Cat

"We're here, fellas."

I heard Cowboy hop off the wagon's driver seat as he tended to horses. Canvas coverings stopped me from seeing outside, but it provided valuable shade for Tsukino.

While she was unconscious, I'd laid her down in a makeshift bed of clothes. For the past thirty minutes she'd been recovering from exhaustion after our wolf fight, with no signs of awakening.

"Hmmm . . ." Trixie the pixie gently brushed bangs off Tsukino's forehead, worried. "It's rare she pushes herself this hard. I wish I could've helped more . . ."

You saved my life at least once back there. But as I watched the little fairy tending to her friend, I couldn't help but let intrusive thoughts flow. Isn't now a great chance? An opportunity to try asking about my predecessor, Morikawa. Who was he? What was he? Maybe I could learn some history about him.

'From here on, don't ever mention Morikawa's name in front of Trixie.' Tsukino's words during the hospital trip echoed. I hadn't exactly promised; there wasn't anything except my good conscience stopping me from using years of honed interview tactics. And a little girl would be easy to crack.

"Say. There's something I'm curious about, Trixie."

"Mmm? What?"

Damnit, I can't bring myself to interrogate her. Change of plan then. "I-It's just funny—I wouldn't have expected an NPC to cast such a strong wind spell earlier, haha."

Trixie's eyes lit up from gloomy to happy. "Yeah! Tsukino has special magical circuits that lets her wand go boom!"

"How does that work though?" From everything Chief mentioned, NPC's should be the weakest class. I'm not capable of fighting at all, after all.

"Ummm, specifics are confusing," Trixie said as she buzzed around. "If you really wanna know details, it's probably better to ask Tsukino herself."

I glanced down at our sleeping beauty once more. Her face with glasses—even in angelic respite—had furrowed brows that hinted she wasn't pleased. Storms were likely brewing if she overheard us, and it was my warning to not talk with Trixie unaccompanied anymore.

Well we can't be here all day. My hand gave her a gentle shake. "Hey, wake up. We're in town now. It's almost night."

No response. But her eyelids twitched like hearing me was annoying.

"She looks happier than usual!" Trixie said.

"Eh? Is this how she usually sleeps?"

"Sometimes she growls!"

Geez . . . I couldn't tell if Trixie was joking or not. But circumstantial evidence laying before me seemed convincing. Even Tsukino's nose became scrunched.

"Try poking her nose, eheehee."

"I don't have a death wish."

"Darn. I'll try my trick then."

"Huh?"

Trixie buzzed towards Tsukino's chest, landing firmly on large mounds. The pixie giggled before poofing into the fluffiest cat possible. Lavender sparkles peeled off to reveal white fur and a big, bushy tail.

"Nyaa!" Trixie said.

"Wh-What? Why did you become a house cat?"

"Nyaa nyaa! I'm fluffy now! Praise me! Hehe."

Maybe I'm too shortsighted for this job . . . But as cat Trixie purred and licked herself, I noticed those deep-purple irises never seemed to change color, even when transformed—a quirk I'd keep in mind.

"Anyways, time for my plan!" Cat Trixie aimed her tail then slid it under Tsukino's nose. A fur gauntlet rubbed back and forth; curling, tickling, even slapping until the recipient started reacting.

"Mrrphhrh." Tsukino's mouth opened as if preparing to sneeze. "Achoo!"

"N-Nyaa!" Trixie jumped back from the sudden noise, fur standing tall, until she calmed.

What were you expecting? But when all eyes in the wagon drifted towards me, I couldn't help but sigh.

"It was his idea." Cat Trixie pointed.

"Hey, she'll kill me . . ."

"No. I've seen this trick before," Tsukino said as she sat up and fixed her trench coat. "How long have I been unconscious?"

I explained the ordeal until now. Minutes passed until she grasped the situation with a nod, but we could tell she still remained dazed.

"Wanna explain now how you cast that strong spell earlier?" I said.

Her eyes drooped as if remembering an uncomfortable truth. "My magical circuits—they're abnormal. Normally an NPC can't cast much magic at all."

"Yeah. Tests showed I couldn't use any magic in general."

"Mm. But for some reason, the Nameless Goddess gave me defective circuits. It lets me use my life force to cast magic instead."

"Your life force?" I looked at her in disbelief. "That's way too risky!"

"It's necessary though. The biggest drawback is I can't really control the output well, so I might go overboard with spells if I'm not careful."

No. Inferring her body couldn't withstand the stress imposed by strong magic was also obvious. But that wasn't the main issue; or the actual biggest drawback. Tsukino was playing on words to draw attention away from what she just said.

"Tell me," I ordered. "How much life span have you lost until now?"

Her facial expression told me everything it needed. Because her mouth did not.

"I'd rather not disclose deeply personal information like that," she said, trying to brush her hair—an excuse to glance away from me. "My life is my own. Let's keep our relationship professional, like always."

The wagon fell silent as we all processed her words. Cowboy outside was peeking over the driver's bench, listening in on us. No one wanted to be the first to speak. No one except—

"Nyaa!" Cat Trixie hopped on Tsukino's lap and happily curled up. "Let's not think about tough stuff! Pet me instead, nyaa!"

A gentle hand weaved into soft, white fur. Tsukino smiled as she stroked the purring kitty, almost like they both completed one another.

Damn. Well that's that then. With a somewhat annoyed face, I stepped towards Tsukino and offered my hand. "Sorry for always asking things. But you did save our lives earlier, so thanks."

"Cringe," was all she said as I hoisted her up.

We spent the next minute packing our things and getting ready to leave. Heavy backpacks latched around our shoulders while Trixie poofed back into a sparkly pixie.

"I'm kinda sleepy . . ." she said. "Can I sleep in your trench coat again, Aizawa?"

"No problem. You transformed plenty today."

"Mm." The little fairy latched onto my collar and snuck inside. I felt her worm deeper down until snuggling within an inner pocket.

Barely feel her now. I wonder how comfy it is in there.

Shoes clanked on wood as Tsukino hopped off the back of the wagon. She turned back just to give me a stink eye. "Let's. Go."

"Are you still mad about Trixie?" I jumped out and landed beside her.

"No. Trixie can sleep wherever she'd like. That's her personal choice."

"I'm getting the feeling you don't like her choice."

Tsukino just huffed before we both traveled around the wagon to see Cowboy. He was feeding the horses apple slices he'd sliced with a pocket knife stashed around his waist. A belt with zany amounts of holsters for flintlocks implied revolvers hadn't been invented yet.

"Oh?" He looked over towards us. "Y'all gonna be on your way now?"

"Yeah." I gave him a quick bow. "Thanks for the ride. And for defending us earlier."

"Pish posh! Anyone woulda done the same, haha."

Although we hadn't known each other long, I'd grown close with the gunslinger; even if his kind of personality didn't always vibe with me.

"We are indebted to you." Tsukino gave her own head bow—someone who'd liked Cowboy far less than me. "You are an NPC but still helped protect my feeble and feckless excuse for a partner."

"Hey, I'm right here."

"Bahaha! Give em' an easy time, miss! Ya' mentioned he was still new here after all."

Sounds of a flag flapping in the wind drew my attention—a blue banner atop the wagon I hadn't paid much mind to until now.

Cowboy pointed upwards. "Normally with that flag, no goons bother attacking my wagon since it proves I'm associated with the church. But wild animals don't really care about that sorta thing, haha!"

When I was gonna ask for details on the church, a pinch clamped down on my sleeve.

"Aizawa," Tsukino whispered. "Let's get going already."

"We're already in town. What's the rush?"

"I'm tired. And getting annoyed."

"Fine, fine."

Cowboy hopped on the wagon's driver seat before giving a thumbs up. "Don't keep yer' woman waiting, haha! I gotta get parkin' these wheels at our local cathedral anywho."

"It's not far?"

"Nah, just on another street. I hear there's gonna be big events happenin' tomorrow, so maybe we'll cross paths again."

"Yup. Take care then."

And with that, the Cowboy whipped his reins and set off towards the sunset. But even as his wagon disappeared beyond the street, I couldn't help wondering—

What else would be waiting for me in Oro Fantasma?