    ¡®How to smooth over killing someone¡¯s friend by pure happenstance the moment you met them?¡¯ it was a tricky question Kato had to admit. They hadn¡¯t even said anything, just stared. Kato felt really bad his heart going out to them.


    ¡°Oh god¡± he moaned into his palms then swiftly collected himself, remembering his company. Although the creatures hadn¡¯t said anything, the tension in the air was palpable. One of them had been in the process of tearing meat off a bone when Kato had interrupted them.


    That bone was now actively straining and cracking under the force the creature was gripping it with. Baleful and hate filled expressions regarded Kato.


    He felt faint under their accusing vision and turned to the corpse behind him, regarding his blade lodged firmly in the beast¡¯s skull. It was a painful reminder of what happened, and it needed to be gone. Kato reached over to it gripped the handle with his right hand and pulled nothing, he pulled hard, but the blade just wouldn¡¯t budge.


    He awkwardly looked back to the two creature¡¯s ¡°sorry I¡¯ll remove it as quickly as possible¡± one of the creatures stepped forward the meat in its hands dropping to the floor. ¡°No, no¡± Kato raised his hands ¡°I''ve got it no need to help¡± his left hand and right both grasped the handle, and he pulled back his back straining the blade began sliding upwards painfully slow.


    Without thinking Kato lifted his right leg and pressed his right foot on the skull for leverage. The blade slipped out; Kato turned to face the creatures his foot still planted on the skull as if he was posing with a hunting trophy.


    The creature who had stepped forward snarled, ¡°//??///???///¡± and screamed at Kato. Kato looked down quickly realising what he had done and lifted his leg, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡± he said rushed bringing his foot back down to the ground.


    The creature charged.


    Kato held his hands forward trying to placate the charging beast, but it kept running, straight into Kato¡¯s blade.


    It was as if its strings had just been cut; one moment it had been approaching Kato at terrifying speeds the next it was lying on the floor bleeding and clearly dead.


    It hadn¡¯t even made a sound. Maybe some air had been forced out when it met the blade, but apart from that nothing. Kato looked over towards the second creature he¡¯d just killed by pure accident.


    Then his eyes wondered towards the third. ¡°I know this looks back he said pointing towards the two corpses and then to the third, but I swear it was an accident.¡±


    The creature looked back its anger replaced by fear, stock-still. ¡®Maybe it doesn¡¯t understand.¡¯ Kato thought and tried to convey his message again.


    Kato began miming stabbing the beasts, and then mimed a shocked expression full of remorse.


    The creature stared back at Kato terror stricken. ¡®Maybe miming stabbing wasn¡¯t the best idea¡¯ he thought too late.


    The creature turned and began to run. Getting away from the murderer that had just attacked them for no reason. Kato watched sadly; clearly, he was bad at making friends, at least he hadn¡¯t killed them all he thought, thankful for the tiniest but of silver lining.


    The creature ran, slipping over the meat the second creature had previously dropped. It careened into the air and fell to the side, catching its head on the cage and effectively braining itself.


    ¡°Well, fuck¡± Kato stated. ¡°You got all three nice one man¡± he sarcastically quipped.


    He walked over to the beast his blade stuck from and yanked it out. ¡°Really thought, I¡¯d only have to do that once¡± Kato started then realising the beast probably didn¡¯t care, apologised for its death, and moved on.


    Kato walked over to the third one, it was still breathing, ¡°hey let me help¡± he reached over to it and its eyes now wide open, filled with terror, and the creature began bucking wildly. Its head crashed against the side of the cage again and again till the bucking stopped; its last breath done.


    Strange symbols crossed Kato¡¯s vision and he waited for the world to get brighter, but it didn¡¯t. Kato stared at the sight around him blood coated the floor the stench of death now filling the air and what was worse his appetite didn¡¯t even seem ruined; he was starving. But it seemed wrong to take from these beasts it would be like looting a corpse at a funeral.


    With a weary shake of his head, he stepped upon the path leading from the camp.

 9. A hefty pair of knockers

    <u>A hefty pair of knockers</u>


    Kato walked with heavy steps, his head low, consumed by thought of the encounter. He felt utterly defeated; he had only wanted to say hi.


    ¡®How could I have messed things up this badly?¡¯ he thought miserably, his spirit sinking lower and lower as he trudged away.


    Ultimately the situation didn¡¯t affect much regarding himself; but it led to uncomfortable questions. ¡®What type of man carves a bloody path to his future, leaving chaos and uncertainty in his wake?¡¯ Not the type of man Kato wanted to be, even if fate itself demanded it.


    Cogul¡¯s influence had guided Kato, he was convinced. The events and the circumstances around them were just so unlikely they felt almost orchestrated. An artificial hand reaching out and making puppets dance to its tune.


    The alternative was hard to think about; subconsciously deep down, buried under his constructed persona. This is who he was, it was what he wanted. ¡°This isn¡¯t¡­ I''m not¡± he muttered; the words bitter on his tongue.


    The idea that he craved the chaos and was more than capable, more than culpable for what had just happened gnawed at him. Kato was left questioning his own nature.


    So lost in these musings Kato didn¡¯t notice when the ashy wasteland began changing, dirt and shrubbery covering the previously barren land.


    Only when a wayward root snagged him and sent him stumbling did he return to the present.


    ¡°Need to concentrate¡± Kato admonished himself violently shaking his head to snap back and focus.


    ¡°You can question yourself when you can afford to¡± he resolved to push on leaving his doubts behind.


    Kato looked up, the once desolate hellscape was changing. The cavern roof that had been a constant oppressive above him had disappeared letting natural sunlight fall upon him. He tipped his head back letting the sunlight soak into him. A mixture of hope and excitement filled him. ¡®I''m not going to be stuck forever¡¯ he though feverishly.


    His stride became noticeably faster as he began to move forward, vigour filling his steps.


    ¡°You will not beat me¡± a slightly delirious tone undercut the words. Laughter followed his declaration, stretching over an uncomfortable period of time.


    After several more minutes of walking through the changing landscape, Kato¡¯s elation started to wane, replaced by a growing sense of unease. The density of bushes and shrubbery were noticeably increasing. There was even the occasional small tree. Frail and small yet standing resilient in the face of it all.


    Kato nodded towards one of the trees acknowledging their struggle.


    And yet, despite life prevailing, there was no sign of water. Kato couldn¡¯t see a single cloud in the sky and hadn¡¯t since he got here. Reaching down the ground felt rough and dry there was not a sign that a single drop had fallen in weeks. Perhaps even more concerning was the signs of life; or rather the lack of them. No birds chirped; no small creatures scurried through the undergrowth, it was silent, deafeningly so.


    Kato had been raised in the city, a true city slicker but he knew this wasn¡¯t right, something was wrong. This isn¡¯t the bustling life he¡¯d imagined as a child looking out at Redusk¡¯s walls that had hemmed him in his entire life.


    ¡®It is a false fa?ade hiding the death buried just beneath the surface¡¯. The thought came mostly unprompted installing worry in Kato he hoped his subconscious was just confused and far too sceptical. He¡¯d been overthinking a lot recently, and now he was overthinking about overthinking! ¡®This is severely out of character for me ¡®he mused, guessing that the isolation was taking more and more of a toll on his mind.


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    Kato continued walking forward, doing his best to ignore his instinctual doubts but routinely checking his surroundings, nonetheless. After an hour or two had passed the horizon was interrupted by large tents, atop a hill.


    ¡®New friends¡¯ Kato thought ecstatic, before immediately tempering himself


    ¡°That can not happen again¡± he rebuked himself firmly, emphasising the words. His blade vibrated by his leg, he looked down towards it, nothing, it just sat there innocent and still.


    A deep yawn escaped him. ¡°How long has it been since I slept¡± he muttered his fatigue evident as he trudged towards the settlement.


    ¡°Hello¡± Kato called out as he approached nearly there. His stride remained unbroken as he pushed towards the settlement, the pressing need for sleep goading him on.


    ¡°Anyone home¡± he loudly called as his hand rapped twice against the wooden archway he stood before, that he could only assume was the official demarcation of the settlement¡¯s entrance.


    Only silence greeted him, broken by the faint murmuring of the winds.


    ¡®Why is no one answering¡¯ he thought to himself, ¡®do they not know I''m a friendly guy.¡¯ His mind trailed off and his eyes slightly widened that must be it ¡®duh¡¯ he tapped the side of his head with his palm.


    ¡°I''m friendly¡± he paused ¡°I swear¡± nothing.


    ¡®Perhaps the people who live here are social recluses¡¯, Kato thought sagely, letting out a resigned sigh, he could not afford to spend another night in the wild, his paranoia wouldn¡¯t allow it.


    In most scenarios he would have respected their privacy and moved on, but he was so alone, and something needed to change before isolation took him. He entered the tent village, hoping to seek solace in the commune, but instead of help and comfort his unease grew, his hair stood on its ends and his body began to shiver. It was clear why no one had answered him, it looked as if the place had been attacked. Deep gashes ran though the hides of several of the tents, food remained out and had long since turned into a black sludgy substance lining cooking pots.


    ¡®Whatever had made these people leave had not been him¡¯ he thought firmly, his tired brain seeking reassurance amidst the chaos. Despite the flashing warnings created by the site, he clung to the comforting notion that he wasn¡¯t responsible for this, and his exhausted brain ignored everything else.


    He walked into one of the larger tents adorned by some sort of animals¡¯ skull and left mostly untouched. He collapsed on the furs he assumed were a bed and sleep rushed to greet him.


    Kato awoke to sunlight filtering through the holes in the tattered fabric of the tent. A smile furnished his face, the first one of its kind in a long time. He was in a deserted encampment, lost and alone, and yet he was happy.


    It was incredible how waking up right can make your entire day.


    With newfound energy, Kato practically leapt up, a spring in his step.


    Ready to embrace the day, he strode over towards the furled over entrance and pushed past it, his feet hitting the hard packed earth of the village streets. A smile tugged on the corner of his lips, and he took a deep breath taking a moment to enjoy the present.


    While it would have been nice to stay in that moment forever, Kato had stuff to do. He couldn¡¯t ignore his curiosity it urged him to search the camp and he would¡¯ve felt foolish not doing so.


    ¡°Call me detective Kato¡± he said with a flourish and bow, ¡°and I will solve this mystery¡± he began giggling at the sharp juxtaposition between his former life of crime and the lawman position he now imagined himself in, ¡®what would Maya say?¡¯


    Careful not to spoil his reputation Kato methodically moved between tents pocketing anything he thought may have value in his bag, optimistic that one day he would see its contents again.


    Kato could already imagine the citizens returning ¡°my stuff where¡¯s it gone?¡± ¡°it¡¯s the newcomer it must be¡± ¡°him? Really Bruce where would he have put it all?¡± Kato shook his head in mirth at the imaginary conversation, not a single person would believe that he could carry the contents of a village.


    Kato reached the last tent, its¡¯ fabric sagging and forlorn. A couple of jewels and coins mingled with the rest of the pilfered loot he now carried, but apart from that nothing, no secrets suddenly revealed he stepped back out.


    The tents were in varying states of disrepair. Many of them had wooden barricades crudely slapped across the entrances and were marked by a circle with a slashed line through, drawn in ash that had been smeared across the fabric.


    As Kato surveyed the dilapidated and abandoned domiciles, he pondered over their fate.


    It was unlikely any had been inhabited in a long time and while disappointed Kato was comforted by the lack of bodies or even blood staining the ground. What happened here Kato could only guess at. For all he knew the people just decided to leave one day and everything else happened years later.


    After Kato finished with the tents he regarded the rest of the village, it appeared trapped in time, frozen in a perpetual state of decay. The only building that appeared to have survived time¡¯s machinations was one large structure on the outskirts. Composed of stone and the only dwelling that carried a sense of permanence and real investment.


    It looked like some of the temples from his home that the Afodites worshipped their respective gods in. He began making his way over towards it noticing the ground turn from hard packed earth to paved cobblestone, someone had really cared for this place.


    He stood outside the double door entrance it was made from thick weathered wood with iron rivets punching through the wood. The door boasted a substantial pair of knockers, ¡®um hefty spherical handles¡¯ Kato gave up there was no innocent way to describe them.


    Emblazoned upon the doors was the same symbol that had marked some of the houses; this time, painted in a striking white against the wooden background. Its meaning as elusive as before, Kato stared at it for a moment trying to decipher its mysteries, but nothing jumped out at him.


    ¡®There¡¯s not much point in just staring at a door I''ve got a mystery to solve.¡¯ Kato approached ¡®and things to steal¡¯ he quietly added as he pressed against the door and pushed.

 10. Mr Pibbles

    <u>Mr Pibbles</u>


    The doors opened into a wide room, what immediately greeted Kato was the stench, it was foul and all too familiar. As a child there was this stray cat he often saw around the estate, it was a scavenger, and a survivor just like him, because of this perceived connection Kato had more than once fallen victim to the scrawny little thing; its charms too hard to resist. He had given it some scraps, sharing his food when he was hungry himself.


    The cat whilst not a constant in his early life had been present enough, that Kato felt it keenly when it disappeared, days past and the absence of the cat weighed on him, this was at a point on his life where it was fair to say the abandonment issues given by his dad¡¯s sudden departure carried over to what happened next.


    As an adventurous young kid driven by his need for company, Kato had embarked on a mission to find the stray, maybe it had got stuck. At the end of each day, he searched for it, a couple of hours here and there calling out with the name he had given it.


    ¡°Mr Pibbles, Mr Pibbles¡± he would call softly out, careful not to disturb residents, he had gotten more than one dirty look for his troubles already. Mr Pibbles wasn¡¯t the most fear striking name, it was unlikely even the cat would¡¯ve wanted it, but Kato was a kid and he liked it. So, he kept going calling for it again and again.


    After a couple of weeks of searching and finding nothing, Kato had given up, he justified it by reassuring himself. Perhaps the cat had moved on, found easier pickings in the richer side of town, or been adopted by a loving family. He remembered thinking, ¡®I bet that little furballs living it big, eating all the fish it can get, as it gets doted on. everyone knows that cats always land on their feet¡¯ little Kato was not super satisfied with this, but he had never found the cat, so this narrative was certainly plausible.


    The day Kato¡¯s idea of what had happened to the cat was shattered to pieces was very similar to this day.


    The stench you couldn¡¯t forget it. Kato remembered gagging as his young self-walked into a non-descript alleyway, a shortcut he didn¡¯t usually take, but he was in a rush. For whatever reason he pressed on, he didn¡¯t remember why he was in such a rush, but he certainly remembered the journey.


    There, lying in the middle of the alley, was the cat, casually discarded, ribs showing to the world. Flies crawling all over its blackened, rotting body.


    Tears reached Kato¡¯s eyes and he visibly recoiled. Memories he¡¯d hoped he¡¯d forgotten attacked him all at once. Forced to confront his past trauma, Kato shook his head vigorously in an attempt to clear his mind, yet the gruesome reminder persisted. He took a step back outside. As soon as the fresh air hit his lungs he began violently retching.


    He stood their chest heaving for several moments, before turning and regarding what he could see of the temple¡¯s innards. He saw nothing that made him want to explore any further, the morbid scene that must lay just out of sight was more than enough to strongly considered leaving the place, this wasn¡¯t the day to be a corpse tourist.


    For that is what the smell must be, the putrid odour of the long, but not too long dead, it explained a lot not everything but at least he now knew where the villagers had gone. For whatever reason someone had seen fit to lie their bodies in the church type structure, turning the temple to a mausoleum. Where they had lain peaceful and undisturbed until he had come along and broken the sanctity of death.


    Kato was naturally curious, but curious enough to disturb the dead in pursuit of his lust for knowledge was a step too far. Whatever happened here, wasn¡¯t for him to know he thought mournfully, but resolute.


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    That was where he would have left it, where he wanted to leave it, and he was just about to turn away when he heard it.


    ¡°Thunk¡± it was unmistakable the soft thud of something moving. Something was in the temple and making sounds. As much as he wanted to leave, the loneliness that had driven him to this cursed place to begin with was still looming over his head and wouldn¡¯t stop pushing him on.


    He looked at the opening miserably.


    ¡°Forgive me Mr Pibbles guess I''m not done with the dead just yet.¡± He circled his chest, and with a heavy heart stepped back in.


    The stench greeted Kato warmly, an old friend that did not yet realise Kato wanted nothing to do with them their actions too severe to be forgiven.


    Even bracing himself he fought the urge to retch again. After the feeling had mostly subsided, he looked around the large open space he found himself in.


    Torches lined the walls, flickering comfortingly. Their dim light bathing the chamber in a warm comforting glow. Their presence confirmed Kato¡¯s suspicions unless fire had somehow learnt to keep itself burning someone else was here. Kato¡¯s eyes darted around the room, he didn¡¯t see anyone living or dead. There were no signs of struggle nor the sight of rotting bodies confronting him.


    He breathed a sigh of relief.


    This did wonders for Kato. His guilt over entering lessened, there were no bodies, no death here, no vengeful spirits were going to come and strike him down for disturbing their rest.


    In his heart, he knew this wasn¡¯t true, they were here somewhere. Maybe not in this room but the smell was a constant reminder of what must be lurking around the corner, memories of a time he wished he could forget. However, for now he could live in his own fantasy before further examining the place.


    There was an altar made of dark glossed wood standing on a raised platform at the back of the room, Kato supposed this is where the religious sermons took place, the priest or other religious figure preaching to his flock. Who Kato supposed stood enraptured by their words, faith unwavering despite all the hardships that came with living.


    While Kato had never been super religious, he had been to a few of Redusk¡¯s churches in the past, and he had never seen one without pews before. It was a stark reminder that his home and the comforts that came with it were out of reach.


    The bare stone floor conveyed a rather minimalist approach that clashed with the striking mosaic carved in intricate detail that stretched approximately twelve feet by eight feet across the back of the room.


    The mosaic depicted a plant, suspended in midair its root ball clumped in dry, crumbling soil defying gravity. Vibrant green and budding leaves clung to a verdant, green stem emerging from the soil. Above that was a bright red watering can, water poured from its nozzle drenching the plant in much needed water.


    Kato supposed it symbolised something important. A contemplative expression crossed his face. ¡®Maybe you only need a little help in the worst times to make it to the good¡¯ he thought. Then his expression shifted, turning into a grimace. ¡®Who am I kidding? I''m not a philosopher. What am I doing? Trying to find reason in an everyday occurrence, someone could have created on a whim.¡¯ He shook his head softly, disregarding any deeper meaning.


    Apart from that there was nothing else to really say about the main room. There were two side passageways carved into the left and right wall respectively, but the rest of the room followed the same minimalist approach observed in the communal area.


    With nothing else to do Kato looked over to the side passages they were identical in appearance. ¡°Right is always right¡± he stated bluntly and without hesitation entered the right opening. It led to a closed off room, its centre occupied by a patch of dirt, dry and crumbling, a mirror image of the mosaic. He reached down, feeling it fall apart as he ran his fingers through it. no life was supported here the lack of water more than evident.


    With nothing else to do he began his journey to the left passageway, ¡°left is always right if right isn¡¯t¡± he chuckled nervously, preparing mentally for the corpses that must be there.


    He entered the left chamber and saw a pool of water, stood still in the centre of the room. Stagnant and murky, its surface was coated with a thin film of gunk. It smelt, but not of the death Kato was expecting.


    ¡°No bodies here either¡± Kato was surprised but somewhat relieved he hadn¡¯t really wanted to find bodies; he was just looking for a friend.


    Whatever had made the noise that drew him to this place to begin with was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Must have been the wind¡± Kato casually stated. His reason to be here gone, he made to exit and resume his path away from the abandoned village.

 11. Seriously, the watering can?

    <u>Seriously, the watering can?</u>


    Returning to the main chamber Kato felt like he had run into a brick wall. The stench was palpable it had gotten so much worse, in the brief moments he had been in the left chamber. The torches once a warm comforting red glow had turned a sickly green their flickering, now somehow appearing menacing, as their shadows crawled across the walls towards him.


    As sudden as the changes had occurred, they reverted just as suddenly it all happened so fast. If his sleep hadn¡¯t been so good, Kato could¡¯ve believed it to be the illusions of a tired mind. The smell that had once invaded his nostrils, overpowering him, barely even allowing concentration, was gone.


    The room was exactly how you¡¯d expect it to be a musty smell that Kato had long since associated with churches filled the air, he kind of wanted to leave again, but only because he didn¡¯t really like churches. The stale air, heavy breathing and long sermons weren¡¯t really for him, if he was more religious, he might think differently but for now he just wanted to leave.


    ¡°//???////?/?¡± A voice called out in yet another unrecognisable slurry of words, Kato swiftly turned tense on his feet. ¡®Another chance to make friends¡¯ he firmly thought.


    It was a humanoid looking creature, vaguely similar to the ones Kato had met by the wall. But there were striking differences the sagging skin was a staple of the wall creature¡¯s appearance was gone. The creature in front of him looked as if it had fallen into a lake and remained submerged, trapped under the surface for an extended period.


    Its skin was completely shrivelled and taught, clinging tightly to its form. Thick pulsating veins covered its translucent, aged hands. Kato could see dark sludge laboriously pushing through them, each sluggish movement accompanied by a faint sickening squelch. The viscous blood advancing with slow deliberateness,


    The creature had traded the chain and hide armour worn by the creatures by the wall, in favour for a robe that hung loosely around it. It was a dark brown made out of some type of coarse material unfamiliar to Kato. A faint layer of dust covered its surface, clearly it wasn¡¯t worn often.


    He felt flattered, meeting him must be some sort of special occasion.


    The creature while still towering over the average human was pretty much a runt in comparison to those Kato had assumed were its brethren. It stood at an imposing eight foot, in a slightly hunched posture, nearly half the height Kato might have reasonably expected it to be.


    The creature hadn¡¯t discarded all of its genetic gifts however, keeping the sickly grey skin and long tusks that jutted from the sides of its mouth, a fierce reminder of the differences between itself and just an old, abnormally sized person.


    ¡°Hi¡± Kato said shyly, raising his hand in greeting.


    The creature stared at him blankly as if waiting for him to continue.


    ¡°so¡± he began stammering. ¡°My name¡¯s Kato and, uh¡­¡± he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°It¡¯s been a really long week and I swear I won¡¯t try to kill you for no reason.¡±


    The creature stared at him; Kato uncomfortable in the building silence continued his one-sided conversation,


    ¡°Not that you would give me a reason to kill you¡± he rushed to add. ¡°You seem like a pretty chill dude¡± he cringed at his attempt at small talk. The creature still hadn¡¯t responded. ¡®Got to bring it back¡¯ he thought to himself firmly. This had been his best chance to talk to someone else in ages.


    ¡°Would you like to be friends?¡± he asked putting on the most dazzling smile he could muster.


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    The creature began moving its hands in a slow, yet mesmerising pattern.


    ¡®Came on way too strong¡¯ Kato thought to himself, letting the silence awkwardly build again. He hoped the creature was just trying to build up to talking to him again and was just as lousy of a conservationist with strangers as he was.


    ¡°Ahhhhh." A searing pain erupted from within Kato''s skull. He clutched his head in his hands and dropped to the ground, his knees thudded painfully into the bare stone floor.


    ¡°Greetings, traveller¡± the creature spoke, looking at him with a warm fatherly smile. ¡°My name is Kray, may I have yours¡± it reached out one of its aged hands, offering assistance to the prone Kato.


    ¡°Kato¡± Kato replied, firmly grasping Kray¡¯s wrist and pulling himself back up.


    ¡°May I ask what you are? I have never seen one of your kind before,¡± Kray inquired, curiosity evident in its words.


    ¡°I''m a human and I would say the same to you, but I saw some¡­ uhh people? Who looked remarkably similar to yourself, just much taller, on my journey here.¡±


    ¡°We call ourselves the Horusks¡± the creature, Kray, kindly replied answering Katos unspoken question. ¡°Those that you saw would have likely been the warrior group of us by the sounds of it.¡± It took a breath before continuing, ¡°they hunt prey and defend the rest of us from any potential danger.¡± Kato looked at him confused, the creature seizing upon the unspoken prompt continued.


    ¡°There are three main groups of us, the much more spell-focused clergymen, like myself, the warriors as you have already seen; and then the collective. Their purpose is a little less obvious, but they are responsible for the general workings of a functional society.¡± The person, uh, horusk seemed eager to talk to Kato. ¡®It must be as lonely as I am¡¯ Kato thought to himself. He couldn¡¯t help but feel empathetic as the horusk rambled on unprompted.


    Kato not wanting to be rude, but eager to know some actual relevant information attempted to move the conversation on. ¡°Thanks for telling me that stuff ¡°he said awkwardly, he had never even asked Kray about any of that and didn¡¯t know how to handle the guys babbling. Kray looked at Kato, shocked he¡¯d been interrupted.


    ¡°So, tell me about your job¡± Kray¡¯s look of consternation swiftly passed, the desire for someone, anyone wanting to listen to him too compelling to ignore.


    ¡°I guess you would call me a priest¡± it began. ¡°I''ve served this parish for nearly all of my life, given sermons, baptised children watched the village grow from nothing to a bustling community.¡±


    ¡°But that time is long gone,¡± a look of pure anguish crossed its features; its left hand clutched the altar turning white.


    ¡°Presumably you¡¯ve seen the symbols, the circle slashed with a diagonal line, I''m not sure how familiar you are with our markings, but it means plague struck.¡± It paused breathing heavily, ¡°I''m surprised you saw anyone out there they were all supposed to be gone. I mean, I thought that the plague had taken everyone,¡± it corrected itself.


    Kato waited patiently for the creature to continue. After some time had past it spoke again, ¡°this place we¡¯re stood in is a church, a religious site for my folk. We believe in strength through hardship and that from all slights we will grow back stronger.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what our religion is all about, the strength to endure, to hold out when all seems lost.¡±


    It turned slightly and pointed to the mosaic behind it. ¡°This is our emblem the symbol of our church, the Church of Hardship. It depicts life, showing that with only the slightest push it is never impossible to spite the odds.¡±


    Kato ever the amazing conversationalist, knew exactly what to say to the man mourning his people. ¡°What¡¯s with the watering can?¡± he asked bluntly pointing to it.


    ¡°What?¡± the horusk looked perplexed. ¡®My question must have just been too good,¡¯ Kato thought proudly to himself.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I found one nearly exactly like it on my journey here.¡±


    ¡°WHAT??¡± the horusk sprung forward off the raised platform and clutched Kato¡¯s shoulders shaking him. ¡°Where is it? you must tell me, it¡¯s the key to it all.¡± It panted feverishly, delusion speckling in its eyes.


    Kato moved the hands off his shoulders and took a couple paces back from the erratic and suddenly desperate creature.


    ¡°It, uh, broke¡± Kato barely managed to get the words out, he really hoped it hadn¡¯t been important.


    ¡°Nooo, how?¡± the creature wailed.


    ¡°I, uh smashed it¡± Kato was beginning to feel bad, but he didn¡¯t want to keep the truth to himself, he would not lie here, that was not how you started friendships.


    The previous desperation in its eyes, morphed into cold, hard rage the delusion still present.


    ¡°For what reason?¡± It demanded, allowing Kato to justify his actions.


    Kato began anxiously tapping his right fingers on his left hand. ¡°There was no reason, I was bored, I just did it, I didn¡¯t know it was important¡± the words spilled out uncontrollably, guilt wracking him.


    The creatures¡¯ eyes blazed a deep blood red, and it felt as if all warmth of the room had been suddenly drained. The creature sprung into the air, levitating, air and debris spinning in a cyclone around it.


    ¡°Through hardship we prevail, you will suffer for your sins, may your next life be better than this one.¡± The creature began maniacally chanting and a pulse of dark liquid shot out in an arc from it, knocking Kato to his back.

 12. Suffering is Kray Kray

    <u>Suffering is Kray Kray</u>


    Kato quickly scrambled back to his feet. In mere moments, the churches innocent fa?ade had been stripped. The putrid scent of decay filled the air once more.


    The room had dramatically changed, revealing the grotesque truth that had been hidden. Aged wooden pews now lined the once barren stone floor, each one filled with bodies in various states of decay. Contorted like puppets in a macabre display of death.


    Eyes clouded and shrivelled hung from the sickly grey bodies by red fibrous strands. Their vacant stares unseeing, yet making Kato feel exposed. ¡®Why did I ever come here?¡¯ He struggled to even think.


    Scabbing green pustules covered them, atop of dark red blotches that spread over the skin searching for untainted flesh. They oozed with sickness, mingling with thick coagulated blood, painting the skin in a patchwork of hideous savagery.


    The tusks that were a fearsome addition on all the horusks Kato had previously seen, were cracked and dry, black smearings filled the exposed cavities.


    It was a horror scene. Kato stepped forward, head swimming, he had lost sight of Kray. Squelch, Kato had stepped on a body. He wanted to vomit; his eyes blurred as mush spread out from beneath him the rotted flesh giving way beneath his foot. The smell of decay somehow rose in intensity.


    ¡°Eugh¡± Kato groaned stumbling forward, resting heavily against a pew. His body trembled; he could scarcely comprehend the living nightmare he¡¯d found himself in.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re admiring my work¡± Kato¡¯s eyes focused on the voice.


    Kray spoke unaffected by the suddenness of the gruesome display. Still suspended several feet off the ground, it began making strange movements with its gnarled hands, with each motion the cyclone wrapping around it grew in intensity. A pew lifted off the ground joining the growing vortex of debris twisting around the creature.


    If Kato hadn¡¯t been so emotionally exhausted from horror after horror greeting him, he probably would have been amazed. He¡¯d always wanted to see real magic in action. The practitioners in Redusk had been few and far between and like Alice had skills that didn¡¯t result in grandiose displays, such as foretelling and persuasion.


    There were rumours of cities that dwarfed Redusk both in size and magical prowess, but Kato didn¡¯t put much stock in them. Living in a city that you couldn¡¯t leave was a prime breeding ground for generating crazy tale after crazy tale.


    Kato didn¡¯t respond to Kray, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak, barely fighting off the waves of nausea threatening to take him.


    ¡°You are not going to ask why?¡± Kray asked boldly, it just couldn¡¯t stop talking, the delusion in its eyes briefly replaced by its powerful curiosity.


    Kato stared at Kray, aghast at its casual indifference to the monstrous confession. ¡°Why?¡± he finally manged to choke out, his voice catching on the word, barely audible.


    ¡°Glad you asked.¡± Kray smirked, its smile widening as it lowered down, ever so slightly.


    ¡°Two moons back a strange being approached our village.¡± Kray began, its tone ominous. ¡°It told us to prepare, a warning, that we weren¡¯t strong enough for what was coming.¡±


    Kato¡¯s anger simmered beneath his blank expression. ¡°Go on¡± he practically spat the words out.


    ¡°Something was coming to kill us, all of us it was going to use as stepping stones for its own power.¡± It paused collecting itself. ¡°A voice from the sky told us we the sick, frail and forgotten had to die so another may grow, not even live, it just wanted to take.¡± Krays words were powerful and compelling, demanding understanding.


    Kato stood unmoved. ¡°That explained nothing, you killed everyone because you were scared of a mere phantom¡± he paused ¡°you disgust me.¡± Kato was not the bravest man, he never had been, the venom lacing his words were completely out of character. He wanted a confrontation, craved one, and he didn¡¯t know why.


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    ¡®We will prevail¡¯ a voice whispered in the back of his mind.


    ¡°The creature it spoke with the voice of God. With divine authority those not of the church would never understand. It was no mere phantom; the harbinger of death¡¯s arrival was set in stone.¡± The creature continued its monologue, dismissing Kato¡¯s objections with its oozing arrogance.


    ¡°So, what you killed them to save them from death?¡± Kato was shocked, his voice trembled with rage.


    ¡°They were too weak; they would have held me back! Only through suffering may we have the strength to prevail¡± spittle flew from the creature¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane¡± Kato spluttered out before he could help himself.


    The effect was immediate, Kray¡¯s face darkened immediately, a jagged vein on the left side of his forehead began to visibly throb. ¡°Without hardship life is meaningless, I should never have even entertained you.¡± It proclaimed furiously and threw itself towards Kato.


    Kray plucked the spinning pew out of the air in one gnarled hand and swung it towards Kato.


    Time seemed to slow as the weaponised seating accelerated towards him, his body tensed involuntarily as he rolled in slow motion away. His reflexes felt far sharper than they had been mere days ago. The chunk of wood tore through the air, narrowly avoiding taking his head.


    ¡°And what purpose do you have in Killing me?¡± he gasped as he scrambled backwards. ¡°This monster you speak of has no reason to hunt me.¡±


    ¡°You believe yourself exempt of the fate of the sick, frail and forgotten, hah.¡± Kray laughed bitterly. ¡°Look at you so slow, so small, so very, very weak and yet I am the deluded one. Tell me human who is here looking for you, who will appear at the last moment to save you.¡± Kray laughed again a sardonic sneer crossing its face.


    Kato was cut to the core, he felt strong but obviously he was not in comparison to this place. He¡¯d barely escaped dying to just his general surroundings on the way here, let alone a magic wielding maniac. He didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d been forgotten but there was definitely no one looking for him, not here.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter¡± Kato said gruffly, his voice thick with emotions.


    A slow smile grew across Kray¡¯s feature, ¡°I knew it, you are just like me, together we will prevail.¡± Kray stretched his arms wide invitingly, the wooden pew still hung from his right arm.


    ¡°We will prevail¡± the voice radiated in Kato¡¯s mind, angry the creature in front of him had even dared to draw similarity between the two.


    ¡°I am not you, you lunatic¡± Kato shouted defiantly at Kray breaking any chance of an amicable conclusion.


    Kray¡¯s eyes clouded over, iridescent with rage at the words and hurled the pew overhead there was no dodging it this time.


    With a heavy crash it struck Kato¡¯s chest, and he went flying backwards slamming against the hard wall behind him, sliding down with a heavy thud.


    Done with beating him for its personal amusement Kray stopped hovering. Apparently satisfied Kato wasn¡¯t going to stand back up again soon or question its sanity again it let the cyclone dissipate and its feet touched the cold stone ground.


    Kato lay unmoving, breathing heavily. He really wished he hadn¡¯t broken that watering can.


    The creature walked over to him, its steps echoing ominously as it advanced. Finally it stood over him, staring down at the defeated man lying on the floor.


    ¡°Do not worry my child, you will find strength in your hardship¡± It spoke so compassionately you would have thought the two had known each other for years.


    Kato looked up towards the mad horusk above him, he coughed violently, colouring the grey floor red. Splinters had shredded his arms, a coupled remained, lodged painfully in his chest. The pew lay shattered to his side, scraps of wood littering the floor. He weakly tried moving his exhausted limbs.


    ¡°Now, now child doesn¡¯t strain yourself¡± the creature looked at him warmly as if he were doctor comforting a bedridden patient on his way to recovery. That notion, if anyone could have believed it after the sudden violence just moments ago was dispelled immediately.


    ¡°It will all be over soon¡± Kray still spoke compassionately but the cold delusional stare in its eyes belied the creatures¡¯ true intentions. ¡°May you be stronger in the next life.¡±


    Kato pulling on some hidden strength from the depths of his soul, kicked out feebly striking Kray.


    Kray immediately burst out laughing,¡± what could you possibly have thought that would accomplish?¡± it mocked, reaching up and wiping a tear from its eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s been fun¡± Kray took a step forward its intent obvious. This would be the last thing Kato ever saw. But fate had other plans, a stray fragmented part of the pew caught Kray¡¯s foot and sent the creature stumbling forward, it knocked into the wall, lost its balance and collapsed backwards, arms flailing wildly.


    The same shattered spike of wood that had started this chain of events stood invitingly and Kray accepted its generous offer of a place to lie, falling right back onto it. It pierced through his back and came out of his chest with a sickening crunch.


    Kato watched in stunned silence, ¡®I¡¯m starting to make a habit of bearing witness to deaths that have no right to happen.¡¯ He thought bewildered, barely making sense of the sight in front of him.


    Blood spilt from Kray thick and dark, more solid than liquid, a slow sludge clumping on the floor.


    Kray turned and regarded Kato¡¯s pitying expression. It couldn¡¯t let this be its last worldly impression. ¡°You have not beaten me¡± Kray coughed weakly as its life slipped away. ¡°You will become me¡± it rasped. ¡°Suffering begets strength, you will come to thank me¡± and with one final shudder it died.


    Kato remained motionless, his head hung low, each breath weaker than the one that came before it, the sudden quiet of the chamber only broken by the laboured rhythm of his fading breath.

 13. A deal you cant refuse

    <u>A deal you can¡¯t refuse</u>


    Kato lay against the stone floor fading in and out of consciousness. He doubted he¡¯d ever get the promised strength born from suffering. The church of hardship was not built on bringing people up, its very name attested this.


    From this isolated sect, it was more than clear to him, not only was the strength promised false, only more hardship could be expected. He was going to join Kray soon; his vision was already darkening.


    He wondered if this is how each of the horusks had felt, waiting for strength that never came; before withering away, becoming the props in Krays macabre play. Their suffering too much to handle, just entertainment before the curtain fell, lives snuffed out by a madman who couldn¡¯t even save itself.


    Kato had heard many times about fringe religions led by blood thirsty gods demanding large sacrifices for their own personal power. It was written in the history books, warning future generations their paths only led to darkness.


    For years, long before he had been born, these power-hungry organisations had been outlawed in Redusk, more prone to cannibalising themselves and hurting others in the process; then making good on any of their promises. Supposedly that¡¯s why these Horusks had set themselves up here, wherever here was, in this desolated place away from condemnation.


    So lost in his own thoughts, Kato didn¡¯t bat an eye when the ground opened up and swallowed him.


    He hurtled through the ink blackness, the air clung to him, as if refusing to let go. But go he did. Bleeding and beaten Kato was flung towards the unknown. This was it; people weren¡¯t supposed to bounce back so many times, the world itself had had enough. He closed his eyes. Just listening to the woosh of the air as it passed by, constantly trying, and failing to grab a hold of him.


    Until suddenly it did.


    His eyes still firmly screwed shut, Kato was barely conscious, let alone cognisant of what was happening around him, yet it was hard to ignore the undeniable truth, he was no longer plummeting. In fact, it felt as if all of the weight had been taken off him, ¡®is this what death feels like?¡¯ he wondered before easing his eyes open. He immediately felt like a fool.


    ¡°More magic¡± he whispered, ¡®were the wilds truly this powerful¡¯ He was starting to think Redusk¡¯s walls hadn¡¯t just been built to protect from the elements.


    The wind had grown a mind of its own and seen fit to take a hold of his descent, gently lowering him towards an all too familiar location.


    ¡°Module 1 for the sick and frail has been completed, effort was lacklustre, but this could only be expected due to subject¡¯s far too obvious flaws¡± the monotonous voice was back and apparently it hadn¡¯t forgotten its grudge.


    ¡°Not now¡± Kato barely managed to get the words out. He couldn¡¯t find the strength to even project his voice. His feet finally touched the ground, his sudden windy saviour finished with its journey. He immediately slumped over, his chin crashing into his splintered chest and his legs failing under him, not able to support even the most basic of human functions.


    ¡°The sick and frail subject appears broken¡± the voice said it in its¡¯ normal tone, but Kato hardly registered it. ¡°Analysing¡± there was a pause. ¡°Cause found; specimen appears to be trying to become a tree.¡±


    Kato tried in vain to raise his head, he would not let this disembodied voice make a mockery of him. He tried, but ultimately failed unable to even raise his head by a single inch.


    ¡°Considering options¡± there was another pause, ¡°due to subjects¡¯ hatred of watering cans, watering is not advised.¡± It stated this like it was a perfectly normal and reasonable thing to say.


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    Kato internally seethed, his last moments were going to be some voice whose owner he¡¯d never even seen just ragging on him.


    ¡°Removing subjects¡¯ wood advised¡­ proceeding¡± the voice stated in the same monotonous tone.


    ¡®What NOOO, I need that!¡¯ Kato thought desperately. He needed to stop it, he wanted kids in the future, this was a fate worse than death.


    The massive splinters that had caved in his chest smoothly extracted themselves, followed by thousands of little fragments from the pew, ones that could have taken months to go, if they ever did at all. A dull ache replaced the agony he was in just moments ago.


    ¡®Oh, that wood¡¯ Kato felt delirious he was over the moon, positively euphoric, he was saved, his bloodline could live on. Oh yeah and he was no longer half man half pew that was cool¡­ he guessed.


    He closed his eyes and leaned back against the floor, a small smile crossed his lips, he was going to be alright, just as soon as he got a good sleep. The voice no doubt wanted to mock him some more, but frankly Kato didn¡¯t care he was already drifting asleep.


    Before he got the chance his legs suddenly started shaking, his eyes snapped open, faint motes of light hung in the air. He felt jittery, awake and was visibly trembling.


    ¡°What did you do to me¡± Kato spoke the words through clenched teeth, the voice had gone too far.


    ¡°Subject is exhibiting normal symptoms after treatment¡± The voice spoke slowly and clearly without an ounce of emotion.


    ¡°Normal treatment¡± Kato spluttered in shock, ¡°YOU DRUGGED ME, HOW DARE YOU¡± he was furious. His entire life he¡¯d avoided that type of stuff, people around Redusk were notorious for falling prey to the darker pleasures of the city ¡®trying it just the once¡¯ and then never looking back, becoming husks of their former selves. And now the voice had set him on the same path, the feeling it was euphoric as if he¡¯d been living in the darkness until the voice had stripped it away, revealing the light.


    ¡°Subject in no need of drugging, already more than sufficiently impaired.¡± The monotonous voice returned to its routine beatdown on him.


    ¡®Already impaired¡¯ Kato mulled the words over. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t drug me?¡± he gazed up at the sky demanding an answer.


    ¡°Affirmative, subject is already prone to making bad decisions, further assistance was not required.¡± The voice continued in its usual fashion; Kato really wished he hadn¡¯t asked it to change the module¡¯s name. ¡®Who could¡¯ve known it would hold a grudge?¡¯


    Kato considered trying to sleep again, but the very idea was off-putting, the last time he tried had been far too bizarre, plus he was wide awake now.


    Kato groaned audibly it looks like the day wasn¡¯t over just yet, he stood up brushing his legs down. ¡°Huh going to need a new shirt¡± he muttered, the fact that any of it was left was a miracle in itself.


    ¡°Hey voice guy any chance of a new shirt, I have uhhh¡­¡± he looked around searching for anything to barter with, ¡°some broken bits of pew¡± he paused he was going to have to work for this one he could tell.


    ¡°Bet nobody¡¯s ever tried to trade you parts of a pew before, wow what a story that could be¡± Kato trailed off, hopeful. ¡¯Nailed it, he thought, with pitching skills like this he should have been a merchant, ahh well maybe in another life.


    ¡°Subject bribery request considered and denied¡± the voice stated plainly clearly not interested in a once in a lifetime deal.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it bribery, hey you¡¯d probably have to bribe me not to take this deal¡± Kato joked, silence greeting his words and awkwardly stretching out.


    ¡°Anyways, so uh, how¡¯ve you been Voice?¡± Kato asked, hoping to reconcile with the entity.


    The silence continued to drag out, ¡°fine keep your secrets¡± Kato muttered, kicking the ground beneath him restlessly.


    ¡°You know you could be a little more friendly¡± Kato spun on his heel and called out, his voice echoing around the empty space, searching for the speaker.


    No response was given, apparently the voice had, had its fun and now wanted nothing more to do with him.


    It was unbearable, Kato didn¡¯t mind the quiet, but he hadn¡¯t had a conversation with anyone who hadn¡¯t died soon after for a long time now. He knew what he had to do.


    ¡°Please talk Voice, you can even insult me if you want¡± Kato appealed to the voices sardonic nature certain it wouldn¡¯t be able to resist.


    ¡°Subject seems distressed, is baby going to cry?¡± the voice droned out, not a hint of humour to be found in its statement. Kato knew it, this was his way to conversation, but that¡­ that was kind of harsh.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine just give me a second alright¡± Kato muttered, that voice really knew how to get under his skin.


    ¡°Processing request¡­¡±


    ¡®What?¡¯ Kato¡¯s head snapped upwards.


    ¡°Request granted, one second has past, ejection imminent¡± the voice had found its opportunity to be rid of him and immediately seized it.


    Kato was aghast ¡°how does this keep happening, that is clearly not what I meant?¡± but his words of frustration were only met with the world around him warping, reality itself blurring, ¡®looks like I don¡¯t get a choice¡¯ he thought miserably.

 14. A loaf-some mistake

    <u>A loaf-some mistake</u>


    The word settled into a horror scene, a grimoire depiction of the worst that humanity had to offer or at least that¡¯s what Kato thought. He wanted to scream; he was at the bottom of a crater, an all too familiar crater.


    ¡°Back here, trapped in this hellhole¡± he was angry and lashed out, punching the curved slope hard. His knuckles split adding a splash of colour to the surrounding grey.


    ¡®Got to think positive¡¯ he thought firmly to himself, ¡®I''ve left once before I can do it again¡­ the orb of course!¡¯ He looked around for it, there where he¡¯d left it lying in an indent below him, dull, lifeless, and lacking the light Kato had believed was his saviour before.


    Kato wasn¡¯t very superstitious; he didn¡¯t believe a lot of stuff like that; it was just hearsay to control how he lived. But this, this was a bad sign if he¡¯d ever seen one. He half expected the familiar caw of a crow to break the subterranean silence but of course, it did not.


    He frantically reached out to the grey, pallid sphere as lifeless as the world around him; he clutched it to himself, waiting for the world to blur. But just as he feared, it did not. He shook it violently bringing it to eye level. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you working?¡± it stared back at him inert and deliberately obtuse, unresponsive to his pleas.


    Kato muttered darkly under his breath, stuffing the good-for-nothing orb in his bag.


    He took a deep breath, ¡®now is not the time to despair; I¡¯ll never get anything done.¡¯  With that somewhat bleak outlook, he forced a smile onto his face and began making his way out of the crater. This place would not beat him.


    He scrambled up the side of the crater, it was only a short climb back to the top around 20 feet or so, yet he was panting, doubled over, with his hands resting on his hips when he reached the top. His right hand pulsed with pain, in time with his beating heart, he was starting to wish he hadn¡¯t punched the wall.


    ¡®Clearly, I¡¯m not as recovered as I thought I was¡¯ Kato was visibly trembling, the earlier effects of whatever the voice had done to him not leaving.


    The most obvious problem when Kato finally recovered from the short journey was that he was lost, if you could get more lost in this place. He took a deep breath then another one, if he went the wrong way here, he was in trouble.


    He didn¡¯t know which way he had entered the room from originally, and there were no obvious markings.


    It was at moments like this that he wished he had carried a loaf of bread, scattering breadcrumbs along his journey. But in his heart, he knew that even if the Gods had seen fit to give him one, he would¡¯ve eaten it, and been in the same predicament. He just didn¡¯t have the foresight that some random children had in a childhood story he couldn¡¯t remember.


    But that wouldn¡¯t be him now, his fist clenched, and he looked to the rocky expanse above him, ¡°I will beat children¡± he growled his voice echoing in the silence.


    There was a long stillness that followed, and he felt his face begin heating up.


    ¡°Uh in case anyone¡¯s listening, I didn¡¯t mean it like that, there were these, uh book characters, and they uh¡± he trailed off not able to think of the words. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips, this was a hard one to justify.


    While embarrassed he was still resolved, he would not find himself in this situation again, at least he hoped he wouldn¡¯t. The darkness was nowhere near as oppressive as it had been the first time Kato had found himself wandering in these caverns, he was pretty sure he could mark the entrances with his blade, and he would be able to spot them again in the future.


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    With no reason to stay, Kato looked miserably between the two exits from this room, he stood in this situation for several minutes, his eyes flicking from one to the other. ¡°Cogul, guide my path¡± he muttered under his breath, and circled his chest. It was a gesture born more from need than genuine belief Cogul would listen, let alone help.


    He clenched his jaw, examining the openings, desperately trying to jog his memory. Searching for any signs or patterns he recognised.


    After far more time had passed than what was reasonable, he started to move. There was no use in delaying the inevitable, he strode towards one of the openings seemingly at random and with a heavy sigh he carved an X with his blade on its left-hand side, his hand still trembling.


    He walked inside for a few minutes, there was no flashy sign telling him this was the right way to go, it looked just like the rest of this forsaken place. A grey desolate landscape with no sign of changing exactly as it had been before. Doubt gnawed at him; he¡¯d made a mistake, he felt it in his gut. Turning back seemed futile but the alternative was at the very least equally unappealing; after all he had no good reason for choosing this passage.


    ¡®What am I doing?¡¯ he thought to himself. ¡®It¡¯s worth checking both of the exits. He turned back and went to the other one, sick with anxiety, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste more time. After a couple of minutes of walking down the other exit his decision was immediately vindicated. A skeleton lay propped against the cavern¡¯s walls, its white inhuman skull staring blankly at him. As creepy as this was, it meant he was no longer backtracking.


    He was elated, ¡°take that children!¡±


    Kato carved another symbol on the wall denoting his passing, he didn¡¯t want to be caught out like that again, before examining the skeleton. It appeared to have been stripped of all its worldly positions, if it had any to begin with.


    A nervous bead of sweat rolled down his forehead he really hoped whoever this had been hadn¡¯t been going in the way he had just came from, searching for their own way out.


    Kato continued on, his pace noticeably brisker, that would not be his fate.


    He walked for what felt like hours, at the same punishing pace, but not one thing changed. He didn¡¯t even know how tunnel systems like this could be formed, He thought the randomness of nature itself would have dictated at least interesting, different scenic views sculpted by the planet itself, but no. Just more of the grey he¡¯d grown accustomed to. Occasionally he would look over himself to make sure he could still see colour, and that it hadn¡¯t all been drained to who knows where.


    He kept this up until a subtle shift in the air caught his attention, a peculiar scent weaving through the previous stale and dull air of the cavern. The air was noticeably, cleaner and crisp, it smelt like moss after a downpour. Earthy, damp and fresh. But more importantly it was different.


    ¡®Finally, something new¡¯ the thought shot through Kato¡¯s mind. As he continued down the corridor, the aroma grew stronger and stronger with each step.


    He could practically believe he was outside walking through one of Redusk¡¯s large communal gardens, the sun on his skin as he rushed through it on a way to one job or another. The memory was so vivid it felt like a betrayal to the subterranean expanse¡¯s very nature.


    He heard a faint dripping somewhere ahead. it wasn¡¯t just a phantom smell, like the illusions he¡¯d encountered before, it was real! He began striding forwards, his heart pounding with anticipation.


    The oppressive cavern walls began to recede opening out into a wide natural paradise, the previous darkness giving way to soft, diffused light.


    Moss carpeted the once lifeless floor, a waterfall spilt gently over an overhang on one of the cavern¡¯s curved walls feeding a stream that cut across the centre of the wide natural realm all encompassed within the familiar stone that had been a constant companion of his, ever since he left the crater.


    Kato stepped on the mossy floor, it was soft and easily gave way to his foot, a welcome change to the hard stone floor that been demanding on his tired feet. He paused for a moment just enjoying the feeling. ¡®Its all looking up¡¯ Kato hadn¡¯t vocalised the thought, but he soon wished it had never crossed his mind.


    The moss went deep, a lot deeper than Kato had thought possible, he was sinking. His breathing quickened as he struggled to get out of the moss. He clawed at the dense, green undergrowth tearing large fistfuls of wet, clammy moss away and flinging them to the side.


    Panic surged through him, no matter how much he tore away his descent and ultimately his fate seemed certain. The moss was swallowing him at a constant rate. It was already up to his waist and showed no signs of slowing down.


    Until finally he stopped, chest heaving. Kato struggled to breathe against the weight of the moss pressed up against his ribcage, half of his upper body had been buried in the treacherous foliage. This wasn¡¯t a paradise he¡¯d found it was a monster in disguise; and he was just another meal.


    A worse thought crossed his mind, this was only the entrance and already he had nearly died.

 15. Stuck between a rock and a soft place

    <u>Stuck between a rock and a soft place</u>


    Kato continued steadfast in his act of trying to liberate himself, the moss piled up next to him, glistening with dew and contempt. It was slow going but after a few minutes had passed, the moss level pressed against him was closer to his hips than his neck.


    After a few more minutes he managed to liberate himself completely. He pulled himself out, with a long squelch and returned to the relative safety of the cold sterile floor he¡¯d spent so long trying to get away from.


    He stood above the moss trying to control his breathing, the hope in his eyes had turned into cold derision, ¡®why does everything in this world keep trying to kill me?¡¯ In the past he had dreamed of scaling Redusk¡¯s walls and exploring the wilds beyond. He never would have thought he would miss the very walls he had longed to escape; but miss them he did.


    His right hand was violently stinging, he should¡¯ve wrapped it. The consequence of his emotional response taunted him.


    Even if he believed that the moss had looked clean, with clear fluid oozing out whenever he grabbed it. He shouldn¡¯t tempt fate, his hope that it wouldn¡¯t get infected may not be enough.


    He tore another patch of fabric off the rags he was calling a shirt and wrapped his hand, trying to ignore the burning sensation. He needed to clean the wound thoroughly in the stream, people had died for less and that would just be too embarrassing, he would never live it down.


    Shaking himself off, droplets flying everywhere, Kato knocked away clumps of the far too clingy moss that just refused to give him his own space ¡°I''m not ready for that much commitment yet, sorry.¡± he muttered, his attempt at levity conflicting with his ragged and hoarse words, as he littered the ashy floor in the green residue.


    Kato looked over the false salvation that extended ahead of him, there wasn¡¯t a choice. ¡®Stuck between a rock and a soft place, really didn¡¯t think that was how the saying went¡¯ he thought humourlessly. Either avoid falling victim to nature¡¯s brutal demands for sustenance or turn around and walk for what could be days.


    It just wasn¡¯t fair, but then again life hardly ever was.


    He desperately searched, looking for anything, he really didn¡¯t want to play this game. It would kill him. He felt it in his gut, the cards were already beginning to fall. The need for water was just far too great, his mouth was already starting to dry and on top of that the world had got a taste for blood and demanded more. It was a practically unbeatable hand.


    There was nothing for it, long odds were better than none at all. A mixture of fear and determination drove him forward, he dropped back into the divot that had just been carved in the mire, bouncing slightly when his feet met the spongy exterior; before he locked himself in place, a misstep here could be fatal.


    ¡®Guess there¡¯s nothing for it¡¯ Kato thought as he unhooked his blade from his side, now that he had room to move, he could swing his blade and he did time and time again. Its¡¯ metallic whistle only broken up by the hiss and thumps from swathes of moss sliced through and flung to the side.


    He was relentless, his muscles strained, and arms burned. Sweat pricked his eyes, but he was incessant. The only relief he saw fit to grant himself was the occasional desperate drag of his left forearm across his face, a futile attempt to stop his vision blurring from the rivers of perspiration mapping his head.


    His hair hung to the side, soaked, and plastered to his skin. The only sound that broke the rhythmic hisses from his blade were the laboured breaths of his trembling form.


    But he could not stop, he had to get out of here or at least to the water. The more time that passed the weaker he would get; this was at the forefront of his mind as he pushed on.


    But time kept passing, equally as relentless in its march, and each swing got weaker than the last, just when Kato thought it was all lost, he heard it.


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    ¡®We will prevail.¡¯ The words echoed through his mind accompanied by a sudden surge of strength, calling upon some hidden resilience buried deep within him.


    With audible grunts he kept swinging.


    After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, water began seeping through the green wall ahead of him, at first it was a trickle permeating the mossy bank. But trickles turned to sprays puncturing the barrier in front of him. Which in turn turned to large spouts of water blasting out. The mossy fortifications groaned and strained under the pressure before finally giving away with a deafening snap. The green dam collapsed with a horrifying lurch, unleashing a torrent of water.


    It slammed into Kato picking him up and flinging him backwards, the force stealing the air from his lungs. Moments later he was submerged in the sudden, ice-cold, deluge. Disorientated and flailing blindly, he was swept backwards through the trench he had just made, a muffled roar rolled throughout his ears. Dark spots clouded his vision as his body demanded oxygen, he tried to take a breath but was only met with a lungful of water for his troubles.


    As suddenly as it had come, the water subsided. The unexpected flood slowing and trickling into a gentle stream, the once deafening clamour settling into a gentle gurgle.


    Kato lay bedraggled and prone on the now sodden ground, his limbs splayed to the side.


    He coughed violently, a harsh rasping noise accompanied by a mouthful of water and his ears popped. He sat up his head swimming and immediately began retching, a second torrent of water met the already saturated ground.


    His makeshift bandage had come off, flung somewhere into the cacophony of green. His previously scabbed hand, now no longer hidden; was scored by thick mud running through bloody strips.


    He stood up, dazed, and nearly fell to the side, his head pounding. Kato took a moment to collect himself, before allowing a smile to work its way across his features.


    He had done it! He had carved a path from the start of the mossy encampment to what he had initially thought was a stream, now it was clear his eyes had tricked him, this was no mere stream.


    But for a second, he could ignore everything else and just enjoy his victory.


    Even with exhaustion and waterlogged clothes weighing him down, Kato moved with a hop in his step. He strode towards the water pushing past the shredded boundary that had been holding it back.


    He walked up to it and stared for a moment in disbelief, before cupping his hands and feverishly delivering the water to his mouth, quenching his burning throat.


    He dipped his hand in the clear water and painfully scrubbed the mud out of his wounded hand, he winced constantly, gritting his teeth, but it had to be done.


    After it looked suitably clean, he shook it off in the air, before stripping yet another wrap from his shirt? If it could be called that anymore. He wrapped his hand tight and knotted the ends firmly ensuring it would stay.


    Kato¡¯s eyes searched the stone walls around him, now that his most pressing needs had been dealt with, he wanted to leave. After several minutes of searching no obvious exits called out to him, there was where he had come from, but he would rather live in this room off killer moss then go back and he didn¡¯t even know if it was edible.


    Kato¡¯s eyes followed the stream scanning upriver, before resting his gaze on the ledge the water spilt over, he didn¡¯t know what was up there but the light diffusing the room had to come from somewhere.


    He had a decision to make, either make his way swimming in the water against the flow to reach the barren stone at the foot of the water fall or hack another path across the entirety of the room. It was an easy choice. Kato gently eased himself into the water, letting his body adapt to the temperature.


    The current, unlike the torrent that had taken a hold of him, was gentle and refreshing. He had half expected to be immediately fighting for his place in the stream, but he could stay in the middle happily and relatively relaxed without too much effort.


    Teeth chattering, he remained there for a couple of minutes acclimatising before setting off, his strokes were powerful, his hands moved like spades driving large quantities of water back, propelling him forward.


    He reached the rocky shore at the foot of the waterfall with relative ease.


    The sound of the waterfall had gone from a distant hum in the background to a constant roar that shook the nearby area. Mist flew off the polished stones spraying over Kato, he slid himself onto the solid ground and just sat there for a minute enjoying the relative calm.


    Kato finally stood up taking a deep breath, a yawn threatening to escape his lips before lazily gazing at the wet rock face. Jagged protrusions of rock offered slick handholds threatening to send him tumbling down before he even started.


    Unperturbed Kato gripped one of the protrusions, ignoring the sudden chill seeping through him. He pulled himself up to the next one, his muscles straining in protest, but it was not a long climb to the top.


    He stood atop the ledge, staring over the land that had seen fit to try and eat him.


    ¡°Really glad it didn¡¯t get me Maya would¡¯ve been pissed¡± Kato remarked to himself, a wry smile flickered across his features, she had always hated him feeding the wildlife.


    With that comment made he turned to see the source of the light.

 16. Birds of a feather

    <u>Birds of a feather</u>


    ¡®The sun, real sun¡¯ Kato was in shock a very real part of him didn¡¯t believe his eyes. He¡¯d been tricked before; but even if someone suddenly appeared, bleeding and screaming ¡°don¡¯t walk toward the light¡±. He would be more inclined to hit them, than listen, injured hand or not. He was leaving this place, and no one was stopping him.


    He took a step forward, and his right leg shot out from underneath him, his sole catching on the slippery floor. He came down hard on his back. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I''m in a good mood or I might have had to have a word with the head of this fine establishment.¡± He laughed too himself, remembering a belligerent gentleman in his past who had the same spiel. ¡®What you¡¯re blaming the floor for not giving you a warning.¡¯ He shook his head to himself, mirth evident on his face, before tilting his torso to the side and pushing himself up with his uninjured hand, wincing slightly.


    Kato stood up grinning, he had defeated the cavern.


    He strode forward.


    The rhythmic beating of his feet on the cold stone floor that he had grown accustomed to gave way to the gentler thud of earth. He was free.


    He half expected the voice to make an appearance. ¡®I told you we would prevail¡¯ but of course it did not. Either because its vocabulary was too limited, or it just had never existed in the first place.


    Kato looked up, taking in his surroundings. The sterile cavern walls faded away into a vibrant picturesque landscape. Rolling hills, blue skies and genuine clouds. ¡®What a time to be alive.¡¯


    He breathed in deeply, and just enjoyed the sun warming his pale skin.


    ¡°So, this is what the outside world looks like, huh, guess it would have been foolish to think Redusk would have just been in front of me.¡± He had never, not once stopped to think that Redusk wouldn¡¯t just be there, standing proud, in all its glory and most importantly visible. Yet it was not. In hindsight it seemed foolish of course it wouldn¡¯t be here, he didn¡¯t even know where here was.


    ¡®This changes nothing¡¯ he thought to himself, firmly pushing down the disappointment that aimed to spoil the mood. Even if he had considered it nothing would have changed. ¡®I¡¯m not that powerful¡­ yet¡¯ a wry smile touched his lips, that type of power was only for the gods, bending fate as they saw fit. ¡°You egomaniac¡± he laughed again, if the Vandots knew of his ambitions he would surely have been sent in for ¡®corrections¡¯.


    With nothing else to do Kato entered the real world again, leaving the gloomy cavern and the false salvation the orb had attempted to present itself as behind. It had only been a couple of weeks, yet he felt like a different man, hardship had built strength, he was glad Kray was not here to see this, just from looking down he could see the merits of his preaching. As twisted as Kray had managed to interpret the saying it stood no less true.


    Where previously little muscle had clung to Kato¡¯s skeletal form, now there was slight definition, his battle against the very world was starting to pay off. It wasn¡¯t his choice to go against well¡­ everything, but he would not sneer at the benefits.


    Strange symbols suddenly flew across his vision, and he pawed at the air in surprise. It had been a while since this had happened and he still did not understand why. The symbols faded seemingly dejected after a moment. It couldn¡¯t still be the mushrooms, could it?


    The bag strapped to his leg vibrated slightly, and Kato¡¯s eyes snapped on it, he waited for an item to fly out as had happened before, but nothing did. With a sigh he pushed the strangeness out of his thoughts, isolation must have got to him worse than he thought.


    ¡®The earlier incident with the items flying out of the bag must have been the tricks of a feverish mind, stuff like that just doesn¡¯t happen.¡¯ He shook his head slowly, ¡®eyes flying into a person? That¡¯s crazy¡¯ it was a convincing argument, but it did little to ease him. ¡°Man, I really need to get back to civilisation.¡± He said the words, softly, they were bitter on his tongue.


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    Kato forced himself to focus on the present this was a new environment, and it was not the time nor the place to have an existential crisis. It was getting easier and easier to ignore stuff.


    Kato wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about that, but hey at least he was out in nature, that had to be good for his mental health, right?


    He inhaled deeply this felt right. Being locked up all of his life and then with the whole ordeal that came afterwards, there had never been an opportunity to really enjoy nature in all of its beauty. Without the artificial constraints put on a city park or the death that had followed him in the orb world. It was really something.


    He¡¯d never experienced anything like it, grass stretched as far as he could see and there wasn¡¯t a building or person in sight. Yet something felt off, he was on edge and uncomfortable, he scanned the ground looking for anything that may have caused the sudden uneasiness but could not find anything. He paused listening intently; a sharp trill pierced the air and he flinched.


    Kato had grown so accustomed to the relative silence of the cavern he had forgotten other life existed and it had completely thrown him off. A small bird scampered across his vision hopping forward its claws embracing the ground warmly before it gently sprung off.


    It was beautiful, a soft white bird about the size of his hand. It tilted its beak forward as it foraged in the grass, ¡®good job little buddy¡¯ Kato thought with a smile. He stood there watching it for a minute he¡¯d never seen this type of bird before, he must be really far from home, either that or the bird was. Just as he was preparing to turn and leave the little fellow to his own devices, there was sharp crack.


    The bird startled, and tried to flap away but a lizard, as long as Kato¡¯s forearm and as thick as his calf, was faster. With a sickening snap the bird was gone, the only sign that it had ever been there were a couple of feathers picked up by the wind and already departing.


    The lizard gazed at him coldly, as if sizing him up. Its dark green scaly skin gleamed in the sun. With slit eyes and blood-stained lips, you would have thought it would have attempted to subdue these features. But it did not, instead opting for the opposite, leaning heavily into its role. The creature made eye contact and slowly licked its lips, its long-forked, polished black tongue ran along the blood removing the last traces of the attack, arrogance radiated off of it.


    Kato glowered at it; this would not stand. He surged forward with a primal roar and jumped atop the lizard his hands wrapping around its rough body. It bucked violently attempting to throw him off, but it was far too small, even if Kato was comparatively weak against another person, he was not weak here.


    The creature bucked again, and Kato¡¯s injured hand throbbed in pain, this may have been a mistake, but he was too committed now. He looped his fingers around the lizard, and it dug itself into the ground, but it was not to be, Kato pried it up tearing clods of dirt free in the process and then proceeded to brain it against a nearby rock, with a high-pitched squeal the thrashing creature went still, and Kato let the small animal go, its body falling against the ground with a soft thump. He had won, but felt so hollow why had he just done that?


    ¡°This world it is changing me.¡± He muttered the words softly and a profound sadness settled on him, he barely recognised himself. Kato leant backwards, knees on the dirt ground, just waiting. For what he did not know.


    The sky chose to oblige his melancholy and opened up, drenching him in rain. He just stayed there motionless, letting the cold rain flay his exposed skin.


    This was the first thing he had killed intentionally, and he barely understood why he did it, it was only trying to feed itself.


    Shaking himself off, Kato stood up pushing himself off the sodden ground, this would not be the first creature, nor would it be the last, a man had to eat after all. Kato warily looked at the beast so arrogant in life, yet so innocent in death. He slung it over his shoulders, the heavy weight resting against him, its death would not be meaningless.


    Kato began to walk forward, picking a direction at random. The symbols crossed his vision again, apparently waiting for him to make peace with his actions. This time they were accompanied by a surge of adrenaline, it felt as if his muscles expanded and contracted all at once, but physically, he appeared the same.


    Kato, a pro at ignoring this quirk by now, just continued walking. Minutes later a soft white feather blew into his face, obstructing his vision, and stuck there firmly. He pulled it off and stared at the plume. Tears filled his eyes. ¡°You are not forgotten¡± he said tenderly, tucking the quill behind his ear he continued on, it would be dark soon and he needed to find somewhere to wait out the night.

 Chapter 17 - Of mice and men

    <u>Of mice and men</u>


    Kato was cold, shivering and emotionally numb and just when he thought it couldn¡¯t get much more grim, he started seeing things that weren¡¯t there.


    ¡®Really wish I hadn¡¯t eaten the mushrooms¡¯ he thought weakly.


    There were two moons and the last time he checked that was one more than there should be. He rubbed his eyes and proceeded to blink furiously, ¡°still two¡­huh¡± it was interesting but there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it, he didn¡¯t even know where the moon that hung over Redusk came from let alone its apparent buddy that had now appeared.


    ¡°Maybe different parts of the world, have different moons, that would be cool¡± he paused for a moment to stare upwards. His eyes met the two glowing orbs that gazed back at the earth unblinking and uncaring as they fought to dominate the sky.


    One glowed a faint, sanguine red, and its¡¯ buddy, a pale, otherworldly blue, their respective colours clashed before retreating and doing more of the same, locked into an eternal struggle, with the sky as their battlefield.


    Kato looked at the two behemoths for a few moments more, before reprimanding himself ¡°what are you a lunar-tic¡± he chuckled mirthlessly, letting his eyes settle back onto the dense foliage he had wandered into.


    It was silent for now, but Kato had seen how easily that tranquillity could shatter.


    Subconsciously, his fingers reached up brushing against the feather nestled in the dip of his ear.


    The bird hadn¡¯t paid attention to its¡¯ surroundings, and he was painfully aware how that had turned out.


    Kato walked onwards he was still upset about what had happened, but the cold, desolate feelings were slowly being chipped away by the sheer mysticism of a world unexplored.


    He breathed in, deeply, letting the cool night air invigorate him.


    THUNK!


    Kato stopped in his tracks abruptly, his head ringing in pain. He swayed a little and his hands rose up instinctively pressing against the splitting pain emanating from his temples, ¡°ugh¡± he muttered.


    The world lurched as he tried to step forwards.


    There was some faint tittering noise and the sound of quick movements in the undergrowth.


    Bile rose up in Kato¡¯s throat and bitter astringent taste filled his mouth. He turned to the side, his head spinning, his arms rising to defend himself.


    THUNK!


    Another sharp pain, this time radiating form the back of his head, brought Kato crashing to his knees.


    He blinked slowly, unsure of what had happened, his vision was blurred, and the low gentle glow of the moons now seemed blinding. He tried to stand, but immediately stumbled, his balance failing him.


    He could vaguely make out the shape of some creatures standing over him and more confusingly the unmistakable scent of damp fur.


    THUNK!


    Kato collapsed again his knees no longer supporting him. He laid to the side breathing heavily his eyes drifting in and out of focus.


    Kato tired to talk but he couldn¡¯t even understand what he was trying to say, the words coming out as one long drawn-out mumble rather than anything coherent.


    ¡°Huh¡± he finally managed to get out a word and it was just one that expressed confusion. ¡®Good going¡¯ he thought dazed.


    A gnarled piece of wood rapidly descending towards him was the last thing he saw before everything went dark.


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    Kato wished it could have been the gentle warming rays and birds chirping that woke him up as he rose out of bed to start the day on a good note.


    Instead, he woke up to a sharp stick being prodded into his side whilst barely fighting off the urge to vomit.


    Oh well, at least it wasn¡¯t night anymore, it could have been worse.


    He got poked in the side again.


    ¡°???////????¡± some tittering in a foreign language was going on around him.


    Kato opened his eyes, before immediately closing them.


    ¡°Bright... so bright¡± he murmured softly, the effect was immediate, the tittering stopped, and a cold abrasive silence settled over the area.


    Kato opened his eyes slowly, his head still ringing, his lips were parched, and his throat was rough and sore.


    He tried lifting himself up from the prone position he had found himself in but found he couldn¡¯t. Vines as thick as his arm had been layered over him their weight alone enough to effectively clamp him to the ground.


    After struggling for a moment more, he took in his surroundings.


    ¡®I know it was dark last night, but this definitely isn¡¯t where I was when I slept¡¯, Kato thought somewhat groggily,


    He was in a clearing, roughly enclosed by large trees that were wider than a person lying down, each of them had large boughs with plump dark green vines, hanging down, that glistened in the sun, coated by a translucent liquid.


    Kato reached over with one of his hands feeling his chest.


    ¡®Great I¡¯m sticky¡¯ he sighed; this was not how he envisioned his day going.


    After a few minutes of staying, tied down in an abandoned clearing, futilely struggling against his bonds the tittering returned ¡°/???///¡± sounded out in a faint whispering tone, the creatures had apparently found their confidence.


    ¡°Ow, do you mind?¡± Kato spat the words out as something sharp poked him in the side yet again.


    Eventually after a few more pokes and vague threats from the man tied down, some creature was pushed into his vision, stumbling forwards.


    Kato immediately fixated onto it; it was a small rodent type of creature standing on its hind legs.


    It stood around a foot tall; it was brown and lightly speckled with soft patches of grey. It had two beady, black eyes that sparkled with a mixture of excitement and fear. It had long whiskers and a sharp pointed nose, it resembled a mouse, but was much larger and vaguely humanoid, with hands that clasped a short wooden stick, with a nasty looking point.


    Kato glowered it and it stood stock still for a moment, before trembling uncontrollably.


    ¡°Boo!¡± The creature turned suddenly its paws skidding out from underneath it as the wet grass sent it flying onto its back.


    In such a rush, it didn¡¯t bother standing back up scrambling away on four limbs.


    For a few more minutes Kato was left alone, slowly seething as he recalled the night before.


    ¡°Ahh¡± the sharp poking returned; they were getting braver. Kato snarled bucking against the vines holding him down, he could feel their grip weakening.


    And soon he would have his revenge.


    The group of creatures seemingly emboldened by his lack of meaningful response were now confidently assaulting him. Standing in his line of vision while practicing their sword uhh stick play. There were several of the rodent looking creatures, each armed and eager to poke the strange human they¡¯d found.


    Each time they got him to grunt from a particular sharp jab, the creatures just started tittering.


    ¡®They were evil¡¯ Kato glowered at the pokers, as he had begun calling them in his head.


    But it looked like they didn¡¯t care, tittering further and some even rolling around on the floor in apparent mirth.


    The longer this went on for, the more confident Kato became that these creatures were not adults and were more similar to kids just playing with him albeit in a somewhat violent way.


    He didn¡¯t do it but back home a lot of the kids used to play in the same way poking wild animals just to see if they were dead, or maybe just to see how they would react.


    Eventually they would get bored, and he would escape before the pokers realised that with each twist and bend his body made the vines hold over him waned.


    ¡°///???///¡± A rougher voice aged by time, echoed over the clearing.


    The effect was instant, the creatures, stopped roughhousing and some even dropped their vicious weapons.


    A slightly larger hunched over poker stepped into the clearing, it was closer to two foot tall and towered over the younglings, through age it seemed that the creatures patterning reversed. The light brown fur with patches of grey morphing into light grey with patches of brown.


    The creature strode forward, using a gnarled wooden staff to support itself.


    ¡®Wait¡¯ Kato jolted up, his eyes thinning, ¡®gnarled staff¡¯ he chewed over the phrase for a moment in his mind. ¡®This was it, the weapon that had rendered his unconscious just hours ago.


    It seemed that the pokers did not get wiser with age, instead keeping their violent habits and attacking any perfectly innocent forest goers in their quest to satisfy their primal debauchery.


    ¡®Monsters¡¯ Kato thought to himself furiously.


    He had to get out of here, he bucked harder and harder against his restraints.


    The elderly poker just continued forward approaching him with an innocent enough looking smile, but Kato knew the truth, it just wanted to poke him, they all did!


    ¡°////????///¡±


    ¡®Was, was it talking to him?¡¯ Kato was confused, the others hadn¡¯t even tried.


    ¡®Maybe it had come to gloat before the inevitable poking!¡¯ He had to escape.


    With an adrenaline filled roar, Kato sprang up, finally freeing himself of the vines that had been holding him down.


    ¡°YOU WILL NOT POKE ME¡± he bellowed.

 Chapter 18 - Innocent monsters

    <u>Innocent monsters</u>


    The younglings cowed away from him in fear, some of them making frightened whimpering noises.


    Kato stood resolute staring down their apparent leader; he was not the bad guy here.


    He hadn¡¯t poked anyone.


    The larger poker stood back and dropped its gnarled staff, there was a dull thud as it hit the ground. Some of the others looked at them. Shocked.


    The leader paid them no mind, its¡¯ eyes fixed on Kato. For a moment nothing happened then its hands rose, with its tiny palms facing outwards.


    Kato looked at it confused, ¡®is it trying to trick me?¡¯, he began backing off slowly. He wanted no part of whatever this was.


    There was a physical tingling on his skin from the gaze of numerous beady eyes that pressed into him as he retreated.


    ¡°///????///¡± The leader called out to him, making more noises in a language he couldn¡¯t understand.


    Kato paused, they were not the sounds of a monster, it sounded desperate, pleading.


    Maybe for the pokers it was a completely normal practice to assault, kidnap, then proceed to assault again for good measure before asking for help.


    But that was all conjecture, for all he knew they were planning to eat him and knocking off the vines had ruined their evil schemes.


    He scanned the clearing once again, there was no large pot but that certainly didn¡¯t rule out the possibility, ¡®perhaps they prefer meat raw¡¯ Kato shivered.


    ¡°What?¡± Kato practically spat the word out, ¡°What could you possibly want?¡± the words were laced with venom and yet the creatures appeared unperturbed.


    They stared back at him, with big round, innocent eyes as if just moments before he hadn¡¯t been tortured by the way of poke.


    His eyes scanned over the crowd the smallest clearly unable to hide their emotions, its¡¯ eyes refused to meet his, their head slightly downturn and face marred by a small pout and furrowed brow.


    One was even crying, silently, as if in fear, that the noise alone would set him off.


    He was finding it harder and harder to stay angry.


    Kato took a deep breath and stopped retreating, ¡®should I let them poke me?¡¯, he shook his head suddenly trying to snap himself out of it. He would not let himself be swayed by sad eyes and innocent demeanours.


    ¡°I am not your toy¡± he stated bluntly.


    ¡°///????///¡± The leader spoke again clearly beyond confused.


    ¡°I¡­ am ¡­ not ¡­ your ¡­ toy¡± Kato stated again this time slowly and clearly pronounced.


    The creature looked at him blankly.


    ¡®Right¡¯ Kato awkwardly scratched the ack of his neck. ¡®Why would talking slowly make them understand me?¡¯ Kato silently rebuked himself, ¡®how should I get this across?¡¯


    ¡°Me no understand¡± Kato stated loudly and turned up his palms in confusion, because when proper grammar fails, broken sentences always worked.


    The leader stared at him for a moment later before exploding into action, it began gesturing at its subordinate and barking commands at them.


    A couple of burly looking pokers left the clearing moving swiftly.


    ¡®Maybe they are going to fetch a translator¡¯ Kato thought ¡®or maybe they just don¡¯t like improper grammar, after all every culture had their sticklers.¡¯


    Kato turned back to the leader; ¡°so¡­¡± he started before catching himself, no one had ever briefed him on how to deal with a peaceful kidnapping.


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    ¡°Nice weather we are having here¡± Kato knew they couldn¡¯t understand him, but bad attempts at small talk to alleviate awkward silences had to be universal¡­ right?


    The creature nodded its head, slowly. Kato was elated, he had done it he had bridged the language gap!


    Thump.


    Kato¡¯s head spun to the side, the two burly pokers had returned, and they brought gifts. Kind of. It was the lizard Kato had killed; he hadn¡¯t even realised they had taken it.


    ¡®Thieves¡¯ his eyes blazed. He didn¡¯t claim to be a paragon of virtue, but he at least wouldn¡¯t steal the food out of someone¡¯s mouth.


    And what was worse, this wasn¡¯t how he left it. The lizard was missing chunks of flesh and was riddled with puncture marks. ¡®What was wrong with these guys, could they not stop poking things even for a second?¡¯


    Katos eyes returned to the leader, it pointed at him and then the dead beast.


    Kato just stared back, ¡®did they want him to pick it up?¡¯


    It pointed at him and the beast again, before reaching down and picking up its staff.


    Kato tensed; the peace gesture rendered meaningless with one action.


    The creature strode over towards the body of lizard before pointing at Kato, then at its¡¯ staff before poking the beast.


    Kato¡¯s left eye twitched. ¡®They had a problem¡¯ and what was worse now he kind of wanted to poke it, this was not a healthy environment, not at all.


    The creature continued in its motions, looking at Kato expectantly.


    ¡°Fine¡± he sighed and walked over to the creature, he picked up one of the sticks discarded on the ground and proceeded to poke the lizard.


    ¡°You happy now¡± he looked at the poker¡¯s leader.


    It stared at him and then blinked a few times, as if it couldn¡¯t believe what it had just witnessed.


    It waved its hands in front of it frantically and shook its head firmly, ¡®was this not what it had wanted?¡¯


    It began to mime at him, before giving up; clearly not trusting Kato to understand its message.


    The leader gestured for Kato to follow it and they walked a short distance, until they reached a barren patch of dirt.


    The poker then did what it did best, poke, The tip of its staff dug into the ground, and it began to draw.


    Kato watched as the patterns went from incomprehensible to a work of art, the creature was truly skilled.


    After it had finished, there was a rough drawing of him fighting a lizard, then fighting another lizard and another one, then a final diagram showing Kato being rewarded by the pokers.


    ¡°You want me to hunt lizards for you¡­¡± Kato paused; these creatures had some serious nerve.


    ¡®Should I just pretend I don¡¯t understand¡¯ Kato had no particular desire to hunt the creatures nor was he inclined to aid a race of barbarous maniacs, but something stopped him from rejecting them outright.


    The young had looked so scared, what type of man would he be if he just walked away?


    ¡°Fine¡± the word came out slightly choked and Kato had to actively fight down the bitter taste that came with it, it was hard to say even if the pokers wouldn¡¯t understand.


    The leader looked at him questioningly.


    ¡°I said yes, alright.¡± Kato glowered at it a bit, trying to make his displeasure known. The little creature just smiled and clasped its tiny hand together, the oppressive silence that had settled over the clearing lifted and the young started tittering and smiling again, picking up their sticks and dispersing.


    One came up to him and tugged against his leg, Kato stared down, he was starting to miss the relative seclusion of the last few days.


    ¡°Yes?¡± He asked, the creature jumped up and down pointing at the stick in his hand.


    ¡°This is yours I suppose¡± Kato muttered and handed the brute the weapon of mass destruction.


    Kato breathed out a sigh of relief as it turned and scampered away, he had half expected a poke in the side for his troubles.


    ¡°////???///¡± The leader began speaking to him again, it was now holding his knife, which apparently the little thieves had pinched.


    ¡°Thanks, I guess¡± Kato took his blade back.


    ¡°So, what now¡± he looked at the poker waiting for an answer. It pointed its staff in the air and began stabbing forward, ¡®of course more poking¡¯ he sighed, ¡®what did I expect?¡¯


    A thin agile poker bounded over towards him, it was speckled with flecks of white unlike its counterparts and stood at around a foot and a half tall. It had a long thing tail that arched over its back unlike the other pokers Kato had seen.


    It gestured at him, clearly asking him to follow it.


    Kato looked back to the leader, but it just nodded at him, apparently their interaction was over.


    ¡°Great guess I¡¯ll just follow you, then¡± the poker just stared at him. ¡®Great¡¯ he was more lost than he had ever been, and his only guide didn¡¯t like to talk.


    Kato followed the poker out of the clearing, constantly scanning his surroundings, he didn¡¯t want to be ambushed again.


    The poker looked at him strangely but didn¡¯t comment, scampering along surefooted and confident, ¡®perhaps it has a death wish¡¯ Kato mused. He had seen how quickly this idyllic landscape could change and he had only been here for a day, it should have known better.


    After some time had passed the grass began morphing into a darker shade of green and the mannerisms of the poker similarly shifted. Every few seconds it would look over its shoulder and the confident demeanour had all but disappeared.


    The pair crested a hill moments later, and the poker hunkered down gesturing for Kato to do the same.


    Ahead of them was a massive beast at least 20 foot long and most definitely a lizard.


    ¡®Was it only a baby I fought¡¯ Kato recoiled shocked; he couldn¡¯t beat this thing.


    Frantically he grabbed the pokers shoulder, ¡°we need to go¡± he pointed back the way they had come, they just shook their head.


    The wind shifted, a black forked tongue tasted the air and a pair of yellow baleful eyes settled on the two, they had been spotted.

 Chapter 19 - This was a mistake

    <u>This was a mistake</u>


    The ground shook as the beast lumbered forward, where it had lain, the ground dipped, its shear bulk leaving its mark on the very earth it trod.


    ¡®At least this means it will be slow,¡¯ Kato thought. There was just no way something of that size could be faster than him.


    Out of all of the things Kato wished he hadn¡¯t been wrong about this was probably one of the big ones, the distance between the pair and the monster was easily two hundred metres yet in seconds it had halved the distance, it was at least as fast as he was.


    ¡°We need to go, now!¡± Kato shouted, not prepared to spend time arguing the point. He shoved the poker back and with a frightened squeak it tumbled down the hill, coming to a stop part way down and turning to glare at him.


    ¡®Was it dense, or did it believe he could beat this giant monstrosity by himself?¡¯ Either way it mattered very little, Kato turned to run, but in the corner of his eye he saw the little poker amping itself up.


    ¡®No, it just can¡¯t be this stupid¡¯ he looked at it for a moment mouth agape.


    It charged towards the lizard stick raised above its head screaming, it jumped, and the world seemed to slow down as it arced through the air. The point of its weapon adjusted and struck true digging into the lizard¡¯s flesh, before the entire weapon bent and snapped, with a sickening crack, the remnants scattered along the floor.


    The lizard stared down at the little pest as if a fly had landed on its nose. With a simple swat the poker was sent flying again, this time much less elegantly, landing in a crumpled heap with a pitiful crunch some distance away.


    The creature turned, ignoring the broken poker, it reeked of casual indifference, the same arrogant smirk of its brethren marring its scaled features.


    Kato stared at the beast, his heart pulsing with rage, it didn¡¯t even care; and why should it? they had intruded on its territory.


    But at that very moment Kato didn¡¯t care about the technicalities of who started what. He would finish it. Even if he was in the wrong.


    Kato sprinted towards it, the world blurring past him as dew sprayed his legs. The lizards¡¯ eyes turned up slightly in surprise as if shocked, asking ¡®did you not just see what happened?¡¯ Kato¡¯s blood boiled further ¡°so what!¡± the words came out sharp and with an edge, ¡®the beast would learn to care.¡¯


    Kato gripped his knife tighter and tighter, his hand starting to throb in pain as it dug into the hilt, his knuckles morphing to a startling shade of white.


    He continued to run forward straight at the beast heading straight towards it, the beast tensed glowering at him as it also charged prepared to meet him head on.


    At the last moment Kato darted around the beast¡¯s head stabbing his blade into its head leaving a long slash along its cheek.


    The beast turned the casual difference now nowhere to be seen, its eyes contracted, and it snorted angrily.


    Kato continued running around the beast, as the lizard tried to halt its forward momentum.


    His knife danced as it scored the beast again and again, each blow accompanied by the furious grunts of rage he had come to expect of the lizard.


    The beast spun around its eyes¡¯ locked on Kato, its nostrils upturned as it snorted out, a cloud of mist accompanying its breath.


    It was getting madder and madder as Kato¡¯s emotions settled down. He didn¡¯t know why he had charged towards the beast it was as if he had been possessed.


    With his rage retreating Kato¡¯s fear reared its ugly head and it took the form of a lizard.


    ¡®Just dart around it again, disappear into the forest¡¯ Kato thought as he tore towards the beast again he knew he couldn¡¯t outrun it in the open behind him.


    He ran to meet it straight on before darting it around it as he had before.


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    Except this time the beast had come prepared, its tail flung forward cutting off his escape before slamming into him with a brutal thud, the sound echoed out in the sudden silence. Black spots materialised in his vision the wind was knocked from his lungs, he crumpled slightly and collapsed on the ground.


    The tail reared back and struck him again, this time with no forward momentum to propel him forward, Kato was sent flying through the air.


    ¡°Ugh¡± he groaned on the floor, his ribs were aching, and he was having a hard time breathing. But this would not be his end he wouldn¡¯t let it be. Weakly he rose to his feet, wiping blood from his lips.


    The lizard just looked at him for a moment, then smirked, an evil glint in its eye.


    Kato involuntarily took a step backwards, before freezing in place as a voice wormed its way into his mind. ¡®We will prevail¡¯ it had returned and with it came a familiar surge of energy, Kato found his footing and ran.


    The beast wasted no time in its pursuit, the ground shaking and each step accompanied by a thunderous clap that only got louder as the beast closed the distance.


    Kato didn¡¯t turn around though, just pushing himself harder and harder his lungs screaming for oxygen with each ragged breath. Grass whipped his legs as he continued on, at some point his right leg had been cut open and with each step forward threatened to give.


    Kato was nearly there at the forest line; he could lose the beast there its bulk too cumbersome to weave around the trees reliably.


    Kato rushed under the boughs of a great tree; a flock of birds shot out from its branches trilling alarmedly as he crashed through the undergrowth.


    Cold sweat dripped down his neck as the sounds of the beast¡¯s pursuit refused to wane.


    He continued darting through the trees.


    Boom!


    A tree exploded somewhere to his left, splinters of dry wood shooting out, its life just a roadblock in the lizard¡¯s advancement.


    The forest that just days ago he had considered to be his salvation was rapidly looking like it might become his tomb. Kato dove under another tree, a branch whipped his face, and he grunted in pain.


    He continued forwards barely registering the lacerations that were now covering his body, the grass had transformed into brambles at some point and were now cutting against him as he tried to avoid them.


    The beast was nearly upon him he could feel its warm breath against his back and there was a slight scent of decay presumably from whichever unfortunate animal had stumbled across the monster before him.


    Kato slipped.


    His legs shot out from underneath him catching on the wet ground and the lizard just tore on by, he hasn¡¯t realised how closer it was his misfortune may have just spared him at least for aa moment he got up again and ran.


    The lizard turned and roared in frustration; branches shook from trees littering the ground from the power of its voice alone.


    ¡®Just have to keep pushing¡¯ Kato thought grimly, the idea of taking down the giant monster now a long-forgotten thought.


    Ahead of him two trees stood, the largest he had seen.  A narrow gap no larger than a person lying down separated the two. Kato made for them, hoping to gain some time on the beast as it would have to work it way around the pair.


    He shot forward, but the thundering noise chasing him refused to abate. Kato sprinted through the gap and¡­


    Bam!


    The forest shook and Kato was sent sprawling to the ground.


    He desperately tried to lift himself up calling on any last vestiges of strength in his body, miraculously it worked, he got up again and began to move forward, the thought of the beast catching him driving him forward. He slipped. His foot sliding against the grass now slick with a mixture of dew and his own blood his hand split open once again.


    ¡®So, this is it¡¯ Kato had wasted far too much time, there was no way the beast wouldn¡¯t catch him now, he pushed himself up again stumbling forward, tensed expecting death at any moment, but the beast did not oblige.


    The thunderous noise of pursuit had been replaced by enraged roars, Kato turned, looking over his shoulder.


    He couldn¡¯t help but start to laugh, gently at first, but it soon devolved into delusional cackling. The beast was stuck. Trapped between the two trees, Kato stared it down, ¡°not so tough now are you.¡±


    The lizard made a strangled noise and pushed its body forward, the trees juddering, but refusing to give way to the beast.


    Kato stared at the trapped beast, if they met again, he couldn¡¯t imagine it thanking him for any mercy shown now, he had been given a job and one poker had already died for this, he advanced.


    The knife in his hand now felt chillingly cold, it was one thing to deal with a monster in the heat of the moment, this was different.


    Hs heart beat faster and his stomach churned, but he continued.


    The lizards¡¯ eyes began to shift to the side, desperate. It bucked again and again but the trees stayed firm. It was the first real sign of fear Kato had seen on the beast, its causal arrogance and indifference now giving way to the cold realisation that it was not invincible.


    Kato trembled slightly as he walked forward, the fearful expressions of the young pokers at the forefront of his mind.


    He was now standing in front of its head; it stank of rotting eggs and there was a glossy sheen of some mystery liquid across its scaly exterior.


    It watched him, the slitted black eyes tracking his every movement. Kato held the knife up, it glowed faint white, the sun dancing along the metal. He stabbed; the beast spat. A thick viscous coat of green pushed against him. He stabbed again; the beast spat again. This went on for some time until the beast finally stopped bucking, and the last throes of life departed.


    Strange symbols crossed Kato¡¯s vision and his body shook, he turned away taking a step from the beast before promptly collapsing, ¡®poison?¡¯ he thought weakly as the world faded away.

 Chapter 20 - Congratulations your reward is death

    <u>Congratulations your reward is death</u>


    Kato woke up some time later with a splitting headache, his mornings hadn¡¯t gone his way for a while now, not since the evil cult camp, he kind of missed it. At least he¡¯d avoided the pokes this time, that was a big step in the right direction. With a short groan Kato rolled over and got ready to meet the day.


    ¡°///???////???¡±


    Kato heard the familiar titterings of the evil little monsters. ¡®NO!¡¯ he had jinxed it; he was actually going to get poked.


    ¡®Why, why did I think it was a good idea to be grateful not to be attacked in the morning¡¯ Kato scrunched his eyes closed, ¡®maybe it¡¯s a bad dream and they¡¯ll go away soon.¡¯


    It was a thought born of desperation, and yet the pokes never came.


    Kato groaned again this time much louder as he propped himself up on his hands, ¡®man I really need a drink¡¯ it felt as though he had swallowed sand.


    He finally worked up the courage to brace the day, a somehow more formidable threat than the giant venom spewing lizard. His eyes opened and he saw, ¡°paradise?¡± Kato breathed the word out.


    He was laying on a gentle cloth mat, in the middle of a miniature village. Presumably the secret hidey hole of the pokers. The houses were around four foot tall and nearly mirrored the domiciles in the posher quarters of Old Redusk.


    Golden straw thick and meticulously layered, adorned the tiny four-foot structures. It was a far cry from the grime coated buildings Kato had come to expect. The thatched roofs glimmered in the sunlight, not a speck of dust to be seen.


    The houses had polished dark wooden doors that slightly arched at the top, they had been implanted into soft cobblestone walls, that were clear of wandering plants. They had two small glass windows at the front with a slight blue tint. The pokers were apparently far more industrious than Kato had given them credit for.


    Their homes had been laid out in neat, orderly rows with smooth cobblestone paths weaving around them.


    A clear stream cut through the centre of the village, bounded by polished rocks and well-kept lawns.


    Kato inhaled deeply. The air was sweet with the scent of wildflowers and freshly cut grass, it was unsurprising considering where he was, but his lips twitched up, nonetheless.


    Kato could have lain there for hours in the warm embrace of the sun, letting the wind gently tousle his hair as he listened to the gentle babbling of the stream and the general sounds of a village, but it was not to be. The leader of the pokers had apparently noticed that he was a bit too content and couldn¡¯t resist harassing him.


    Before they got the chance, Kato sprang up, brushing himself down of the fibres that had stuck to him during the night.


    ¡°Morning¡± Kato smiled at the fellow, hoping to disarm him with kindness before it had a time to strike.


    It tittered back in response, ¡®right the language barrier thing¡¯ Kato was at a loss, ¡®how does one normally behave in these scenarios?¡¯


    Kato reached out with his hand, a twisted expression halfway between a smile and a grimace painted on his face.


    The poker just looked at him confused.


    ¡°Never mind, no handshakes for you, you don¡¯t deserve it¡± Kato muttered under his breath.


    A glass vial hung delicately clasped in the leader¡¯s hands, the silvery blue liquid inside forming vortexes before dispersing and reforming. Kato stared at the vial, he had never seen anything like it, the way the liquid moved, it was as if it was alive.


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    ¡°///??////??¡±


    ¡®Oh right¡¯ he was in the middle of a conversation; Kato regarded the leader again hoping it would forgive his social faux pas.


    The poker offered him a nervous grin and thrust the vial forward.


    ¡°For me?¡± Kato regarded the vial again; it was smaller than his pinkie. ¡°Um thanks¡±, Kato scratched the back of his neck, ¡®I am really thirsty¡¯ he took the glass decanter and brought it up to his lips. The leader suddenly moved towards him, alarmed. The first drops of the silvery blue liquid hit his barren tongue.


    It went down smooth, immediately soothing Kato¡¯s parched throat. ¡°That was great¡± he stated wiping his lips. ¡°Could I have some more?¡± Kato asked. The poker looked at him with wide eyes, trembling and tittering in a way that sounded more like random noises than a real effort to talk.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok you don¡¯t have to give me any more¡± Kato stated, abashed, he hadn¡¯t meant to make his host uncomfortable, it was just¡­ he was so thirsty.


    The leader began shrieking, ¡®this is why I have trouble making friends¡¯ Kato sighed, ¡®who could¡¯ve known in poker custom, you couldn¡¯t ask for a drink you had to wait.¡¯


    More pokers began rushing over, ¡®didn¡¯t expect the way I would go was from being lynched due to social incompetence, but you know could have been worse.¡¯ Kato tensed, resting on the balls of his feet, he unhooked his knife and waited for the pokers to make their move.


    The crowd of pokers ahead of him just grew, the numbers swelling from ten to thirty in seconds. Their tittering was now barely distinct, it was just high pitch shrieks and wails as the creatures gathered around him.


    Kato¡¯s breathing slowed, his eyes lost focus and his heart was loudly thumping in his ears but the once rapid beating had slowed to a ponderous thud once every few seconds. Each beat reverberating through his body.  ¡®What did you do to me¡¯ Kato groaned, his knife fell from his hand, and he swayed, grogged.


    Kato stumbled backwards and a poker rushed up to him, ¡°get away from me¡± he slurred, his right arm flailing protectively ahead of him.


    ¡®Have to get away¡­ knew they were evil¡¯ even Kato¡¯s thoughts had slowed as well. He gritted his teeth and staggered away from the crowd. The leader was desperately carving some drawing into the ground whilst others mimed at him, but Kato ignored them all, the last time he¡¯d listened to the leader he¡¯d nearly died.


    Kato, so focused on the crowd, didn¡¯t notice the stream behind him. He stepped on one of the polished rocks and went down head over heels. Kato lay in the stream, face down slowly choking.


    That was when the pain came, his body convulsed, violent spasms threatening to tear the very limbs from his body.


    Steam rose around him as he thrashed in the darkness of the water, his teeth felt like they were being ripped out of his jaw. His muscles expanded and contracted at frightening speeds, with each movement threatening his skin to burst.


    Strange visions began flickering at the edge of Kato¡¯s vision he was back at the arena, fighting monster after monster as the crowd jeered at him. Was this hell. The minutes bled into hours as Kato retreated into his head, desperately attempting to wait out the pain. He wasn¡¯t sure what was worse this or small talk, it had to be close.


    After some time, the pain stopped. There was no sudden cheering, flashing lights or loud explosions. One minute it was there, the next it was not.


    He lay there for a moment gasping, his body trembling uncontrollably. Slowly, he pushed himself up.


    ¡°////???///¡± The pokers continued tittering somewhere in his peripherals, but Kato paid them no mind. He stared at his arm and flexed it was definitely larger and more than that it felt balanced? His control before now felt laughable, his movements just felt that more fluid.


    He looked down, the stream it was gone, a dry barren landscape now carved through the village the water gone without a trace, ¡®did I do that¡¯ he looked at it for a moment, mouth agape.


    He stood there just breathing, feeling out the extent of his body¡¯s transformation.


    After a minute or so of indulging his vanity, flexing and unflexing, water began to trickle against his legs, first just small rivulets but soon the stream returned to its former grandeur.


    Finally, Kato looked over to the pokers. ¡®Do I owe them an apology?¡¯ This was not the time to be petty, a grievance here could expand into much more, it was better to just put the whole thing to rest.


    Kato sighed, reluctant. He walked over to the leader and firmly clasped its hand shaking it, not giving it the opportunity to feign confusion once again. ¡°I will consider us even, just this once¡± Kato stared into its eyes, holding its gaze for a moment.


    Relief washed over the leader¡¯s face, as it made a tiny but firm nod.


    Kato released the leader¡¯s hand, letting it drop.


    This was now the second time Kato had nearly died due to these creatures, third if you counted the kidnapping. ¡°I should go¡± Kato mimed him leaving and the leader nodded slowly, accepting his decision.


    Kato began to walk, after a short moment he paused and looked down, it was the drawing the leader had done, it was him but larger, muscles bulging out and with fierce determination in his eyes. Kato looked back to see the pokers, but they were gone.

 Chapter 21 - Fog-et about it

    <u>Fog-et about it</u>


    With a heavy sigh he pulled his eyes away from the idyllic village and began to walk on. At least the forest didn¡¯t pretend to be accommodating and he would rather go out in a blaze of glory than a slow lingering death from so called ''hospitality.


    The world shifted abruptly, manufactured beauty to, nature, unopposed, in all its glory. Brambles sprawled unkempt, some rising several metres high, adorned with thorns larger than a hand.


    Not a patch of the forest wasn¡¯t consumed. Blood red vines crept over the trees, slowly suffocating them. Not even the bark was safe from natures¡¯ voracious hunger. Kato shuddered. What a way to go, wrapped in vines as you just stood there waiting, unable to move, losing more and more of yourself with each passing year. Until eventually the sun was a distant memory and you died. He almost felt sorry for the trees.


    After a while the landscape morphed into a more familiar setting, a low grass hill, bathed in the low orange hues of early evening. As Kato crested the gradient, the trees gave way to a clearing, swathed in a dark grass. He half expected to see the monster but of course he did not. It was silent. Eerily so.


    Something was wrong. The birds had stopped trilling and the low background rustling in the undergrowth was gone.


    ¡°Whoosh,¡± he could hear the wind, but something was wrong, the familiar chill of the breeze was absent. The grass didn¡¯t move, and the trees stayed still.


    ¡°Whoosh¡± Kato ran chasing the sound, his curiosity getting the better of him, but no matter the distance he covered the volume stayed the same, a low murmuring that pushed him forward. ¡°Whoosh¡± it mocked him, a faint whisper on the edge of his senses.


    A faint dark brown patch of grass stopped his maddened pursuit. There were a couple of clumps of white fur resting on the patch, and the metallic scent of blood lingered in the air. ¡®Is this where the poker landed?¡¯ Kato looked at the ground shocked, he had tried to push its reckless charge out of his mind, but with this all the memories came flooding back.


    Him saying they should go, it just shaking its head, ¡®huh¡¯ he thought with a humourless chuckle. ¡®Maybe we didn¡¯t actually have that many meaningful moments after all.¡¯ Kato knelt beside the patch, a silent apology forming on his lips ¡°rest in peace¡± he murmured softly, circling his chest in a gesture of respect. ¡°May Cogul watch over you.¡±


    The body hadn¡¯t even been left, presumably nature had consumed that too, it was insatiable, callous in its pursuit for nutrients, and not even societal norms would prevent it from achieving its goals. Kato was envious.


    ¡°Woosh¡± the noise was sudden, louder, and more insistent than it had been before, as if upset Kato hadn¡¯t been paying attention to it. ¡°Ok that¡¯s not creepy not at all¡± Kato pushed down the sudden unease, ¡®not following that again¡¯ he thought resolved.


    It tried again and again. Each call more demanding than the last, but Kato stayed firm, in mere moments it had risen from the gentle murmurings of a summer breeze to the howling gales of a winter storm. And yet still the trees refused to sway, not a single leaf trembling in the phantom hurricane.


    Kato began to back off, ¡®what was wrong with this place?¡¯ He scrambled backwards, aiming to retrace his steps, after all he hadn¡¯t chosen this direction for any particular reason.


    Suddenly the noises stopped, the false wind apparently giving up.


    Kato breathed a sigh of relief, he had had enough strangeness to last him a lifetime, ¡®thank Cogul for small miracles¡¯ he thought as he continued to walk away.


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    ¡°Fwoosh¡± a new sound broke the silence, a dull hissing that refused to abate. Katos¡¯ eyes scanned the clearing, fog had begun to flow over the ridge ringing the clearing. Tendrils of thick white crawling their way across the sodden ground. Kato backed up retreating towards the middle of clearing, but the fog didn¡¯t stop. Tendril after tendril pushed over the ledge before combining into a thick fog bank that advanced towards him slowly. It wouldn¡¯t be long now; the strange weather was incessant and would swallow him just as surely as it had everything else.


    Kato held his knife out of him and waved it menacingly. The fog did not care. ¡®Right, good going me, what¡¯s next punching the rain.¡¯ Kato thought sardonically, but his grip grew no less tight.


    A moment later he was swallowed, the fog enveloping him as a light pressure settled on him, as if he was walking through webbing. He stayed there for a moment, on edge, the hissing stopped, and a maniacal cackling replaced it. A heavy ball formed in his gut; something was playing with him.


    Indiscriminate shadows drifted in and out of his vision, dark shapes shifting and writhing in the unnatural whiteness, sometimes vaguely humanoid and at others resembled creatures born of a monsters¡¯ nightmares.


    The laughter got louder, seeming to come from all directions, it was taunting him, Kato could feel it in his gut. He wouldn¡¯t be a part of this, Kato began to run, it wasn¡¯t a panicked sprint, he knew that would be pointless in the dense fog. It was a slow measured pace; his steps deliberate and cautious. His limited field of vision forcing a measured response.


    The further he got the worse it was, the fog seemed to get thicker and thicker, his field of vision retracted and with it his pace slowed.


    The laughter had stopped some time ago, and in a way that was worse now all Kato heard was the general sounds of the forest, each rustle and trill, eliciting strong responses, his body jerking unnaturally whenever a perfectly benign sound cut through the silence.


    A thin layer of moisture coated him, clammy to the touch, the remnants of his tattered garbs clinging to his skin. His hair kept blocking his vision; ¡®I really need a trim¡¯ Kato thought morosely, as he pushed a dark lock from his vision for the hundredth time. The thought a stunning contrast to the absurdity he had found himself in.


    As Kato was lost in his thoughts the fog had begun to open up. A patch of untainted land lay ahead of him, an area around the size of a crop circle, it was still enclosed by a dome of the fog but to Kato it was incredible. ¡°I can see again¡± he felt like crying, he didn¡¯t know how long he had been lost in the fog his only company the unforgiving white walls, but even minutes would have been too much.


    ¡°///????///¡± an unfamiliar sound echoed out, Kato¡¯s head span focusing on a cloth wagon he had somehow missed resting in the centre of the dome. A stained yellow canvas had been pulled tightly over its frame, a wooden box at the front of the wagon and perched on it a person... nearly.


    They were a dark startling shade of blue, and more than that they had tusks, one kept in pristine condition while the other was jagged and splintered only half the size of its partner. Their hair was coarse and looked more like a horses than it did a persons, but that hardly mattered. ¡°Hello¡± Kato called out excitedly, waving animatedly, completely forgetting the situation that had brought him here in his haste to make a real connection.


    ¡®Huh a blue person, got it blurson¡¯ Kato thought proudly as he gazed at them. The blurson waved back shyly, with a slight smile that didn¡¯t quite reach its eyes.


    ¡°///??/??/?¡± More voices could be heard and out of the wagon 3 more blursons emerge, accompanied by a white speckled ball of fur.


    It was the poker.


    ¡°What, how?¡± Kato began to run over towards it.


    ¡°Rahh¡± one of the blursons barked at him, brandishing a spear protectively ahead of it.


    ¡°Oh right, sorry we know each other¡± Kato pointed to himself then at the now bewildered ball of fur. Was it really the poker? Or had the fog addled his mind.


    The poker began to titter in its language and the blurson reluctantly lowered its spear, Kato nodded towards the blurson as he strode forward. He walked past the blursons and placed his hand on the poker. It was real, he had half expected his hand to pass straight through, as if it was an apparition that had been conjured by the fog.


    He looked it dead in the eyes, ¡°you should be dead¡± he winced. ¡°Not that I want you to be dead, I mean I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here, uhhh¡± he trailed off. ¡°Nice seeing you again¡± he tried weakly, the poker stared back at him.


    ¡®Thank Cogul for language barriers¡¯ he thought, circling his chest grateful his blunder had gone unnoticed.


    He turned back to face the blursons who had patiently waited through the entire debacle. ¡°So, what now?¡±

 Chapter 22 - I hate language barriers

    <u>I hate language barriers</u>


    The blursons stared at him. Kato sighed deeply. ¡®I¡¯m really starting to hate language barriers.¡¯ His right-hand ground into his forehead, frustration evident. This should¡¯ve gotten easier by now. He¡¯d talked to enough people who couldn¡¯t understand him to at least be somewhat proficient at it, right?


    Kato turned and faced the blursons, letting his hand drop and forcing a small smile. ¡°Hi,¡± he said warmly, he knew they couldn¡¯t understand him all too well. But greeting strangers was universal¡­ right?


    The stares continued, unwavering in their apathy.


    Until suddenly, ¡®movement¡¯ Kato¡¯s heart quickened as one of the blursons finally began to stir, he¡¯d done it, he¡¯d gotten through!


    The world seemed to slow down as its head jerked forward with an odd, twitching moment, not quite settling right on its neck. Then with a slow and deliberate rotation, its head spun in his direction, pausing mid-turn before finally locking into place, staring directly at him, head tilted, wide eyes looking in askance.


    Kato grimaced, rubbing his forehead again as he felt the tension build. He thought for a moment, he had to bridge this gap, and perhaps even more importantly he had to seem civilised ¡®manners mean something¡¯ he reminded himself. He waved, a universal greeting surely, at least for anyone with hands.


    Another blurson tilted their head.


    Kato put his head in his hands. ¡°Seriously¡± he muttered. ¡®Could these people do anything but stare at me?¡¯


    If civility didn¡¯t work, then absurdity surely would. Without hesitation Kato jumped high, higher than he ever had, flapping his wildly and cawing like a deranged bird.


    The poker stared at him, blinking slowly, before shaking its head in what could only be described as bewilderment. His furry friend turned to the others and made a circling motion with a finger near the side of its head.


    Kato¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡®Was it, was it mocking me?¡¯ Kato stepped forward, indignant, he would show it who the crazy one was! But before high pitched shrills and tweets could join his one-man symphony a blurson growled, apparently their introductions were over.


    Either that, or they hated birds.


    Kato turned towards it, that was no way to treat someone, even if said someone had delusions of an avian nature. Then he heard it.


    A low hiss, even in this relative safety apparently, he was not free, the hissing devolved into a monstrous sound ¡°woosh¡± it didn¡¯t sound threatening, but Kato knew what happened next.


    ¡®Fog¡¯. He shuddered, tensing himself. The dome shuddered, and the fog that had so lovingly nestled against its exterior just moments before retreated, then lashed out demanding their love in turn, its gentle embrace warped into something sinister.


    Blue sparking lines of electricity wrapped around thin tendrils of the mist whipping out and striking the minute sanctuary that dared defy nature itself.


    A low growl filled the calm air of the dome, ¡®what do the blursons think growling will do?¡¯ Kato questioned before realising the noise was coming from himself. ¡®First bird, now dog?¡¯ Kato tried to restrain the guttural noises of aggression, he was on the fast track to alienating yet another group, but it was to no avail, his control over his actions was slipping, a primal urge taking over and demanding action.


    A small hand reached up and clasped his shoulder, he looked down to see the innocent face of the poker staring back at him, ¡°sorry¡± he murmured ¡°I don¡¯t know what came over me.¡± The poker gave his arm a gentle squeeze and turned back to the blursons chittering at them in their own strange language.


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    ¡®Great, even the creature who thinks its normal to charge headfirst at a monster multiple her size thinks I¡¯m crazy¡¯ he sighed. He was surrounded by blue people with tusks, a giant rodent and a jealous fog monster yet he was the weird one.


    Bang! A particular large offshoot of fog hammered down into the dome, again and again demanding entrance the world inside grew eerily silent, his companions muted and even the attacks above faded into the background. Then¡­ crack, the sound propagated through the otherworldly stillness and with it the peace was broken large sections of barely visible film sloughed off the dome crashing to the ground.


    Kato stumbled, reaching out for the poker but she was gone and in her place fog.


    ¡°Poker¡± Kato called out for the little creature his voice barely above a whisper, wary of who else might be lurking in the darkness.


    ¡®No response, don¡¯t even know what I was expecting,¡¯  Kato muttered absentmindedly as he kicked the ground. ¡®Ever since I left the tunnel things just keep going wrong¡¯ he kicked the ground again, harder this time. ¡°Argh!¡± he recoiled back in pain. ¡®And perhaps even before then it¡¯s not like things were exactly sunshine and rainbows.¡¯


    He circled his chest, ¡°could really use some guidance right how big man¡±, he looked up but all he saw was the grey oppression of the fog bearing upon him ¡°to be expected¡± he muttered before lashing out at the ground one final time ¡°ARGHH¡± he stumbled back crashing against something behind him.


    ¡°Sorry Ground don¡¯t know what came over me¡± he looked abashedly at the floor before cradling his throbbing foot.


    At least one thing had come from his mounting frustration; he had stumbled back into the wagon, its cloth exterior compressing under his weight. Wincing, he stood and fumbled around until he found the entrance, making his way inside he found that once again the fog had been repelled and better yet, the poker and the blursons were here too.


    He wanted to complain, ¡®why am I the only one that seems to have trouble traversing in the fog¡¯ but instead he smiled ¡°hey¡± he murmured giving the crowd a brief nod before sitting against the aged wood floor.


    It was rough and brittle and dug into him at weird angles, but no one else complained so he didn¡¯t either. A warm red torch hung from a sconce on the cloth covered wall, casting flickering shadows across the small space. ¡®Surely they know what they¡¯re doing¡¯ Kato thought desperately to himself. He didn¡¯t want to create a new adage; after all, ¡°out of the fog and into the cloth wagon fire¡± wasn¡¯t exactly catchy.


    Somewhere outside, someone or something began to laugh it was quiet at first, just a soft tickle his ears, but over time it got louder and louder until it was all that could be heard, and yet not one of the others batted an eye, ¡®could they really not hear this?¡¯


    Kato pointed to his ears looking at the others imploringly, but they just looked at him strangely, their expression a mix of confusion and apathy, he was by himself but in his heart, he had known that all along. It was a brutal world and with every second just appeared more brutal, Kato would not stay here, frightened whimpering in the dark like a caged beast, just waiting for the fog to break this sanctuary too, he looked at the others disgust marring his features, were they really so content as to just wait to die.


    Kato stood, the poker chittered but he did not look down, he walked towards the door. ¡°We will prevail¡± a voice whispered in the back of his mind.


    Kato jumped down the wagon step, letting relative cool give way to the stickly clamminess once again. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± he shouted, ¡°I won¡¯t hide from you¡± the fog recoiled from him, slowly crackling as the electrical blue sparks from earlier returned.


    A crashing pain resonated throughout Kato¡¯s skull, he crashed to the soft wet ground.


    ¡°How curious¡± a distinctly feminine voice whispered in his ears, ¡°you were supposed to run, supposed to hide, like all the others, tell me little mouse why are you here?¡± The voice in a gentle hushed tone.


    Kato paused, shocked ¡®did it- did it think he was the poker?¡¯


    ¡°Um I''m the human not the poker¡±


    ¡°Poker?¡± the voice stuttered, then paused ¡°It matters not what you are fool child, why are you here?¡± the voice did not sound so kind anymore.


    ¡°Um, right, yes, of course you¡¯d want to know that I am here because ever since I''ve left the tunnels all I''ve done is run and overthink stuff and there was that lizard thing and that bigger lizard thing and the weird poker village and the feather, um have you seen my feather? Oh no, wait, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s still here.¡± Kato¡¯s hand reached up and gently caressed the feather. The air crackled warningly, ¡°oh um right, so basically, I don¡¯t want to do that anymore, seize your own destiny and stuff¡­ I guess¡± he trailed off.


    The voice did not respond for a while, clearly Kato had won them over with his superior usage of language, he smiled to himself proud, he¡¯d always had a knack for this kind of thing.


    ¡°Are humans usually this stupid?¡±


    ¡°What¡± Kato stuttered taken aback, he¡¯d done everything right.


    ¡°you¡¯ve done everything wrong¡± the voice sneered ¡°your destiny will be claimed but not by you!¡±


    A sudden rush of air hit Kato then everything went¡­ purple?

 Chapter 23 - violence isnt the answer violet-ence is

    <u>Violence isn¡¯t the answer, violet-ence is</u>


    Kato looked around bewildered. He was in some sort of desolate wasteland, jagged violet spires burst from the ground and further away great planes of rocks had been cleaved off the sides of mountains leading to broken quarry strewn miles across the ground, whilst bare striated cliffs watched over the depressing landscape.


    ¡°Sure, you didn¡¯t want to choose blue? Would match the vibe,¡± Kato called out, ¡°I mean this is just sad¡± Kato paced anxiously, ¡°I am sure we can resolve this peacefully.¡± He spoke this time in a more normal tone, after all if this person could transport him to a different world they shouldn¡¯t have any trouble with the more mundane things like a human hearing range.


    ¡°Really there¡¯s no need to resort to such violet-ence¡± Kato laughed quietly, rubbing his hand son his wrists for a moment before speaking again ¡°shoot, uh I mean sorry¡­ I don¡¯t mean to joke about your work, looks nice you¡¯ve clearly put a lot of effort into the place.¡± Yet again silence was all that greeted him.


    ¡®Starting to think the others could understand me, am I really this unapproachable?¡¯


    Before Kato could start feeling even more sorry for himself, a familiar trill broke out followed by the same husky, feminine voice from earlier, ¡°are you really like this, I thought you were just trying to get under my skin¡± the disembodied voice shuddered.


    ¡°Uh I feel kind of bad now, it¡¯s like bullying a little kid¡±


    ¡°Hey¡± Kato shouted out, unsure where that had come from.


    ¡°Hey yourself¡± the voice drawled back in a low suggestive tone, ¡°Is that really what you wanted to say, not how did I get here or even where am I?¡± the laughter that accompanied was noticeably less menacing than before.


    ¡°Um, right, yeah that too¡± Kato replied taken aback, ¡®did she not want to fight me?¡¯


    ¡°If you must know we¡¯re in the Dreamscape, basically a bridge between our respective minds and-¡±


    ¡°And the purple?¡± Kato interrupted


    ¡°Yes, it is purple well done¡± the voice responded with a sigh, ¡°a real shame you have to die, would have been nice to have some comic relief around.¡± The voice muttered.


    ¡°Wait die?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a real shame.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t consent¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t consent?¡±


    ¡°No¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not how this works¡±


    A purple spear materialised ahead of him, a spiral of fog forming a rough helix around the shaft it quivered int the air for a moment before jumping towards him. Kato span, dodging to the side, ¡°What the-¡± the spear turned around and arced back towards him, though it was noticeably less whole than it was before. The edge had turned pitted and was decaying in real time. Hues of colour bled into the environment, intermingling with the all-encompassing purple and creating something different, something new, a rich kaleidoscope pulsated in its wake.


    The spear shot after him again, and Kato jumped narrowly avoiding the wicked serrated edge that the once smooth blade had become. ¡°Can¡¯t we talk about this¡± he called out desperately into the ether.


    The spear turned again shooting towards him Kato desperately lunged to the side but it was too late, the spears¡¯ course could was set and so was his, he closed his eyes, and and ¡­ ¡°argh¡± a sharp pain erupted in his side, he exhaled fiercely.


    ¡®Why did I think it would be a good idea to close my eyes?¡¯ Kato groaned, turning to the side he had come down heavily, the spear lay several feet ahead of him, torn asunder and lying pitifully on the ground.


    ¡°What did you do¡± the once gentle voice, screamed in anger, ¡°what are you!¡±


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    Kato¡¯s eyes narrowed it hadn¡¯t seen fit to talk to him earlier, ¡®who do they think they are, do they seriously think I¡¯m so starved of interaction that I¡¯ll just ignore everything that just happened and deign to respond to them?¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m a human, uh I mean, I''m not talking to you ¡­ psycho¡± the last word he yelled.


    ¡°Who do you think you are? Just a mouse, who dares defy the natural order, you need to learn your place!¡±


    The mist coalesced in front of him stripping away even from the mountainous cliffs in the distance until the world was left a flat colourless grey, the only sign it had ever been anything more was the dark amethyst purple that had now began to coagulate, thick rivulets forming from the gaseous cloud and merging, the form gradually shifting into the solid form of a woman.


    ¡°Finally showed yourself, hey, nice to meet you¡± Kato reached out a hand, ¡®looks like I passed whatever test this was.¡¯


    The woman¡¯s eyes blazed with wisteria fury, ¡°do you think this was a game?¡± she spat. A thick globule of purple smeared the grey canvas stretching beneath them. A spear formed from nothing in her hands.


    ¡®Can¡¯ believe I misjudged this so hard, oh well luck had to run out at some point.¡¯ Kato raised his hands he was tired of running.


    The woman laughed again; Kato flinched the sharp, abrasive sound catching him odd guard.


    ¡°You really think a mere mouse can best a wolf?¡± The woman laughed again.


    Kato punched her.


    She stumbled back.


    Drip, drip, drip red met the grey.


    The woman stared at him shocked, ¡°you made me bleed.¡±


    ¡°You made yourself bleed¡± Kato stared her down.


    They remained like this for a minute, eyes locked, each refusing to give an inch.


    A slow smile crept across the woman¡¯s face so the ¡°mouse has a spine¡± her grin curved upwards ¡°can¡¯t say I''m too surprised after all I never called you a bug.¡± And with that the standoff was broken.


    She pirouetted sharply, turning and darting to the side, her spearhead remaining locked on him. Kato¡¯s head spun as she sprinted around him, his eyes flitting rapidly, tracking her.


    He raised his arms into a guard, stilled his breathing and waited.


    The spear darted forward, Kato raised a forearm, ¡®stop the blade get her close¡¯ Kato repeated the mantra to himself ¡®at range you¡¯re useless, take the blade to the arm grab her and whatever happens next happens.¡¯


    The vicious edge met Katos arm and shattered, Kato stared at his arm shocked all thought of a counter lost in his stupor.


    ¡°Impossible¡± the woman whispered, eyes widening. But the contrasting emotions warring across her features only lasted but a second, her strict demeanour taking over; years of battle honed against opponent after opponent refused to allow her emotions an inch.


    She sprang backwards, every motion sharp and calculated eyeing him up as if her were prey. She crouched low, shifting her weight to her toes and launched herself forward.


    Her body seemed to blur as she tore towards him. Mid-flight her hands transformed, delicate fingers morphing into long jagged claws, slicing through the air with a foul metallic screech.


    Kato¡¯s heart pounded in his chest it was now or never. Finding something deep inside him Kato acted his hand flew forward. Crack! The woman flew backwards, hurtling across the smooth grey floor, her body sprawling in a heap.


    Falteringly she lifted her head, staring at him.


    ¡°You punched me¡± she said weakly, words broken intermittently by throaty coughs and shallow, ragged breaths.


    Kato stared down at her, his hands trembling pulse still racing ¡°Again.¡±


    The woman let out an empty, hollow laugh ¡°Again.¡± She bitterly smiled as she pushed herself up from the ground, ¡°You are no Zero¡± her eyes narrowed, as if evaluating him. ¡°Why does it say you are?¡±


    ¡°It?¡± Kato questioned.


    ¡°Funny¡± The woman exhaled, her voice thick with sarcasm. She spat to the side, a mixture of red and black smearing the grey.


    Kato hesitated, taking in her words. Something gnawing away at him, he looked from the foul liquid to her. ¡°Your colour it changed¡± he said, his voice quieter, almost to himself. Looking at her questioningly, he waited half expecting her to suddenly transform, morph into some blood red demon, clad in pitch black twisted armour moulded to her form. But nothing did, she was the same a broken bleeding woman barely standing on her own two feet.


    ¡°Funny¡± the woman said again, ¡°you¡¯ve made it clear your Dreams are stronger than mine, no need to rub it in my face, go ahead claim this place and end it all asshole.¡± She stared at him, her fury evident¡¯ it twisted her features, turned up her cheeks, and curved her lips at a twisted inhuman angle and yet rage was not what Kato saw.


    Pain hid behind soulful eyes, tears rimming curved edges, ¡°well what are you waiting for, claim it, claim it all¡± her voice a hitched a single drop of purple splashed to the ground.


    Kato looked at her confused, ¡®were we not supposed to be fighting?¡¯


    ¡°Um, are you alright?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Um, are you stupid, claim this place¡± the woman spoke her voice fraying barely choking the words out.


    ¡®Just do what the crazy woman says and leave¡¯ he thought, whatever her problem was it was no business of his.


    ¡°Fine, I claim this place.¡±


    The change was sudden grey morphed into a fierce blood red. Vast mountains and lakes sprung from the plains. A sickly chill spread through the air, and yet it felt like home.


    A black shadow grew across the newly formed valley, Kato turned gazing up, there hung from the sky by invisible robes, or some preternatural force rested a pitch-black sword.


    He gulped, this, this was not what he had expected.


    ¡°There.¡± He stated. ¡°Happy now?¡± Kato turned to face the woman.


    But a hollowed, purple skull was all that stared back at him.

 Chapter 24 - From dreams to dreams

    <u>From dreams to dreams</u>


    The world shattered around him, the sky fell in, and a deep throbbing pain erupted in his head. Kato crashed to the ground, face first, his eyes level with the dead woman¡¯s skull.


    A pressure radiated across him, pinning him flat to the floor. Vainly he struggled for a moment, bucking against the invisible force keeping him down, he gritted his teeth and pushed¡­ but nothing, there wasn¡¯t even an easing of the force, his strength here apparently meant nothing.


    Kato kept fruitlessly struggling for a while more until he saw it out of the corner of his eye. The blood red of the ground was leaving, leaching away into the air as if it had never been there. The familiar, monotonous grey returning as if nothing had ever happened.


    ¡°I.. I claim this place¡± Kato desperately forced the words out, but whoever or whatever had listened before was in no mood to listen again.


    The sword fell from the sky, a piercing whistle accompanying its descent. Kato braced himself, as much as he could do, whilst being unable to move. The giant weapon in response approached the ground with an ever-mounting speed, before¡­ CRASH! The very world reverberated from its impact; a thermal pulse superheated the air. Kato and the skull were flung several feet into the air before they crashed back into the ground, the familiar pressure not giving them an inch.


    The skull now lay directly ahead of him, practically nose to nose hole, Kato gulped ¡®starting to think I should never have claimed this.¡¯


    The pitch black of the sword followed the blood red of the ground, leaching into the ambient before fading back to the same dull grey.


    ¡®Why did I think listening to someone who wanted me dead was a good idea?¡¯


    The sword cracked.


    ¡®Right, yeah because she was upset not angry.¡¯


    Sections of the sword collapsed from its frame, each shaking the ground worse than the one before.


    ¡®Why did you even think you were qualified to read her emotions? You hardly knew her.¡¯


    A mountain in the distance collapsed to rubble.


    ¡®And so, what if she was upset, doesn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t trying to kill you.¡¯


    Vast sections of the plains now began to fall, the very, floor disappearing into an endless void.


    ¡®Starting to realise that¡¯ Kato thought mirthlessly, desperately attempting to push himself up, but the pressure holding him down refused to give, if anything clamping him down tighter than it had before. His muscles shook from exertion, then failed.


    ¡®Guess this is it.¡¯ A wave of helplessness washed over him; he had really tried.


    As the remnants of the sword met the void, he turned to the skull, his eyes locking into its empty sockets.


    Kato hinged his jaw open, brutally fighting against the pressure clamping it shut. Blood ran from his nose and his left eye popped forward. ¡°Are you happy now?¡± he spat the words out with every ounce of vitriol he could muster.


    The skulls colour leached into grey and shattered the parts of what had been someone now strewn across the land, unrecognisable from the shattered remains of everything else. Then everything went black, and Kato was engulfed by the sweet embrace of the void.


    ¡°Uhhh¡± Kato stumbled forward, fighting against pressure that was no longer there.


    Sunlight pounded against his eyes, squinting he raised a hand up, guarding himself against the sudden shift in lighting.


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    After he had become accustomed to the change, his eyes widened drinking in the idyllic scene he¡¯d been transported to.


    Light green grass stretched ahead of him, smooth glossy brownish rocks lay basking in the warmth of the sun, trees stretched high overhead forming a thick dark green canopy, that many a creature must have called home.


    Kato breathed in deeply, ¡®this, this was unexpected.¡¯ He turned in a slow circle, drinking in the real world and oh the colours so many shades of green and brown in the trees and shrubs. Flowers dotted the landscape, reds and pinks and blues and ¡®purples ¡®Kato¡¯s stomach knotted, and he took a step back.


    His head spun around, looking for the familiar spear, darting towards him, but nothing.


    ¡®Man, you¡¯re going crazy. The world remains as peaceful and un-violent as the first time you gazed upon it. Un-violent is that a word? Ehh it doesn¡¯t really matter.¡¯


    Kato turned his chin up and closed his eyes, just enjoying the sun soak into his skin, a pleasant warm tingle that slowly overtook him.


    He shuddered. It was good to be alive.


    ¡°???////???¡± A familiar, unfamiliar chittering took Kato from his revelry.


    Lazily his eyes tracked across the ground, resting on a familiar aged cloth wagon with a human sized imprint in the side.


    ¡®This isn''t real,  It can¡¯t be.¡¯ The fog it had gone and, in its place, paradise or at least something close to it.


    Kato felt kind of bad, ¡®whilst I was off fighting in the Dreamscape, they were here and apparently defeated the fog or waited it out, I shouldn¡¯t have thought so badly of them.¡¯


    ¡°Hey guys¡± he waved, smiling ear to ear.


    The chittering intensified as he strode forward. The blursons from earlier stood in a rough semi-circle ahead of him, the poker conspicuously absent.


    ¡®Guess it returned home¡¯ Kato thought to himself.


    He walked toward them; head held high, his feet gently treading over the soft sun-dappled dirt. This was it, the reunion they had all been waiting for, out of the fog and the worry and panic, they could now focus on the future. He¡¯d finally found some friends!


    One of the blursons growled.


    Kato¡¯s smile faltered at the sound, ¡®was that a warning?¡¯ he paused on the thought momentarily, before shaking off his doubt, his smile widening again. ¡®They can¡¯t even contain their excitement! Wow, I must have really made an impression.¡¯


    He stepped forward, arms stretched out wide, ready for their joyous embrace ¡°group hug time¡± he laughed merrily, he had really missed them.


    One of the blursons returned the gesture arms raised high, walking towards him, a gleaming metallic saucepan clutched in its hand, ¡°oh you¡¯ve got a-¡±


    Clang! A metallic bang struck the side of his head. Pain erupted, sharp and unexpected, he stumbled forwards vision spinning, ¡°wha-¡± he slurred, arms flailing, as he fought to regain his balance.


    The blurson swung again, another clang ringing out as the pan connected with his skull. Kato faltered, swaying from side to side. ¡°Accidents happen,¡± he mumbled dazed, Clang! The blurson hit him again, and Kato¡¯s vision doubled, finally realising the danger he raised an arm to defend himself, but it was too late.


    Clang!


    Kato fell to the ground motionless.


    Sometime later awaking to the gentle susurrations of a moving wagon.


    Wide, aged wooden bars, slotted into the floor and raised to the ceiling cutting him off from the rest of the room. ¡®How did I not see this earlier¡¯ he thought to himself frantically. ¡°Help¡± he called out loudly, in response a metal tankard was hurled from somewhere ahead of him.


    It hit the bars with a dull thud, overturning on the ground and leaving a frothy yellow mess on the floor.


    ¡®Right, got it, why would the people who put me in here, help me out of here?¡¯ He grasped a bar and shook against it, levering his body against the floor, but it stayed stalwart, refusing to even acknowledge his efforts.


    Kato gritted his teeth even his prison was mocking his attempt at making friends.


    ¡®When did I become such a bad judge of character?¡¯ Kato thought mournfully to himself, although looking back he¡¯d never been particular good at telling others¡¯ emotions, ¡¯I mean really who would have done what that woman said, just because she looked sad?¡¯  Kato shook his head ruefully.


    ¡°///???//¡± A quiet, small voice croaked out from behind him.


    Kato turned. ¡°Poker!¡± He exclaimed racing over to her, a dark mottled patch of fur beneath its right eye had swollen to an unseemly reddish-blue, flecks of blood marred its previously pristine coat.


    He had really misjudged the blursons, he shook his head again closely examining the poker. ¡®Or maybe¡­ I mean the poker does have a propensity to crazy outbursts.¡¯ Kato still recalled their confrontation with the lizard, in all too vivid detail.


    ¡®Are you crazy?¡¯  He rebuked himself they had just attacked him with kitchen utensils, how could they be the good guy in any semblance, that stuff was for cooking? You should never mess with food, some things were sacred.


    Kato circled his chest, ¡°may Cogul judge you.¡±


    After overcoming any doubts, he returned to the poker gently ribbing a shred of cloth, from his already tattered attire, and bringing it to her skin, gently rubbing the dirt and blood out of her.


    The poker softly whimpered and leaned into his side, eyes flutteringly wildly as it battled the demons of its mind, before finally settling and gently snoring against him.


    Kato¡¯s head turned to face the bars, his eyes narrowing into a cold fury, they would pay.

 Chapter 25 - Resilience

    <u>Resilience</u>


    ¡®I always used to think that when I died, I would leave behind something meaningful, something that encompassed more than just me. Now staring down death, I don¡¯t know what I expected to feel, but empty, that was never on the list.¡¯


    Kato stared out of the wagon, thump, thump, thump. The gentle rocks of the wagon¡¯s bed might have sounded comforting to others, but to him it was different. He knew what it meant. Thump, thump, thump. It wasn¡¯t gentle rocking, but the slow endless beating of death¡¯s heart, dragging them away all too soon.


    ¡®Then again, when was death ever timely?¡¯ He laughed, the sound bitter and hollow.


    ¡®When did I become so jaded?¡¯ Kato stared forward, motionless. Mindlessly he challenged a knot on the far wall to a staring contest. This was rapidly becoming a favourite pastime of his, another moment of routine added to a day full of them. But that¡¯s what happens when you never move. He sighed and broke away.


    Another win for the twisted knot, another loss for the twisted man.


    The low scrunched body of the poker lay beside him, unmoving, the pungent stench of old alcohol hung thick in the air.


    She had stopped moving yesterday and hadn¡¯t stirred since, her already faint breathing had, over time, become near imperceptible. Whether it be minutes or hours, Kato knew she didn¡¯t have long, and what had the blursons expected.


    They hadn¡¯t eaten since they¡¯d gotten here and for a small creature like her, that was a death sentence, Kato had tried again and again to get their attention, screaming deep into the night till his throat bled, but nothing worked, and no one cared.


    They were trapped.


    Languishing in a cell.


    Waiting for the great redeemer to take them away.


    His fingers absently picked away at the now desiccated, yellow stain, that had been a drink just days before. Kato glowered at the blemish that marred the rough wooden floor.


    ¡°I¡¯m not like you¡± he whispered, eyes flitting from side to side, ¡°they won¡¯t break me, change me, make me something I''m not.¡± He looked up, the knot looked back.


    He stayed for a moment, until the sound of particularly obnoxious laughter in the distance trickled to his ears.


    Kato trembled, rage flooding through him. ¡®They dare?¡¯ His heart pounded, demanding violence, and Kato agreed. He lashed out at the bars, slamming his fists against them again and again till they rattled as violently as he did. He hissed out forcing air through his clenched teeth.


    His heart quieted, his mind zoning in.


    ¡®What just happened?¡¯


    He regarded the still trembling bars.


    They hadn¡¯t done that before.


    He reached forward, the movement sudden and erratic, he hadn¡¯t had a real purpose in days. His dry stiff hands wrapped around a bar with an audible crack, his tired bones fighting against the motion, but he refused to acknowledge them.


    He gripped tight, tighter than perhaps he ever had and levered himself against the bar... and nothing, it refused to move. The previous movements caused by his frenzied assault now called into question. ¡®Were they really tangible or just the phantoms of a tired mind?¡¯


    Kato stumbled back, his hands slipping, from the bar as muscular failure, or his own doubts, pushed him down.


    He collapsed, spent, on the dry, damaged floor, his gaze fixed upwards, unblinking. A tear threatened to spill, but the sharp sting in his eyes was a painful reminder that had no moisture to spare.


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    The knot looked down at him from the wall, it sat there, twisted and grotesque. Confident in its place and his.


    The singular eye at its centre, sprung forward, its from mutating as its body angled towards him, silently, mocking him.


    ¡°Look at me ¡°it whispered, the words creeping into his skull.


    Kato looked at it.


    Then it spoke, the harsh mocking voice Kato had expected, replaced by a gentle voice carved from the pain of time. ¡°The pressure, it broke me¡± the voice coughed out. ¡°I fought against it for as long as I could but-¡±


    Kato looked away his eyes glazing over as he fought against the heavy urge to give up, give in, surrender to the darkness.


    ¡°LOOK AT ME!¡± The voice boomed.


    Dazed, he propped himself up one last time, the knot stared back at him. ¡°It reshaped me, ruined me, turned me into something I''m not-¡±


    Kato¡¯s head tilted downward, his neck barely supporting the mounting weight of his head.


    ¡°LISTEN TO ME¡± It roared again. ¡°Will you let it do the same to you? Or will you fight? If not for yourself, then for me, for who I was.¡±


    Kato¡¯s resolve sparked anew, his body creaking as he rose from what should¡¯ve been his grave. The talking wood had a good point, and he wouldn¡¯t spurn good advice just because it pushed him one step closer off the ledge that was his sanity.


    He couldn¡¯t give up now even if it was just to satisfy the dying wish from hallucinations caused by the last throes of a beaten mind.


    He reached forward, hands clasping the bars tightly.


    A sharp pain erupted in his right hand, blood spurting from a lone splinter sticking out of it, his eyes traced it momentarily. Not quite understanding what was happening.


    ¡®Huh¡¯ his bedraggled mind thought. His left hand subconsciously unhooking and poking the wound.


    More blood flowed the pressure forcing it forward.


    Kato stared, entranced.


    ¡°Uhh¡± he slumped to the side.


    ¡°This is not how you die¡± the knot whispered its voice insidious and pervasive, spreading through him, compelling him to act.


    But Kato was done, he had no more to give, his shoulders dropped suddenly, his free hand swinging down limply, jarring his body around the pole he still gripped.


    ¡°We will prevail¡± a different voice whispered. An all too familiar voice.


    Kato shot upright, alert, a sudden influx of energy rushing into his body, sparking his nerves and igniting his limbs, forcing him into action.


    His left hand rose, climbing altitude rapidly before returning to its companion¡¯s side, gripping the bar firmly.


    Kato pulled.


    Blood erupted from his torn hand, the blursons yellow stain covered by his blood-red. The splinter stuck deeper, and deeper, red frothing liquid coated his hand. Kato didn¡¯t care, he had come too far¡­ far, too far to be beaten now.


    Kato pulled.


    His teeth chattered and his arms trembled, uncontrollably pivoting back and forth around rigid elbows.


    Kato pulled.


    He leaned back, pushing against the very world it was him, and just him versus an immovable object.


    But he, he was an unstoppable force.


    With one final heave, Kato fell back arms flaying the air by his side. Two aged wooden bars, thrashing backward with him.


    One slicked with dust and the other born in blood.


    With a dull thud and squelch, they met the ground, before rolling away.


    Panting, Kato lay back, his chest rising and falling to an unnatural rhythm. His hands unclenching and clenching again and again.


    He was free.


    The bars rolled into the wall thump, THUD, thump THUD, thump. The relentless beating march of death¡¯s heart interrupted.


    Kato sat up, he looked at his right hand it was gory mess, but it was a small price to pay. He flicked the splinter sticking out of it and it went flying to the side, an inch long little spear of bad memories.


    He looked over to the poker lying on the ground. It hadn¡¯t even made a sound. Tentatively Kato reached over a finger gently pressing against its jugular. He paused for a second, he paused for another, then another¡­ He kept pressing thump, a tiny pulse pushed against him, raising his hand slightly.


    Kato¡¯s blood curdled, his features twisting into a more grotesque visage than that of the broken knots.


    Kato stood, pushing his feet against the ground, the wagon creaked under him with a defeated groan.


    A cold shiver ran up Kato¡¯s spine, as a sudden gale of wind pushed back against him, the world¡¯s last effort to keep him down.


    But it did little more than ruffle his hair. His long pitch-black locks, gently buffeting against his skin in the light breeze, momentarily blinding him.


    ¡®Too little too late¡¯ Kato thought mockingly, as he completed his ascent, his eyes drawing level with the knot his delirious mind had momentarily possessed to drive him forward.


    He regarded the gnarled piece of wood jutting from the wall, his eyes locking it down, one final staring challenge for the road.


    It looked back at him.


    ¡®Should I apologise?¡¯  Kato questioned himself, they had been each other¡¯s only real companion since the poker had fallen ill and now Kato was leaving it here, by itself.


    ¡®I know it¡¯s just wood, but-¡¯ Kato¡¯s mind trailed off, as he took a closer look at his one-time muse.


    Its sardonic expression had at some point shifted to one of pride, ¡°show them hell¡± it whispered, ¡°make your pain their own.¡±


    Kato nodded towards it.


    The poker was nearly dead.


    So was he.


    But he would show them how much difference one word made.


    ¡®Nearly.¡¯

 Chapter 26 - The price of vengeance

    <u>The price of vengeance</u>


    Like a thief in the night, Kato crept out of the wretched hole he¡¯d called home for the last few days.


    The joyous laughter of the blursons echoed through the narrow space he¡¯d been kept in. In his past life Kato had done a lot of things to survive, stealing, arson, cheating at cards. He smiled ruefully; cheating had been the most dangerous of the lot.


    But he¡¯d never killed anybody. He had seen no reason to, ¡®you can¡¯t profit off the dead¡¯ had always been his motto. Yet now a strikingly similar thought loomed in his mind.


    ¡°You can¡¯t profit if you¡¯re dead.¡± So similar, and yet it was worlds apart.


    A small nagging sensation at the back of his skull, whispered to him. ¡®They don¡¯t need to die, if you do this, there is no going back.¡¯ If it had just been him, maybe he¡¯d have listened, his eyes traced the poker¡¯s motionless body.


    Perhaps he¡¯d have just left, hit the road and never looked back.


    His eyes skimmed a bare patch in her matted and torn fur, a brutal scab weeping in a place that had been healthy and vibrant just days before.


    ¡®I can¡¯t leave now,¡¯ he shook off the nerves, ¡®it¡¯s far too personal.¡¯


    Resolved he crept further ahead, letting his body lie flat to the wall of the wagon as he inched forwards.


    Whoever had said revenge was a dish best served cold was a fool, Kato¡¯s anger could not be abated with time. Do victims truly get justice if the predator that victimized them is taken down years later?


    Maybe time heals all wounds, or maybe it just lets them fester.


    Kato was not prepared to find out the truth. He stepped forward.


    CHINK! A sharp metallic sound broke the relative silence. Kato¡¯s foot had brushed against the tankard that had been left there so carelessly on the floor, sending it ricocheting off the curved cloth walls, narrowly missing a supporting wooden beam.


    It lay pressed against the aged cloth, dully gleaming in the small sunlight that did filter through.


    Kato paused, his body tensing.


    The blursons laughter reached him again.


    They hadn¡¯t heard or hadn¡¯t cared. Either way it didn¡¯t matter much. Kato was coming and nothing would stop him.


    He turned the corner, the dull, gloomy interior of the wagon he¡¯d been trapped in faded away into the dusky light of a day¡¯s end.


    The blursons were ahead of him, sprawled out, without a care in the world. Some strange beasts carting them and the wagon behind them.


    Kato had no idea where they got them from, they were easily the size of a horse, but with wide pale green antlers jutting from their hea and a strange, misshapen lump adorning both of the creature¡¯s backs.


    A saddle, carved from faded, brown, leather and adorned with a swirling gold filament lay across their backs. Loose straps had been haphazardly slung around the creature¡¯s waists before arcing back up and nestling into slots in the saddle.


    Three blursons sat on each mount, resting on their opulence.


    There were six of them in total now. Kato didn¡¯t know where the rest had come from nor did he particularly care. ¡®Just means more to take care of.¡¯


    One of the blursons kicked out viciously, a spurred heel dug into the side of its mount.


    Another threw back its head, letting out a brash, guttural laugh that echoed through the evening air.


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    Kato recoiled, his stomach churning with shock.


    ¡®Was this what they had been laughing about? Hurting innocent creatures?¡¯ A bitter astringent taste filled his mouth.


    ¡°CRAAHHH¡± the creature cried out, its head turning and staring back at its attacker.


    He clenched his fists, ¡®they are monsters.¡¯


    The beast had a thick misshapen trunk and two large ears, easily as wide as its head. Its eyes were large and pitch-black eyes, one pierced by a sharp, cold calculating yellow slit, while the other was split by a wide milky white spreading from its centre. A thin blurred line of grey separated the milky pupil from the soulless black surrounding it.


    It blinked slowly.


    A pale, pinkish scar, reminiscent of a whip mark, segmented the eyelid that overlapped its blind eye. Thick drooping eyelashes struggled to conceal the mark, but ultimately failed.


    With a low yawn, it opened its mouth wide, the sharp canines of a predator on full display.


    The beast stared the blurson down, hatred evident in its working eye, as if a look alone could take its tormentor down.


    Kato shivered, his earlier pity evaporating. What sort of monster had the blursons found?


    ¡®Doesn¡¯t look so innocent now.¡¯ He gulped.


    The blurson kicked again.


    Kato flinched.


    The blurson made a shooing motion with his hand.


    Three tonnes of pure muscle made a slow, lumbering turn.


    ¡®Good,¡¯ Kato thought to himself, then immediately felt guilty, no matter its appearance it was still just an animal, no less trapped than he had been.


    Kato stared for a moment, just looking into the distance, his eyes unfocused and his mouth hung, agape. if the blursons had control of such a monster, what could they do to him.


    The beast pawed the ground angrily, its cloven hoof sending dust particulates flying to the air.


    The wagon suddenly lurched forwards as the cords lashing the beast to the vehicle went taught, its companion stopped ruminating over the mouthful of dark, green, grass it had snagged during the whole ordeal and strode forwards.


    The wagon lurched again.


    Kato went tumbling.


    The front of the wagon tilted down.


    Kato desperately flung his arms to his side wheeling them frantically.


    ¡®No! Not when I¡¯m so close,¡¯ he thought desperately,


    Panic clawed at his throat, as he hurtled ever closer to the ground.


    He pushed off his heels, forcing himself backwards, with what little momentum he could gather.


    It was not enough.


    Kato fell off the edge.


    Thud!


    Six pairs of eyes spun back. The laughter stopped, amusement shifting towards something much more sinister.


    Kato looked up, his hand stung nastily from their impact with the ground, but that wasn¡¯t important now.


    A blurson jumped from its mount.


    ¡°//////???//???¡± The words were guttural and spat in that same foreign dialect.


    Kato briefly considered engaging with the creature. No that wasn¡¯t right it was a monster. He shrugged off the desire, it wouldn¡¯t get to justify itself, change his mind, not now. The man-made beast was unworthy of a second look, let alone a response.


    He spat to the side.


    ¡°Bring it on¡± he muttered under his breath, his left arm beckoning the blurson forward.


    It hesitated, glancing at its compatriots before bursting into laughter. The sharp mocking trill pierced the air, and the other blursons still seated, lowered their hastily raised spears. The tips lazily tangled towards the ground.


    ¡°That laughter¡­¡± Kato shook his head; black spots filling his vision. His heart pounded and he shook violently, hands clenching and unclenching to the frantic rhythm. A sudden rushing filled his ears, and he heard nothing more.


    ¡°Monsters¡± Kato hissed under his breath, he didn¡¯t even hear himself say it, yet the word resonated with him, nonetheless.


    He lunged forward, images of wooden bars, bloodied scrunched fur and blinded, scarred creatures filling his vision.


    And still they laughed.


    With a primal roar his fist struck. Once. Twice. Again, and again. Too many times to count.


    Kato stood tall, his heart beating uncontrollably in his ears as the broken body of the blurson lay ahead of him.


    Reaching down with a callous glare, his hand grasped its neck. With an animalistic grunt, he lifted the monstrous being from the ground, his other hand clasping its fully formed tusk. He spun it viciously to the side.


    With an audible snap its size was halved to match the other.


    Kato dropped the body. Kato smiled, brutality coursed through his veins, and he liked it.


    Another blurson dropped to the ground, it raised its spear and charged towards him, their companions following closely behind.


    Kato barrelled forward; with a vicious right he sent the spear spiralling from its still clenched hands. Kato¡¯s left hand met its neck, lifting it above the ground.


    ¡°You think you can just hurt those creatures¡­ hurt the poker! HURT ME!¡± he screamed the words, spittle flying into the blurson¡¯s face.


    Its hands grasped at his desperately clawing at him. With each passing he could feel his control slipping, a red mist consuming him.


    Long gouges from dirty, blackened and broken nails crisscrossed his wrists. But he did not care. He did not stop.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to pay¡± he screamed,


    The blurson¡¯s mouth began frothing, a yellowish foam spilt out of cracked lips.


    Kato didn¡¯t notice the foul smell of death, he had long since been driven past human sensations.


    The blursons eyes rolled back in its head, its body tensing and going rigid beneath him


    ¡°This one¡¯s for the knot.¡± He growled. Clenching his hand. The blurson¡¯s head jerked back and then fell limp, dangling uselessly at its side.


    Kato dropped it, breathing heavily, adrenaline coursing through him.


    The four blursons roared as one and charged.

 Chapter 27 - Rolling snake eyes isn鈥檛 always a bad thing

    <u>Rolling snake eyes isn¡¯t always a bad thing</u>


    Kato darted back, without thinking, his right hand brushed through the rough undergrowth coming to a stop against the dying warmth of the felled blurson¡¯s spear.


    His hand coiled around the pitted wooden shaft.


    His blood ran cold, the very weapon used against him, now in his hands.


    A low hiss emerged from his teeth.


    ¡®Fitting¡¯ a foreign voice whispered amidst the rage in Kato¡¯s head.


    If Kato had stopped to think he¡¯d have realised that foreign voice was his own.


    But he didn¡¯t.


    He raged.


    Became something else.


    Something different.


    His eyes narrowed and his pupils itched, morphing into jagged swords filling blood red eyes.


    He blinked instinctively, but the motion was sluggish, wrong. His world shifted. Blues and greens taking over what had once been a veritable sea of colour.


    ¡°Rahhh¡± A primal inhuman scream, escaped from somewhere deep inside him, begging for him to stop.


    But he didn¡¯t care.


    He couldn¡¯t. Not now. Not after he¡¯d been walked over for far too long.


    A thin glossy sheen slid across his eyes, and the world morphed again, the warmth the sun had brought bleeding into colder hues.


    Kato stared forward, stock still. It was all so clear now.


    He dropped the spear.


    He smiled, the motion twisting his face as if he knew what it should look like but couldn¡¯t quite get the motion down.


    The tallest blurson stumbled back.


    Kato¡¯s head whipped upward, locking onto the lean but muscular monster. It appeared much bluer than before. It mattered not, nothing could stop him now, not even himself.


    His muscles tensed, shifting and tightening around his body. Winding tighter and tighter against themselves, he shifted his weight to his legs and sprang.


    ¡°//??///?¡± The blurson muttered in shock breathlessly.


    Kato arced through the air in a blur of motion, wind ripping against his side, fighting against his descent, desperate to slow him down or veer him off course. But it couldn¡¯t not now, everything was calculated, everything was planned. Kato¡¯s neck flexed outwards, and his jaw unhinged in an inhuman display of agility. Drops of liquid coalesced around his canines as he soared towards his prey.


    ¡°SHRIEEEEEEE¡± A sharp whistle pierced the air, Kato¡¯s eyes widened slightly, his cold, calculating, expression giving away to confusion.


    His peripherals briefly caught sight of a trail of motion as something shot out towards him, but he didn¡¯t even have time to tense, let alone react meaningfully.


    The impact slammed into him, and he finally saw what it was. One of their spears. It bit into his chest with wild abandon, seeking his heart. Agony erupted from deep withing him, a sharp hot white-hot flame igniting every nerve in his body. His body involuntarily recoiled, desperate to escape the agony that had replaced the rage in consuming him.


    ¡°RAHHH¡± he screamed again. The pain had awakened something in him, something his blind rage had buried. Memories of his life flashed past him, love, loss and sacrifice. ¡®This isn¡¯t me¡¯ he thought shocked, a single moment of clarity gifted to him before his end, ¡®I¡¯m not some primal beast consumed by its own rage, I¡¯m more than that I¡¯m human!¡¯ It may have been silent, but his declaration did not go unheard.


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    His pupils dilated, desperately rippling outwards seizing on that brief moment of clarity. The lines had been set but they hadn¡¯t been set in stone. Brutal fighting broke out in pockets as the soft roundness of humanity pushed back against the pitch-black swords that had taken what was theirs. The sharp, cold edges were pushed outwards, bit by bit as they struggled in turn, refusing to go back, back to roundness, back to softness. They were here to stay, and they would not go down so easily!


    Unaware of all of this, Kato watched, as in slow motion the spears¡¯ head began burying into his side, his skin denting and giving way, forcing the breath from his lungs, beneath its metallic point.


    ¡®This will not be the way I go out!¡¯ He roared internally. His rage rose its ugly head once again, and the head smiled.


    ¡®You are mine.¡¯


    His pupils snapped back, contracting viciously. The struggle of his humanity brief and short-lived. The jagged pitch-black swords reclaimed their rightful place, demarcating their territory at the gateway to his soul.


    Kato stiffened, his flesh hardened and flexed back against the crude metallic weapon. The spear bounced off him, it could seek all it wanted but he had no heart to find.


    Not even a mark that it had ever been there remained, but the damage had already been done.


    ¡°Thump.¡± Kato fell from the sky, his body sprawling across the ground in a cloud of dust.


    The colours returned to normal, hues other than blue and green filling his vision, he didn¡¯t react.


    Not a sound escaped his lips, no groan, no forceful breath, nothing.


    The tall blurson sneered and advanced, it apparently did believe in kicking a man while he was down. Its earlier predilection for caution in the face of Kato¡¯s transformation gone. One failure and it was back, is this all it takes? One misstep and your appearance is forever marred?


    Its three cronies circled behind it advancing in lockstep, instead of the rage Kato expected they approached resolutely with the fierce dedication of practiced hunters.


    One shorter and squatter then the others now held a wooden cudgel, ringed with studded metallic strips instead of the spears its companions brandished.


    Kato¡¯s eye twitched. This was the one that had ruined his attack, tried to take away his rage, now he would try to take away its life, it was only fair.


    Kato stood, blood gushed from his chest, apparently, he wasn¡¯t as unblemished as he thought.


    He stared at them, blood dripped on the ground, but he didn¡¯t watch it fall, his eyes tracking his tormentors. He puffed his chest out and roared, the sound as inhumane as it was angry.


    One of the blursons twitched, and tripped forward, its blue face noticeably less wrinkled than that of its compatriots, its inexperience evident.


    Kato looked at it for a moment, tilting his head slightly, like it had once to him. He remembered it as much as he wished he didn¡¯t.


    This, this was the one that had mocked his efforts, all he had wanted was a friend, but that was the past, this was now. He opened his mouth in a wide toothy smile and winked, a crazy gleam taking over his eyes.


    Kato charged towards it, and while the other blursons moved to stop him, the younger blurson stumbled out of the safety of the group.


    ¡°Bang! ¡°Kato¡¯s right hand struck against its chin, rocking the monsters head backwards.


    He hit it again, dark purple rapidly spread from the impact of his fist.


    ¡®Purple?¡¯ Kato paused for a moment shaking his head in confusion.


    Then he screamed, ¡°NO MORE PURPLE!¡± He hit it again, and again, the flurry of blows happening in less than a second.


    ¡°///???///¡± the taller blurson screamed and charged towards him.


    Kato bared his teeth and the taller blurson lunged. Its spear cut through the distance between them near instantly, Kato dodged, shoving the younger poker back, its purple forgotten.


    The blade struck true, blood spurting in a fountain from the wound. The younger blurson looked back shocked, its head tilted eyes wide and unblinking at the taller blurson. The spear had cut deeply into its neck, the taller blurson stepped back mouth agape, what had it just done?


    The younger blurson¡¯s body went rigid and the taller blurson let go off the spear, the body toppled forward, falling to the ground, with a crunch. The spear stuck upright from it, pointing to the sky.


    The taller blurson didn¡¯t move, its eyes stared soullessly forward, trapped by the horrors of its own actions.


    Kato however didn¡¯t care.


    He darted forward, his hands grabbing the free spear. He lifted it from the corpse with a slight strain and a dull squelch. Twirling it around with a vicious arc, he drew its owner a red neckline.


    The blurson joined the other on the ground, they were now as tall as each other, but the younger would never be older.


    Kato didn¡¯t even stare at them, his head pounded, the rush in his mind not allowing for any pauses. ¡®Make them pay¡¯ his mind demanded, ¡®this is far too generous.¡¯


    ¡°////????//?¡± The squat blurson called out to its remaining companion, a lean, muscular blurson that looked as if it had been born, no crafted, to wield a spear, its ability at the pinnacle of generations of dedicated learning, no man, beast or other would best it.


    It looked at Kato for a moment, as he strode over the bodies of its once companions.


    It turned and ran.


    Grass flew by the muscular blurson, as it tore up clumps of dirt from the speed of its retreat, the pale monster would never catch it.


    The squat blurson swung its club with deadly precision, connecting with the muscular blursons head as it tried to escape. The body sank to the ground instantly, its muscles not doing much in the face of betrayal.


    The squat blurson spat out. A thick glom of liquid arced through the air towards the now caved in skull and thick, black, viscous saliva pooled in the dent.


    Kato nodded towards it; his rage had no room for cowardice either.


    The blurson did not nod back.


    Mechanically it reached down, lifting its felled companions spear and with practiced ease swapped the club to its offhand.


    It stared at Kato; its eyes blazed as hard as his did.

 Chapter 28 - This is knot the end

    <u>This is knot the end</u>


    Kato walked forward; the tip of his spear trailed the ground as he let it drag across the floor. Each jolt and bump from it scraping over dirt and grass were barely registered, he hardly noticed the weapon at all.


    His eyes were focused on the blurson. ¡®Last one¡¯ his rage whispered to him. ¡®Make it hurt.¡¯


    With an animalistic screech Kato charged forward, his vision fogging as the world blurred, till the only thing he could see with any clarity was the blurson. The last one standing.


    His breath quickened as he raised his spear, whatever respect he had for the beast dissolving in the face of his revenge.


    The squat blurson stood still, eyeing Kato. The man was practically frothing at the mouth, driven forward by no more than his base instincts, his humanity all but extinguished.


    Its eyes narrowed as a cold smile spread across its face. It steadied its breath as it calculated the distance between them with deadly precision. This was going to be far too easy.


    Soundlessly, it sprang into action, powerful muscles contracted as it arched backwards, the spear rising fluidly overhead at a perfect thirty-degree angle. It gazed at Kato for a moment, as if checking its work, then nodded firmly to itself.


    Kato charged on, blind to the blurson¡¯s preparation, or too far gone to care.


    With a sharp twist, the blurson rotated its upper body. It took a large step forward, and with practiced ease, its arm snapped forward with an audible crack.


    The spear flew through the air, hunting the same prey it had hunted before.


    The blurson smiled.


    It watched coldly as Kato mindlessly advanced; the man tore up the ground between them, each footfall sending dirt and grass flying, a path of destruction left in his wake.


    But it mattered not, for each crime the pale monster committed it would be paid back tenfold.


    Innocuously, a cloud parted above. Nothing happened for a moment, then a ray of light shot forth, tearing past the fluffy barrier that had been keeping it from the journey of a lifetime. It danced past thick leaves, carefully manoeuvred around great, thick wooden trunks and waltzed past hanging branches, beelining straight towards the ground.


    Until suddenly¡­ Resistance.


    The cold, dull, metallic tip of the spear gleamed fiercely. Its light a beacon in the dusk.


    Kato recoiled, blinded. His foot missed the ground, but his body didn¡¯t get the message, too focused on its mission. Kato went flying just as the spear whipped past him, peacefully continuing its journey overhead.


    Thud. The spear buried itself in the ground some distance away, quivering in uncontrollable fury. How could it miss?


    The blurson looked to the spear then to Kato, who rolled and sprang back to his feet, his impact far less permanent than that of the spear.


    The blurson tossed its club back to its dominant hand. It was never that easy.


    Kato stared at the blurson, ¡®what just happened? I swear there were six of them.¡¯ He blinked, dazed. Keeping the blurson in his vision he circled it, ¡®one...two¡­three¡­four¡­five.¡¯ Kato counted the dead, his shock mounting with each body.


    ¡®What had killed them?¡¯


    ¡°Ughh¡± he shook his head, groaning.


    The squat blurson never took its eyes off him, its legs were in a firm stance and its club raised in a defensive guard.


    ¡®It¡¯s protecting itself.¡¯ He realised. He continued to pace, drinking in his surroundings, blood death and destruction greeted him at every angle. The blurson¡¯s eyes never left him, its cold fury evident. ¡®From me?¡¯ He gasped shocked, then wished he hadn¡¯t, furiously he fought the urge to retch.


    The scent of death hung thick in the air, clinging to him. Acrid and biting, it stung his nostrils and clawed at his weeping eyes. The blursons had apparently not taken enough from him in life; now they demanded more even in death.


    ¡®Can¡¯t show weakness, not now.¡¯ Kato wasn¡¯t sure what had happened, but the blurson seemed scared or at least wary of him, ¡®foolish to give that up.¡¯


    Kato kept circling the short, squat creature, ¡®What do people usually do when they find themselves alone in a forest surrounded by bodies?¡¯ He thought bitterly. ¡®Hide the bodies¡¯ part of him promptly responded.


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    ¡®You¡¯re not alone¡­ idiot¡¯ another part of him sneered.


    ¡®Oh, right.¡¯ Kato looked back at the blurson, it was being awfully considerate here.


    It stepped forward. Maybe not.


    Kato stepped back his round pupils widening in fear.


    It was the blurson''s turn to look confused. Where was the maddened beast it had fought earlier? It sneered; it mattered not.


    The blurson took another step forward.


    Kato took another step back.


    His hands trembling, he raised his spear ahead of him, weakly pointing it in the blurson''s general direction.


    In an instant, the blurson darted forward, its club swinging with deadly intent. Kato tried to dart back in turn, but he was too slow.


    The blurson''s weapon connected with a sickening crack. Kato¡¯s spear was sheared in half and splinters flew through the air.


    Kato stared, mouth agape, before raising what was left of his spear and hurling it at the blurson, with all the force he could muster.


    The shaft¡¯s remnants weakly thumped against its chest, before sliding down and further cracking against the floor. The blurson glared at him, eyes blazing with fury. It bared its teeth and charged.


    Instinct took over, Kato turned and ran desperate to lose his pursuer. But stride by stride the blurson advanced gaining ground as Kato tried to fight the inevitable.


    The blurson lumbered forward, its motions were unnatural, clunky and wrong. Its feet landed at strange angles, and it couldn¡¯t keep a straight line if it tried. And yet impossibly, it closed the distance, laughing in the face of the world. The deceivingly squat stature hiding what could only be described as a fearsome athletic ability.


    Kato¡¯s heart pounded, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He cleared the distance to the wagon in seconds.


    ¡®Find shelter¡¯ his instincts screamed. ¡®Get to safety, now!¡¯


    But the blurson didn¡¯t care, loping behind Kato at a steady unrelating pace. It had its prey in its sight and would not let it go so easily.


    Kato scrambled up the wagon, darting back inside.


    The blurson stopped, then laughed, a bitter, hollow sound that pierced the thin cloth walls. Its prey had trapped itself, how fortuitous.


    It stood at the edge of the wagon, savouring the moment, then with a simple shake of its head, it jumped. The distance to the wagon was cleared in one smooth motion and it entered without pause. Its own cold rage awakened by bloodlust into something that hungered, forcing it forward, transforming it. The cold, calculating demeanour giving way to something far more primal.


    Kato scurried back into the depths of the wagon, nimbly stepping over the lone tankard that had almost got him caught earlier.


    He slipped back into the cramped confines of the cage he had broken out from, looking down, his gaze fell on the motionless poker, its body still matted with blood where he had left it resting. The all-encompassing rage threatened to swell back up and consume him again. He clenched his fists till his knuckles turned white forcing it down. ¡®There will be time to fall apart later. But not now.¡¯


    Kato bent over, grabbing the two bars he had smashed off in his haste to escape. One still slick with blood, glistening darkly, ¡®Guess it hasn¡¯t been that long.¡¯ Grimacing he wiped it dry on the torn edge of his trousers, ¡®At least now I can grip it, for what good that¡¯ll do¡¯ he thought darkly.


    Standing again, his eyes caught the knot. He looked at its cold, twisted gaze for a moment, trying to decipher what it thought. It was no use, it remained silent and indifferent to him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± he whispered, ¡°I tried.¡±


    The knot didn¡¯t say a word.


    Tap. Tap.


    The blurson''s heavy footsteps echoed across the wooden floor.


    Kato gulped, crossing the two bars in front of him in a rough X, his arms trembled violently even under their small weight.


    Tap. Tap.


    The blurson advanced, each step was slow and deliberate. It would enjoy this.


    Kato¡¯s heart threatened to beat out of his chest, each thump harder than the last. A lone drop of sweat slid down his left cheek.


    Tap. Tap.


    The blurson reached the doorway, it looked at Kato for a moment, saw his body trembling as it brandished a makeshift cross at him. It sneered. Was it supposed to be scared of this?


    Like a flash it crossed the distance between them, smashing the bars from Katos¡¯ hands with one brutal motion, the bars flew to the side in a cloud of splinters.


    ¡°Ahh¡± Kato could not suppress the cry as the flesh tore from his hands.


    The beast looked at him and it smiled.


    Kato pushed back against it his hands reaching for the creature¡¯s neck, aiming to throttle it.


    It smiled wider.


    And with little more than a grunt, the club swung again. It came down hard on Kato¡¯s stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. Kato recoiled back, his hands dropping as his body folded on itself.


    He looked up, his hands weakly clutching his body as if that would make the pain stop. The short blurson towered over him. It met Kato¡¯s pitiful gaze, and its eyes filled with contempt. This was the man who had killed everyone it had held dear, it raised its club high to deliver the final blow, and¡­


    ¡°Woosh!¡± Kato¡¯s leg thundered out his heel clipping the blurson¡¯s shin. The blurson stared at Kato for a moment, then blinked, slowly, as if saying ¡°really, that¡¯s all?¡±


    Then the wagon jolted.


    One of the beasts attached to it had pulled forward, dragging them along the uneven ground.


    The blurson stumbled back, its footing slipped.


    Its heel met with the so callously discarded tankard.


    The tankard rolled and the blurson followed. Arms wide it crashed backwards, straight into the support beam.


    Crunch!


    The back of its skull collided with the knot embedded in the wood. The beam groaned in protest, splintering from the impact.


    The blurson staggered, eyes wide in disbelief, its own wagon had betrayed it. For a moment it wobbled on its feet,


    Then with a dull final groan the beam gave out,


    The broken wood collapsed onto the blurson¡¯s skull. The blurson hit the ground and¡­ silence.


    Wearily Kato stood, pulling himself upright. ¡°Puhh¡± he exhaled sharply, his lungs trying to expel the sudden cloud of dust he had found himself in. A sagging chunk of cloth flopped against Kato. He batted it aside, forcing the tattered faded yellow cloth that sagging down from the collapsed wagon walls away.


    He made his way over to the fallen blurson, his steps were slow and steady with the pain in his ribs protesting against each step. But he had to see, he couldn¡¯t just rest.


    The blurson lay prone, limbs twisted unnaturally.


    It was dead.


    A thick glom of sap oozed from the cracked beam resting above the blurson.


    Tap. Tap.


    Kato knocked against the knot, it was split perfectly in the middle, its life given for the cause. The sap arced through the air towards the now caved in skull, and thick, black, viscous sap pooled in the dent.


    ¡°Hhhuhh¡± A thin, pained gasp broke the silence.

 Chapter 29 - Food doesnt fix everything

    <u>Food doesn¡¯t fix everything</u>


    Before Kato could turn in the direction of the noise, symbols flooded his vision. Familiar yet strange to him all the same. ¡®This again,¡¯ he sighed, running his hands through tousled, messy hair.


    ¡®When was the last time I slept?¡¯ He rubbed his eyes and blinked furiously, but the symbols refused to leave. They just swirled around him, mockingly.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten mushrooms in weeks! LEAVE ME ALONE!¡± He shouted at the top of his lungs.


    ¡°Huyuhu,¡± a staggered, shaky breath broke out from behind him. He refused to turn; he couldn¡¯t look at her.  Not now. Not after he failed.


    ¡®I should¡¯ve been there, gotten you out days ago, I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ is what he wanted to say but instead he said nothing. At least not to her. The thoughts remaining unspoken, and trapped inside, just as he had been.


    ¡°Evil, evil symbols,¡± he ranted at his surroundings. Each word coming out more choked and incoherent. Kato swatted at them again and again, sending sawdust flying with each motion. But the symbols stayed, he could wish them away all he liked, but it didn¡¯t seem to make a difference.


    Eventually, the symbols faded away, just like they always had. With nothing left to lash out at, Kato sank to his knees with tears stinging at his reddened eyes. ¡°Why won¡¯t anyone leave me alone¡± he muttered softly, ¡°I can¡¯t help you.¡±


    A warm paw gently rested on his shoulder; Kato flinched.


    Kato remained facing forward for a moment, taking deep, slow and controlled breaths. He forced a small, smile to his face and turned around.


    ¡°Hi¡± he said, his voice shaky.


    The poker meeped at him in her strange language again.


    Kato held its gaze, his bottom lip quivering eyes brimming with unshed tears. Tufts of white fur, matted red, lay strewn around the enclosure. Bare patches of scarred flesh lay exposed to the world, a painful reminder of the past few days. Kato looked away sharply.


    The paw squeezed his shoulder.


    He looked back, forcing the smile to his face again.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you some food,¡± he paused. ¡°Hey, champ?¡± he gently knocked his knuckle against her shoulder.


    ¡°Eughow,¡± the poker cried out in pain.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry¡± Kato exclaimed, his heart racing, ¡®what was I thinking?¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯ll get you some stuff,¡± the poker looked at him. ¡®Right, words don¡¯t word here.¡¯ He massaged his forehead, firmly. ¡®Think Kato.¡¯ He looked back at her then opened his mouth wide and made exaggerated chewing motions, his eyes bulged forward as he bared his teeth at her, moving his jaw in slow motion. The poker recoiled, her hand slipping from his shoulder.


    ¡®Does she not like food?¡¯ Kato questioned himself perplexed, ¡®maybe she didn¡¯t understand?¡¯ Kato brought a hand up to his mouth and started chewing it gently, his eyes locked on the poker¡¯s, keeping constant contact. The poker¡¯s eyes slightly widened, her ears drooped down, and she tried pushing herself back, retreating over the wooden floor in futile, drawn-out motions.


    Kato stared at her for a moment, ¡®she probably understands.¡¯ He stood up, determination flooding through him. He would provide.


    Kato went outside, the stench of the battle assailing his sense once again, but he would power through. Through the gloom, he began walking towards the saddled beasts. ¡®They must have kept food somewhere.¡¯


    Crunch! A sound broke out ahead of him. He tensed, dropping his body lower and shimmying around in the direction of the noise, keeping one of the large wagon beasts to his flank.


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    Crunch! Kato finally saw what was making the noise. It was a blurson, ¡®the tall one,¡¯ he thought, or at least what was left of it. Pale blue legs and arms hung at unnatural angles out of the half blind creatures¡¯ gaping maw. Thick canines tore through flesh and bones alike. The wagon beast looked at him for a moment its blind eye seeming to stare into his soul, then, as if satisfied, crunched again.


    Its companion beside him moved suddenly, the antlered head snapping forward at the carcass. Slam! The heads butted together, as they made war over the free meal.


    Kato stared at them for a moment, ¡®they found food, what if¡­¡¯  ¡°Uhh.¡± He shivered, the blursons were far too human like to eat, no matter how much their beasts seemed to be enjoying them. ¡®At least they¡¯re not upset.¡¯


    ¡°Kind of thankful they mistreated you,¡± Kato muttered, ¡°did not want the wrath of walking buildings.¡± A baleful white eye, turned to stare at him again, victorious over its smaller companion. ¡°Um, not that I wanted them to mistreat you or anything, that obviously sucked¡± he paused, ¡°big time.¡±


    Knowing his luck the wagon beast could actually understand him, he shook his head softly, that would be a turn of events.


    Walking closer to the beast, he felt the air warm, as it breathed out in large, foggy, puffs that rose and dispersed in the now night sky. The side of its body heaved, as he watched the thick muscles actively contacting and expanding with each breath.


    He waited a moment, gathering his nerves, before striding over to the leather clasped saddle bags. He fiddled with the straps for a moment before tugging backwards with a powerful jerk, the straps came free, and he stumbled back. The blind wagon beast turned to him again, raised a questioning eye and blew a puff of warm fog into his face, plastering his hair to the side.


    ¡°Uhh, sorry about that¡± Kato muttered, it puffed on him again. Kato¡¯s hair went wildly flapping, before settling at a ridiculous ninety-degree angle upwards. ¡®Thanks for that¡¯ he thought, careful not to voice his displeasure next to the walking behemoths.


    Scurrying back to the packs, he examined their contents.


    ¡°Jackpot¡± he whispered under his breath, there were several flasks and enough rations for days dried fruits, nuts, jerky and¡­ mushrooms. His nose slightly turned up, and his eyes narrowed. Food was food¡­but could he really take the risk? Again?


    He grabbed an armful of the goods and turned to walk back to the wagon.


    Only to see the poker standing on the edge of the wooden floor, her wide eyes frantically scanned the death and destruction surrounding them. She glanced at Kato for a moment, an unreadable expression flickered across her face, then involuntarily stepped back. She stiffened, her shoulders trembling, as a small paw rose shakily to her mouth as if suppressing the urge to vomit.


    Kato broke in a run towards her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! It¡¯s fine. They¡¯re gone. It¡¯s over¡±


    She stared at him, frozen, her ears flattened tight against her head. Her tail drooped lifelessly, brushing the floor beneath it. As he got closer, she shuffled backwards in tiny, panicked steps, her paws tripping awkwardly as she tried to retreat.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay¡± Kato reassured her, reaching her side. Gently he reached out laying a hand to her shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re okay now.¡±


    The poker recoiled from him, as if struck. Her lips pulled back in disgust, as she furiously wiped at her shoulder, as if dirtied by his touch.


    She stared at him for a moment longer, her pupils madly contracting and expanding, flickering between fear and anger. Then without warning, her lips curled higher, and she bared her teeth in a silent, heated snarl.


    ¡°Poker?¡± Kato whispered.


    The phantom snarl, became real, a harsh, guttural noise, rising above even the methodical crunching of the wagon beasts, Kato stepped back. ¡°P-poker?¡± he whispered again, his voice shaking.


    Then she jumped, her agile form, flying over his head and bolted toward the undergrowth, without so much as a glance behind.


    Kato turned in suit, ¡°You¡¯re hurt!¡± he ran. ¡°Wait!¡± he cried as she tore away from him.


    She disappeared, slipping back into nature. He stopped there wasn¡¯t even a rustle, as her lithe form darted away. There was no he was going to catch her.


    Kato looked over the short hill she had ran down, the green of the grass giving way into a dense forest, there was no point in even trying to follow her. ¡°I-I have food,¡± Kato spoke softly into the silence, but the silence didn¡¯t reply.


    Thrum! Kato¡¯s bag began to violently vibrate against his leg, buzzing insistently at him.


    ¡°What!¡± His face snarled as he looked down at the small bag. ¡°You going to leave me to?¡± He spat in anger. It fell to the floor with a dull thump.


    ¡°Of course you are.¡± His anger melted away. His nose tingled, and tears pricked the corner of his eyes. ¡°Alone, again.¡±


    A small purple orb rolled from the bag, glowing furiously, back the all-consuming blackness of night and painting it purple.


    Kato stared at the orb, his heart sinking. ¡®This again?¡¯


    Then it rolled towards him, almost eagerly.


    Kato spun on his heel, without a word, and sprinted down the hill, desperate to gain distance, get away, from that evil little thing.


    The orb rolled onward joyfully, gaining momentum, with little thought to the rocks and twigs it bounded over. That was until it hit a jagged small, exposed stone angled upwards and was sent flying through the air.


    Thwack!


    It struck Kato square in the back.


    The world blurred.

 Chapter 30 - It wasn鈥檛 funny before, it definitely isn鈥檛 now

    <u>It wasn¡¯t funny before, it definitely isn¡¯t now</u>


    The world settled into a sterile white room, dim fluorescent lights, spluttered into and out of life on the ceiling.


    Kato recoiled. ¡®What sorcery was this?¡¯


    He looked around, there was no door, he was trapped again. He balefully stared at his bag, then prodded it. ¡°This never would¡¯ve happened if you knew how to hold stuff.¡±


    The bag contorted slightly, wrinkles rippling across its leathered skin, but it didn¡¯t reply.


    Kato stopped prodding it. He looked up at the blinking lights, ¡°What are these,¡± he muttered breathlessly.


    ¡°Unknown objects identified, calibrated to older user please wait.¡± A familiar monotonous voice broke out.


    There was a pause. Then the walls fell in. Kato raised his arms to protect himself, bracing against the inevitable crash but it never came. He looked back up, the walls the lights and even the ceiling were gone replaced by the same empty landscape as before.


    Great.¡± He muttered, absentmindedly kicking the floor beneath him.


    ¡°Violence detected; safety procedure enacted¡± The monotonous blared out all around him.


    ¡°What?¡± Kato asked.


    A young roguish man materialised in front of him, dark windswept curls covered his head. He grinned at Kato for a moment. ¡°Thought you could get away with kicking my floor, did you?¡± With a sharp pirouette the man turned, and an oaken staff materialised in his leading hand, where he had pulled it from? Was anyone¡¯ guess, but Kato wouldn¡¯t like to assume.


    The staff came down rapidly arcing through the air towards him. Before sharply rapping across his knuckles. The man danced backwards, his feet gliding across the smooth floor.


    Kato glowered at him.


    ¡°Do you mind, I''ve had a really rough day.¡±


    ¡°Should¡¯ve thought about that before messing with my floor buddy.¡± The man darted forward again, non-existent wind swept his hair back into a models pose, sun glinted off his deep, azure eyes. The staff came down again, rapping Kato¡¯s knuckles with a sharp thwack.


    ¡°Look dude, you really don¡¯t want to mess with me.¡± Kato¡¯s hand recoiled back, but his eyes steeled on the man. ¡®Really had enough of people treating me like a nobody.¡¯


    ¡°Uh ¡­ oh, shiver me timbers.¡± The man comically widened his eyes before swiping his arms across his knees. He darted forward again, Kato dodged to the side, the man twisted mid strike rapping his knuckles once again.


    ¡°Listen unnamed guy, your floor is fine you psychopath!¡± Kato shouted the words at him, spittle flew into the air.


    ¡°The name¡¯s Evard, exalted one, keeper of peace but you can call me floor guy.¡± He stated, a rakish smile crept across his features as he bounced back on the heels of his feet.


    ¡°Floor¡­guy?¡± Kato couldn¡¯t help but laugh, even with the stinging reminder coming from his knuckles, even with all the pain of the last few days. It was just so absurd. ¡°Are¡­ you¡­serious?¡± He wheezed between laughs.


    ¡°Hey¡± Evard replied wounded, ¡°I like it.¡±


    ¡°You like it?¡± Kato paused for a moment before laughing again, the tension of the past shed off of him, as his eyes crinkled in mirth.


    ¡°Words hurt.¡± Evard stepped back, looking at him pointedly, ¡°no one ever teach you that?¡±


    ¡°Waah¡­waah¡± Kato stated slowly. ¡°You were just hitting me; you didn¡¯t think that hurt?¡± It was Kato¡¯s turn to look at him pointedly.


    ¡°You kicked my floor.¡± Evard stated plainly, as if that explained anything.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I barely touched your floor.¡±


    ¡°Well don¡¯t do it again¡±


    ¡°Or what?¡±


    ¡°Or what, or what he says,¡± Evard looked up. ¡°Can you believe this guy?¡± The voice stayed silent. ¡°Or there will be consequences, duh.¡±


    Kato looked at him, then raised a foot off the ground slowly.


    Evard¡¯s eyes locked on him. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­you¡­dare¡± each word was enunciated with great precision.


    Kato let his foot drop, kicking the floor with a dull thump.


    ¡°Screw you!¡± Evard flung his staff to the side and charged at Kato, arms stretched wide, his arms encircled Kato and drove him backwards, tackling him to the ground.


    The two rolled around swatting and hitting at each other, but it was hard to build up any momentum when they were so entangled.


    After a minute, Evard stood breathing heavily. ¡°You usually so antagonistic?¡± He asked between heavy breathes.


    ¡°You usually such a control freak?¡± Kato quipped back from the floor.


    ¡°Touch¨¦¡± Evard offered him a hand up.


    Kato accepted firmly clasping his wrist as he pulled himself back to his feet.


    ¡°Anyways, got to dash. Don¡¯t touch my floor again.¡± With a sharp pirouette, Evard disappeared in a puft of smoke.


    Kato stared at the smoky outline for a moment, before shaking his head in bewilderment. ¡®What the hell was that?¡¯


    Kato looked at the floor for a moment, ¡®how am I supposed to pass the time now?¡¯ He usually just ended up kicking the floor mindlessly when he had nothing else to do, but now Evard, or floor guy, as he liked to be called had ruined that.


    There was silence for a couple more minutes before the voice broke the silence. ¡°What are you still doing here, do you have nothing better to do?¡±


    Kato¡¯s eyes widened, shocked. ¡°You summoned me here.¡±


    ¡°User appears to be experiencing severe inhibition¡­scanning body¡­ no foreign substances found¡­ scanning mind.¡±


    Kato dropped to his knees, clutching his head in pain.


    ¡°No mental discrepancies found, reevaluating due to aberrant personality.¡±


    Kato sunk further to the ground, a sharp pain spreading from his forehead.


    ¡°No discrepancies found; baseline personality deemed aberrant.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell are you calling aberrant?¡± Kato glowered upwards.


    The voice ignored him, ¡°Training module two: newborn kittens will never fear your name available.¡±


    ¡°This again?¡± Kato¡¯s glower deepened, ¡°I so too could scare kittens.¡±


    The voice did not reply.


    ¡°I am not doing this again; I still remember what happened the last time.¡± Kato stated firmly, ¡®Don¡¯t want another Kray,¡¯ he shivered.


    Kato paced for a moment, ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± he looked upwards again.


    ¡°Subjects whining noted¡± The voice paused. ¡°Does subject wish to proceed.¡±


    ¡°No subject does not wish to proceed.¡± Kato took a breath, ¡°I have a name you know, it¡¯s Kato.¡±


    ¡°Subjects need for acceptance and random connections noted.¡± The voice stated back, in its mechanical, bland tone.


    ¡°You try being lost in a strange world¡± Kato muttered to himself, his foot kicking the floor slightly in frustration.


    A staff materialised in front of him and rapped his knuckles.


    Kato pulled his hand back, ¡®right, how could I forget there¡¯s a crazy psycho here now too?¡¯


    ¡°Would subject like to commence training module two?¡±


    ¡°No! How many times do I have to tell you? Leave me alone you freak! I am a person. Not a subject!¡± Kato snapped at it.


    The world got bathed in a low blood red.


    ¡°Would subject like to commence training module two?¡± The voice asked again its monotonous voice now tinged with anger.


    ¡°You don¡¯t scare me.¡± Kato sat down. ¡°I can play this game too.¡± Kato plugged his fingers in his ears and closed his eyes. ¡°La, la, la, la, la¡± he muttered to himself, rocking slowly back and forth. He couldn¡¯t do another of these training modules, he should¡¯ve been dead from the last one.


    Depriving himself of nearly all senses, he remained like this for a few minutes longer, until a rough calloused hand clasped his shoulder. Kato opened his eyes.


    ¡°Um, what are you doing¡± Evard asked him, staring down at Kato.


    ¡°Ignoring the voice¡± Kato replied curtly.


    ¡°Voice?¡± Evard looked at him strangely, before breaking out in a smile ¡°nah just kidding, obviously I can hear the voice.¡±


    ¡°Funny¡± Kato remarked dryly. ¡°Sorry, have I been sitting on your floor too long¡± he said with an edge of sarcasm.


    ¡°While I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve recognised that it is in fact my floor, that¡¯s not the reason I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here? Better yet why am I here?¡± Kato asked pointedly.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell him?¡± Evard looked up surprised.


    ¡°He is a zero, and an aberrant one at that, it would be unwise.¡± The voice stated plainly, as if that made the most sense in the world.


    Evard nodded his head, understandingly.


    ¡°Um did you pick up an orb shaped thing at any point?¡± Evard asked him.


    ¡°I guess¡± Kato stated, reluctantly.


    ¡°And after you picked that up did you agree to do training module one?¡±


    ¡°I guess.¡±


    ¡°Right, well that explains that then.¡±


    Kato glowered at him ¡°of course it does.¡± He said bitterly.


    ¡°Glad you understand¡± Evard smiled widely.


    ¡°I¡­ uhh¡­ never mind¡±


    ¡°So, you want to do the training module now?¡± Evard asked him, kindly.


    ¡°Oh, yeah, sure. Give me a second and I¡¯ll be right on that¡± Kato¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm.


    ¡°Confirming¡± the voice said then a moment later, ¡°one second has now passed, beginning training module two for the insecure, wannabe kitten bane, sitting over there, now.¡±


    Kato¡¯s eyes blazed in anger, ¡°You what?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t believe it. The voice just wouldn¡¯t leave him alone, it was relentless and now it was dragging him back to presumably yet another nightmare.


    Then the world shifted.

 Chapter 31 - The shirt on my back

    <u>The shirt on my back</u>


    Kato materialised, kneeling on cold, cobbled floor. ¡®Can¡¯t believe this happened¡­again.¡¯ He sighed. ¡®Guess this is my life now.¡¯


    ¡°Move it¡± A rough, guttural voice broke out ahead of him.


    Kato looked up, his eyes barely making out the figure of a man, pushing a cart straight towards him. Kato looked at the rapidly approaching object for a moment longer, ¡®Where am I?¡¯


    The cart was apparently not much one for introspection. A sharp wooden, corner bashed him aside and he went sprawling, narrowly missing his hands being run over by a wide wooden wheel securely attached by an axle to the cart¡¯s side.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Kato yelled after the man.


    ¡°I told you to move it,¡± the man replied. ¡°Bloody youngsters always playing in the road.¡± The man muttered under his breath, before heavily coughing, a wad of grey spit hit the ground. The man looked at Kato for a moment, his hands were heavily stained yellow, and what little teeth he had left were tarred brown. ¡°Some free advice here, don¡¯t be an idiot, this is a road.¡±


    Kato sharply turned his head to him, ¡°Free advice?¡± He spluttered, ¡°Here¡¯s some free advice for you ¡°Kato paused desperately wracking his brain, ¡®come on, come on, think of something witty.¡¯


    But it was too late, the man, and his wagon had disappeared in a haze of smoke, leaving nothing but the stench of tobacco hanging thick in the air.


    ¡°Maybe don¡¯t be a prick¡± Kato muttered, as he stared at the man¡¯s retreating back, ¡®right, yeah, that showed him. Got him good there.¡¯


    Kato shook his head, ¡®I¡¯m going to really enjoy this place, aren¡¯t I?¡¯ He thought sarcastically. ¡®First place in a while, where I could understand people and they¡¯re like this? Great.¡¯


    Brushing himself down, Kato stood straight. He looked to his left and right, cobblestone paved streets, separated tightly packed houses, smeared by grey. Thatched rooves stained dark adorned the buildings and a thick, ever-present smog, hung in the air.


    Kato looked up, the sky in fitting with the general surroundings, was covered in grey.


    ¡®At least it¡¯s not hell this time.¡¯  He shivered, maybe this place would be okay.


    Without much thought, Kato began to trek down the paved road, following in the footsteps of his new friend.


    Splash! The stone suddenly dipped, and Kato¡¯s left leg was soddened. He looked down into the grey puddle and waited for the ripples to clear. A wretched grimy, visage greeted him, he raised a hand rubbing away at his cheek and examined it, he was coated in sawdust, blood and dirt, even specks of grass still clung to what was left of his clothes.


    Kato stared at the puddle some more, ¡®no wonder that man didn¡¯t care.¡¯ Kato looked all too much like a vagrant and he knew with far too much familiarity how vagrants were treated, he shuddered. ¡®Got to fit in.¡¯


    ¡°Excuse me ¡°he greeted a passerby. She was a willowy woman, with large sunken eyes, trundling a makeshift pram ahead of her.


    ¡°I have no change¡± she muttered absently, and without even looking at him, continued on.


    Kato tried talking to a few more people, but the best he got were sympathetic looks, no one bothered to talk to him, to listen or realise he wasn¡¯t looking for change.


    After several minutes of Kato¡¯s depressing confirmation of humanity, a finely dressed man in a suit strode passed him, head held high, he chucked some coins that roughly impacted against Kato.


    Kato¡¯s eyes burned, he strode forward.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± a voice whispered, it was the woman with the pram, returned, from whatever errand she had been running.


    ¡°And why not?¡± Kato retorted.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t¡± she spoke softly to him, a defeated expression clung to her features. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡±


    ¡°You think I will just stay here after some, stranger¡± he spat the word out, ¡°assaults me in broad daylight.¡±


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The woman looked to the sky ¡°daylight? ¡­ You¡¯re funny, we haven¡¯t had that in years.¡± She paused just staring upwards, ¡°has it been that long, it can¡¯t have been? Can it?¡± The woman softly muttered to herself.


    Kato turned, ¡®I can still confront the man. No one should treat others like this!¡¯


    A firm vice-like grip clutched his arm, his body jolted backwards.


    ¡°Please,¡± the gaunt woman looked at him, desperately, it was the first flicker of emotion Kato had seen from the stranger.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered, defeated, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Hey, why are there-¡± Kato tried to talk to the woman, but she had already turned away, pram trundling, down the street, as if they had never interacted to begin with.


    ¡®Why did I miss this? People suck.¡¯ Idly, he kicked the ground, then tensed, looking around, on edge. ¡®No stranger wants to assault me for kicking their floor. Great. I am overjoyed,¡¯ he thought dryly.


    Kato continued on, weaving past more of the same, bleary drab houses, coated in soot and dirt, and a singular road that never seemed to end.


    ¡°Hey mister¡± A voice gruffened by age, broke out to the side of him.


    Kato turned to see a small tailor¡¯s stall. A short man stood behind the counter, his face beaten by time, carried the burden of missed opportunities and a lifetime of regrets. Memories of a better time were carved into each crease of his weathered face.


    The man had a wide smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes, and a thick white bushy beard that stretched down over his neck.


    ¡°Spare a stranger some coin,¡± the tailor asked with a little laugh.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have none to spare,¡± Kato looked at him apologetically.


    ¡°I could tell,¡± The man responded with a harsh laugh.


    Kato¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need that rag that you¡¯re calling a shirt. Hand it over if you want something better, I¡¯m in a charitable mood, saves you freezing in the street.¡±


    Kato¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°you would do this for me? Why?¡±


    A rough, calloused hand gently clipped his ears, ¡°Don¡¯t you listen kid, I said I¡¯m feeling charitable.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right, yeah. Um. Thanks, mister. Really.¡± Kato removed what was left of the tattered, mess he had been calling it a shirt and handed it to the tailor. He circled his chest gently, ¡°may Cogul witness your kindness.¡±


    The tailor looked at him, as if unsure then laughed slowly, ¡°don¡¯t need no blessings from no hippy, dippy god, son¡± he looked at Kato then, put the tattered garbs on his counter, next to a sign reading spare parts.


    ¡°So that new shirt?¡± Kato asked him expectantly; the man ignored him as if wasn¡¯t even there.


    ¡°Hey mister,¡± the tailor called out at a random passerby, they strode on, ignoring the man peddling his wares.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Kato¡¯s fist came down on the counter.


    A slight sneer spread across the tailor¡¯s weathered face, ¡°No refunds.¡±


    ¡°No refunds?¡± Kato stuttered, mouth agape, ¡°you promised me a new shirt. Do you think I¡¯m just going to hand over my only shirt for nothing and then just leave, happy as can be?¡±


    ¡°I promised you nothing,¡± the tailor¡¯s hand dipped low and a moment later rose back firmly, clasping a vicious looking steel baton. He hit it against it his palm with a brutal thwack. ¡°Now scram, ¡®fore I call the guard.¡±


    Kato stepped back instinctively, ¡®can¡¯t be caught by the guards¡¯ a voice from his past whispered to him. ¡®But I''ve done nothing wrong,¡¯ he thought, ¡®I know you, you¡¯re not that na?ve, you can¡¯t be,¡¯ the voice responded. With a last dirty look at the tailor Kato slipped back in the crowd, becoming just another face among many.


    ¡®Did not expect to quite literally have the shirt taken off my back.¡¯ He sighed wearily as his feet carried him, begrudgingly forward.


    ¡°Hey newbie,¡± a melodic voice broke out to his side.


    A young woman around his age, was staring at him. She had dark black, locks of hair that fell just short of her shoulders, it was a stunning contrast against her pale skin. A leather jacket clung to her slim figure, diverging sharply with the monotone and dreary grey attire of everyone else in vicinity.


    Kato looked at her for a moment, then strode on, brushing past her. ¡®Knowing my luck, she¡¯ll steal my trousers and shoes¡­ Not. Worth. It.¡¯


    ¡°Hey that¡¯s kind of rude, you know?¡± She popped up in front of him, barring his way, dark hazel eyes stared into his, accentuated by thin, styled eyebrows. Absentmindedly, his eyes traced the freckles that bridged her nose


    ¡°Um, hey?¡± Kato responded, all it took to beat his resolve, was apparently a pretty face.


    ¡°Styx, she held out a hand, palm up towards him.


    ¡°Sorry I don¡¯t have any sticks, there¡¯s probably some trees around here somewhere, but I haven¡¯t seen them.¡± He responded, ¡®What is with people in this place, first the shirt, now twigs?¡¯


    With a quizzical look she regarded him, ¡°Where¡¯s your shirt?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your shirt?¡± Kato countered sharply.


    She looked down ¡°Um, I''m wearing it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah well¡­ that¡¯s good for you¡± Kato replied, his voice trailing off.


    She bopped his nose, ¡°you¡¯re cute¡± a smirk played on her lips. ¡°But trust me I¡¯m not after your wood, we just met after all. It¡¯s my name, Styx, with an x,¡± she blew a kiss.


    Kato reddened, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck, ¡°oh, right¡­ nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°And you are¡± she nudged his shoulder playfully, the smirk still dancing across her lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s, uhh¡­ Kato?¡±


    ¡°You sure? That doesn¡¯t sound sure.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what else would I be called.¡± Kato nervously laughed, ¡°Floor guy?¡±


    ¡°Floor guy?¡± She looked at him strangely. ¡°That¡¯s a terrible name.¡±


    Kato laughed a little too hard.


    She looked at him again, ¡°you¡¯re kinda weird.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, well you¡¯re kind of¡­¡± Kato paused


    ¡°Kind of what?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Give me a second alright¡± Kato said.


    ¡°Okay¡± she paused. ¡°One¡­ I¡¯m kind of what?¡±


    ¡°Insufferable,¡± Kato muttered.


    ¡°What was that?¡± She asked. ¡°You kind of murmured just then.¡±


    ¡°Weird sneeze?¡± Kato tried hopefully.


    ¡°Right,¡± she replied, studying him with a mixture of amusement and confusion.


    Kato blushed, involuntarily.


    With a small roll of her eyes, she started to walk away ¡°If you¡¯re done sneezing let¡¯s, go¡±


    ¡°And why would I go anywhere with you?¡± Kato shot back, crossing his arms.


    Without even turning around, she replied ¡°What else are you going to do?¡±


    With a resigned sigh, Kato followed.

 Chapter 32 - Hats off to you, wait that doesn鈥檛 mean you can take it!

    <u>Hats off to you, wait that doesn¡¯t mean you can take it!</u>


    ¡°Are we there yet?¡± Kato asked, trailing Styx.


    ¡°What?¡± She finally turned, ¡°We¡¯ve hardly walked three feet. Why would we be there yet?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, it just seemed like the right thing to say.¡± Kato shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°Okay?¡± Styx stopped walking and stared at him.


    ¡°I knew it! We are there!¡± Kato exclaimed.


    ¡°What? Oh,¡± she looked at Kato¡¯s cheeky smirk. ¡°Funny¡­¡±


    She started walking forward, her grey leather turnshoes eating up the ground at a remarkable pace. Her jacket billowed back, thin black straps dancing in her wake.


    ¡°Hey, wait up,¡± Kato called as he began jogging behind her.


    Styx didn¡¯t say a word, but a slow, devilish smile spread across her lips.


    Then she ran, Kato stared at her retreating back for a moment ¡®how do I keep finding crazy?¡¯


    Kato ran after her.


    She giggled, it was full of mirth, as she weaved in and out of the surrounding crowd.


    Kato darted in between people, following as closely as he could, but it was no use, she was just too fast. ¡®Lost her.¡¯ ¡°Styx, he called out, his voice tinged with desperation, but there was no reply. For a moment he just stared at the ranks of bodies, hemming him in, ¡¯could ask a stranger, but I already know how that would turn out.¡¯ Resigned Kato just began plodding up the street, ¡®who really wants an adventure, with a mystery girl, clad in leather? Not me, no siree bob. I¡¯d rather get robbed and be pelted by coins.¡¯


    ¡°Boo!¡± Styx sprang up in front of Kato.


    Kato clutched his heart and staggered back dramatically.


    She laughed, ¡°lost you, did I?¡± She leaned forward slightly, hands on hips.


    ¡®Play it cool, play it cool.¡¯


    ¡°No, I knew where you were, it¡¯s just I wanted to experience more of the city you know?¡± Kato leaned back; his arms crossed with a nonchalant expression.


    She looked at him quizzically, eyebrows raised.


    His heart beat a little harder.


    ¡°Fine you got me, I had no idea where you were.¡±


    She smiled brightly at him, then darted back into the crowd.


    ¡®This woman.¡¯ Kato stared at the crowd again, but it was no use she was already gone.


    Goosebumps freckled Kato¡¯s pale skin. Who could¡¯ve known it would be colder not wearing a shirt, than wearing one? He sighed and tried to rub some warmth back into his arms. A lone finger circled his chest, ¡°come on big guy, do me a solid, just this once.¡± He stared down at the little bumps, they refused to budge, ¡®super manly Kato, super manly,¡¯ He walked over to the side of the street and leaned against a wall, he ran his hand through his hair, styling it slightly and looked off to the distance with a smouldering expression.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Kato turned to the sound of a woman¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Styx?¡± He asked, scanning the crowd.


    ¡°Sticks? Foolish boy, what nonsense are you prattling about?¡± A wizened old lady with light grey wispy hair, mottled by white, peered at him from halfway out of a crumbling but studded wooden door. ¡°Get off my wall now¡± she stated. ¡°And put on a shirt¡­ it¡¯s not decent,¡± she added as an afterthought. Then she waved a broomstick at him violently, her thin arms trembling under the exertion. Rough straw flew off the broom in Kato¡¯s direction


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


    He stared at her for a moment. ¡®Seriously. Leaning on a wall. That¡¯s what it takes to get people to notice me?¡¯ He was severely tempted to start kicking the wall, but by sheer strength of will he resisted.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he forced the word out with a grimace. ¡°Have a nice day.¡±


    The woman mumbled something undoubtedly pleasant under her breath and retreated with her back hunched, behind the riveted wooden door. A second later the drapes in her window were pulled slightly to the side and a pair of eyes rested on Kato.


    ¡°Seriously? Kato asked the window, ¡°What do you think I¡¯m going to do?¡±


    The window, nor the woman behind it, deigned to answer him.


    ¡°Why are you talking to a window?¡± A voice whispered next to his ear.


    Kato jolted back, startled. His shoulder jerked back into Styx¡¯s nose.


    She glowered at him, ¡°seriously, that¡¯s kind of rude.¡±


    ¡°Wh-what?¡± Kato stuttered. ¡°You startled me.¡±


    ¡°Do women usually scare you?¡± She asked him, a flicker of amusement passed across her features before being swiftly repressed.


    Kato looked at her for a moment, ¡®this feels like a trap.¡¯ He thought to himself. Kato stared at her, his eyes narrowing sightly,


    A wide smile took over her features and she darted backwards. Her unclasped jacket billowed around her from the motion. She stopped, letting the leather settle, before standing straight, with her head tilted to the side in some sort of pose. ¡°Well?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m alright and you?¡± Kato asked back, his forehead crinkling in confusion, ¡®feels a bit off topic.¡¯


    ¡°What? No, I mean well, what do you think?¡± She tilted her head up in a new pose, resting her chin lightly on the back of a delicate hand.


    Kato stared at her for a moment, ¡°I think about lots of stuff, sometimes I think, I think too much, and great now you¡¯ve got me thinking about overthinking,¡± Kato mock glared at her, ¡°thanks.¡±


    She looked at him, her shoulders slumping slightly ¡°My hat, do you not see it?¡±


    It was a dark grey fedora, that rested snuggly over her wavy black locks. A thin, black, silk band wrapped around the crown and a single soft, white feather rose from it, the tip gently swaying along to the wind.


    ¡°We match now!¡± She grinned, tapping the feather atop her head.


    Kato¡¯s hand rose up meeting the soft quill behind his ear, ¡®How did I forget?¡¯ He plucked it from his ear and proceeded to stagger back, his knees crashing to the floor. Wordlessly he stared at the feather in his hand. His eyes darted over it wildly, refusing to stay in place. He ran a finger along the thin bony spine, it was cold to the touch. Without looking up, he spoke, ¡°how long has that been there?¡±


    ¡°Since I met you. Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember it.¡± He stated plainly, ¡°I mean, I remember getting it and putting it on, but everything else ¡­¡± he trailed off. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it earlier; I saw my reflection, just hours ago and it wasn¡¯t there.¡± He paused, "maybe it doesn''t matter," and with that Kato slowly rose to his feet, unclasping his hand and letting the feather slip from his fingers. It gently floated towards the floor, before the wind picked up and took it away. ¡°Goodbye¡± Kato whispered as he watched the feather, retreat into the sky, ¡°maybe one day you¡¯ll truly fly again.¡±


    Styx rested a hand on his shoulder, watching with him.


    ¡°MY HAT!¡± Someone shouted, shattering the moment. ¡°THIEF! THIEF!¡± was cried soon after.


    Styx stepped back, ¡°completely unrelated, but¡­ we should probably go.¡±


    Kato kept watching, she tugged at his arm, ¡°Like right now.¡±


    ¡°Why? I thought you said it was unrelated?¡± Kato finally turned to regard her.


    She awkwardly fidgeted for a moment, staring at her hands as she picked at a nail, ¡°Ok you got me.¡± She looked up at him. ¡°I lied.¡± She raised her hands up in mock surrender, ¡°It is related.¡±


    The once indifferent crowd parted like a wave, an empty channel that cut outwards from a familiar man wearing that same charcoal suit. The passage stretched from him to Kato and Styx.


    ¡°My hat!¡± The man¡¯s eyes blazed as his vision settled on the pair, Kato¡¯s eyes blazed back. He briefly scanned the crowd, ¡®good that woman with the pram is gone.¡¯ Kato began striding towards the figure, his hands clenching by his side, ¡®an opportunity for revenge,¡¯ his heart pulsed angrily. If Kato had paused for introspection, he might have asked himself, ¡®when did I become the type of person to turn to anger instead of words,¡¯ but he didn¡¯t and his hand only clenched harder, his knuckles morphing to a startling shade of white.


    A hand gripped him, ¡°Kato we need to go,¡± Styx looked at him, the humour in her voice gone, ¡°are you crazy?¡±


    ¡°I need to do this,¡± was all Kato said, his voice gruff, as he walked on, not even turning towards her.


    The man stared back at him, his nose turning upwards and eyebrows raising, an ornate cane rapped the floor beside him. His eyes blazed harder than ever. The man exuded authority, demanded respect, but Kato was prepared to give him neither.


    ¡°Kato please.¡±


    He kept walking, the crowd, now forming barriers as they watched the two men intently.


    ¡°Kato you might want to fight. But I don¡¯t!¡± The voice was heavy and thick with emotion, Kato looked down, Styx was looking up at him.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°How could it not. I have his hat. Please Kato. For me. You don¡¯t know what will happen if this gets back to me.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t,¡± Kato replied, but his resolve wavering.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± Styx cried out, ¡°please!¡±


    Kato finally stopped. The other man began to walk towards them, confidently, twirling an ornate black cane, capped by a silver plant that seemed to float above a silvered root ball, before melding back into the rich, dark wood.


    Kato took a deep breath and let it go. Styx dragged him back into the throng.

 Chapter 33 - Boxes, boxes and more boxes

    <u>Boxes, boxes and more boxes</u>


    She and Kato weaved through the crowd, pushing past person after person, till the angry cries of a man screaming about his hat were left far in the distance.


    Kato hadn¡¯t said a word since he¡¯d let Styx drag him away, internally he was seething, he could have done something about it, shown the man that you can¡¯t just treat others however you like and get away with it. Images of a beaten poker flooded his mind, he tried to ignore them, but he couldn¡¯t, each image lasting longer than the one before it. Kato was all too familiar of what the path of inaction entailed.


    Styx slowed down, her hand hadn¡¯t stopped dragging him, since they left. ¡°So, you want to talk about what happened back there?¡± she said softly.


    ¡°Do I want to talk about what happened back there?¡± Kato replied, incredulous, his eyes slightly widening, ¡°you were the one who stole his hat.¡±


    ¡°And with hindsight, I can admit that that was probably a mistake,¡± she said exasperated.


    ¡°Probably?¡± Kato scoffed.


    She gazed at him for a moment, then gently knocked her shoulder into him, ¡°probably.¡±


    Kato sighed, ¡°Why¡¯d you do that? Stop me, I mean?¡±


    Her eyes flickered over him, as if searching for something. After a long pause she replied, ¡°you wouldn¡¯t get it,¡± her voice cracked slightly, as she slowly turned to face away.


    ¡°Get what? ¡°Kato walked around her, so they were facing again, he reached out a hand and tenderly steadied a trembling shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with bad people before, maybe I can deal with this one too,¡± Kato slowly began psyching himself up for another confrontation, his calm demeanour hiding an insidious blood lust bubbling underneath. Without realising his hands began to clench.


    ¡°He¡¯s dangerous, okay? Just drop it. Please,¡± her voice was tight and small, as she shrugged off his touch.


    Kato looked at her for a moment, ¡®stop being a dick, this isn¡¯t even remotely similar to the wagon situation, you don¡¯t need to fight, not always. She¡¯s unhappy and all you can think about is yourself,¡¯ Kato mulled over his thoughts, before springing into action, he would make her happy, least he could do, even if it involved making a fool of himself, his hands unclenched.


    He clambered onto a nearby wooden box. ¡°Hear me! Hear me!¡±


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Styx muttered, tugging his arm, but Kato just stood taller.


    ¡°Five coins for anyone, that thinks they can beat me in a feat of strength,¡± he flexed a skinny arm somewhat dramatically.


    Styx giggled.


    A thick, burly, man with broad shoulders and a checkered, grey overcoat approached him.


    ¡°Ahh a challenger I see,¡± Kato said loudly, ¡°don¡¯t be too intimidated,¡± he flexed again.


    ¡°You¡¯re on my box,¡± the man spoke gruffly, ¡°get off.¡±


    With great subtlety, Styx¡¯s giggles devolved into full blown laughter, tears streaming down her face. More people turned to look at the strange girl¡¯s manic fit than had turned when Kato had practically offered free money.


    Kato dropped lightly off the box, his cheeks reddening slightly. The man strode over and lifted the large wooden box to his shoulder then turned and walked away, ¡°kids¡± he muttered under his breath, with a slight shake of his head.


    Kato looked over at Styx, she was still laughing.


    Kato ran his hands over his face as if in a great deal of pain.


    ¡°So¡± she said, after the laughter had finally stopped. ¡°Tough guy. Do you want to get something to eat? I have a proposition.¡±


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    Kato looked down, at his bare chest and tattered lower half, he was still covered in grime and blood, the opportunity to clean having not presented itself. ¡°Not sure anyone will serve me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± she looked at him again, then laughed¡­again. ¡°Oh right, the whole monster from the depths thing you¡¯ve got going on.¡± She gave him a playful shove, ¡°Come on. We can make a stop on the way.¡±


    ¡®Monster from the depths?¡¯ Kato questioned, but let himself be taken to a nearby alley, nevertheless.


    He was dragged through at a relentless pace, practically stumbling over his feet whilst Styx nimbly pulled him along.


    The pair spilled out into a wide courtyard, an ornate fountain, adorned with two large stone watering cans poured over a stone plant that seemed to float above a carved root ball in the centre.


    Styx dragged him over to the stone plinth bordering the fountain, ¡°here, sit.¡±


    Kato sat down and fought against letting his expression change, it was freezing, he looked at her, searching for any sign of trickery or deception, but he found none.


    The fountain gurgled cheerfully by him, completely unaware of the pain it had caused. Kato really wanted to turn and glower at the structure, ¡®don¡¯t do that it¡¯s weird,¡¯ he fought his will but it was too strong, he turned looked for a moment at the serene water rippling across the surface, it was a deep azure blue and wouldn¡¯t look out of place in some tropical paradise, he¡¯d only heard of in books.


    He glowered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like fountains?¡± Styx asked.


    ¡°What?¡± Kato turned back to her, ¡°um no they¡¯re fine, something got in my eye¡­ Probably.¡±


    ¡°Probably?¡± She asked questioningly.


    ¡°Probably.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­¡± her words trailed off and she just stared at him, ¡°you really are weird.¡±


    ¡®Great I told you it would be weird, but you did it anyway, who glares at fountains,¡¯ thinking quickly, Kato spoke ¡°I just don¡¯t like watering cans.¡±


    Styx hands were firmly on her hips, as she loomed over his seated form. ¡°You don¡¯t like watering cans?¡±


    He desperately searched his mind for a solution, ¡®Double down you fool.¡¯ ¡°I mean a can for water? It¡¯s absurd.¡±


    Styx¡¯s lip twitched, ¡°you¡¯re serious, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s not working. Double down again, quick!¡¯ ¡°Absolutely, it¡¯s a ridiculous concept!¡± he said, with conviction, even he was starting to believe himself.


    Styx was now not even bothering to conceal her smile, ¡°yeah so weird¡± her eyes creased, ¡°never did trust those cans,¡± she said, mirth filling her voice.


    Kato smiled back, relieved, ¡®nailed it.¡¯


    ¡°But maybe, just once you could trust them?¡± She looked at him, dead in the eyes, the pushed him back.


    Kato toppled backwards, his arms flailed to the side, as he desperately tried to regain his balance. He was doing it, he was coming back up, winning against gravity, a determined smirk, played across his face. ¡®She failed,¡¯ he thought, victoriously, as he inched closer to an upright position.


    Then she pushed him again, there was no recovering, Kato fell backwards with a great splash, sinking into the surprisingly deep water.


    A moment later flotsam rose to the surface in the form of blood, dirt, sawdust and some unspecified black goo.


    ¡°Ughh¡± Styx groaned, ¡°that was all on you, why?¡±


    Kato hesitated, ¡®don¡¯t scare her.¡¯ He put on a smile, ¡°just unlucky, I guess. Speaking of.¡± He grabbed Styx and pulled her back into the fountain; she was fully submerged and came back spluttering and coughing, her black hair sodden wet.


    ¡°I cannot believe you just did that¡± she jumped at him; water flew around the pair as they splashed furiously at each other. This continued for a moment until suddenly, in a moment of silence, they just stared at each other, heavily panting, their bodies dripping, from the exertion of their shared physical activity.


    Styx raised an eyebrow at him, ¡°you should put on a shirt.¡±


    Kato looked at her incredulous, then laughed softly, ¡°you¡¯re probably right.¡±


    The two sparkling clean, stepped out of the water. Ripples were left in their wake and the flotsam that had come off the pair was mysteriously absent.


    Styx reached over and touched his dark black hair, ¡°it¡¯s not crusty,¡± she paused ¡°wow.¡±


    ¡°You did not just describe my hair as crusty.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right I didn¡¯t, in fact I said the opposite,¡± she smirked at him, cheekily.


    ¡°If we were still in the fountain¡­¡± Kato trailed off.


    ¡°You¡¯d what?¡± She pouted and leaned forwards, ¡°splash me? Wow you really are a monster from the depths.¡± She stuck her bottom lip forward and widened her eyes up at him.


    ¡®Monster from the depths? Again? Is that supposed to mean something?¡¯ Kato laughed awkwardly, ¡°so¡­ you said something about a shirt?¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± she chucked a sodden piece of fabric at him.


    ¡°You had that the entire time?¡± Kato gazed at her, bemused, before putting it on, with a great struggle.


    ¡°Um, you don¡¯t want to wait, till it¡¯s dried?¡± Styx asked, questioningly.


    ¡°You,¡± he panted ¡°think¡± he staggered, leaning to the side, ¡°a mere¡± he grunted, ¡°shirt¡± he staggered, to the other side, ¡°can beat me?¡± He finally said, triumphantly, as his head popped through the top.


    ¡°You forgot the sleeves.¡±


    Kato looked down, then struggled some more.


    ¡°Food.¡± She said, dramatically rubbing her stomach, and looking at him with pleading eyes.


    ¡°Food.¡± Kato said with a curt nod.


    The pair walked down the street, a lone cardboard box, was leaning upturned against a stained, dishevelled house. The panes of its glass windows were cracked, and dust licked the interiors. A small, grey feline face popped from the top.


    Kato¡¯s blood boiled, ¡°I have something to take care of.¡±

 Chapter 34 - Are you feline ok?

    <u>Are you feline ok?</u>


    Kato walked over to the beast; the monotonous words of a voice were rolling around in his ears.


    His face contorted, slightly twitching as he strode over to the little kitten.


    It looked up at him, with big round eyes in curiosity, then lost attention a moment later, batting at something imaginary in the air, before falling backwards and toppling off the boxes¡¯ edge. It lay on its back rolling back and forth, constantly swatting at something imaginary in the air.


    Kato¡¯s whole face twitched, ¡®Is it mocking me?¡¯


    Styx looked over at him, strangely, ¡°Kato?¡±


    Kato ignored her, his eyes focusing on the monster ahead of him.


    It kept batting the air, occasionally releasing small, happy sounds.


    Kato glowered, ¡®it is playing with me¡­. Playing with my emotions that is!¡¯ Kato¡¯s eyes tightened further; he would not let this beast make a mockery of him.


    He advanced.


    ¡°Mrow?¡± The cat looked up at him, its dilated eyes, somehow defying physics expanded again.


    Kato matched it, his eyes narrowing even further in turn. He looked up, ¡°So!¡± He shouted at the sky, ¡°you think to mock me?¡±


    In a distant world Evard spoke to nobody in a sterile, white, room, ¡°he can¡¯t be serious, can he?¡±


    ¡°This is the training described,¡± he laughed mockingly.


    ¡°Oh no, ¡°Evard whispered.


    ¡°Should¡¯ve picked something harder!¡± Kato proclaimed, not looking down from the grey sky, that refused to answer him.


    Styx looked at him again, her mouth slightly agape.


    Evard buried his face into his palms.


    Kato¡¯s eyes drifted back downwards to the monster. It yawned and playfully snapped at the air, before doing a full roll through the surrounding dust, and coming back up even greyer than before. ¡®I knew it! It mocks me.¡¯


    The evil beast, with slow, deliberateness, darted a tongue at a dust covered paw, it missed, and its head lolled to the side. Trying again, the rough pink tongue finally beat the dust off of it.


    ¡®It fights even itself.¡¯ Kato looked closely at it, ¡®does its depravity know no bounds.¡¯ He shook his head slowly, this wasn¡¯t just training anymore, it was a personal, this monster could not be allowed to continue.


    ¡°Thwap.¡± A gentle tongue, ran over the fiend¡¯s white socks, lapping delicately, until there was no trace of the grime that had been there. ¡°Mrow?¡± It looked at him again.


    Kato¡¯s heart boiled, ¡®it challenges me so brazenly,¡¯ he stepped forward.


    ¡°Kato?¡± Styx called out again, her hand arrested his motion, with a slight shoulder clasp.


    ¡°No, of course you¡¯re right?¡± Kato muttered his mind going into overdrive, he needed to plan this, think it through, it couldn¡¯t be this easy, could it?


    ¡°About?¡± Styx asked, her forehead slightly crinkling till her light, dotted, brown, freckles appeared to overlap in concentration.


    But it was too late, Kato was already lost in thought, ¡®so I come up behind it and then BLAARRGH, simple but classic.¡¯


    ¡°Hmm,¡± He mused, ¡®perhaps simplicity is key, I don¡¯t need to overthink this.¡¯ He sat down ¡®Okay but what if? And here me out here, you do a wall run. Flip off the top land right in front of it and BLAARGH, right to the face¡¯, Kato paused, thinking. ¡®I don¡¯t know how to wall run; I don¡¯t even know how to flip,¡¯ he replied. ¡®¡­Right,¡¯ his first thought responded. ¡®That was a pretty dumb idea.¡¯ Kato stood again; his mind made up, there was no going back now!


    ¡°What now?¡± Styx muttered under her breath, trying to hide a smile.


    Kato turned, startled, he had forgotten she was here. ¡°Um,¡± he said awkwardly, ¡°there¡¯s no easy way to ask this, but could you distract it¡­ please?¡¯


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    She looked at him, dead in the eyes, ¡°you want me to distract the cat?¡¯


    ¡°Shhh,¡± Kato crouched slightly, ¡°It might hear you,¡± he whispered in hushed tones.


    Styx looked pointedly to the small feline.


    It was still rolling about batting at the imaginary, making little noises of pleasure.


    She looked back at him with an eyebrow raised.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let it deceive you,¡± Kato whispered.


    ¡°Fine, I will help you to distract the cat,¡± she said with a slight smile. ¡°I¡¯m far too invested now.¡±


    Kato looked at her, his lips thinning, ¡°that is your job, to distract the cat, I have a higher purpose.¡±


    ¡°Okay, tough guy,¡± Styx gently punched his shoulder, ¡°show them hell.¡±


    ¡®How fitting,¡¯ Kato thought as he crept around the sadistic brute, it had not given up, still trying to lull them into a false sense of security. The daemonic animal¡¯s nose crinkled slightly before a tiny sneeze rocked its head back, its eyes watered slightly.


    ¡®Pathetic, as if I would be so easily fooled!¡¯


    ¡°Hey, um, cat, look over here, wow such cool, such excite!¡± Styx proclaimed from across the street.


    ¡°Mrow? The cat turned, momentarily stopping its rhythmic batting at the air, its need for conquest over all temporarily sated by a mere distraction.


    Kato smirked to himself; this would be far too easy.


    Styx began to hypnotically swing a finger in front of the kitten¡¯s glistening black, button nose. Yellow eyes tracked the movement, the head gently swaying back and forth as the kitten tracked the movement, its tongue slightly poked through its mouth the tip resting on its bottom lip.


    Kato charged, the ground flew past as he leapt into the air, he came down with a heavy impact on front of the evil monster. ¡°BLAAARGH!¡± He screamed at the top of his voice, the cat blinked slightly, its tongue lolled out a little further, then it brushed past him, tracking the finger once again.


    ¡®What? No! Impossible,¡¯ Kato looked over to the little beast, ¡®maybe there was latency?¡¯ It strutted on, unbothered, a tiny tail swishing in its wake.


    A wave of disbelief washed over him. ¡®It really doesn¡¯t care?¡¯ Kato came to the realisation at about the same time something inside him broke.


    His vision dropped, as he stared down at the floor, unmoving. He had failed. His raised hands, dropped, slumping against his sides. Then he let his legs collapse, falling to his knees as he just stared forward at a plane of cracked glass ahead of him.


    A version of him stared back, his reflection, had messed up hair and a slightly manic look to his eyes. Gently he raised a hand up trailing it against his cheek, the reflection did the same. He stared at it for a moment, just watching as it copied his motions, action for action, stroke for stroke.


    ¡®It was a cat, just a cat,¡¯ he looked down defeated, his reflection did the same, but he never saw it. ¡®Just a cat¡­¡¯


    He let his body fall forward once again, till he was lying face first on the cold, cobbled ground. Once smooth stones, now bit into him, tiny imperfections, creating jagged edges, deceiving to his sight but far too honest too his touch.


    Kato let them. He didn¡¯t know what he had been thinking, maybe that if he scared the cat, it would all go back to normal? He¡¯d be here one moment, and then gone the next. He opened his mouth to sigh but got a mouthful of dirt for his trouble. He sank further into the floor, ¡®this is the life.¡¯


    ¡°Hey?¡± A small foot nudged him slightly, ¡°you in there? I was really scared you know, even if the cat wasn¡¯t.¡±


    Kato pushed himself up slightly, tilting his head to look at her, ¡°thanks Styx, but it doesn¡¯t matter, not really.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to try and not take that personally, don¡¯t want to get on the bad side of a guy who tries to scare cats,¡± she teased.


    ¡°Sure. Fine.¡± Kato replied back, curt.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± She turned and walked away, ¡°fine be miserable.¡± She turned and walked away.


    Kato just lay on the floor, his perspective changed to the fog that blanketed the sky. He watched as it slowly shifted back and forth, the cloudscape creating and destroying new and old formations alike on little more than a whim.


    Styx walked over him, her face blocking the view, ¡°mrowwww,¡± she dropped the little ball of fur on his chest. ¡°Mrow?¡± something soft and warm began to knead his side, digging furiously, turning and folding his shirt, they had bread to sell!


    Kato began to smile; he couldn¡¯t help himself. Pounce! The little beast jumped to the centre of his chest, paws outstretched, Kato turned his head towards it, the little one stared back. It walked over to him, slowly, tentatively, then curled up by his neck, purring slightly as it basked in its victory.


    Despite the blatant superiority exhibited, Kato¡¯s smile widened, against his will, it was kind of cute, or at least it would have been, if it wasn¡¯t so obviously evil.


    The small creature clambered further up, apparently done with its power nap, then a rough, wet began to assault the side of his face. He groaned, ¡®was I the bad guy here.¡¯ Kato let it continue for a while as he felt his tension melt away, then finally he stood, placing the small creature back to the ground.


    Styx smiled warmly, ¡°that was really cute.¡±


    Kato looked back nervous, ¡®why hasn¡¯t she left.¡¯ ¡°Yeah, well¡± he rubbed the back of his neck, awkwardly, ¡°Um, I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know what came over me.¡±


    She pointed down, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t apologise yet.¡±


    The cat was licking itself in a very private area.


    Kato rubbed away at the side of his face, ¡°I knew it was evil.¡±


    ¡°You thought it was evil?¡± She looked at him shocked, ¡°why?¡±


    ¡°No reason, just a feeling I guess¡± he muttered his cheeks burning, somewhere on a different world, a monotonous voice laughed.


    She eyed him strangely, ¡°right¡­¡±


    ¡°Should probably get going before this monster pees on me or something,¡± Kato quipped, weakly.


    ¡°All part of its evil plot,¡± she grinned at him, ¡°it¡¯s probably lulling you into a false sense of security even now.¡±


    Kato reddened further, ¡°that would be ridiculous,¡± he nervously laughed, hoping she would drop it.


    ¡°Hmm, would it? Looks pretty suspicious to me.¡±


    Kato looked back to it; it was back to batting the air. His eyes narrowed.


    Styx grabbed his arm, ¡°that was a joke.¡± Without allowing him to reconsider, she pulled him down the street, until the pair reached a large black door with a thick brass handle.


    She pulled it up and let it fall against the door. A voice spoke from the other side in a hoarse, gravelly voice, ¡°what is the music of life?¡±

 Chapter 35 - I do not eat candles, not even if they look really tasty

    <u>I do not eat candles, not even if they look really tasty</u>


    Styx rolled her eyes, ¡°they do this sometimes,¡± she said, looking at Kato. She slammed the knocker down hard. ¡°Open up! Now! Or I will stop being so nice.¡±


    The black door swung open with a long, drawn-out creak, revealing a dimly lit interior.


    ¡°When are you ever nice?¡± A low, male voice muttered under their breath.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Styx snapped back, glaring into the gloom.


    The voice muttered something incomprehensible, and a deep patch of shadows retreated further back into the house.


    Styx stepped inside, an air of authority radiating from her ¡°that¡¯s what I thought,¡± she said with a smug smile, turning back to Kato, ¡°come on I want you to meet everyone else.¡±


    Kato¡¯s stomach rumbled, ¡®Everyone else? I thought we were getting food.¡¯ Pushing down his stomach¡¯s objections Kato stepped forward. His feet sank down, the ground was carpeted in a thick, cushioned red rug. For a brief moment, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. It had been a long time since he had experienced such luxury, but now he was living the high life once again, experiencing the joys that only the most opulent houses in Redusk had access to, ''Maya would¡¯ve been green with envy.''


    He stiffened his shoulders and walked a little higher, for the most part he¡¯d only been in this type of place when he was planning to rob it, luckily, he¡¯d left that life far behind.


    His eyes wandered over the elegant d¨¦cor of the interior; a dull gold candlestick with a glowing wax shaft was just laying casually on a small, round wooden table. Flames flickered from the wax candle it held, illuminating the surrounding area. He stared at it for a moment, his eyes refusing to budge, as much as part of him pleaded. His fingers itched, subconsciously his hand drifted forward, ¡®they wouldn¡¯t miss this.¡¯


    ¡°Kato!¡± Styx called.


    ¡°Sorry, what?¡± He looked at her, his eyes focusing.


    ¡°I called your name, like three times, were you even listening?¡± She stood in the middle of the corridor, shadows flickering across her pale face, as one hand rested on her hip, she held her breath, accentuating her figure, staring at him, impatiently, "well?"


    ¡®Just say you were distracted and didn¡¯t hear her.¡¯ Kato thought to himself.


    ¡°What? Of course, I was listening. Would be rude not to,¡± Kato shot back, turning up his chin in mock offense.


    ¡®Great.¡¯ He internally faces palmed, ¡®that could¡¯ve been important.¡¯


    ¡°What did I say?¡±


    ¡®Ask her to repeat it, it¡¯s not too late.¡¯ His thoughts pleaded. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to dignify that with a response,¡± he said, bluntly


    She looked at him, searching his face.


    Against his will, Kato began to redden, ¡°is it¡­ uhh¡­ getting hot in here?¡± He asked, awkwardly.


    Styx looked at him bemused, ¡°is it?¡±


    ¡°It is, here let me fix it.¡± Kato reached toward the candle and with absolutely no subtlety snuffed it out.


    ¡°Ow!¡± a dull thud could be heard ahead, as a low male voice cried out.


    Kato¡¯s eyes watered, ¡®it¡¯s completely dark and its gold, i love gold, they wouldn¡¯t mind, they wouldn¡¯t even notice its disappearance.¡¯ Kato¡¯s hand moved out, his avarice taking over, as the candlestick fell in his shirt.


    He shivered. The cold metal shocking his stomach.


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    ¡°Kato?¡± Styx asked.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Kato replied.


    ¡°Did you just steal our candle?¡± She asked, incredulous.


    ¡°Okay first you accuse me of not listening to you and now I''m a thief too, really?¡±


    Styx audibly blinked, ¡°are you serious? I saw you do it.¡±


    The hall was bathed in darkness, Kato¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡®she¡¯s bluffing, she has to be.¡¯


    ¡°Okay, you got me, I didn¡¯t hear what you said earlier, happy?¡±


    There was a sharp scratch, and a weak, red flame burst into light.


    Styx held a match ahead of her, ¡°Huuhh!¡± She gasped in exaggerated shock, ¡°my candle it is gone!¡±


    Thinking fast Kato acted, ¡°I thought we were going to get food? Why are we here? Talking about candles?¡± He laughed weakly.


    ¡°You were going to eat my candlestick?¡±


    ¡°What? No! Who even said I had your candlestick?¡± Kato stepped forward, the candlestick jostled slightly, poking against his shirt, then the fabric flared out and it fell, crossing the distance to the floor near instantaneously and landing with a dull thud.


    Styx looked at it then to him.


    ¡°See it was on the floor the entire time,¡± Kato exclaimed, if he couldn¡¯t gaslight here, then candle lighting would have to do. He took the match from her and lit the wax candle again. The room was bathed in a dim, constant yellow warmth as Kato returned it to its home.


    ¡°There all better, crisis averted.¡± A narrow bead of sweat slid down a red cheek.


    Styx looked at him, ¡°are you sure you don¡¯t want to eat it?¡±


    Kato looked at her, his eyes widening in mild surprise, ¡®is she really just going to joke and move on?¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to ask me to leave?¡± Kato asked.


    ¡°No? Why?¡± She stared at him for a moment, ¡°oh the candle thing, if I was going to ask you to leave it would have been when you were bullying kittens.¡± She paused, then smirked, ¡°unsuccessfully.¡±


    ¡°That was justified.¡±


    ¡°Mmmhmmm.¡±


    ¡°It was.¡±


    Her eyebrow raised.


    Kato glared at her.


    ¡°Come on candle eater let¡¯s go,¡± she turned and started heading down the corridor, once again.


    Softly, Kato padded back to the door, he didn¡¯t know what sort of con was being played here, but he wasn¡¯t going to wait to find out, not when he could get away. That was not a normal reaction to catching a thief, in fact it was near the opposite of a normal reaction, he shuddered, he was all too familiar with what the normal reaction was.


    Fumbling, his hands reached for a latch or a handle that was carved or attached to the bulky, black door, but his hands found nothing. Frantically his hands glided over the surface, searching for any imperfections.


    Styx turned, seeing, that he had in fact not followed. ¡°What are you doing now? Trying to eat my door?¡± she teased lightly.


    Kato¡¯s heartbeat faster, she had trapped him here, his hands moved even faster, searching for the groove or bump that had to be there.


    Styx¡¯s lips thinned, ¡°if I wanted you hurt, do you really think I would lure you into a dark hallway, locked from the outside, surrounded by people I know?¡±


    Kato¡¯s eyes widened.


    She scoffed, ¡°that would be ridiculous.¡±


    Kato¡¯s fist clenched; he would fight his way out of here if he had to.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Styx called out, ¡°sorry, that was a joke, a really dumb one.¡±


    Kato stared at her, his hand still tightened, ¡°why am I here?¡±


    ¡°Night vision,¡± she said simply, ¡°there¡¯s a guy on our crew, Perry, who can determine a person¡¯s highest skill.¡± She stated, ¡°and we both know what types of people can see in the dark well.¡±


    ¡°What are skills?¡± Kato questioned.


    ¡°Funny¡­¡± Styx trailed off, ¡°so, are you interested? We could use a guy of your particular talents, if you catch my drift.¡±


    Kato¡¯s chest puffed a little, ¡®she thinks I¡¯m talented?¡¯


    Kato hesitated, his eyes darting from her to the closed door, ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said, slowly. ¡°Do I even have the option to leave?¡±


    Her smirk slid off her face, her features morphing into a more neural expression. She padded towards him, her footsteps were light, almost predatory as she moved with a natural ease towards him, drawing closer and closer. She brushed up against him, the warmth of her breath nuzzling his neck, as she pressed herself up against him. The world seemed to stop as the two looked at each other, confined in the narrow doorway.


    Then she lightly pushed, her fingers barely grazing the wood. ¡°It wasn¡¯t even locked, tough guy,¡± she said softly, ¡°Do what you want.¡± She stated, her head turned, just enough, so that her dark hair fell forward, obscuring her expression.


    He paused looking at the empty street, the clouds hadn¡¯t abated, and the grey smog still hung thick in the air. People walked along, not even an expression adorned their faces, they were numb, beaten by the very world around them.


    The houses were still stained grey, and the grime licking the sides of the street hadn¡¯t disappeared since Kato had been outside mere minutes ago. Filth coalesced in pools of still, murky water in barren patches of the street that had been unloved and left alone. Nobody cared, they didn¡¯t seem to care about anything.


    Kato wondered how long it would take him to break, steal a hat and force them to chase him, just for the thrill of it, just to get the barest hint of human emotion.


    He turned back to Styx. She was new. She was exciting and most importantly, she wasn¡¯t them.


    He hovered int the doorway, weighing his options. Outside he understood, the world would crush you if you let it, and if by some miracle you held out, it would try again. Inside¡­ Inside was her.


    His hand reached outside, clasping the edge of the door and pulling it back in and with a single, dull thud they were cut off from the outside world once again.


    ¡°What did you have in mind?¡±

 Announcement- Not a chapter.

    After some consideration I have decided to change the title of the book, (previously Endure) it was intended to be a placeholder from the beginning, I hope you guys like the new name :) Also just so this isnt a non chapter,


    Chapter 1</a> now has been redone and the equivalent to about half a chapter has been added, hopefully it reads a bit better, thanks for reading!


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    I''m going to start fleshing out the litRPG system a little more in the coming chapters, so stay tuned!

 Chapter 36 - That鈥檚 my name, you can鈥檛 have it!

    <u>That¡¯s my name, you can¡¯t have it!</u>


    Styx led Kato down the winding hallway, rich tapestries coated the walls, depicting battles fought hundreds of years ago with weapons he¡¯d never seen. The floor shifted; the thick red rug giving way to the homely comfort of bristled, brown fur.


    Warmth radiated through the floor, Kato felt his muscles loosen, tension he didn¡¯t even know he had trickling away. He sighed in contentment, Styx was mumbling about something or other ahead of him, but he was too busy taking it all in.


    Fancy portraits of people long dead, began to adorn the wall, curved dark mahogany, frames, fastening them in place, with a swirling, gold filament that was inlaid on the wood.


    Kato¡¯s eyes slightly widened as he stared at Styx¡¯s back, this place wasn¡¯t just rich it was wealthy. ¡®Who is this girl?¡¯ He thought to himself slowly, she certainly didn¡¯t seem like the type of person to go around nicking hats, but maybe she was just bored?


    Kato had seen the wealthy do many strange things to cure their boredom, duels, horse races, cheating on their partners. They craved the thrill, a frown deepened on Kato¡¯s face. ¡®Is this all she is, an adrenaline junky?¡¯


    He continued to stare at her back, as she made exaggerated motion, after exaggerated motion. Pointing to portraits and tapestries alike, he was sure it was all very interesting, but he just couldn¡¯t focus. His heart was beating uncontrollably, and it was taking a great deal of effort to keep walking along normally.


    She rotated, sharply, darting down an adjoining hall. Her black hair was flung behind her by the motion, billowing in the artificial wind, her dimpled cheeks crinkled slightly, and she stopped, looking at Kato.


    ¡°We are here.¡±


    Kato continued staring ahead, trying to control his beating heart, as he kept walking mechanically forward, ¡®did she say something?¡¯


    ¡°Kato!¡± She exclaimed louder than before, ¡°are you listening?¡±


    He turned to face her, his feet reluctantly halting their journey.


    ¡°I said we are here,¡± she looked at him more closely, ¡°you walked right past me.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Kato said absently, ¡°sorry, I didn¡¯t realise.¡±


    She looked at him strangely, ¡°you think too much.¡± She threw something at him, he caught it from the air, ¡°put it on.¡±


    Kato looked down, it was the hat, ¡°why?¡±


    ¡°Stop thinking,¡± she smiled at him briefly, before opening a panelled oak door, with a flourish, ¡°come on.¡±


    Kato stepped forward.


    She pointed at the hat that was still in his hands and then raised and eyebrow up at him.


    Kato sighed. He put on the hat, ¡°there, happy now?¡±


    ¡°Ecstatic, ¡°Styx replied with a double thumbs up. ¡°Come on, they¡¯re expecting us,¡± she stepped through the door.


    Kato followed and was immediately greeted by the musky scent of old books. They were in a library; bookcases rose from the floor to the ceiling. Each shelf was filled pale, dyed leather-bound books ran from end to end, there must have been thousands maybe even more.


    Kato reached forward, subconsciously, his hands trailing along a pale, red books spine. Tentatively, he shimmied out of the case.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to steal that are you?¡± Styx¡¯s face appeared by his shoulder, looking up to him.


    ¡°No,¡± Kato spluttered, ¡°I resent the assumption, I would never.¡±


    ¡°Mmmhmmm,¡± Styx replied, teasingly.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Kato sighed, ¡°I just wanted to have a look,¡± he turned the book over examining the cover. Faint trails of silver wisped over the cover, diluted by age, the title was in white blocky letters, but it was illegible at least to him.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Satisfied?¡± Styx asked, tugging impatiently at his sleeve, ¡°we¡¯re already late.¡±


    Kato looked down to her, he had agreed to hear her out at the very least. With no small degree of reluctance, the book returned to the shelf, there was not even a breaking of dust from where he had pulled it, this place was in immaculate condition and clearly, very well loved. It was a stunning contrast to the world outside.


    He let Styx drag him on, as they wound through a labyrinth of books before coming to a small round table, with a flickering gold, red candle illuminating the surroundings. A few books were overturned, pages sprawling out on the surface, Kato smiled briefly. The librarian back home would have hated this, paper this close to flames, by instinct he went to pick them up, ¡®I don¡¯t want the whole place to go up in flames.¡¯


    He navigated around rickety wooden chairs that circled the round table and approached the flame.


    Styx looked back to the empty seats, then back to him, ¡°maybe we are early.¡±


    Kato¡¯s eye twitched.


    ¡°Well, you know what they say?¡± she went on, ¡°better late than never.¡±


    ¡°But we are early?¡± He asked, confused.


    Styx smiled up at him, ¡°Even better. Now we won¡¯t even have the chance to be never.¡±


    Kato looked at her for a moment, then shook his head slowly, ¡®did that make sense?¡¯ Not wanting to get in an argument with Styx, he let it slide.


    Slowly, Kato lifted the candle away from the now wax, dripped pages.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Styx looked back up at him, she was now seated, her arms huddled around her, as she rubbed at her shoulders.


    ¡°Cold?¡± Kato asked her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject,¡± her arms dropped to her side and then folded against her chest, ¡°you¡¯re trying to take another candle?¡±


    Kato looked down at his hands, a drop of wax hit the floor, ¡°I was just moving it,¡± it sounded weak even to him, but it was the truth.


    ¡°Sure, you were,¡± her eyes drifted across his face, ¡°just like you were moving the one from earlier?¡± she paused ¡°it¡¯s very kind of you, really.¡±


    Kato¡¯s face reddened, ¡°I just didn¡¯t want the books to burn,¡± he stated, quickly, ¡®another great impression made, good job.¡¯


    Styx looked at him, then at the paper strewn across the table, ¡°put it back down Gerr knows what he¡¯s doing.¡±


    With a slight mutter, he returned it to its place.


    Styx¡¯s ears twitched, then she turned to Kato, ¡°they¡¯re here, sit,¡± she patted the chair next to her invitingly.


    Kato sat down beside her, just before a lone figure entered the room. He softly padded across the floor towards the two, not a sound other than his own breathing and the soft crackle of flame in the background, occasionally broken by the dripping of wax could be heard. ¡®How did Styx hear him?¡¯ he questioned, but sat up straight, ¡®first impressions are important, do not and I repeat do not steal anything.¡¯


    The man strode over towards the two. He was of medium build but stood much taller. Light brown hair drifted across his head, it was shaggy and unkempt, sharply contrasting with the pair of calculating, beady eyes that had fixed on Kato the moment he was within sight.


    He wore a mart clean white shirt, with a dark blue vest overlapping, it was a style that had been fashionable when Kato was younger, but he hadn¡¯t seen it in years.


    The man strode forward, every step, measured and precise, his pace never faltering, until he came to an abrupt halt.


    ¡°Gerald,¡± he said smoothly, as he extended a hand towards Kato.


    Kato blinked, looking at the offered hand, then back at the man, ¡°you seem to have me mistaken, I am no Gerald¡±


    The man¡¯s fixed expression cracked, for a moment, as he blinked in surprise, he cleared his throat, thinking of what to say, ¡°I am Gerald?¡± he stated, questioningly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask me, I only just met you.¡± Kato replied.


    Styx punched his shoulder, lightly ¡°be polite,¡± she hissed through her teeth.


    ¡°I am Kato, Kato grasped the hand nice to meet you¡­¡± he paused waiting for the man to reply.


    The man¡¯s eye twitched, ¡°Gerald.¡±


    ¡°No, it is Kato,¡± Kato looked at him oddly, ¡®this can¡¯t be that hard to understand, surely?¡¯


    ¡°My name,¡± the man stated slowly, ¡°is Gerald.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Kato paused, savouring the word, ¡°Gerald.¡±


    Gerald looked over to Styx, ¡°is he usually like this?¡±


    Styx looked at Kato for a moment, then replied, ¡°he¡¯s a little weird Gerr you¡¯ll have to forgive him.¡±


    ¡®Gerr?¡¯ Kato questioned, he had just caught Styx slipping, as the man who claimed to be Gerald¡¯s true identity was revealed. ¡®Don¡¯t let them know, you know his real name, Kato thought resolute, people who went to great efforts to hide their identities, didn¡¯t usually want others to find out, ¡®best not let them know I heard,¡¯ he nodded internally and rejoined the conversation.


    ¡°So, Gerr¡­ald, why am I here?¡± Kato flinched internally, ¡®that was close, keep it together.¡¯


    ¡°Styx didn¡¯t tell you?¡± He looked over to her and she shook her head slightly, ¡°Styx why is he here?¡±


    ¡°Perry, night vision,¡± she replied, simply.


    ¡°Ahh, I see,¡± Gerald turned back to Kato, as if that had made complete sense, ¡°and you¡¯re already here so I take it that you are interested.¡± He nodded to himself, as if it was already decided, then looked him up and down, ¡°you¡¯ll do nicely,¡± he paused, ¡°nice hat by the way.¡± He sat down facing them, then leant forward, ¡°so, here¡¯s the plan¡­¡±

 Chapter 37 - Hats are cool

    <u>Hats are cool</u>


    Kato leaned in, nodding in rapt attention as Gerald spoke, by the time he was finished, a small smile crossed his features. ¡®It seems you can leave the life, but the life will always find a way to drag you back in.¡¯


    It was a robbery, and a big one if Gerr or Gerald as he claimed to be, was to be believed.


    ¡°And that¡¯s where this comes into play.¡± Gerald pointed at Kato¡¯s hat.


    ¡°My hat?¡± Kato asked.


    ¡°My hat,¡± Styx muttered under her breath.


    Gerald gave Styx an odd look, before turning back to Kato,¡± yes, your,¡± Styx coughed lightly, ¡°sorry¡± he continued, glancing at Styx who was now pouting, ¡°the hat, is going to be of the utmost importance.¡±


    ¡°The hat is going to be of great importance?¡± Kato looked at Gerald strangely, ¡®this is why I always used to work alone, too many crazies out there.¡¯


    ¡°That is what I just said,¡± Gerald snapped, irritated, any semblance of authority rapidly disintegrating.


    ¡°Why?¡± Kato asked.


    Gerald threw his hands up in there, ¡°I was getting to it,¡± he paused and looked at Styx, ¡°is he always like this?¡±


    Styx mumbled something under her breath, no doubt it was an eloquent defence of Kato¡¯s persona from this villain he had found ahead of him, but because of her sulking, he didn¡¯t hear it.


    ¡°Right yes, well, the hat is very important-¡± Gerald continued.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already said that.¡± Kato interrupted him.


    Gerald¡¯s eye twitched, ¡°thank you for pointing that out,¡± Gerald spoke through gritted teeth,


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Kato smiled at him and waved a hand for him to continue.


    Gerald looked at him for a moment his tongue ran along his teeth, his irritation was palpable.


    Kato waved his hand again, ¡°come on Garry, I don¡¯t have all day.¡±


    ¡°Gerald.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°My name its Gerald, ok?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Kato looked at him strangely.


    ¡°Not Garry.¡±


    ¡°Ok?¡± Kato drew the word out as he stared at Gerald, perplexed.


    Styx raised a hand to her mouth, stifling laughter.


    ¡®Hmm so he remembers his fake name, couldn¡¯t catch him out that easily,¡¯ Kato continued to stare at him, his face giving nothing away, ¡®we¡¯ll see how long you can keep this up for Gerr.¡¯ He smiled at Gerald, ¡°are we finished?¡±


    ¡°Why would we be finished, we only just started,¡± Gerald growled at him.


    Styx¡¯s laughter, not so subtly increased in volume.


    ¡°You were saying something about a hat?¡± Kato prompted him.


    Gerald straightened his shirt, ¡°I was, but now I¡¯m not so sure I can take you seriously.¡±


    ¡°Come on Garry,¡± Styx whispered, ¡°give him a chance.¡±


    ¡°How many times do I have to say, its Gerald,¡± barely contained rage, bubbled beneath his exterior.


    ¡°Relax, it was just a joke,¡± she put a hand on his shoulder, reassuringly. Apologetically, she looked at Kato, ¡°sorry¡± she mouthed at him, silently.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡®Quarry?¡¯ Kato looked back at Styx, mouthing ¡°what about a quarry?¡±


    Her forehead wrinkled, as she looked at him confused.


    Gerald cleared his throat, ¡°as I was saying, the hat is important.¡±


    Kato fought against the urge to speak, this was the third time Gerald had said this, did he really not realise, or did he think he was being funny?


    ¡°The man it belonged to is as I¡¯m sure you are already aware a high-ranking member of the Church of Hardship.¡± Gerald continued.


    Kato¡¯s entire body tensed, and he stood up, ¡°he¡¯s what?¡± he shouted the words out.


    Styx looked up at him alarmed, ¡°Kato?¡±


    Gerald sneered at him, ¡°this changes nothing.¡±


    Kato shook his head, ¡°this changes everything and if you don¡¯t know why, you are far too dangerous for me to work with, have a good day,¡± he tipped his hat and made to exit.


    Gerald stood up, ¡°you¡¯re a practitioner?¡± he demanded, barring his path.


    ¡°Not of them no, Kato moved to get around him.


    Gerald stepped to the side, blocking him once again, ¡°you have moral objections?¡± He demanded once again.


    ¡°No.¡± Kato stepped to his other side.


    ¡°Then, what? Gerald stepped to the side blocking him once again.


    Kato¡¯s fist clenched, it was getting harder and harder not to solve his problems with violence. Styx stood up, ¡°can¡¯t we talk about this?¡± She stepped in the middle of the two men, separating them with her arms, ¡°please?¡± she asked, exasperated.


    Both the men towered over Styx their eyes locked together over her head as they sent death stares, each other¡¯s way.


    ¡°Give me my hat back,¡± Gerald spat out.


    Kato made to speak, but Styx was faster, ¡°it¡¯s my hat asshole.¡± She reached up and plucked it from Kato¡¯s head, tousling his black hair into a rough, unkempt position.


    Kato shook his head slightly, letting his hair readjust into a more natural position.


    ¡°You said you would stay,¡± Styx looked at him expectantly.


    ¡°The key word there is said, now I¡¯m saying I want to go,¡± Kato made to move forward, but Styx¡¯s palm pressed against him with surprising force arresting his movement.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even let Gerald finish,¡± she looked up at him.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t need to,¡± Kato looked back, letting out a resigned sigh, ¡®she¡¯s not going to let me leave, is she?¡¯


    ¡°You owe me an explanation!¡± Gerald snapped at him.


    Kato¡¯s eyes snapped off Styx and back to him, ¡°I owe you nothing,¡± his fist clenched again, he would not let himself be taken advantage of.


    Styx grabbed his clenched fist and gently brought it down, ¡°of course you don¡¯t,¡± she looked at him pleadingly, Kato felt his heart melt a little.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered, releasing the tension in his fists, ¡°I will hear you out and then, then I will leave.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to explain it anymore,¡± Gerald said pettily.


    ¡°Then I will leave, ¡°Kato stated, firmly.


    ¡°Both of you stop it. Stop it now!¡± Styx glowered at them in turn, ¡°you,¡± she pointed at Gerald, ¡°speak, and you,¡± she turned and pointed at Kato ¡°listen, and don¡¯t just pretend to listen, actually do.¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Kato moved to speak, ¡®I listen.¡¯  He thought, dejectedly.


    But Styx was too quick, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± She paused, ¡°well?¡± she looked at Gerald, then clapped her hands, impatiently.


    ¡°So,¡± began Gerald ¡°the hat is important.¡±


    Styx raised her arms in frustration, ¡°seriously Gerr, that¡¯s the fourth time you¡¯ve said that!¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡®She slipped again, unlucky Gerr, your secret is no longer safe,¡¯ Kato thought to himself.


    Gerald apparently not catching on that Kato had heard his false identity, continued, ¡°ok bare bones it is, hat important¡­¡±


    In harmony Styx¡¯s and Kato¡¯s faces twitched, ¡®is he serious?¡¯


    ¡°Hat DNA, DNA gets into building, steal object, and there, that¡¯s it,¡± Gerald finished.


    ¡°What object?¡± Kato winced internally, ¡®back off you know what that church is capable of,¡¯ he shuddered, he certainly did.


    A slow, smug smile crept across Gerald¡¯s face, ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t interested?¡±


    ¡°Just say it already,¡± Kato retorted, ¡®stop,¡¯ his thoughts whispered, ¡®they are too dangerous.¡¯


    ¡°A sceptre, mad of pure gold and rumoured to power level you in any skill of your choice.¡±


    Kato¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡®what is this guy waffling on about now, levels? Skills? What type of insane place have I got taken too. Kato looked around, searching for any stretchers or straitjackets his hosts had forgotten to hide. Even scratches on the walls would have done, but his perception refused to oblige, seeing the same old wooden, bookcases, illuminated by the dim flames of candles.


    ¡°Yeah, I think I¡¯m going to have to pass, ¡°he finally said, after coming up fruitless from his troubles, ¡°you guys are insane.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Gerald smirked, ¡°are you a chicken?¡± He looked at Kato for a moment, before flapping his arms up and down, ¡°pawk, pawk pawk.¡±


    Kato¡¯s eyes blazed, he was no coward, ¡°I feel no fear,¡± he spat out at Gerald, ¡°I¡¯ll do it right now!¡± The words came out before his mind could stop him.


    ¡°Great,¡± Gerald responded, ¡°that will work¡±, picking up a pale, green book, he left the room, with it crooked under his arm and a slight shuffle in his steps.


    ¡®What did you just do?¡¯


    Styx stroked Kato¡¯s arm gently, ¡°thank you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, no problem,¡± he muttered back absently. ¡®NO PROBLEM! They nearly killed you last time, they should have. The voice isn¡¯t going to be there to save you again.¡¯  Kato rebuked himself internally, but he was a man of his word and there was no backing out now.


    ¡°They don¡¯t have pews at this place do they?¡± Kato turned, asking Styx.


    She looked at him oddly, ¡°of course they do it¡¯s a church.¡±


    Kato buried his face in hands, ¡®of course they do it¡¯s a church.¡¯


    Kato turned to Styx, ¡°so how do we get there?¡±


    She looked at him for a moment, then smiled slightly, ¡°we are already here.¡±


    Kato¡¯s heart stilled, claiming he got lost along the way, was hardly going to be an option now.

 Chapter 38 - Double standards

    <u>Double standards</u>


    Styx turned and began walking towards the exit.


    Kato followed, dropping low as he shimmied along the bookcases, keeping his body flat.


    Styx looked at him, ¡°what are you doing.¡±


    ¡°Are you new to this?¡± Kato looked at her strangely, ¡°I¡¯m being stealthy.¡±


    Styx sighed, ¡°of course you are.¡±


    Kato continued creeping from bookcase to bookcase, darting across when there were gaps in the shelved walls.


    Styx walked normally ahead, not even bothering to check her left and right.


    Kato shook his head softly, ¡®amateur.¡¯


    Pushing back the thick, panelled oak door that had brought them here, the pair returned to the hallway.


    ¡°Ahh¡± Kato flinched back, there was someone right ahead of him.


    Styx laughed, slightly, ¡°It¡¯s just a picture, we passed them on the way here,¡±


    ¡°A really scary picture,¡± Kato muttered.


    It was of a fat, portly man, with a wicked, imperial moustache. It was only a portrait but the visage exuded authority. Kato shuddered, watching the eyes as they tracked his movements in turn.


    ¡°Super scary,¡± Styx giggled.


    Kato mumbled incoherently, ¡®can we not be serious even for a moment.¡¯


    Stealthily, he continued to creep along the wall, his eyes darting up and down the corridor. His ears twitched slightly, priming to receive even the slightest signals of unexpected company.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to really stick out if you keep doing that,¡± Styx said to him plainly.


    ¡°Keep doing what?¡± Kato asked, confused, ¡®was I doing something weird?¡¯


    ¡°The whole super, secret, spy thing you¡¯ve got going on,¡± she threw her hands up, ¡°do you really not see it?¡±


    Kato looked back at her, ¡®she must be new, doesn¡¯t understand the procedure¡¯


    ¡°Here¡± he said, ¡°watch me,¡± he pushed his body flat to the wall, ¡°there is less of me to see now,¡± he looked back at her, ¡°understand?¡±


    Styx blinked, ¡°but anyone who does see you would immediately know you¡¯re up to no good?¡±


    ¡°Not immediately.¡±


    Styx stared at him, a single eyebrow raised, ¡°how would they not know immediately?¡±


    ¡°Maybe I am checking something on the wall,¡± Kato retorted.


    ¡°Checking what?¡±


    ¡°Wall things, you wouldn¡¯t get it.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t get it?¡±


    ¡°No¡±


    ¡°Can we try it my way¡­ please?¡± She looked up at him, her eyes rounding slightly.


    ¡°It¡¯ll blow our cover,¡± Kato said slowly, ¡®does she really not understand?¡¯


    ¡°No, it won¡¯t, just be normal, please?¡± Styx looked at him, her lips trembling slightly.


    Kato stared back, his gaze locking with hers, ¡®this is just too dangerous to take a risk like that, not when the church is the mark.¡¯ He looked at her for a moment, considering his options, ¡°can¡¯t do it.¡± He said firmly and resumed shimmying along the hallway that stretched far off into the distance.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°We¡¯re on a bit of a time limit,¡± she tried, desperately.


    Kato shimmied faster.


    ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous!¡± Styx exclaimed, her hands had returned to their familiar place on her hips, as she looked down at him.


    ¡®Ridiculous she says, I¡¯m a professional, and a good one at that, except for that one time and that other and the one after that¡­¡¯ Kato¡¯s thoughts trailed off, ¡®what was I saying?¡¯ he paused, ¡®oh right, she called it ridiculous, that¡¯s absurd.¡¯


    Kato looked back to her, ¡°could you keep it down please. I¡¯m trying to maintain a low profile here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­" she hesitated, ¡°are you serious? You stick out like a sore thumb!¡±


    Kato stopped shimmying, ¡°I stick out like a sore thumb? You¡¯re just walking in the middle of the hallway like we are not about to rob the place!¡±


    ¡°Rob the place¡­ rob the place¡­ rob the place.¡± His words echoed off the ornate walls, filling the surroundings.


    ¡°Subtle,¡± Styx commented dryly, ¡°we are trying to blend into a crowd, not sneak by everyone with all the finesse of someone who once read a spy novel as a child!¡±


    Kato¡¯s face burned, that was where he had learned this technique from and for the most part it had served him well. He was proud with the ease he could shimmy, it was a skill he had perfected through countless hours of dedicated practice.


    He cleared his throat lightly, ¡°why didn¡¯t you say so? I have a completely different technique for blending in,¡± he paused thinking. ¡°Do you have a wig and a fake moustache on you perhaps?¡±


    She looked at him, mouth agape, from the brilliance of his plan, ¡°no.¡±


    ¡°Drat! Will have to do without.¡± Kato began walking normally by her side.


    ¡°A real shame,¡± Styx lightly sniggered to herself, who had she found?


    The pair continued up the hallway, the warmth of the bristled, brown fur giving way to the cold, unforgiving, feel of polished stone. The tapestries and portraits disappeared, replaced by empty stone walls, with the occasional end table dotted with candles.


    The iron scent of blood lingered in the air, Kato tensed, ¡°do you smell that?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡± Styx looked at him strangely, ¡°We are in the church. I did say.¡±


    Kato nodded back, ¡®don¡¯t let her know you¡¯re not a local.¡¯ His thoughts sped up, he had really been hoping Kray was a one-off figure but apparently all of these practitioners were as crazy as the next. He shuddered, thinking of what sick, blood rituals these people must commit. Perhaps to appease a sick god, or perhaps to feed their own twisted fantasies and desires.


    His face remained blank, letting none of his increasingly dark thoughts show. If anyone deserved to be stolen from it was them. He had no issues with stealing from them morally. There were very few people who he would have issues stealing from, he¡¯d done a lot to survive after all and most of it was at the very least morally questionable.


    No, these people were the worst of the worst, and he had seen in far more detail than anyone would wish to exactly what they were capable of. When the hooks of the church got into you, you were a dead man, and when they were finished with you, you were hardly recognisable.


    He shivered, he had been really hoping that Kray¡¯s church had been a one off, a man gone mad with power abusing them for his own enjoyment who justified his actions on the premise of helping people. Appparently not. They were an infestation.


    Styx stopped at a small service entry door, Kato knew this from his great detective skills. The door was slightly more diminutive, there were patches of lighter wood, and it was pitted with small holes, all signs of an unloved entrance for those lower than the high and mighty church. That plus the sign that read ¡®service entry¡¯ were a dead giveaway.


    Styx handed him a hooded cloth jacket.


    ¡®Where does she keep pulling clothes from?¡¯ Kato looked her up and down but found no bulges other than ones that could be easily explained. It was a mystery.


    ¡°Like what you see?¡± She posed slightly, in a similar, grey hooded cloth jacket, her face was hidden by a long shadow, as she stepped forward.


    ¡°You look nice,¡± Kato muttered awkwardly, ¡®what does she want me to say?¡¯


    She smiled back at him brightly.


    ¡®Good choice,¡¯ Kato congratulated himself.


    ¡°Put it on,¡± Styx said, ¡°the time for blending in is over.¡±


    ¡®Super, secret shimmying mode activated!¡¯ Kato exclaimed internally; it was time to put his skills on full display.


    ¡°And none of that weird shimmying stuff, we have to be fast,¡± Styx added after a beat had passed.


    Kato was sad, but he didn¡¯t let it show, he was on a mission and more importantly than that he was a professional. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡± he said sharply, slipping the hooded garment overhead.


    They pushed through the small service door and entered a derelict arched stone passage that went up in a steep gradient.


    Dripping water interrupted the silence, and faded patches of moss grew across the stoned surfaces. Kato shuddered, ¡®at least I can see where this moss starts and ends.¡¯


    The floor was formed through beaten dirt. Kato wasn¡¯t even sure how that was possible, they shouldn¡¯t be at ground level. Had they really dragged in dirt here just for the service corridors? Their decorations were made of gold! ¡®Guess the hardships are only for some.¡¯


    Styx and Kato continued upwards coming to another small wooden door. It was much like the last, but instead of the sign demarcating it as a service passage a small circle with a diagonal slash running through it had been engraved.


    Kato stepped back.


    Styx looked at him, concerned, ¡°Kato?¡±


    ¡°That symbol,¡± he spoke through shaky breaths, ¡°we should turn back.¡±


    ¡°The symbol?¡± Styx looked to the door and back to him, that¡¯s just a mark of the church of hardship, I thought you knew them?¡± She asked, her confusion evident.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean plague touched?¡±


    ¡°What? No why would it mean plague touched?¡± Styx looked at him, genuinely baffled.


    ¡®Kray was insane. Maybe he got it wrong?'' A stray thought whispered in Kato¡¯s head, ¡®maybe,¡¯ he silently responded.


    Before he could stop her, Styx opened the door.


    Kato looked on; his body frozen rigid.

 Chapter 39 - Wait, what type of service is this?

    <u>Wait, what type of service is this?</u>


    ¡°Why is it so cold,¡± Kato questioned, his breath immediately fogged as the words left his mouth. His teeth were trembling uncontrollably.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Be. Such. A. Baby.¡± Styx responded as her jaw shook uncontrollably, her hands desperately trying to rub warmth in her arms, ¡°Have. To. Be. Quick. Trapped.¡±


    ¡®Trapped? Glad they warned me.¡¯  Kato darted forwards; his body was shaking violently. It was a miracle he managed to keep in a straight line as he chased after the fleeing Styx.


    ¡°Styx,¡± he called out, desperately, ¡°wait!¡±


    She ran on ahead.


    Kato stumbled to a halt, he knew what the symbol meant, he knew what it meant all too well. His gaze lingered on her retreating form for a moment longer before he stepped back, this wasn¡¯t his mission, it never had been, and he certainly wasn¡¯t prepared to die for it.


    Images of the plague touched corpses crossed his vision, he fought the urge to be violently sick. Some hadn¡¯t even looked human. He turned; he wasn¡¯t willing to die for someone who wouldn¡¯t even listen to him.


    Kato stared across the icy wasteland that now stretched behind him. There was no door in sight, and perhaps more concerningly than that the walls and even the ceiling had disappeared. Kato felt sick again. ¡®It¡¯s the same as before, the church knows we are here and now they¡¯re messing with our minds.¡¯


    He circled, looking for anything familiar but he found nothing.


    The ground was slicked with ice and a layer of white crunchy snow, luckily it wasn¡¯t too thick yet, but Kato could see Styx knee deep in the stuff further ahead, forceful grunts the only sign she was moving forward.


    He sighed, ¡®at least I won¡¯t be dying alone.¡¯


    Light jogging turned to slow forceful wades forward as the snow piled higher and higher.


    Kato forced his way to Styx¡¯s side, ¡°this isn¡¯t real, they¡¯re playing with our minds.¡±


    She turned towards him, her stride momentarily broken, snow poured off her legs.


    Kato recoiled, her face had turned a startling shade of blue and for a second, he had thought the blursons had returned.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s real, as much as I¡¯d like it not to be, ¡°she paused, her hands were shaking wildly, ¡°felt the distortion, real nasty one to.¡±


    Kato did not know what that meant, but he was hardly in a position to argue with her about the intricacies of illusions.


    ¡°So, what now?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Now we shimmy,¡± she looked at him then laughed weakly, ¡°not much we can do.¡±


    Kato¡¯s heart plummeted in his chest, ¡®how many times did Maya warn you, never work with amateurs and yet here you are, this is on you.¡¯


    He looked back to her, ¡°I¡¯m not giving up,¡± it may have been freezing cold, but Kato¡¯s heart burnt with determination.


    She looked back at him, then smiled softly, ¡°I knew I chose well,¡± she continued to climb.


    Kato panted heavily as he followed her, ¡°where are we going?¡±


    She didn¡¯t stop to look at him, ¡°the only way we can go,¡± she paused ¡°up.¡±


    The two continued trudging up, the snow piling higher and higher around them. It had passed Kato¡¯s calves, his knees and was now approaching the top of his thighs as well. His legs had long since gone numb and he wasn¡¯t sure where he got the drive to push on. But something in him just wouldn¡¯t give no matter what.


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    Styx¡¯s hips had been covered some time ago and Kato now waded ahead of her so she wouldn¡¯t be completely buried.


    ¡°Kato?¡±


    He turned to the sound of her voice.


    Styx lay on the floor collapsed, she looked up to him, resignation heavy in her eyes, ¡°I can¡¯t feel my legs.¡±


    He looked back to her, ¡°I¡¯ll carry you,¡± he tried, desperation filling his voice.


    ¡°You can barely carry yourself,¡± Styx looked up at him, ¡°I think this is it for me,¡± her voice was measured and calm.


    It was true, Kato was fighting off the growing desire to collapse even as they were speaking, but he wouldn¡¯t not now. The moment he gave in, it would be it, that he knew for certain.


    The rough snow walls carved from Kato¡¯s body pushing forward began to tremble. Kato looked at them briefly then back to her, ¡°don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± His voice strained as he struggled with the words.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she looked back at him, ¡°maybe you can.¡±


    ¡®Why is she so prepared to die?¡¯ Kato was all to familiar with how people dealt with trauma, some ran, some fought, some people completely closed themselves off. One thing he¡¯d not seen especially from someone as outwardly carefree as Styx was, was acceptance.


    ¡°You want to die?¡± He asked quietly, looking deep into her eyes. The stealing of the hat, the sudden impulsiveness, hell even putting up with him. It all pointed towards one thing a cry for help.


    She looked back to him, her dark, black locks were starting to frost up, small, ice crystals ran along the strands. ¡°Who said anything about death?¡± Then without further ado she spoke two words, ¡°I quit¡± and her body disappeared in a mist of icy haze.


    Bam! The mountainside erupted with a thunderous boom; the carved snow walls were exploded outwards from the powerful surge. The impact left a perfect ring twenty foot across, compacted snow walls circling where Styx had been.


    ¡°Styx!¡± Kato screamed as he rushed forward, but there was no sign of her. Frantically he began to dig at where she had been, but there was nothing, no sign she¡¯d ever been there. He dug further and further, expanding his search.


    ¡®You¡¯re wasting energy,¡¯ a callous, yet practical voice spoke in his mind. ¡®She was all I had left,¡¯ Kato spat back, ¡®the only person in my life that hasn¡¯t abandoned me or suddenly disappeared, she was the only one who wanted me for me.¡¯


    He tore into the snow wall leading upwards, ¡°Styx!¡± He yelled again. ¡°You. Can¡¯t. Have. Left,¡± each word was punctuated by fistfuls of snow flying behind him. Kato rampaged against the very world, his rage was bubbling further and further inside him. Then his heart stilled, and the cold of the outside greeted the cold of his rage inside.


    ¡°We are the same,¡± it whispered, ¡°join us.¡±


    His rage looked back, and it roared. Kato¡¯s pupils contracted violently before springing back out in the shape of pitch-black swords. His teeth began to itch, as his spine forcibly cracked backwards before straightening.


    ¡®Must dig!¡¯ A voice drove him forward as Kato began to push his way through the thick snow.


    Pace after pace Kato advanced, the surroundings never changed, the same icy desolate wasteland his only constant companion left. The wind howled at him buffeting him with snow and ice alike but still Kato pushed. Nature would not bully him into backing down. Not now.


    He did not know why he climbed. All he knew was that he did.


    His rage refused to abate, rough snow passages collapsed in his wake, but he didn¡¯t care, his progress was measured in where he was now, not what had he left behind.


    The wind kept howling, the snow and ice it was throwing at him, was now a nonstop barrage and the once fluffy white snow had been compacted to such a degree, that it felt as if he was being pelted by rocks. If Kato had not already become a startling shade of blue from the cold. He was sure that he would have been turned a more purple blue just from the wind¡¯s attack. It had attacked indiscriminately, switching directions from pelting his face one moment to his back the next.


    A large rock pelted Kato. This was new, he desperately tried to fight it off, but it was unforgiving as it drove into him. Kato kept walking forward, his vision blinded by a blizzard of ice crystals, but the rock refused to budge, striking him with its corners as it attempted to drive him back.


    Kato¡¯s eyes blazed harder, his pupils sharpening as he honed his rage against the object. ¡®Why won¡¯t it stop?¡¯ his thoughts demanded.


    Beep! Beep! Beep! Three sharp trills emerged from the stony attacker, the blizzard suddenly died down and Kato finally saw it.


    There was a large stationary rock ahead of him embedded in the ground. ¡®No, it was thrown it must have been,¡¯ he looked at it shocked, ¡®Have I just been just walking into a rock expecting it to move?¡¯


    The rock had three shallow circles grooved into its centre, one flickered for a moment a pale green pulsating in the hollow. After a moment it settled, full.


    A strong, male voice filled the environment, ¡°the first trial of service has been completed, well done apostle, you have been granted the right to take the next.¡±


    Kato paused, ¡®service? As in service door?¡¯ He stepped back and a glowing portal materialised in the air ahead of him. Wisps of ethereal, red emanated from the oval opening.


    ¡°The second trial, the trial of battle is now ready. There are no second chances. Those who leave the path may never walk it again. But.¡± The voice paused, ¡°the option to leave is there for those who are weak of heart and lacking in honour.¡±


    Before Kato had time think, his rage acted, carrying him forwards.

 Chapter 40 - Violence is not a coping mechanism, it鈥檚 a hobby

    <u>Violence is not a coping mechanism, it¡¯s a hobby</u>


    Two pitch black swords glinted in the light of the fire as Kato stepped through, his eyes reflecting the scene ahead of him.


    Wagons were overturned and the stench of smoke and death hung thick in the air. The distant sound of screams and the clashes of sword against sword could be heard in the distance.


    The voice from before spoke again, ¡°There is only one objective here disciple, survive.¡±


    Faint symbols swirled ahead of him and his rage batted them away with ease, no others would influence his mind today.


    Kato¡¯s rage smiled. The world had taken Styx and now it would pay in turn.


    He trudged forward down the slope of the low grass hill he had found himself transported to. His boots squelched in the sodden grass, the wet permeating through and attacking his feet beneath. In turn he attacked the ground below each step leaving a deep imprint as the soft ground caved under his slender frame.


    Kato followed the smoke. It billowed ahead of him, filling the sky. Embers and ash alike swirled through the air, still hot to the touch. Faint sizzling could be heard in the background, fiery ash meeting the wet ground.


    ¡°AHHH!¡± A man screamed, suddenly charging at Kato from a small barren track ahead of him. Pebbles skittered as the clean-shaven man tore towards him. His eyes were bulging in a maddened frenzy, pure black veins intertwined across his irises as if he had been touched by the devil. The man¡¯s mouth was opened wide, two thick canines jutted out like that of a dogs. Saliva lathered his square chin.


    He raised a rusted short sword high as he cleared the last step to Kato.


    Kato tensed he was unarmed and if he was in control he would have turned and ran. But he wasn¡¯t his rage was, Kato raised a fist towards the maniac charging him.


    And¡­


    The man dropped dead, mere feet away, just collapsing to the ground face first.


    Kato walked over and roughly grabbed the man¡¯s shoulders spinning him over. A single, still bulging eye stared him down, the other dangling to the ground on red fibrous strands.


    Kato¡¯s rage examined him for a moment, ¡®scared him to death,¡¯ a callous voice chuckled, then he reached over grasping the hilt of the dead man¡¯s blade. He tugged it, but the weapon refused to budge. He tugged harder and the man''s arm rose with the blade still clasped in death''s grip.


    Kato glowered at the hand, letting it drop back to the ground. If he still had human sensibilities, he likely would have been disgusted by what happened next, but he didn¡¯t and he wasn¡¯t.


    With a sharp kick, Kato struck downwards, shattering the bones of the dead man¡¯s hand with a brutal crack. The fingers splayed outwards at an unnatural angle and Kato grabbed the now free blade with his dominant hand. With a sharp turn he made to leave but something held him back.


    He turned once again to examine the body. The man had clearly been sick and as much as his anger demanded blood and as much as the man had attacked him first. He paused. It just wasn¡¯t right. The wrongs of life could often be settled by the great redeemer.


    Kato¡¯s hand reached down, slotting the eyeball back in its socket, then with a swift two fingered motion he slid the eyelids closed, letting the man have the peace in death that he clearly hadn¡¯t in life. With a slight circling of his chest Kato turned to leave once again, his humanity had flickered to life again briefly, but his rage wasn¡¯t done. Not yet.


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    Kato continued to walk forward, the weight of the aged blade, hung heavy in his hand, threatening to tip forward. Again and again Kato corrected it. After a while he was severely tempted to leave the blade behind him, toss it to the side and be done with the infernal thing.


    But as peaceful as a trial of battle sounded, he would rather show up with a sword to a sword fight than his fists.


    Crunch! A booted foot ground into the pebbles that edged the dirt track. Crunch! A second joined it, before being replaced with the dull thuds of footsteps on compacted dirt.


    Kato marched on. The grass hill faded behind him as the overturned wagons got larger and larger. The acrid scent of burnt wood filled the air.


    He reached the wagons. No one was there. Without much thought he prodded a blackened chunk of burnt wagon with his blade. It crumbled to his touch, crashing on the ground in a burst of ash and smoke. He looked at it for a second, then stared away. ¡®I thought this was a trial of battle,¡¯ his rage growled.


    Kato looked back to the hill. His eyes blazed, demanding answers, ¡®was this some kind of trick?¡¯


    The sounds of battle still raged in the far distance, but the noise hadn¡¯t grown any louder since he started walking.


    His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area again for the mystery fighters. They were nowhere to be found, ¡®another trick,¡¯ his rage spat.


    Kato was not prepared to be left alone with his thoughts, and he especially didn¡¯t want to think of Styx, but his mind drifted there nonetheless, his pupils slowly morphing back to more humane round spheres. ¡®Why was she so prepared to die?¡¯ he thought mournfully, ¡®I could have done something, saved her, if only I had been given the chance.¡¯


    He looked back to the sky, a single tear sliding down his face, he hadn¡¯t even got to say goodbye.


    He stayed motionless for some time until a strong, male voice broke out once again.


    ¡°Preparation time for the trial of battle is now over, fighting will commence in one minute, may the suffering guide you,¡± it cut out suddenly.


    Kato blinked wearily, as he frantically cleared the blur from his eyes, ¡®preparation time? Was I supposed to prepare?¡¯


    Then the veil was pierced, hundreds of bodies thronged the surroundings, maybe even thousands.


    His hand wrapped around the sword¡¯s hilt tighter.


    ¡°Survive,¡± the voice stated simply and disappeared, apparently its spiritual wisdom depleted.


    Kato wrapped his body tight against the cover of the wagons, he couldn¡¯t be foolish about this.


    Clang! Clang! Clang! The once distant sounds of metal clashing on metal were now all encompassing. Kato darted his head around the side of a wagon. Four men stood amidst the burning wreckage, it was a vicious three on one, as three lightly armoured attackers beat down on a singular iron, clad soldier with barbed maces.


    Kato didn¡¯t know much about warfare, but blunt force trauma was blunt force trauma. Each flinch and stagger of walking suit of armour made it painfully clear that they knew that too.


    They kept hitting him, forcing him back. The iron suit dropped its blade and a large two-handed sword with an ornate, wooden handle dug deep into the ground. Soon they were pushed up against the charred wood of a wagon.


    Kato would have probably been happy to watch this unfold. After all he only had to survive. From this he could learn more about his enemies. That was what he had been planning, it was what he had wanted to do.


    Then one of the attackers laughed.


    Kato¡¯s mind flashed back to the blursons laughing at him while he was defenceless, unable to fight back. He wouldn¡¯t let it happen again. He couldn¡¯t. His eyes contracted violently, pitch black swords taking over once again.


    His rage smiled. He wasn¡¯t unable to fight back anymore.


    Kato sprung into action his rusted blade cut through the air with a vicious hiss, burying itself into one of the attackers¡¯ necks. Kato yanked it back, seizing the element of surprise. His blade began to pull back, but just as he prepared to gouge again. The blade decided it had enough. Apparently taking notes from Styx it quit at the first sign of resistance and the metal blade snapped off at the hilt.


    Kato¡¯s hand drew back, clutching the gnarled wood he still had tightly. With no time to think his hand went into motion again. He swung it hard, the wood thwacking the side of another attacker¡¯s head. His rage refused to even let him consider what it meant to fight unarmed.


    The man turned, rage painting a pale face a stunning shade of red, his mace flew through the air, guided towards Kato¡¯s unarmoured body.


    Bang! A metal covered fist shot out from behind him clipping the mace wielder¡¯s head and he went down like a sack of bricks, collapsing to the ground. Apparently, the metal man wasn¡¯t done yet.


    Bang! A second fist took notes from the first and the last of the attackers joined his companions on the ground, his skull caved in.


    The metal man turned to face Kato, and his stomach churned. He remembered all too well what had happened the last time he had met a faceless man.

 Chapter 41 - He has a face!

    <u>He has a face!</u>


    Luckily, as it turned out, the man did in fact have a face and with a slight tug of a helmet it greeted Kato. Sharp, blue eyes pierced through waves of unkempt dirty, blonde hair. He had a slight hooked nose that rested above a light, ginger, lampshade moustache. Faint stubble was coloured the same and ringed his angular chin.


    The man shook his head slightly, his hair billowed in the wind as droplets of sweat flew off his face, reddened from the exertion. He blinked slightly looking at Kato, ¡°thanks, could¡¯ve been rough.¡±


    Kato¡¯s rage stared back, ¡®what is this? I came here for blood not words.¡¯ Kato keeping his eyes on the stranger, reached down his hand curling around the warmth of a recently held mace handle. He lifted it from one of the attackers¡¯ hands and thankfully it came free first try.


    ¡°I¡¯m Aldor and you?¡± The man reached out an iron clad hand towards him.


    Kato¡¯s eyes narrowed; they were in the middle of a battlefield.


    Experimentally Kato swung the mace a couple of times, allowing himself to get a feel for the weight.


    ¡°You don¡¯t talk much do you?¡± Aldor looked at Kato, curious.


    Kato¡¯s pitch-black sword pupils glinted sharply but were hidden in the shadows of the nearby wagons.


    Aldor leant on the charred wood behind him, his armour creaking heavily from the movement, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I get it. I do,¡± he continued, amicably.


    Kato went back to testing his weapon, he was glad the man understood. His rage had a very specific skillset and holding a prolonged conversation wasn¡¯t one of them.


    ¡°I just think fate had brought us together, it must have, we are destined for more than this don¡¯t you see?" Passion leaked into his words as his voice raised, furore growing with every passing second.


    ¡®Great I rescued a nutjob.¡¯ Kato examined the barbed metal head of his newly acquired weapon; he felt the weight shift as it travelled from the start to end of it swing. Finally happy he nodded, ¡®this would do.¡¯


    Aldor still watching him burst out in excitement, ¡°see I knew you would agree.¡± He paused, searching for the words, ¡°we are Kindred spirits, we must be destiny truly is guiding our paths.¡± He violently nodded to himself.


    Kato felt sorry for the man¡¯s neck. First, it¡¯s main job was to support the head of a nutcase and now this. He shook his head softly; it was a tough life.


    ¡°You disagree?¡± Aldor said softly, then he laughed lightly, ¡°perhaps not, what is destiny to us warriors?¡± He smiled then lunged forward, patting Kato¡¯s back with a hard thump. Kato winced from the impact, stumbling a step forward.


    Saving people was supposed to feel good, be rewarding. They were supposed to thank you at a minimum not make you wish you¡¯d never met them. He sighed, ¡®what¡¯s done is done.¡¯ Weapon in hand, he peered around the side of the wagon once again.


    ¡°You are quite right, of course,¡± Aldor rambled on. ¡°Adventure awaits!¡± And with that proclamation the helmet returned to its place and a thick, gauntleted hand pulled the large sword back from the ground, gritty scraping accompanied the action as the blade dragged though the earth.


    Kato tried to tune the man out, replacing his voice with the noticeably less prominent sounds of battle.


    He drank in the sight ahead of him. The reason for the less prominent sounds was now evident. The once hundreds of men had been reduced to just tens. They fought in sporadic patches across the blood-soaked field, over the bodies of comrades and foes alike.


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    No horns blew. No one shouted orders. The only thing that could be heard was laboured grunting punctuated by the familiar clangs of metal on metal.


    Kato scanned the field again, what had happened to the leadership if they were ever there, he didn¡¯t know. All he did know was that he could discern no difference between one man and the next. They wore no colours had no obvious outward signs that they belonged to a particular group. How they knew who to fight Kato had no idea.


    A hand tapped Kato¡¯s shoulder, reluctantly he turned.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± A familiar, overly excited voice asked.


    Kato stared back at Aldor; surviving might be more difficult than he had thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t want to share the plan?¡± A metal face stared intently at Kato. ¡°No? I get it¡­ kind of¡­ who needs a plan anyway?¡±


    Kato fought down the urge to massage his throbbing temple. After a moment he finally responded, ¡°which ones are you allied with?¡± He had already made his bed he might as well lie in it.


    The metal head tilted in confusion, ¡°None of them? Every man for himself. Strength through suffering and all that,¡± he raised a hand weakly to the air, punctuating his words.


    Kato¡¯s world dipped into colder hues he¡¯d only seen once, briefly before. Greens and blues replaced the once lively world. A thin, glossy sheen coated his eyes as the warmth was chased from his world.


    Kato looked back to the man, four singular words slithering from his throat ¡°you¡¯re with the church?¡±


    Aldor looked at him confused, ¡°we all are? Everyone must suffer it is the way of life.¡±


    Kato¡¯s vision blanked, rage taking over him. His body shot forward. Kato¡¯s arm swung overhead. The mace followed. Crash! Aldor¡¯s body crumpled against the wagon wall. The mace had buried through armour and skin as it jutted out of the dead man¡¯s head. Liquid trickled around the buried barbs, finding succour outside of their metal prison.


    Kato walked away without even a second look. The man had found his destiny and now Kato would find his. He picked up another mace.


    They came here wanting to suffer and Kato would oblige them. One last gift for the poisonous church.


    He walked around the side of the overturned wagon without even checking. His heart beat in a slowly steady rhythm. This was the first thing that had felt right in a while.


    He charged forward; the mace flashed through the air again and again. As he doled out more and more of the suffering they craved.


    Kato tore through crowd after crowd, his muscles were straining as he lifted the weapon time and time again. He had expected to be dead by now, but apparently charging someone and pulverising their head in a single clean blow was a winning strategy who knew.


    The number of practitioners left could be measured on a hand and instead of fighting him they were fighting each other. Four of them were the only ones left but they acted like they weren¡¯t. Still just mindlessly slashing and blocking and repeating. Oblivious to the world outside of the immediate threat.


    Kato rose his mace three more times, and it fell three more times.


    It was as if a curse had been shattered the last man stood stock still, staring at Kato. Then he knelt prostrating himself before him, ¡°let my suffering be your own.¡±


    Kato¡¯s mace twitched back suddenly, stopping in its path. He stared at the man on the ground, his rage twitched angrily, ¡®what are you waiting for?¡¯


    The man stared back at him, raising his head from the dirt it had been pressed in. Then he spoke, ¡°suffering begets strength, you will come to thank me.¡± A vice-like grip latched onto Kato¡¯s arm jerking it downwards.


    The head of his mace connected with a sickening crunch and the last practitioner, crumpled to the side. Kato looked at his mace. ¡®What have I done?¡¯


    He trembled violently, unclenching his hand for the first time in what felt like hours. His weapon dropped to the ground with a slight thud. He looked around himself, ¡®so many bodies.¡¯


    Kato threw up, bluish vomit met the green ground.


    His eyes shifted dilating as his rage retreated back within him.


    He looked to the ground. His sick. It was yellow.


    ¡®What am I becoming?¡¯


    A strong male voice echoed all around him, ¡°congratulations disciple you have taken the suffering of others and made it your own, not a lot can.¡±


    Kato looked up, the acrid taste of vomit, still heavy in his mouth. He wasn¡¯t like them. He couldn¡¯t be. Wouldn¡¯t be.


    A familiar stone rose from the ground ahead of him, tearing upwards through the ground without pause, dirt flew from the air as it continued in its ascent. The second indent pulsated briefly before the same unnatural green as he first filled it.


    Kato looked at it briefly he didn¡¯t want to do any more trials. He just wanted to go home.


    The voice spoke again, ¡°as stated there are no second chances. You had the chance to leave before. You don¡¯t now. Let the trial of plague begin.¡±


    Nothing happened. No portal appeared. There wasn¡¯t even a sound. Then the stone flickered out of existence and Kato¡¯s body erupted in pain.

 Chapter 42 - I鈥檓 not a seed. I鈥檓 a man!

    <u>I¡¯m not a seed. I¡¯m a man!</u>


    Kato¡¯s body jerked upwards as if taken hold of by some supernatural entity. His limbs splayed out to his side before spasming. Coils of agony washed over Kato as what could only be the plague fought over him.


    Kato grunted in pain, as his bones tore against his innards begging for release. Kato¡¯s rage clamped his mouth shut. It would not scream. It would not show weakness. It would prevail.


    Kato¡¯s body spasmed again, driving back through the dirt and leaving a small furrow behind.


    His rage screamed but no words came out. they would not be cowed by mere feelings, there was only one feeling worth having and it wasn¡¯t pain. It certainly wasn¡¯t weakness.


    Kato¡¯s body writhed further. Clumps of dirt were sent flying to the air. Blackened grass flew around Kato, and the scent of fire hung heavy in the air. They had once stood proud too, constantly growing. Striving forwards. Never stopping in their march to get higher and higher, until they looked above those who had once looked down at them.


    Then their own trial had come. One of fire, it tore all their dreams and aspirations from them, leaving them mere husks of their former selves until those too crumbled away.


    Kato writhed again, the sharp bite of tens of small stones dug into him but they meant nothing in the face of the plague.


    He would not mean nothing. This his rage vowed.


    Kato¡¯s body jerked back, flying briefly in the air, before coming down hard with a dull thud on the ground. He was laid prone on his side in a recovery position. He writhed again and his pupils shattered, tiny pitch-black particles that had once coalesced into his fiercest protector giving away when he had needed them the most.


    His jaw unseized and his mouth fell open, hinged to its extremities.


    Then he screamed.


    The once dulled blue and green hues of a world turned to cold shattered. Life came roaring back and with it came its joys. Kato¡¯s body erupted into pain like never before, apparently his rage had been doing more than he thought.


    He screamed again in a never-ending symphony of lamentation. His eyes watered as they fought to burst out of his head. Kato¡¯s cries were becoming more and more inhuman with every passing second.


    Then suddenly it all stopped.


    Kato¡¯s jaw hung open the phantom aftershocks refusing to let it close. He stared vacantly forward as lone blood-red tears splashed into the fallow ground.


    ¡°First ploughed, now watered.¡± A cold metallic voice resonated around him. Kato forced his head up, blowing his damp black locks back from his eyes, but no one was there.


    He rolled onto his back, the stones bit into him again even harder than before. He attempted to get up but his body refused to let him move.


    He looked around frantically. Of course, this person would come now.


    He bucked forward or at least he tried to, but his body refused to move.


    Kato coughed, weakly, ¡°show yourself!¡±


    Thump. Thump.


    Two feet met the ground next to Kato¡¯s head.


    He turned, craning his neck backwards.


    A faceless man stared down at him, ¡°now all we need is the seed.¡± The same metallic cold voice rang out around him, it didn¡¯t even seem to originate from the frighteningly familiar figure.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± Kato whispered, ¡°not you,¡± his body began to shake violently, but it wasn¡¯t from the pain. Kato began rocking back and forth, he had to escape, ¡°not you.¡±


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    After a moment the faceless visage turned and looked to the distance. Then the song came. It was a creepy, metallic warble that grated along Kato¡¯s ears, but it was hauntingly poetic nevertheless.


    ¡°In the battle¡¯s blood we make our rest.


    Through the taken life that we made dead.


    Plough the ground till the dirt attests.


    This place was my home, and you made it dead.


    Wash the ground till its holy and blessed.


    This place was their home, and you made it dead.


    Bury the seed, till its life is suppressed.


    This place is your home, and you will be dead.¡±


    The creature¡¯s clawed hand dragged through the turned dirt. Then it looked at him.


    Kato shook his head mutely.


    A clump of dirt hit his face.


    The hand went down again.


    A second clump hit.


    Kato closed his eyes as the pressure across him mounted, and the world faded to black.


    ¡°BOY!¡± A woman¡¯s voice shouted out, startling Kato.


    His eyes opened in a slow blink.


    He had awoken in a small room. Pale yellow plaster hung from exposed stone on the walls. A fire crackled at the back and smoke drifted through an attached clay chimney. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. There was a small wooden table to his right and a set of lockpicks were splayed out over a black leather case that rested against the aged wood table.


    The table was riddled with holes. Kato had told Maya time and time again to get rid of it before it spread to the rest of the house. But she never listened to him, said it was sentimental and part of the family. He wondered if she would still think that when the supporting beams gave out.


    They lived a fairly minimalist life, apart from the table and the fire. Two rickety wooden chairs with high arched backs were the only comfort they were afforded.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to put your picks away¡± A slender, lithe woman looked down at him.


    ¡®This isn¡¯t right, I shouldn¡¯t be here,¡¯ Kato blinked slightly, ¡®what¡¯s happening?¡¯


    A rounded face peered over him, her emerald eyes, staring dead into his. Her head was elegantly framed by striking white locks that extended well past her shoulders. And although she clearly didn¡¯t live rich, she held herself tall, like a person who was used to getting their way.


    She gently nudged Kato¡¯s shoulder, ¡°come on, forget about the mess, Romero¡¯s waiting for us.¡±


    Kato blinked slightly, ¡®picks on the table is hardly a mess,¡¯ he thought confused, his head was starting to ache. ¡®This isn¡¯t right,¡¯ a voice whispered in the back of his mind.


    Kato stood up, his bones creaking as he fought against gravity. He looked at Maya, then blinked again. Her features appeared almost stretched across her face, the right side seemed normal but when she turned¡­


    It was wrong. It was all wrong. It was as if someone had extended her features. They were lopsided and twice as long as they should be.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± he whispered. His head pulsed in pain in response.


    ¡°Kato?¡± Maya asked, ¡°we are going to be late,¡± her head settled into a normal visage as she flashed him a slight smile.


    Kato stepped backwards; his hand clutched against the wooden edge of the small table.


    ¡°Kato?¡± She stepped forward, her eyes did not look so kind anymore.


    Kato stepped back again. His hand brushed against the discarded picks.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Maya¡¯s eyes flashed in understanding. ¡°It¡¯s fine Kato you can sort that out later.¡±


    Kato stepped back again. The picks slid back along the table with his motion, releasing a small scrape.


    ¡°We are expected,¡± the words sounded out, but her malformed lips didn¡¯t move.


    Kato clutched the picks raising them off the table, ¡®what¡¯s happening?¡¯


    Maya¡¯s emerald eyes flashed; black fog clouded her irises occasionally pierced by flashing purple lightning. Her nose twitched. ¡°I would hate to be late.¡± Then she charged at him, leaping over the table her mouth unhinged unnaturally wide.


    Kato¡¯s vision went black.


    He awoke again in the same room as before but this time it was different. Pale black wisps of fog tendrilled through the room and the scent of decay hung thick in the air. The fire had long since run cold and the room was chilled, charred coal remained unlit in the abandoned home. The fog clung to what little furnishings were left, blanketing stone and wood alike.


    Kato looked to the wall. There was something new or something old, depending on how you looked at it. A small, square portrait was suffocated in fog.


    Maya had removed this particular item long ago. Her sentimentality apparently only stretched so far.


    Kato knew what it was. What the fog had buried. He didn¡¯t even remember the face, but it was the one thing he was sure he would never forget. It was his father, the only image left of the man before he had disappeared into the unknown. Kato doubted a single person alive remembered his face, he¡¯d asked a lot, but they all said the same. ¡°It¡¯s been so long, I¡¯m sorry kid, I really am.¡± The words felt hollow then and they felt no more solid now.


    Kato dragged a chair over to the wall; he climbed on it and batted the fog from the picture. A burnt mark for a face stared back at him.


    He looked at it for a moment, then started to laugh. This was all that was left, the only connection remaining. He laughed harder. Then without warning punched forward, his hands tore through the painted cloth and struck the stone behind with a sharp crack.


    ¡°Kato,¡± Male susurrations broke out behind him.


    He turned.


    The fog had coalesced into a vaguely humanoid figure.


    Kato raised his hand again.


    ¡°You need to go back,¡± many voices whispered out to him. Then with a thick, blackened tendril it shoved him.

 Chapter 43 - I am not a mascochist

    <u>I am not a masochist</u>


    With a pained gasp, Kato stumbled back. The world was shattering around him as he fell back. His form slowly passed through what had been a thick, stone, wall but now was little more than a blurred grey outline.


    His hand reached out, stretching forward towards the aged, wooden, frame and the burnt picture it held. His eyes locked onto it desperately trying to glean something, anything at all! But it wasn¡¯t to be as the inevitable grey crept across that too smearing it into a transparent haze, somehow even more lifeless than before.


    His body seemed to fall in slow motion as he fought against gravity. Pushing back the real world in favour of this fake one where his problems were only in his head.


    ¡®I¡¯m not ready to go.¡¯ Kato thought panicked. He didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d ever see this place again. Hell, he hardly knew if this was even what his once familiar haunt looked like or whether it was just some stress induced amalgamation of what he could still remember.


    And on that note Kato¡¯s back hit something soft with a light thump. His eyes screwed shut upon impact.


    Slowly his eyes blinked open as he turned his body and looked up. The world had returned to normal. Or at least a different type of strange.


    Shaking his head slightly, he tried to clear his mind. This was not the time for debating the enigmatic mysteries of what was now his life.


    Focusing slightly, his forehead tightened as he took in his surroundings.


    Faded, grey smoke of a fire long gone lightly wisped through the air. The scent of what he had known to be destruction just hours before replaced by the comforting smell of dying embers cutting through the chill of the cool night.


    He smiled ruefully. Kato had spent many a good night by a fire whether that be in his own dwellings or someone else¡¯s, who had also graciously donated to him both their belonging and warmth. And all without even their own knowledge. Some people really were too kind for this world.


    A slight smile tugged at his lips. It was a slight and involuntary motion, one born of the relief from the sudden dispersion of the pain that had been wracking him.


    And better still, the faceless man was gone. If he had ever been there to begin with. But Kato wasn¡¯t one for questioning his own sanity¡­ not anymore¡­ or at least he was trying not to be¡­


    ¡®Enough dwelling!¡¯ Kato resolved pushing himself off the freshly turned dirt and finding his footing.


    ¡°Great!¡± He proclaimed suddenly, as he felt the clammy dirt push between his toes. ¡°Which joker did this?¡± He laughed slightly half hoping for a response and half scared he¡¯d get one.


    To his disappointment or relief, he didn¡¯t.


    ¡°What type of person steal someone¡¯s shoes while they¡¯re sleeping,¡± he muttered, glum, wilfully disregarding that he had done the same many a time before.


    He sighed then called out louder than before, ¡°Ok rock, or voice or whoever you can come out now. I did it, I beat your little trial and had just oh so much of a good time doing so.¡± A pained smile twisted across his face, but he wasn¡¯t prepared to let the cruel taskmaster feel any satisfaction from his pain.


    After all his suffering should only benefit himself. Kato paused, a tendril of worry slipping around him that line of thinking was far too cult like, and he¡¯d just seen it kill hundreds. Was he really that prepared to let it do the same to him?


    A voice coughed slightly startled, and the frantic rustling of papers could be heard. ¡°Uhhum that was faster than expected¡± the male voice cleared its throat slightly. ¡°One moment please,¡± it continued. Apparently now the picture of helpfulness.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Then its voice shifted, booming out, ¡°so the prodigal son has returned, and oh what wealth he has brought!¡± The voice shifted again its kind demeanour fading into one with an audible sneer, ¡°look around you!¡± it spat. ¡°This death, this destruction, you caused it all so you could call yourself better than your peers.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not why I did it!¡± Kato interrupted shouting suddenly, he was not prepared to let this man besmirch his good name. ¡°And they weren¡¯t my peers.¡±


    ¡°Ahaha,¡± the voice laughed slightly, ¡°so you are a Puritan? Who walks the path alone?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Kato replied confused, ¡®why did I feel the need to speak out, you¡¯re here on a mission, you shouldn¡¯t be trying to make a good impression. You shouldn¡¯t be trying to make any impressions. Remember your training! Briefly Kato thought about super sneaky shimmy mode, but he dismissed it, that wasn¡¯t the type of thing that worked against omnipotent, incorporeal beings. He paused or at least he thought it didn¡¯t, who knew the rules here? ¡®This may need to be considered.¡¯


    Before he could continue planning strokes of genius that would never have even been dreamed of by the most accomplished scholars the voice continued.


    ¡°Not a Togeran like the rest who are so focussed on success through their joint suffering,¡± they mocked with distain. ¡°Not a Puritan, who walks alone, but¡­¡±


    ¡°My oh my, the elusive third chapter. We haven¡¯t seen a Riseran join the order at least not here, not for a very long time,¡± they laughed again.


    ¡°Perhaps not since I, myself walked the path you now follow. I should warn you the path of someone who not only takes suffering but wilfully seeks to expand upon it again and again is not an easy one.¡± They paused, ¡°but then again, I¡¯m sure you know that.¡± They cackled as if they were kindred spirtis sharing a moment of comraderie over an open secret.


    Kato¡¯s eye twitched slightly, they were taking his statements all wrong. He wanted nothing to do with this infernal order. And he certainly wasn¡¯t some perverted masochist like this voice apparently was. But he had the sneaking feeling that response wouldn¡¯t fly here, so he, with a tight-lipped expression, just nodded slightly in response.


    ¡°How delightful,¡± the voice laughed again. ¡°You are an interesting one, aren¡¯t you? What is your name boy? Participant 8672 just doesn¡¯t flow right."


    Kato¡¯s eye twitched again, ¡®they don¡¯t even bother to learn their members names?¡¯ Kato questioned, disgusted. Then paused, that was probably a good thing. If the order tracked its clergy better, he doubted the voice would still be laughing.


    He paused thinking. Now was the time to reinvent himself. Sculpt himself into someone new. Give himself a name fitting for kings. He racked his brain, scanning memories from long nights where he read faded parchment by candlelight. What was the link that these powerful names from legend shared?


    ¡°The Third,¡± he blurted out, before his mind could refute it.


    ¡°The Third?¡± The voice replied confused.


    ¡®Damn It,¡¯ Kato thought he had just been upset about them naming their members numbers and now he had done it to himself! He rubbed a hand over his face in frustration ¡®at least I didn¡¯t name myself Floor Guy, but still, The Third, really?¡¯


    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied steadily, but the word was drawn out, reluctant and accompanied by a slight reddening of his pale features.


    ¡°Your name is a number?¡±


    ¡°A title,¡± Kato countered quickly. ¡°The Third of¡­ many things,¡± he nodded assuredly, he had played that off spectacularly.


    ¡°And your real name?¡± They asked.


    ¡°Kato,¡± he replied without even thinking, ¡®great now saying that nonsense about The Third actually means nothing and what¡¯s worse you¡¯ve just compromised yourself. I have?¡¯ Kato replied to himself shocked, but looking down he saw that everything was where it should be. ¡®Your name. Your name was compromised¡­¡±


    ¡°-lla,¡± he added quickly, ¡°Katolla.¡± He said again, ¡®that was far too close.¡¯


    ¡°Well, Katolla,¡± the voice continued, none the wiser, ¡°that marks the end of the third and final trial,¡± it laughed again, ¡°though I am sure a Riseran like yourself will find other ways,¡± they paused, ¡°to entertain yourself.¡±


    Kato¡¯s eye twitched again, he wasn¡¯t a crazy masochist, and he wanted no part of the ¡®entertainment¡¯ that they were referring to, he knew that was code for hurting himself in worse and worse ways.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he muttered.


    But there was no reply, the voice apparently gone.


    A moment later the ground erupted and a familiar large rock rose to the surface and with it two shallow green orbs imprinted in its surafec that now stared level into his eyes. ¡®Is it getting bigger?¡¯


    Then the third shallow indent began to pulse in the same sickly, green as the otheres before finally settling in place.


    With a low groan the stone expanded outwards, Kato took a step back. Then it cracked down the middle.


    He stared at it for a moment, then thinking stepped back again and again and again, till he had made good distance from the grey monolith.


    The crack continued to widen and the sound of stone splitting filled the air before suddenly, it stopped. Two planes of rock split perfectly from it and toppled off to the side leaving a small, wooden, doorway marked service exit in their place.


    Praying to Cogul and all that was good it wasn¡¯t a trick, Kato stepped through.

 Chapter 44 - The church so far (sofa?)

    <u>The church so far (sofa?)</u>


    The world opened up or¡­ closed down¡­ potentially. Anyways, what had been a lush sprawling grassland desecrated by the horrors of war had turned into a lavish corridor desecrated by the horror of poor taste.


    Uneven neon green stripes of paint had been slapped haphazardly across a base pink wall. Random splodges splattered against the walls and there were no clear lines to be seen. Any and all attempts at symmetry had been brutally stamped out by the pervasive style long ago.


    A knot of anxiety worked up through Kato¡¯s stomach as he fought against the urge to be physically sick. Did they have to suffer even here in their most sacred place?


    He paused, a sudden much worse thought taking over. ¡®What if this isn¡¯t mean to be suffering, what if this is just their common design.¡¯


    The sickness he had forced down earlier rose again, threatening to choke him. ¡®It can¡¯t be!¡¯ He desperately bargained with himself, but the evidence was mounting.


    Small chairs had been placed at awkward heights. They were either so high that your feet were forced to dangle far above the floor, or where there cushioned base was sunk so low your legs had to be practically horizontal when sitting if you wanted any chance at a reasonable rest.


    It was diabolical and worse than that it was in theme. A slight shiver ran up his spine.


    Of course, the people who thought it was normal to want to slaughter each other, thought that this was appropriate.


    A long sofa, in keeping with the church¡¯s depravities, stretched across the centre of the corridor. It was positioned in such a way that you would have to either clamber over the top or slip around the edges and barely squeeze yourself through.


    Kato¡¯s eye twitched, ¡®of course this is how they would set them up.¡¯


    The pink and neon green of the sofa matched the walls. It was at a first glance the first real sign of order but alas on closer expression its design was as janky and malevolent as the rest. Patchwork patterns at one end before abruptly devolved into spiral designs that jolted into a flowered pattern before descending into a bolt of cloth that had been loosely drooped across the floor.


    There was no rhyme or reason to this design, and it appeared as if it had been done more to irritate than from any real stylistic choice. There weren¡¯t even any polka dots! Kato smiled slightly; they had missed a trick there. Or. He paused, maybe they liked polka dots.


    He shivered again before sighing, ¡®just get the thing and go.¡¯ He nodded slightly, for Styx.¡¯ And with that a fierce coil of resolve wrapped around his centre. He stepped forward.


    Kato stumbled as his foot hit the ground and was unexpectedly pushed to the side. The ground writhed beneath him as it rolled around his foot. He glowered at the floor, ¡®how is that even possible?¡¯


    He imagined this was what a sailor on a boat on rocky water would feel like¡­ except without the boat¡­ and without the water. He sighed again. ¡®What is wrong with these people?¡¯


    He took small, steadying steps forward till finally his hand rested against the sofa. It was a pivotal moment he could go left; he could go right. Hell, he could even climb over the top!


    The weight of the decision pressed against his chest. This would define his path going forward. He suddenly snorted and laughed sardonically. ¡®I will not play your games demon!¡¯  He shoved the sofa back forcing a reasonable opening to emerge and then further pushed it till its back lay flat to the wall. ¡®Your reign of terror is no more.¡¯ He declared internally as he strode forward.


    An old, wizened man with a stern expression and a slight hunch to his back materialised in front of him. Light, windswept white locks cascaded down the side of his head. His eyes scanned over Kato as he looked him up and down.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Thought you could get away with moving my sofa, did you?¡± With a small turn and a light grating swish a metal sword emerged from a leather scabbard. It wavered slightly before the tip began slowly pointing further and further to the floor.


    Kato glowered at him, ¡°are you threatening me?¡±


    The man wheezed before his voice devolved into a series of coughs. ¡°Drat, forgot you¡¯re one of those, damn pain seekers,¡± he muttered,


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I-¡± Kato¡¯s mouth hung slightly agape as he felt his cheeks begin to redden. ¡®Is this my life now, forever destined to be that weird guy in the corner. People try to avoid. Don¡¯t walk near that guy he¡¯ll probably ask you to hurt him or something.¡¯ Kato nestled his face in his hands in exasperation.


    ¡°Hey there,¡± the man said gently as he began to walk over to Kato, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to be so kind, I can insult you or cut you a little if you¡¯d like.¡±


    Kato sharply raised his head from his hands, ¡°NO! I mean.¡± He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, ¡°that won¡¯t be necessary. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re sure,¡± the man muttered moving to resheathe his blade. ¡°Ahah,¡± he sprung forward thrusting at Kato.


    Kato jumped back.


    The man started coughing again and let his blade drop to the floor with a slight clatter. ¡°Nearly¡­ had¡­ you,¡± he got out between gasps.


    ¡°I guess so¡­¡± Kato looked at him strangely, ¡°why?¡±


    ¡°Damn youngsters,¡± the man paused breathing heavily, ¡°think you can go around touching a man¡¯s sofa and the like.¡± He inhaled deeply, ¡°even for one of you pain seekers I''ve never seen such arrogance.¡±


    Kato wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to laugh, or cry had a man seriously just tried to kill him because he moved his sofa. He paused. ¡°Your name isn¡¯t Sofa guy by any chance, is it?¡±


    It was the man¡¯s turn to look strangely at him, ¡°no it isn¡¯t damn sofa guy, what type of absurd- You know what I don¡¯t even want to hear it. You¡¯re probably getting your kicks just from embarrassing your self.¡±


    Kato¡¯s face reddened further, ¡®that dastardly voice spreading such foul rumours about me,¡¯ he seethed, ¡®you¡¯re doing this for Styx,¡¯ a voice reminded him.


    ¡°Its Darren by the way, ¡®fore you try and get some more pleasure of calling me something equally absurd,¡± he muttered something under his breath about Riserans. It did not sound pleasant.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Darren.¡± Kato forced a smile and extended his arm towards the diminutive man.


    Darren muttered in response and turned away from him, before grabbing the sofa and slowly shimmying it back into place.


    Kato walked to the other side; he wasn¡¯t sure if he could cope with the dilemma of so many choices again.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t going to help me?¡± Darren grunted at him.


    Instinctually Kato went back to help the man shifting it back into its awful placement. ¡°I didn¡¯t know whether or not you would want me to take your suffering from you,¡± he tried in apology, hoping Darren was as crazy as the rest of them.


    A small smile crept across the old man¡¯s face, ¡°twenty years and I still forget you lot are like that, No I¡¯m not a member of your precious church boy.¡±


    Anger flared up within Kato, ¡®this was not his church!¡¯ but he pushed it down, this was not the time, and it definitely wasn¡¯t the place to argue that particular point.


    ¡°I just work here money¡¯s money am I right,¡± he side-eyed Kato with a coy expression.


    ¡°Guess so,¡± Kato remarked as he bent down to return the man his sword.


    The man took the blade back returning it to its previous home by his side. He frowned slightly at Kato, ¡°interesting.¡±


    Kato¡¯s ears pricked, ¡®did I do something wrong?¡¯


    ¡°Most of you seem to detest the idea of cash,¡± he cleared his throat. ¡°Say it¡¯s sacrilege and it decreases their suffering far too much,¡± he coughed. Hard. ¡°Always thought that was just an excuse for the elites to take more and more from you as you¡¯re left behind with a beggars¡¯ bowl and a smile on your face.¡±


    And with that comment there was a slight blur, and the man disappeared as quickly as he had come. Kato briefly thought about touching the sofa again, grill the man for some more information. But he wasn¡¯t the church, and he wouldn¡¯t increase the old man¡¯s suffering just for his own personal gain.


    He walked past peeling and faded portraits that hung loosely from twisted frames. They were as distorted and wrong as the rest of this infernal place. The eyes were asymmetrical, noses had been shifted to unnatural angles and their mouth had been contorted to a painful degree. Each one depicting its own amalgamation of a narcissist¡¯s worst nightmare.


    Doing his best to ignore the garish and the off putting, he continued until the corridor widened into a large room filled with doors of all sorts of shapes and colours affixed to the walls.


    Continuing straight on he pulled open a door, only to be greeted by a bare faced brick wall behind.


    Kato gently palmed his face and was severely tempted to go back and irritate the man with the sofa once more. ¡®Seriously what is wrong with these people?¡¯


    A small voice crackled around him, ¡°fifty doors lie ahead of you, only one brings salvation, but which one will it be?¡± It cackled and the accompanying static faded into the background.


    Kato glowered. He hated riddles.

 Chapter 45 - Stop! Thats the wrong entrance

    <u>STOP! That''s the wrong entrance</u>


    Kato walked over to a diminutive, stripped wooden door. The scent of resin hung thick in the air and only mounted as he approached. He doubted it was relevant and without further thought he swung the door open.


    Bare faced bricks greeted him.


    He sighed. It was going to be a long day.


    ¡°Ahaha,¡± a small voice cackled in the background, ¡°so stripped lead to stripped don¡¯t you see? your door is behind of this one a multiple of three.¡±


    Kato nodded proud to himself ¡®I really am getting better at tuning people out.¡¯


    The voice faded into background static again and Kato walked to the next door, he looked at it briefly. It wasn¡¯t a multiple of three. But¡­ rules were for suckers, and he wasn¡¯t going to be suckered by an empty room. No siree.


    It was a much darker colour than the one before, practically black, the light seemed to coil around it stalwart frame desperately seeking succour but ultimately being devoured by the persistent darkness.


    He stared at it a moment longer, ¡®weird.¡¯


    Shallow wooden panels had been lovingly hand-crafted. Engravements spiralled out of them each piece combining into a larger puzzle, depicting times long of a people who were clearly proud of where they had come from.


    It must have cost a fortune. But now it was in his way.


    He swung the door open.


    Bare faced brick greeted him.


    The voice crackled into life again, ¡°It seems you have again chosen wrong. Perhaps the stress of the moment has made your brain get gone. So, take a moment to pause and listen to my song. It was a multiple of three, not two, not one.¡±


    ¡®Great.¡¯ Kato thought, ¡®are they going to feel the need to comment on each decision.¡¯


    He went to the next door in line and stood in front of it. His hand reaching out to the handle.


    ¡°Do you think this is a joke you can¡¯t just-¡±


    He swung the door open.


    ¡°This¡­ this isn¡¯t how you do it. I will explain once more as it seems you aren¡¯t sure. Skip two from the stripped door then do that once more. Follow again and again and you will find the right door¡¯ The voice sung again but it came out slightly strained and on edge.


    Kato opened the next door, ¡®As expected.¡¯ He sighed.


    ¡°Ahaha so now you see. It wasn¡¯t that door. No. No. No. It couldn¡¯t be. It must be one made not from tree.¡±


    Kato walked to the next door in line. It was wood. ¡®Or maybe that is just what they want me to think!¡¯ He moved to open it again.


    The voice crackled into life once more, ¡°this is not how you play the game. Here you can find your fortune and find your fame. The heritage of a seed is what you mustn¡¯t claim.¡±


    Kato opened the door, ¡®great, nothing again.¡¯


    He walked to the next door, the candles pulsed violently turning shades of red, several going out. ¡®Huh, weird room.¡¯


    He opened the door; more candles went out.


    The next in line was again made of wood, this time a slight pale white, seeming to radiate light into the surroundings. Kato swung it open.


    He was starting to make really good progress now and could likely be done with this little detour in less than twenty minutes. He smiled slightly to himself, ¡®games not very fun but it sure is easy.¡¯


    A light chill crept through the air.


    ¡°Maybe. You. Forgot.¡± The voice crackled menacingly. ¡°The right door is not made from tree.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°OK¡­¡± Kato¡¯s voice trailed off into the nothing, ¡®Not sure why it felt the need to say that, probably just mad I¡¯m not falling for any of its little tricks.¡¯


    He opened the next door.


    The chill deepened and wind began to pick up at the edges of his clothes.


    Kato glanced around. ¡®No windows. No open doors. Nowhere the draft could be coming from. Great more of this success through suffering nonsense.¡¯


    It was starting to get old not everything needed to cause you discomfort, otherwise it would all start to blur together. ¡®Best keep that to yourself, wouldn¡¯t want to give them ideas.¡¯


    ¡°Ok I get it,¡± he turned and spoke to the empty room, ¡°I¡¯m doing it wrong; I¡¯ll do better.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± the voice crackled out.


    ¡®They must want me to do it within a certain time limit.¡¯ He nodded firmly to himself. ¡®Makes sense.¡¯


    Kato took off sprinting, doors flew open one after another, bricks and empty voids blurring together. The background static grew from constant noise to erratic bursts as if frenzied.


    ¡°No. NO. NO!¡± The voice screamed, ¡°this isn¡¯t right. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!¡±


    ¡®Still too slow?¡¯ Kato tried to speed up further as he charged down the line. His body was turning and shifting in mechanical perfection as blocked off opening after blocked off opening was revealed.


    A new mechanical voice blared out, ¡°Twenty-five doors reached, unlucky challenger but the room will now be reset, should¡¯ve listened to the clues better.¡± The unopened doors shifted and switched positions. Their colours and materials melted and morphed into something unrecognisable.


    Kato grinned slightly. He had done it. He¡¯d unlocked the second stage and oh it was just so easy.


    Another candle went out.


    ¡°No stop it now! It doesn¡¯t matter, he doesn¡¯t care!¡± The voice screamed out again. ¡°This rearrangement means nothing he wasn¡¯t EVEN following the rules to begin with!¡±


    Kato frowned. There was no need to be rude here. Just because he had found the most efficient way to progress here. No need at all.


    The voice spat out again, ¡°follow the rules. Follow the guide or there will be consequences that you really won¡¯t like.¡±


    Kato¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°you can¡¯t change the rules now, that cheating.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s cheating? THAT¡¯S CHEATING!?¡± Do you not understand that you aren¡¯t supposed to open each and every door?¡±


    Kato¡¯s frown deepened. He opened another door. Silence flooded the room and the last of the candles blinked out.


    A faint murmuring began to swell, jagged and uneven. Then came the scrape of metallic boots, slow and deliberate as feet dragged across the wooden floor.


    A slight maniacal giggle filled the room.


    ¡®What is wrong with this guy?¡¯


    Kato instinctively stepped back. The sound of footsteps once slow and deliberate had morphed into animalistic charge, rushing towards him through the darkness. Moments later the sharp whistle of metal tore through the air, shredding the space where he had just stood.


    Kato twisted his body sharply and sprinted back through the corridor that had brought him here. The sickening crunch of bones colliding echoed behind him but was growing fainter and fainter with every step.


    The dim light level began to brighten as he made distance through the illuminated corridor. But Kato didn¡¯t dare look back. He charged forwards his focus fixed on his one path to victory.


    Sprinting forward Kato barrelled into the sofa smashing it against the wall.


    ¡°You again,¡± Darren grunted as he materialised once more.


    Without thinking Kato pushed him back unsheathing the blade at his waist in one fluid motion before spinning back to face the corridor, sword in hand.


    ¡°Kids have no manners these days,¡± Darren muttered off to the side, but Kato paid him no mind.


    His eyes were locked on the figure that was now charging at him.


    It was an amalgamation ripped straight from a mourner¡¯s darkest nightmare.


    Its¡¯ body if it could even be called that was a hollow shell of bones, barely held together by rotting and faded purple cloth that clung scant against its frame.


    Empty eye sockets glowed faintly red, their baleful gaze fixed on him. Each bone ground and shift against its neighbours, it moved unnaturally and wrong, fragment of itself fell to the ground with each passing moment as the creature fought against its own form.


    But yet it persisted, the broken charge relentless desperate in its mission. With a resolve of steel that even death couldn¡¯t stop.


    A short sword glinted in its bony grasp. It was a stark contrast to the decrepit form that wielded it. The blade was immaculate, in a pristine condition that almost seemed to glow in the light. As if untouched by the decay that surrounded it. A sharp whistle accompanied the loping charge as the edge whistled through the air without even being swung.


    Kato gulped and braced himself in a defensive position.


    The skeleton swung.


    Kato parried; the clash of metal reverberated through the room. The skeletal figure staggered back, its movements jerky and uneven as it wobbled in place.


    But it steadied itself fast, lurching forward once again and swinging all within an instant.


    Kato darted back and with a fierce kick sent the sofa flying across the smooth floor. With vicious snap accompanied by the sound of shattering bones it collided with the creature¡¯s legs. The abomination went down in a clatter collapsing to the floor, its blade skittering along the ground.


    From his side, a sharp inhale cut through the tension.


    Kato paid it no mind, he stepped forward, his blade raised as he prepared to crush the foul undead thing¡¯s skull.


    Bang!


    A sharp pain erupted in Kato¡¯s gut as a fist struck him hard and fast.


    A sharp coughing fit erupted to his side as Darren struggled to breathe.


    An undead hand walked along the floor and grabbed the handle of a familiar blade.


    ¡°Damn kid!¡± Darren rasped ¡°told you not to touch my sofa!¡± The man didn¡¯t have his health, but he had his pride.


    The skeleton rose again, weapon in hand. It was relentless and united with Darren in its pride as both advanced-on Kato¡¯s winded form.