novelraw Chapter 178: Arrival
Chapter 178: Arrival
KuliKuli's ear flickers as her older sister shook her awake, murmuring as she slowly sat up and yawned in her drowsy state. The carriage trembled lightly as the cat girl regained consciousness, eyes wide open upon seeing Dimyri and the black knight that accompanied them. He hardly acknowledged them, sharpening his sword with a whetstone in his gloved hand, each downward stroke along the blade sending a sharp ring that made the cat girls quiver with their enhanced sense of hearing. He didn't care, showing no sign of emotion through his black armored self, his vented visor hiding his stoic expression.
KuliKuli's chains rattled as she was reminded of the cuffs linked to her wrists and ankles, locking them to the floor this time. She gave them a quick tug, squinting at the ancient text marked into the metal instruments. The cuffs weren't there for show, they were magically bound to prevent them from shrinking into their feline state to slip out. Even if they had somehow managed that maneuver, the black knight sat with them with his blade in hand to oversee that they stay put. He carried a curved horn snugly around his belt, an instrument to sound in case the girls were to break free.
"Look." Dimyri nudged her sister, gesturing at the slit at the wall where they could look outside.
KuliKuli pressed her cheek against it, her gold yellow cat eye scanning around the outside world as her cat ears shot up in surprise. The journey lasted into the night, but they had finally arrived in a city that seemed all too familiar to her. The roads were patchy but paves with a blue hue of cobblestone, houses somewhat modest and boxy with a few peasant wives sweeping with a broom to keep it clean. Some wooden doors burst open with children spilling out, sometimes accompanied by their mothers and fathers staring at the train of carriages wheeling by.
They finally arrived at Faehorn City.
At the front leading carriage, Perdilius stood waving at the gathering crowd of people with a proud smile on his face. Some of them would cheer or applaud at his presence with the occasional policing guard standing at attention respectfully. Leone the monster hunter sat with his arms crossed, unamused by the reaction and sinking in his chair with his eyes closed in a resting state. Soon they began traveling uphill, coiling around the terrain on route toward the tower.
KuliKuli squinted at a peculiar sight, discovering a large walled in portion that split the city apart. It was heavily fortified with numerous armored soldiers with cannons positioned to fire onto anyone that crossed through. But this border wasn't like the one that surrounded the city away from the forest, this wall seemed clumsily built as if the earth itself was forcefully uprooted in a hasty attempt to box them in, or to keep something out from entering their city.
The carriage came to a halt as the Nekomata sisters slumped against the wall together, waiting for their turn to be let out. Whilst they could hear the sounds of horses whining and men stepping out, greeting each other with words and hugs, Dimyri glanced over at her sister and nudged her arm.
"Do you think Syri and Na'Vi made it out safe?" She asked, attempting to break the silence.
KuliKuli breathed in softly, licking her lips and shrugged in response. "I'm more worried about mother and whatever that woman wants her for."
Dimyri nodded in agreement, exhaling slowly. Neither of them had more to say, both filled with dread at the sound of footsteps drawing closer. Their cat ears picked up the jingle of keys as a lock was turned before their carriage was opened. They were greeted by the empty glare of another black knight, who's visor turned to address his friend that sat inside with the girls. The other knight bowed his head in a subtle nod, a signal for his friend to continue. The girls were allowed to step outside, their limbs still in cuffs as they finally emerged to breath in the cold winter air. A quick chill breezed through, causing them to shiver as their paws finally stepped on land.
KuliKuli looked around, ears shot upright in alarm as she took in the elevated sight of being uphill. Now that she was outside of that coffin of a carriage, she could finally get a clear look of the city. All in all, it looked worn and exhausted, it's inhabitants struggling with poverty. The roads carried a few potholes, the people seem modestly dressed in an old-fashioned sense of tunics and dresses, even the children's clothing had patches that were sown shut with rags.
More curious was the wall that divided the city from the north section like a slice cut from a round cake. It wasn't just a large wall, the grounds before arriving to it were isolated from the neighboring buildings and somewhat removed from civilization. There were fences to keep the people away, also patrolled by soldiers armed with crossbows and glaives. A clear patch of ground set a pathway leading toward this wall where the cannons and army sat waiting.
More haunting was the looming show of green murky lights resonating from the other side of the wall, like a sickly display of aurora borealis. She couldn't figure out why but just looking at the wall from this distance sent warning signs screaming in her mind to flee, like some imminent danger that she could not comprehend stood waiting from the other side of that quarantine zone.
The girls were escorted up the fleet of stairs that traveled uphill, where a pair of black knights wielding glaives guarded the two large wooden doors of the large black tower. KuliKuli looked across the length of this black marble-like structure, seeing the top hidden by the clouds looming over them. This building stood at the center of Faehorn city, structure in layers that condensed further in resembling a spiral of a snake coiling up around itself. The very top was somewhat veiled by fog, but she managed to make out a few remaining beams that stood out from its peak as if the building was incomplete, resembling that of sharp angled fingers reaching into the sky like a hand.
Her ears flattened back as her fur stood on end, her heart sinking as she realized the familiarity of this sight. Despite her lost memories, her body still recognized the danger this place presented to her many months prior. Dimyri reached out and wrapped her tails around her sisters, snapping her away from the look of despair on her face. She gasped and snapped her head around, startled and staring at her older sibling. Dimyri's heart sank at how distraught KuliKuli looked, but she held her close as their shoulders rubbed together.
"Hey, whatever happens we're here together. Remember that." She whispered to her.
KuliKuli sucked in her lips and nodded, looking fearful as the pair of large wooden doors groaned loudly and pushed inward, inviting them in. Perdilius took delight in seeing the reaction this place brought to the terrified cat girl, leading them inside. Leone glanced over, hesitant until Perdilius wrapped his arm around his shoulder to drag him away.
As the loud doors quaked before sealing behind trapping them in darkness, a row of torches suddenly lit up with purple flame as they found themselves in a long black hallway with a red carpet traveling down the middle. The girls looked around at the sparkling stones that glimmered along the rocky walls around them, resembling stars in the middle of the night. Seven statues depicting different woman were positioned along the corridors, each eliciting a different reaction from its depiction.
Dimyri stared at one statue resembling a proud woman with large eyes, a wide grin and a beautiful dress with fur draped along her shoulders, each of her fingers wearing rings with bracelets and earrings. This woman adored her possessions, holding a gauntlet in hand as if prepared to give a toast. KuliKuli looked to her right and saw a beautiful woman of impressive height, dressed elegantly in layers of silk, an hourglass waist, and bouncy hair that flowed like waves down from her inviting smile.
"Any of this look familiar to you, beast?" Perdilius asked, startling the young woman.
KuliKuli glared at him, refusing to answer as he chuckled in amusement.
"I can tell from those eyes of yours that they do." He smirked, drumming his fingers against the hard cover of the book he carried with him.
They were greeted by more Knights at the other end, one of them distinguished by the sigil he wore over his chest plate and the different colors to his armor. He stepped in and greeted Perdilius with closed fist to his heart as a form of salute.
"Welcome back, Father." His voice echoed through his vented visor, "I'm glad to see you've returned after many weeks of your absence."
"Sir Gwyvern. It fills me with pleasure to see you again." Perdilius' smile was short-lived, fading away as his strict serious nature resurfaced. "What news of the Valley?"
"No signs or records of any breeching from the Valley, Father. I've been there every other day to ensure that our equipment is at hand and our weapons ready in case of any unwanted trouble."
"Good, good." He clicked his tongue, glancing over his shoulder at the cat girls behind him. "Sir Gwyvern, do you recognize this beast?"
The black knight slowly approached KuliKuli, chainmail rattling with each step before reaching out and grabbing her chin with his gloved hand. She grunted and snarled, hissing through clenched teeth as the knight turned her face side to side, scanning her. Dimyri stepped forward only to be restrained from behind, pulling her back with an arm around her neck.
"Hmm, this the same one we captured months prior?" He asked, releasing her. Dimyri was relieved, with KuliKuli yanking away and Leone looking somewhat crossed.
"The very same."
"I thought this one's face looked familiar." An older voice croaked out as an older man emerged from the shadows. He was hunched in appearance, his wrinkled face staring at KuliKuli as he rubbed his pale hands together like a fly. A few strands of white hair protruded from his winkled bald head like a patch of dying weed, with a few dark sunspots around his scalp. He shuffled into the hallway wearing a baggy black coat that sagged around his shriveled figure.
"Doctor." Perdilius acknowledged the old man with a subtle bow.
"Does this mean I get to complete the procedure with this one?" He pointed his bony finger at Dimyri, his pale hand trembling profusely. "Shall I erase her thoughts and make the pair submissive to your command in your name, Father?"
Leone reached for the handle of his sword when Perdilius raised his hand. "That won't be necessary this time, Doctor. We need these two in good health to complete the ritual."
"Forgive me for speaking out of hand, Father." Sir Gwyvern intruded, "But did we not require three sacrifices?"
"Indeed. I had arrived with a third one, but she eluded me when we were ambushed by those Rangers." He snarled, lingering on that final word as he turned his glare to the black Knight in charge. "Why have they not all been wiped out?"
"Forgive me Father, but you tasked me with protecting this city in your absence. Mesa took the task to oversee the campsites and eliminate the remaining Rangers."
Perdilius rubbed his wrinkled forehead, stressed. "I've appointed Raz and Mesa to work together and retrieve the lost sibling before the eclipse comes to pass. Send these two to their friends."
"Father if I may be so bold as to suggest borrowing the silver-haired beast for a moment?" The Doctor suggested, looking up at KuliKuli with his small blue eyes that left her feeling unnerved. His crooked teeth showed as he formed a dry smile, his hands trembling as he clasped them together before facing Perdilius. "It would do us well to know the status of her brain after our latest surgery."
KuliKuli's eyes widened as she looked at him in disgust, blurred images of this skulking figure resurfacing in her mind. She failed to recognize him before because he was missing those wide goggles he wore around his face before poking and prying at her with scalps and needles. "You! You're the one who did this to me!?"
"Ah, she speaks voluntarily?" The Doctor responded with intrigue, tapping his finger along his chin. "Interesting, very interesting."
"You took my mind away, made me lose who I was before!" Her voice raised as did her temper and breathing, baring her claws out before lashing out toward him.
Leone jumped in between them as a pair of Knights held the thrashing young woman back. She kicked and screamed, eyes closed tight as she hissed and roared in a vain attempt to attack this old man. The Doctor chuckled in amusement, watching this cat girl be dragged away along with her sister. Her cries would echo through the hall as she was taken down a dark spiral stairway, descending into darkness.
"She's a lively one, just like before the surgery. I would assume she regained her memories were it not her words suggesting otherwise."
Perdilius stood upright, unaffected by the scene. "She ran away and seemingly began a new life, even made some new friends."
"New friends?"
"A farmhand, a foreigner and a young shop owner. We made sure they were dealt with before returning." Perdilius replied, looking down at the old man. "We should resign for the night. Come by early morning, we've a lot of work to do."
"As you say, Father." The old man bowed respectfully before shuffling away.
"That goes for you too, Sir Gwyvern."
"Sir." Gywvern nodded, saluting him before taking his leave.
Perdilius stood alone in the dark, guarded by the pair of remaining knights that sat in silence. They blended so well in the darkness that they may as well resembled statues.
Perdilius glanced at his book, opening it to reveal the empty slot, reminding him of how he gifted it to Mesa. With a heavy sigh, he followed his own advice and retreated further into the tower to rest for the night.