Chapter 64: A Jealous Cat Girl

Orla’s house is large and, like the other building I was inside, seemingly carved from a single wooden block. I’m standing at a bar counter in a large kitchen while Mira pulls out various pans and places them over spell stone burners. The orange buns in her hair are starting to droop from all the running around she’s done, but she still looks more put together than I do. My shirt is gone, and my pants have several burn holes in them. I probably smell like a campfire, too.

“Hey Mira, is there someplace I could clean up?” I ask, then Mira turns and looks me up and down.

“There’s a shower down the hall, but it can only drain a bit of water, so you can’t stay in it for long,” she answers.

Balls, I could really go for a soak. I walk past Mira and to a window in the kitchen. There’s a flat dirt area behind Orla’s house that doesn’t get any sun, and it looks just big enough to fit my house.

I clap my hands and turn to Mira with a smile on my face.

“How about we go to my place?” I ask, causing Mira to tilt her head and squint her eyes.

“You want to leave the continent for a bath?” she asks, but I shake my head.

“It’ll be way more fun to just show you, come with me,” I suggest, and Mira turns the spell stone burners off.

We walk out of the house and into the dirt yard. I send magic through my feet and into the ground to firm up the loose dirt, then create a large spatial opening. My house pops out, then disappears. Mira startles, then curiosity gets the better of her.

“That’s.. what is that?” Mira asks while holding her hand out towards the bubble of light refraction magic around the house.

“It’s how I keep it hidden around humans, but I guess it won’t be as effective around Terrans,” I reply. “Mira, is there any way to make magic less visible to others?” I ask with a hand to my chin, but Mira has stepped inside the bubble. She’s running her hands over the stone house with wonder in her eyes.

“It’s sturdy, this would be amazing to have for scouting..” Mira mutters, then whips around, “Sio, where did you get this?” she asks excitedly.

“Aha,” I chuckle, “I built it when I was a kid. Just wait till you see the inside,” I say and walk towards the door while waving for her to follow me.

I walk in and make a beeline for the brew and smoke room. I light the smoker and pizza oven, then pour a cup of citrus brew from my experiment barrel. I take a light sip, and it's delicious. It’s heavier than the cider, but the citrus flavor is strong. Without a doubt, it’s the best ale I’ve had in this world. I walk out into the kitchen, where Mira is snapping spell stones back and forth to turn the magic burners on and off with a joyful smile on her face.

“SIO!” she shouts, but doesn’t stop, “Where do you keep the magic source? Is it under the floor? What about the lights on the walls? They don’t seem like fire.”

“There’s a large spell stone that I use for magic storage under the center of the house, and lines of smaller stones lead to every appliance so they can pull magic from that stone,” I explain with a smile on my face. It’s nice to have someone admire my handiwork.

“Right, right, but how big is it?” Mira asks and finally looks up.

“About the size of my head,” I answer, causing Mira’s eyes and mouth to grow wide.

“Are red gems of that size common in the human world?” she asks, her excitement only growing.

“Not really,” I answer, “I had to dig through a lot of mountains to find them.”

I have enough to make another two houses in storage, but I’ll keep that to myself.

“Anyway, I want to take a bath. You can sit wherever, and there are drinks and some pastries in the ice box that you can help yourself to,” I say and start walking to the bath. I slide the changing door open and slide it shut-

“Oww,” Mira yelps as the door smacks into her head.

“What are you doing?” I ask, and Mira puffs her cheeks up to pout.

“I wanted to see the bath,” she says quietly.

“Sigh, fine, come in,” I say and wave her on. I pull a towel down from a changing room shelf and place it on the nearest bench, then walk into the bathing area.

“There are shower heads on the right side, a large hot bath in the center of the room, and a cold bath at the end,” I explain while gesturing to each. Mira looks around in awe, but settles her eyes on the large hot bath and crouches next to it. She dips her hand in.

“Wahh- it’s so hot, and there’s a current,” she squeals and whips her head around, making her orange hair buns come undone.

“The hot water stone is always on, and it drains into a storage stone at the same rate, so it never gets cold,” I explain, and Mira nods along aggressively. She plops back onto her butt and rips her socks off, then plunges her feet into the water.

“Ahhhhhhh,” she moans and leans back onto her elbows, “WAIT!” she shouts and throws her eyes open to scowl at me, “Why did we sleep in the dirt last night if you had a house?!” she asks angrily.

“Oh, aha,” I chuckle nervously, “I like to keep a low profile, you see, but with the froggy thing I figured everyone here has realized I’m weird by now,” I add while scratching the back of my head. Mira tenses her face for a moment before speaking.

“Hmph, fine, but I’ll be bathing once you’re done,” she says and stands to leave the bath area.

Finally alone, I strip and stand under the showers. I douse myself, then lather every bit of my body in soap. I rinse, then jump into the bathtub with a splash.

“AHHHHHhhhhh”

I crouch in the center of the tub so my nose is at the water line, then float around inside the rim of the bench seating. I feel like a little submarine patrolling the ocean. I drop under the water entirely and hold my breath. A bit of extra magic rolls off me when I’m this relaxed, and I use to scan around the area.

Mira is sitting on a couch with a bottle of cider, and there are people outside the house, probably wondering what the hell that magic bubble is. One is Orla, but the other – FUCK.

I shoot out of the water like Wolverine and run to the changing area. I dry off and reach for clean clothes on the bench – but I didn’t bring any. Fuck.

I wrap the towel around my lower half and sprint out of the changing room.

“DON’T LOOK, MIRA!” I shout and run up the stairs. I’m pretty sure I saw her head turn, but whatever. I walk into my room and open the closet. There are a ton of black outfits, but I want something a little nicer. Towards the back is an expensive silky maroon shirt and gold-stitched black pants. I’m not a partier, but I’m always prepared.

I throw them on, along with the matching socks that came with the pants, and run downstairs.

“Why are you running around like an idiot?” Mira asks, then pulls a swig from a half-empty bottle of cider. Her face is crimson from the booze.

“Ahem – no reason,” I say, then walk to the kitchen and place four steaks on the smoker, “weren’t you going for a bath?” I yell over my shoulder, but a knock comes at the door.

“I’ll get it!” Mira shouts, or rather slurs loudly.

I walk to the bar top and pull out dough, sauce, and cheese from storage. I roll it out gently, admittedly, trying to look cool.

Mira swings the door open with the hand that isn’t death-gripping a bottle of cider.

“Granny!” she shouts, “and Anna?” she adds, her voice unsure.

Orla sighs loudly.

“Not you too..” she mumbles, “Sio, please stop giving drinks to everyone, Lark can hardly walk,” Orla shouts.

“Sorry,” I shout from the kitchen, “but please come in,” I add, and the two enter.

Orla and Anna step inside, their eyes darting over every surface before them. The two still look beat up from their fights earlier.

“You brought.. a house,” Orla says warily and turns to me.

“I did, there’s a nice bath in it that I wanted to use,” I answer, and Mira jumps.

“OH! Granny, Sio said I could take a bath here, you and Anna should join!” she shouts, making Orla grimace.

“I did agree to that, you’re both welcome to use the bath,” I say while topping the rolled dough with sauce, but Orla side eyes Mira.

“Didn’t I ask you to prepare a meal for him?” Orla asks, and Mira gulps, then throws her hands up.

“I was about to make it, but Sio said he wanted to go to his house, and next thing I know, this place showed up in the yard,” Mira explains.

“It’s fine, Orla, I like cooking,” I interrupt with my sweetest smile, but this earns me daggers from the Elder. Luckily, Anna steps forward.

“Sio, I’m sorry to intrude, but I wanted to say thank you for healing me,” she says and bows her head, “I can tell from my hunger that the wound must have been significant.”

“Oh, um, it was nothing,” I reply awkwardly, “I’m just glad you’re feeling alright.”

Orla and Mira glance between Anna and me suspiciously, but drunk Mira’s face contorts first. She marches up to the other end of the bar top and leans over it.

“What, are my ears not fluffy enough for you anymore?!” Mira shouts, making Orla snicker. Anna lifts her head and carefully examines the look on Mira’s face.

“You’re even dressed nice!” Mira shouts again, then slams her non-booze hand down on the bar top.

“Relax, Mira, your ears are perfectly fluffy,” I say to calm her, “why don’t you take Anna for a bath while I finish cooking? I’m sure the warm water would help with her recovery.”

Mira doesn’t peel her scornful golden eyes from me, but Orla walks over and places a hand on her back.

“I’d also like the chance to speak with Sio alone, so why don’t you accept his offer?” Orla asks, and Mira relents.

“Fine!” she shouts and stomps toward Anna. Mira intertwines their arms and drags her towards the bath.

“Th-thanks, Sio!” Anna calls over her shoulder as the two slip into the changing room.

“I’d normally apologize for Mira’s behavior, but I think you deserved that for getting her drunk,” Orla says with a sigh.

“That’s- yea, that’s fair,” I reply and finish cheesing the top of the pizza between us, “what did you want to talk about, Orla?” I ask, and her eyes sharpen.

“Your offer, does that still stand?” she asks, her sweet nature being overridden by seriousness.

“You mean clearing out the city below us?” I ask, and Orla nods, “It does, but first you have to give me some straight answers. The more I think about my conversation with Lark, the more I realize he didn’t tell me much that was useful. Portals to a Demon World is a classic, and it’s a great story, but I want to know what the church is experimenting on your descendants for, what magic cores are, and how the whole monster bonding with people thing works.”

“If we weren’t interrupted, Lark would’ve finished his explanation,” Orla says, her smile returning, “we wanted to have a long conversation with you, to get an idea of your intentions and character, but assisting us earlier told me enough,” she continues.

“WAHH IT’S HOT!” Anna shouts from the bath, making Orla and me turn and chuckle.

“I’ll be succinct,” Orla says while turning back to me, “the human church is likely trying to gain the power to produce magic cores in themselves. Before the path to that other world corrupted the magic in this one, all living beings created them instinctually and changed as a result. Some creatures could turn into beasts like what comes through the path, while humans and Terrans mostly gained power and greater magic. With magic as it is in the present, the only way of creating a magic core is by filling one’s body with magic from an otherworld gem over and over, but it places tremendous strain on the body. Terrans are durable and naturally more apt with magic, so we’re able to survive the process and regain some of our former strength. Humans shouldn’t be able to withstand the influx of magic, but seeing you makes me wonder if that’s changed,” Orla explains, but looks at me suspiciously.

“I’ve never used one of those green gems,” I say, “every night since I was a child, I’ve run magic throughout my body to strengthen it, which must’ve created one of those cores. Though I don’t know where, because I sent the magic through everything,” I continue while looking all over my own body. When I look up, Orla is wide-eyed.

“Your entire body..” she mumbles, “did it hurt?” Orla asks, but I shake my head.

“Nope, not even a little,” I answer.

“It shouldn’t be possible, but what else explains your strength?” she asks, and I shrug. “Are there more humans like you?” Orla asks.

“Not even close, Anna’s group could probably take over the entire human world if I agreed not to interfere,” I answer, making Orla relax her shoulders.

“It’s good to know we aren’t in danger from more like yourself, but I have another question: why are you helping that girl of Terran descent?” Orla asks, and I hum.

“The simple answer is shallow, she has cool, fluffy wolf ears,” I reply, “but there’s a little more to it. Terran descendants in the outside world have lost most of their distinctive features, but they’ve kept vibrant hair colors. In the far north, there’s a trading village I visited, and this sweet young girl with light blue hair worked there. She reminded me of someone important, someone I’ll never see again. And someday soon, the church is going to march up there and hurt her,” I explain as my face tightens.

“You’d start a war for a little girl who reminds you of someone?” Orla asks, her eyebrows raised in confusion.

“I’d dye my skin red with blood to keep those important to me safe,” I answer firmly, but the changing room door flies open.

“SEE!” Mira shouts from the changing room doorway, a nearly empty cider bottle in her hand, “He’s a psycho, Anna, you shouldn’t feel too grateful.”

Orla turns to face the girls, who are pink-skinned and wrapped in towels. I definitely just sounded emo in front of my half-naked crush. Damn.

“Ahem – Mira, that’s impolite,” Orla says, “if Sio hadn’t deemed us somewhat important, we could have suffered casualties dealing with the beast that attacked,” she continues, but Mira doesn’t listen to a word from her grandmother.

“And stop staring!” Mira shouts at me. I turn my head and reach into storage. I pull out some of the clothing bags I bought for Kara, Selena, and Victoria, then toss them towards the girls.

“There should be something that fits in there,” I say without looking, and the changing room door slides back shut. I turn and face Orla again.

“Can you explain the beast bonding thing while I finish cooking in the next room?” I ask, and Orla nods.

I toss the pizza in the oven and move the steaks to a hot side burner for a sear while Orla examines the room.

“Spatial ventilation..” she murmurs, then starts her answer, “magic beasts die when they exhaust their magic supply, but they can accept magic from another to sustain their lives. In doing so, a close bond is formed, traits can be exchanged between the giver and taker, and the beast’s will changes to closely resemble the will of the magic giver.”

“Is the beast essentially a slave then?” I ask, making Orla grimace.

“Some view the bond formed as a master servant relationship, but most of us believe it is more akin to close friendship or the addition of a family member,” Orla answers.

“I like that more. I’d feel sad if Titus didn’t have the freedom to be a big cat,” I say, “but I haven’t seen Titus or many other bonded beasts since moving past the outer farms. Is there a reason for that?”

“Aha,” Orla chuckles, “Titus catches up on sleep when Mira is inside the village, and most bonded creatures do the same. Though our monster subjugation forces rarely form those bonds, since their work is dangerous, and since losing a bonded beast takes a toll on the other party.”

“Takes a toll..” I repeat and turn the pizza, “Mira mentioned that Titus would die if she did, but would Mira die if Titus passed?” I ask.

“She wouldn’t, but she’d experience great pain. The longer a bond persists, the more damaging it is to lose that bond, which is why Priscilla has yet to wake up..” Orla explains.

Priscilla.. someone said her name before. Fuck. I freeze for a moment, then turn from the pizza to Orla.

“She was bonded to the dragon I killed,” I say, and Orla nods.

“For nearly 200 years, they shared that bond,” Orla says.

Fuckkkk.

“Is she physically alright?” I ask while pulling the steaks from their burner.

“She is, and we can give her nutrition while she sleeps, but her advanced age is a concern,” Orla answers.

I pull the pizza and walk to set it on the bar top, then slice it with my rolling knife. I plate steaks and slices of pizza for everyone while pushing my lips left and right.

“Would you let me see her?” I ask, but the question startles Orla.

“Your healing is impressive, Sio, but we have specialists who are plenty capable,” she answers while gazing at me seriously.

“I don’t know if I can heal her, but I might be able to wake her,” I say and meet Orla’s gaze, but Mira and Anna burst back out of the changing room.

“And why the hell do you have so much girl clothing?” Mira asks incredulously, her hands planted firmly at her own hips.

Anna is twirling around and moving her body inside of a battle dress that I was inspired to buy after seeing the Princess refuse normal training clothes. Her red hair and fox tail whip around as she spins, and I have to clench my jaw tight to stop it from dropping.

“They’re presents for the Terran descendants I know,” I answer stiffly, “but let’s sit and eat while everything is hot,” I add, and bring the plates over to the table between the living room couches.

Speaking of presents, I have some good test subjects here for what I made Victoria..