The two had been walking for the last half-hour. Cassandra could feel the heat building up in her lower back, the distinct moisture of sweat having arisen from her travel. The occasional cool breeze was a welcomed relief but it wouldn't do much to stop the buildup.
I've never sweated before. What is this world doing to me?
"Are you okay?" Leta observed her checking herself as they ascended the incline of the hill ahead. Her forehead perspired a couple of drops but for someone like Cassandra, this event must have been significant.
"I'm fine," she lied.
"We're almost there. Just over this hill." Leta tried to take Cassandra's mind off of whatever it was that was bothering her.
"Could we have teleported at any time?"
"I don't know how to. That's more of a Lia-thing," she confessed.
My feet are starting to become sore. Ugh, we'll get to stop soon.
Leta took the lead and jogged as fast as she could up to the top. "Race you!" She shouted as she sped past Cassandra, who raised her shoulders with her arms out.
"I am not taking part in this!" She yelled.
"Then that means I am the winner," the girl jeered.
Not a chance!
Without a second thought, Cassandra bolted up the hill as quickly as she could. The dress allowed for a lot of maneuverability as she widened her strides to close the gap between the two of them. The dirt was soft but firm, saving her the extra energy of digging her feet in with each step.
Leta had stamina – a little too much for Cassandra's liking. She felt fire in her quadriceps as her muscles strained with every push they gave. The child was beginning to show signs of wear as well, though she continued to try her hardest to make it to the top.
She was almost there but Cassandra was getting close.
"Leta!" She screamed. "What is that behind you?"
The girl suddenly ceased her running and rotated her body, scanning around vigorously for any sign of danger. "What?" She was scared. "What is behind me?" As soon as the final word left her mouth, Cassandra immediately bolted to the lead.
"Not me!" Her devilish laughter echoed down as she was several feet away from the top.
"Cheater!" Leta laughed as she resumed her climb. It was too late, though. By the time she looked back up, Cassandra was standing on the hill proudly glaring down at her – completely winded.
"Don't be," she paused to take in as much oxygen as possible, "mad that you lost." She bent her body back, still packing her lungs rapidly. Leta climbed up the steep mound and got onto her feet. The girl still had some energy left in her. Cassandra didn't want to admit that if a do-over was proposed, it would be a crushing defeat on her end.
"If you hadn't said that, I would've won," she said with a grin, remaining a good sport.
"Something was flying behind you by the way," Cassandra remarked.
She peeked back to see what could have been following her the whole time, only to turn around when she heard her competitor bursting out into laughter once again.
Cassandra reared forward with both arms curled around her stomach, cackling loudly. "No!" She slowed her enthusiasm down before waving it off. "Got you twice!"
Leta bit her lip as she rolled her eyes. Wiping off one final giggle, Cassandra took a breath before she glanced down at the town ahead. It was as large as the village that she used to overlook. This place was in better condition – likely in part from existing in a more hospitable environment.
The various buildings and homes were constructed from cemented stones just like Milo's castle. Parts of the walls were lined with planks of wood, which was also the sole component of every roof's construction. Indeed, they were in better shape than the shanty, dilapidated homes that the villagers in her world lived in.
Still, there was an almost medieval aspect to the aesthetics of Locwitary. She had yet to see any form of electricity or 20th-century device. They had magic, which in itself was astounding, but had this society truly advanced itself if it was as old as she believed it to be?
Milo said that they lost the dagger centuries ago. Between then and now, how far had Locwitary come?
Worlds move at their own paces, I suppose…
"Are you excited?" Leta gestured at the settlement. From the way the girl sounded, she couldn't be happier to take Cassandra there.
With a smug pull of her nose and lips, Cassandra shrugged her shoulder and shook her head. "What is there to be excited about? It is just another stupid village, is it not?"
"Do you have any merchants where you live?" Leta wanted to find out more about her home world.
With a small scoff and a smirk, Cassandra nodded down at her. "Yes, one. Quite the annoying and talkative fellow."
"What does he sell?"
"Eh, anything really. Don't know where he gets it from, either. My mother would hold some business dealings with him from time to time. She couldn't stand him – or the smell of him."
"What did he look like?" Leta wondered. Cassandra's lips curled in disgust.
"You don't want to know, trust me…"
"Oh." The girl reeled in her questions. "Milo said you might be happy to meet some of the other people from here. He thinks you would do well to acquaint yourself with strangers."
The recommendation forced a small grimace from Cassandra. "I think Milo might say just a bit too many things for his own good."
"You're not afraid of making friends, are you?"
Did she just say that?
There was an urge to smack the child across the back of her head for talking to her in such a manner. However, Cassandra remembered that there were rules to abide by here – written or unwritten. It stood to imagine that putting her hands on the girl would not sit well with Lia or Milo. For her sake, she would rather not have to explain her actions when they returned.
"I want to go home, Leta. I'm not here to make friends."
The youth averted her gaze and re-focused on the town not far away. There was a hint of disappointment in the way she frowned, only to disappear once she returned to the task at hand. "Well, we might as well hurry up while we have the time. We can't be outside all day."
Why not?
"What do we need to get from this town?" Cassandra continued to look on at the settlement.
"Food for us and medicine for my sister."
How much damage did I do to that annoying fawn?
"Well then," Cassandra stepped forward, "let us not waste time. Another second talking is another second in this world for me."
As they approached the entrance to the town, Cassandra surveyed the area in preparation for whatever it was that would come their way. She was unarmed – a terrible disadvantage when there was an unfamiliar group of people within close proximity. There were no conventional weapons in view. No tools that could aid her fight if need be.
While a fight sounded rather unlikely given the way Leta talked about the place, Cassandra could not shake the newfound feeling of uncertainty that she felt. Navigating this strange new world was one thing. It was another to do so without the abilities that she had grown so used to having all those years.
If having died once wasn't enough – such circumstances had her questioning her own mortality.
The villagers in her realm bowed to Mother Miranda and the lords without question. Hardly any of them would have dared to take up resistance – lest they be demolished under the crushing power that she had bestowed to her children. During the spring and summer months when she and her sisters would be allowed to venture out into the land, those they encountered exhibited the same fear and respect that they had for the likes of Beneviento and Heisenberg.
She was a daughter of House Dimitrescu, after all.
Here, no one knew her name.
Leta had mentioned that these people were poils, like Milo. From what she had gathered, they were a smart and peaceful race of people who were not prone to aggression. At one point during their walk, Cassandra had asked about how often these people killed each other.
The girl was dumbfounded at best. That sort of thing did not happen according to her. There was still tremendous doubt as to how much she understood the world around her. It would come as no surprise if Milo and Lia withheld some of the worst aspects of life to preserve the innocence inside her.
Crossing the town's borders, Leta became more joyous in the way she walked, comfortable in her surroundings while her companion continued to show restraint. Within seconds of entering, two of the inhabitants emerged from the corner of a nearby home.
"Young Leta!" A woman to their left shouted. She was dressed similarly to the man that was with her, wearing a beige long-sleeved shirt, collared at the top and covered by a brown vest.
The only difference between their garments was his dark blue, cotton trousers in contrast to her white skirt. Cassandra found the style very unappealing but noted that they still retained that medieval look that was increasingly prevalent.
"Mrs. Narrysha!" Leta ran up to her with open arms, catching the woman in a loving hug. The two stayed connected for several seconds as the woman hoisted the girl off of her feet, gently swinging her from side to side before setting her back down.
The man took a knee as he addressed her eye to eye. "What brings you back here today? Has your sister enjoyed the fruits we harvested last week?"
Leta nodded. "Yes, Mr. Petry. She was very happy with everything you two have provided us. We are here today to gather some more food and supplies for our studies."
"Ah." He raised his eyebrow. "Has Milo been teaching you anything new since we last spoke?"
Leta was so giddy in the anticipation of answering his question. As Cassandra looked on and listened, she saw what was a happy little girl in a community that was no stranger to her. While there was much more to see here, she had a sense being a cohesive unit was a fundamental part of this town's ideology.
Take care of one another and they will take care of you – those old words.
"Oh, very much!" Leta's enthusiastic voice amplified. "He's been going over the various realms with my sister's help. I even got to see what Lia has seen at times. It's incredible!"
What is she talking about?
The woman knelt beside him and placed her hand on Leta's shoulder. "You're doing so well. We're all so proud of the person that you're becoming."
"Thank you, Mrs. Narrysha," Leta replied as she hugged her. Petry then noticed Cassandra staring at the trio from not far away.
"Have you brought a friend?" He asked the girl. Leta immediately released herself and spun around to introduce her companion.
"Yes! This is a guest of ours: Miss Cassandra. She's…" Leta paused to re-arrange her words, "…new to this area."
Hmm, you little liar…
"Ah, very well." Petry stood up with a welcoming look on his face as he faced her. "I am certain that she will have a great stay here. Nice to meet you. My name is Petry Lozano." He took the hand of the woman beside him. "This is my wife, Narrysha."
Still maintaining her distance, Cassandra put on the fakest smile that she could muster. "My pleasure," she stated without much emotion in her voice. Nevertheless, the couple were undeterred and began to approach her.
Her instincts told her to push them back as they drew closer. If she had her sickle on her, a good swipe across the throat would have been enough to establish her barriers. Unfortunately, she did not have that option. If she and Leta were to procure what they needed, her pride would have to take the hit.
"Welcome!" Narrysha held her hands together and bowed her head. "Is this your first time in the region?"
"It is." Cassandra kept it simple.
"Ah," she gleamed, "you will love it here. We're preparing for next week's festivals. Everyone is going to be gathering together to celebrate and we'd love to have you with us."
The offer was so up-front. She had only met these people seconds ago and now they were treating her as if they were life-long friends. It didn't mix well but she held her tongue before it twirled a river of carelessness.
Festivals? What for? The village that she knew would never have held such activities. The only thing those peons ever did was congregate whenever Mother Miranda had something to preach. They were ants and that woman was their queen. They didn't have much to smile about and that was the way the Dimitrescu family liked it.
To see such happiness and care-free attitudes was as foreign to her as she was to them. She was fighting against her nature at every turn. The forced politeness that she had to extend in certain circumstances was killing her.
"I don't think I'll be here by the end of the week," Cassandra grinned, "but do have fun…"
"Thank you." Petry bowed his head as well. "If things change, you are still welcome to join. Any friend of Leta's is a friend of ours."
"Friend?" Not a chance.
Without words, Cassandra curled a smile and bobbed her head slightly while shooting Leta a glance to tell her that it was time to move on. Much to her relief, the child was vigilant and acted upon it.
"Well, we must get going. Milo needs the supplies and we mustn't waste time," she told them.
"Of course," Petry waved them on. "Great to see you again, Leta. As for Miss Cassandra," his arms opened up for a hug, setting off every alarm in her body. She immediately stepped back; one arm raised with her slender finger pointed his way. Her eyes widened and her lips split, baring her front teeth.
"Don't…" She warned. The couple froze, shocked by her threatening posture.
Leta jumped in before tensions could sour. "Sorry about that, Mr. Petry. She means well. She is prone to getting sick and the risk of close contact could spark an illness. Milo is looking after her."
It took a few seconds but the two of them believed Leta's story. Their stiffness softened and that friendly nature that Cassandra loathed reared its head yet again – though not as strong this time.
"Apologies, Miss Cassandra," Petry replied, joined by Narrysha. They looked more disappointed in themselves than anything else. In their eyes, a mistake was made. "We didn't know. Hope Milo can improve your circumstances."
Cassandra cracked a short smirk as she re-adjusted the shoulders of her dress. "Me too." Her eyes went to Leta. "Shall we get going?"
"Yes, we shall." Leta and the couple embraced each other before saying their goodbyes. They acted as if they were all family. It didn't match with Cassandra's values of blood being the cause of respect and relationship.
She could never see herself being close to anyone besides her mother and sisters. To even touch someone else without trying to hurt them was an alien action. More so…it was disgusting.
She was thankful that Leta had intervened and explained it the way that she did. Otherwise, Petry would have had most of his teeth knocked into the back of his throat. She had only stepped two feet into this town and was ready to maim the first people that she had seen. This was going to be an arduous trip – she could just tell.
As they carried on further towards what looked to be the town square, Cassandra could not take her eyes off of the various townsfolk that resided there. There were so many. If her calculations were correct – which were a long shot due to her poor math skills – there were about five to six people per household. Poils reproduced as fast as rats, it would seem.
The villagers back at home would bare one to two children at max. That was an optimistic number, however, as many of the women lost their pregnancies during the coldest winter months. If they were lucky enough to see the fetus enter this world, they also had to contend with low amounts of food and scarce supplies.
To see such prosperity was unusual. Then again, the town may have been autonomous. Locwitary didn't appear to have a ruler of any sort. If these cattle could sustain themselves without guidance, then it truly was an earned life at that rate, she rationalized.
So many people…
As Leta was gawking at one of the merchant's stands that had been set up by the side of the dirt street, Cassandra gently nudged her arm with the back of her hand. "So, what is it that we need to find for Milo? I'd rather not interact with these people any longer than I have to."
The girl recollected her thoughts, pulling a small list out of a small pocket that had been stitched into her gown. "One bottle of a plant-based remedy. Two tablets of Priceyl and one bottle of Krimew flower dust." Leta flipped the square of paper aside, revealing a second half. "That should cover my sister's recovery," she stated, "Let's see what we'll be eating until then; One bottle of Mioclak. One bottle of Vioclak. Hikan meat. Parschel fruit (color does not matter) and since Cassandra loved it: Ginyol meat."
She tilted her head, one eyebrow raised. "Huh? For me?"
"Yeah." Leta looked up at her with a smile. "He insisted on us getting extra since you enjoyed it so much. You're welcome to try Hikan when the time comes. If you mix it with Yildel, you get a very popular meal that fawns used to make."
Cassandra stood silent as she thought about what went into that statement. It was true; she loved the taste of the food. Milo had been kind enough to allow her to sit with them after all her hostilities. Even more so – he wanted her to continue to be happy with what was offered to her.
None of them had to do this. She held no authority in this place and yet she was still treated with some form of respect in regards to care. She was given a bed, clothes, and food – all while constantly demeaning and criticizing them.
They didn't have to do that for me.
She wanted to be as angry as she could be with them. The thought of Lia talking down to her and Milo holding her on the ground like a child set a fire in her soul. She hated the feeling of being belittled like that. To her, it was reasonable to react with as much barbarity as she could muster. It was only fair.
That established dominance amongst those who dared cross her.
Like a coin, there were always two sides. That same type of brutality could have easily been used against her as well. She was vulnerable here. Weak. When she fell unconscious, Milo could have twisted her neck until it snapped. Cut her throat wide open. Anything.
Instead, he threw a warm blanket over her and allowed her to rest. Sent Leta in to check up on her and make sure that she was alright while he tended to Lia. He promised that he would get her home. As ferocious as she was when he was forced to rip her away from Lia, his stern voice was quick to subside in an attempt to reach her.
As much as she tried to become their enemy – he gave her another chance each time to pull back.
Second chances were a myth to someone such as her.
"Huh," Cassandra slowly nodded. "Well, I hope it is as good as it was last time. Now, let's find these things before more of your friends try to get punched." All the positive emotions were cast aside, known to her and her only. She did not want to indulge them further to Leta – who in a heartbeat would get the wrong idea.
They were not a family.
"Are hugs not customary where you come from?" Leta pocketed the list, curious as to why she was so apprehensive.
"No." Cassandra began to walk away. "They're not."
Leta picked up a short jog as she tried to catch up to her. "If you are here for another week, do you want to join us in the festivities?" It was a desperate move at conversation.
"Do the festivities involve me going back home?" Cassandra searched for anything that would resemble a doctor or medicine stand. Leta had finally caught up, only for the woman to willingly lengthen her strides, increasing her pace.
"No, I don't believe so." The child had to take in extra air to speak while she kept up. "There is so much food to be eaten. All the kids get to play together and listen to music. Everyone gathers together and dances."
"I don't dance." Cassandra slowed down as the crowd of townsfolk began to notice her.
"Well, you should still give it a try."
"Why are these people looking at me like that?" She ceased her walking, brows pinched at everyone around her. There were at least twenty of them, maybe more. Men, women, and some children. At the center of the square, she was available for all to see.
Leta took the moment to catch her breath before answering her. "I guess they must know that you are not from around here." The answer set off more than a few alarms for her companion.
Cassandra leaned down to whisper into her ear. "What does that mean? I'm dressed just like any one of you."
"It is a small town."
She glared back at them. "It is about to get smaller if they don't stop looking at me."
It was hardly a secret that Cassandra was an outsider to this place. Most of the poils shared similarities in appearance; medium-brown or reddish hair and a sun-kissed glow to their skin. Some had freckles here or there. There were one or two blondes in the mix, but their hair wasn't nearly as yellow as Bela's.
Soft bodies and warm faces – nothing like her.
Cassandra's completely pale skin, lifeless in appearance, was the biggest indicator that she was an outsider. The dark brown – nearly black – hair that draped down one side of her head, hanging out from her hood, was not natural for poils. Neither were her sharp cheekbones and dark lips that carved her face into an intricate work of art.
Her amber eyes glowed like that of a wolf in contrast to the brown or hazel mixtures of theirs. They could be seen from across the circle like small orbs of fire embedded inside her skull.
Her tattoo shined against her skin. Body art of any sort was not to be found amongst these people. She could see their stares rear up at her forehead whenever she looked at them. Whether Leta was friends with these rats or not was irrelevant. Right now, she sensed a threat.
"You'll be okay," Leta said, "I think I see the medicine right over there." Not too far away was a small wooden stand that housed a large collection of botany, bottles, and bowls. Before a response could be spoken, the girl was already on her way to it. With a tiny grunt to her breath, Cassandra straightened herself back up and followed suit.
Some of the poils went about their business as soon as she started moving, others did not. The attention could be felt on the back of her head and neck. She could not shake it off no matter how much she tried to ignore it. She was getting stressed – and frustrated.
A violent reaction was sure to follow if anyone tried to touch her again.
They came up to the stand that held the medical supplies that were on the list. Cassandra could not make sense of anything that was in front of her. The bottles and containers were not marked. She held no knowledge of plants in general – though the ones displayed did not appear to resemble anything found at home. Leta, meanwhile, casually grabbed what was needed on the list. Beside the stand were a set of woven bags.
"Can you grab one of those for me, please?" Leta tilted one of the bottles in their direction. Cassandra took a bag from the collection, opening it up and watching as the girl carefully placed the items inside.
"How are you sure we have the right things?"
She brought one of the bottles back up to show that she knew what she was looking at. "Milo needed a 'plant-based solution.' The mushy things inside are the stem bits and the liquid is the insides of the plant." The mixture was an orange/green color that resembled an unappetizing soup more than it ever did a plant. She'd have to trust in the kid's word as she had no clue what any of these things were or how they would help Lia.
Cassandra glanced at the table, curious as to where the shopkeeper was. A devious smile brimmed on her face as a new thought crossed her mind. "Are we simply going to take this?"
Such an idea perplexed Leta, who began to withdraw a few coins from her pocket. The corners of Cassandra's mouth dropped once she saw the currency. She had been hoping to find some form of excitement while they were out. Stealing some things from the people here would have given at least a small rush. It was better than nothing.
"Oh…" Cassandra allowed Leta to drop the last bottle in before closing it up. "Where do we pay?"
"We just leave the coins here." Leta placed them on top of the stand before moving away. Such an act seemed careless to the woman.
"Where is the shop owner?" Cassandra asked.
"He'll probably be back soon."
"Someone could steal these coins while he's away, can they not?"
Leta looked around, still bewildered as ever. "They would do no such thing, I promise. The food is nearby, we'll grab what we need before heading back. Are there any other places you wish you visit here? I'd love to show you around!" The girl's face carried that loathsome smile as she ended her sentence.
Without hesitation, Cassandra threw her finger toward the direction that Leta was facing. "Let's find that food."
With a nod, the girl started heading to the next destination, leaving Cassandra's fixation to return to the coins on the table. She had no use for the money, but the temptation to deviate from the norm was there.
Are you sure that nobody will?
She rested her fingers atop the silvery coins, sliding them into her palm and bringing her arm down to her side. It was too easy. What did that child honestly believe, she thought?
"Hey!" A young man's voice called out from not far away. "You there. That's not yours!"
Cassandra didn't even look at him. Instead, she rolled her head back and closed her eyes. "Ugh…really?" She groaned.
As she heard his footsteps coming in her direction, Cassandra dropped the coins back onto the table behind her. By now, Leta had heard the commotion and began to turn around to see what was happening. Cassandra opened her eyes and glanced at the man who was approaching her.
He was at least in his early twenties, with long hair tied back into a wavy ponytail. Skinny-shouldered but just like all the other poils around him. She could only imagine him as some do-gooder who had never seen anything visceral before in his life. So young but so confident in his actions.
The man probably couldn't swat away a single fly, she thought.
He continued to advance, prompting her to rotate her body and face him. She was an inch or two taller than the man, further signifying the superiority she felt over him. "What?" She growled.
"I saw you take that." The interaction had drawn most of the others to stop what they were doing and look on – which she had instantly noticed. Growing ever the angrier but trying to play it smart, Cassandra sought to end the conversation then and there.
"And I put it back. You got what you wanted."
He did not waver. "Who are you?"
"Walk away, little man," Cassandra said before she turned away to rejoin Leta.
His hand reached out and clasped her right wrist. "Stealing is –"
"How dare you?!" She shouted as she swung her arm out of his grasp and snagged him by the forearm. The man's gaze opened wide as he felt her pull him close before feeling his right calf get knocked from behind. His balance collapsed and he suddenly found himself on the ground. Before he could get another word out, she had her hand clutched against his throat, compressing his esophagus.
Crouched over him, Cassandra raised the hand that held his arm up, clutching his wrist in a position where she could easily break it if she wanted to. Her fiery eyes locked onto his from above. If her ability to smell his terror was there, it would have been firing at full blast right now. The helpless bystander was petrified.
"Do not touch me!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. All he could do was gurgle bubbles of air out of what little space was left to breathe. A set of smaller hands tugged on the left side of her dress.
"Miss Cassandra!" Leta pleaded. "He's not going to hurt you!"
Her eyelids curled into a joyful twist like they did whenever she was locked onto her prey. Her mouth stretched into a wide grin; teeth bared. "Oh, he certainly won't…"
A crowd had gathered, noticed first by Leta, who was now desperate to get Cassandra off of him before things got worse. The girl wasn't sure how unpredictable the woman was, but something had to be done. She drew closer to Cassandra's ear, whispering into it as fast as she could.
"Please let him go. You don't have to hurt him over a mistake, Miss Cassandra."
He…damn it. Fine!
Both her hands opened up, releasing the man who immediately sprang into a fit of coughing as he slowly rolled over. Standing back up and moving away from him, Cassandra was met with multiple people now surrounding her. Some were just as afraid as he was. A few were like Leta and ready to deescalate the encounter, raising their palms to try to cool her down.
Seeing how flustered Cassandra was becoming, Leta jumped in front of her to ward off the crowd before anything worse would happen. "Everyone, it's okay. She is my friend. She just got scared."
As two members of the town helped the man to his feet, an older gentleman took a careful step forward to speak with the two of them. He was as old as Milo – if not older. From the looks of it, he could have held some sort of authority or influence over the others. His age was reflected in his gravelly voice. "Leta, your friend could have hurt Vasan, do you know that?"
The girl remained determined as ever to put an end to this problem before it could escalate. For someone her age, she spoke like an adult. Picked her words carefully and delivered them perfectly. "Yes, but Mr. Brewton, she did not. She would not have gone through with it."
Oh, but I would!
Leta went on. "It was a misunderstanding on her part."
"You understand that she is accused of stealing, don't you?" He replied.
With regret, she acknowledged Cassandra's actions. "I believe that is what started this. She is not from around here. She asked me how money was exchanged and I did not properly explain it to her. Vasan was right to confront her but he was not in the right to grab her. She can get sick easily and him touching her was a threat to her health."
The lies came back out but they were good ones. They were way better options than trying to explain the truth about her presence in this world. The other people seemed to buy it, as they began to give them space, especially after hearing about Cassandra's susceptibility to illness.
Once she saw that they had moved away, her posture relaxed and she took to re-adjusting her hood. With a sigh, she shook her head at her actions, seeing that this was a preventable mess. If she didn't want everyone paying attention to her, this wasn't the way to accomplish that goal.
Vasan cleared his throat as he wiped a squeezed tear from his left eye. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. Forgive me," he asked of her with a hoarse voice. Cassandra wasn't about to say a single word until she saw Leta staring up at her as well.
It was a calling for her to do her part and remedy this.
"Forgiven." She was quick to spit out, avoiding eye contact as she did. It wasn't enough to avert the child's gaze. She knew what else she had to say. "I'm…sorry I took the coins."
Vasan gently shook himself free from his helpers. His hand still massaging his sore throat. "I just wanted Mr. Linders to have what he had earned for his troubles creating our medicine. That is all." He then glanced down at Leta with a smile and a shake of his head, easing the girl's anxiousness. Her arms came down and she took a breath before nodding back to him.
Brewton joined in the conversation, directing his words toward the stranger in their town. "Leta said that you're not from around here. Where are you from, exactly?
Cassandra paused, unsure if she should wait for Leta to drum up some other ballpark explanation to get her out of this. The option to do so seemed fleeting, as the child remained silent, though concerned. Maybe she did not know what to say either. For a fraction of a second, she thought about trying to make something up on the fly.
The problem was that she held no understanding of just how big or small Locwitary truly was. If she made up the name of a place, would anything make sense to these people? Would they be able to call her out on the spot? She was many things, but her to-the-point attitude made for a terrible liar.
With caution in mind but all other routes leading back to square one, Cassandra opted for some form of truth. She had dug herself too deep and the shovel needed to come out of the dirt. "I don't know where I am. I'm lost."
Brewton curled his wrinkled brow above his glasses before turning around to get a confirmation from Leta.
"It is true," she told him.
"Ah, I see." He shifted his frames around as he looked back at Cassandra, examining her outfit. "You're dressed like you're from around her, but you don't look like a poil. You're not a fawn, either, I'd wager. You also don't look like…" He stopped for some reason, closing his eyes with a quick shake of his head. "No, you're not that either. How did you get here?"
"I woke up." Cassandra brought her hand up to tug at the ends of her hair locks. "I wish I could understand why."
"What is your name?"
"Cassandra Dimitrescu."
Brewton was puzzled, as were the others around him. "That does not sound like anything from this region. I believe you, Cassandra. If you're with Leta, I assume Milo has a hand in this somehow?"
"He's helping recover and get home."
"And you're sick?"
"Maybe, I don't know. I'm not contagious. I just haven't been myself since I got here. Milo is figuring this out." Cassandra turned her attention to Leta, her voice soft with accountability, understanding that she had overstayed her welcome in this town. "We must get back to him."
It pained her to know that she had messed up so badly yet again. The best thing to do was just leave and try to forget about it.
As the girl prepared to move over to her, Brewton halted her advancement, looking back at Vasan and nodding. "You need supplies, yes? What else is that that you came here for?" He asked Cassandra.
She broke a twist of confusion on her brow while letting his words settle in. It took her a second to get her speech going, starting with a short stutter. "I – I... We…"
"We need to gather some food as well," Leta chimed in, holding the bag up against her chest.
Brewton reached his hand into his pocket. "Do you have enough to pay for the food?"
"We do." Leta withdrew additional coins out of her pocket to show him. Cassandra was embarrassed, not just at the crowd still looking at her, but by how they still wanted to help. She stood there in silence with her eyes angled down toward the ground.
"Very well." He directed them to the nearest food stand in the town square, just across the large well in the middle. "Gibbin should have more than enough in his stock, I'd recommend you see him. Miss Cassandra," he shifted his finger toward the crates and baskets nearby, "if you need extra, there are some fruits there that may aid your health. I'd happily buy some for you if you two are short on money."
Leta bowed her head in respect. "Thank you very much, Mr. Brewton. We will go there now."
Cassandra sighed before looking back up at him, her normally callous demeanor subdued to a soft frown with a low voice. "Thank you." She waited for Leta to head over to the stand before she moved on as well.
Being the center of correction was never fun. Back at home, she felt that most scoldings from their mother were directed at her. Daniela – and Bela, especially – rarely misbehaved or drew her ire. It was always the messy middle child who could never control herself, it seemed. Things were no different in this realm, either. The only saving grace was that there was more mercy and understanding here. She had a chance to explain her actions.
It didn't prevent her from feeling like a failure, but she was happy to have had a chance for her voice to be heard.
Rounding the corner from the well, Leta approached the food displays and began searching for what Milo had written down. All the while, Cassandra crossed her arms and dug the heel of her foot into the dirt, waiting for everything to be wrapped up.
You succeeded at getting everybody's attention back there. Great job, Cass…
"Mioclak." Leta picked up a red-marked container and dropped it into a basket. "Would you be interested in trying the Vioclak tomorrow? It is much sweeter. Who knows? You might like it." She held a purple-marked one up. Cassandra gave a small hum but did not change her posture.
It prompted an inquiry of concern, "Is everything alright?"
She picked her head up, a blank expression on her face. Cassandra plucked the container from Leta's hand and dropped it in the basket. "Everything's fine. What else do we need?"
Leta scooped some of the requested fruit into the basket before glancing at the meat racks nearby. "He should have some Hikan and Ginyol meat ready for us. I'll go take a look."
The stands consisted of rows of hooked muscle groups of various creatures, hung out for display. It reminded Cassandra of the kitchen they had back at the castle. There was hardly a day when it wasn't stocked to the brim with pounds upon pounds of blood-soaked slabs. Those were just the animals, as the human bodies never left the dungeons and wine cellar.
Whenever she would walk through the kitchen, it wasn't unlike her to pick off a handful or two of raw food to sample while the staff turned their heads. She was always hungry and the scent of blood could be detected from across the castle. So delectable and succulent.
Yet, now, all she smelled was just…meat. Nothing special.
It might have been her suppressed abilities or likely her downed mood after the recent scuffle nearby that drove her enthusiasm to its usual lows. Normally, she would have jumped to grab the biggest section of ribs or the fattest block of muscle she could and haul it away. But ever since she got here, the craving for blood had been mostly gone. It was like she didn't need it anymore.
What is this place doing to me? Am I actually sick? I don't like any of this.
"Can you hold this, Miss Cassandra?" Leta handed over a few pounds of Hikan. It was a light-colored segment, similar to that of raw chicken. She took custody of it, bringing it to her nose to smell. Nothing appeasing.
Her eyes went from each hunk of food to the next. The drive to sink her teeth into the raw hides was absent no matter what was in front of her. That animalistic nature derived from her biology was nowhere to be found.
Why was she changing?
"Here's the Ginyol for you!" Leta lifted a sizeable portion and dropped it inside before extending her hands for Cassandra to hand over the Hikan. The woman peered at the dark flesh below her, wrapped up in a translucent paper packaging. She knew she loved the taste but, in this state, it would not call her.
She responded again with a bleak deliverance, save for the slightest hint of depression. "Thanks," she exhaled.
The owner of the stand, Gibbin, came over and took his place on the opposite side of the table. He was exactly what anyone would imagine a butcher to look like in a place like this; stout, broad-shouldered, with a reddish glow to his hair that matched the tint of his large, curly beard. Cassandra wouldn't have been surprised if he had killed these animals himself.
Locwitary was free of firearms. They likely did not exist here at all. So, that meant that hunters would have to use alternative means of slaying their prey. Even a bow took skill and a close enough distance compared to a rifle. Gibbin did not have the build of a speedy fellow but looked like he knew the lay of the land well. His burly forearms stuck out amongst his rolled sleeves. Aged like a woodsman; wrinkled but strong.
He was the first poil that she had seen that could probably hold his own in a good fight.
"Young Leta," Gibbin cracked a smile, "you and those up in that castle must love that Ginyol. This is the second time this week I've seen you come to pick it up."
"We might as well make use of it since there has been more of them running around as of lately," she told him. The girl always maintained a calm, friendly nature. Everyone in the town knew her and it stood to reason that she was allowed out very often.
Part of the revelation irked Cassandra as all she could think about then was the resentment that she held for being unable to leave for most of the year. Even when the temperature finally rose to a safe level, she and her sisters had to return before nightfall. As much as she cherished the walls that she lived in – it was a prison.
She didn't know any of the villagers, nor did she want to. But, whenever she was at odds with Bela or Daniela, there was no one to turn to. There was her mother, but she did not always have the time for what amounted to "childish antics." Moments like those were when she felt most alone – and lately, they had become all too frequent.
Leta nudged her head over to Cassandra, whose sight had not left the food since she and Gibbin had started talking. "We're getting the extra Ginyol for our guest, Miss Cassandra. She loved every bite of it."
Her head perked up, having heard her name and the recognition. She saw Gibbins rosy cheeks rounded as he grinned at her.
"Ah," he spoke, "I see my labors in this forest have not gone unappreciated. It's not always easy catching a Ginyol, but it is worth it to know that someone like you has something to eat at the end of the day."
She squinted her brow before averting her eyes back toward the racks of meat alongside her. There was so much, enough to keep the town feed and healthy.
Enough also for her – someone who attacked one of the residents.
She didn't deserve it, she believed. There was too much kindness to be shared. Someone like her had no place here. All this goodwill towards others isolated the truth of what she had done in her past world. These people were so committed to helping others that they didn't stop to consider who they were sharing their humanity with.
All the kindness in the world – given to a killer.
"I was hungry," she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for him to hear her.
Gibbin's eyes studied her entire figure from top to bottom. While she was very attractive, her appeal was not what had caught his curiosity. "Cassandra, right?"
She craned her neck over to look at him, surprised that he was talking to her still. Her eyes did the replying for her; reserved but attentive.
"You're a guest, as Leta tells me?"
"I am."
With a small, casual grunt, he slowly tilted his chin up, casting a look of observance. "You're dressed very proper, but I take it those aren't your normal clothes?"
She peeked down, brushing her hand against the front of her dress that was tied with many laces. Unsure of what exactly he was referring to, she returned to her irritable and uncaring attitude – her best defense. "Just sell us whatever we need. I am not discussing anything further."
Gibbin pulled a small smile that shifted the position of his beard. "You got the attire of a fawn or poil but you don't look like most of us. Quite honestly, I've never even seen anyone like you in this region…"
What is he getting at?
She wasn't sure if the accuracy of his statements was cause for alarm or not. She was not ready to divulge that she came from a different realm, having died and found herself here – possibly linked to an artifact from centuries ago. It sounded insane, but she was still learning more about how these people lived and what they understood. Perhaps the knowledge of someone from another realm existing amongst them would create irreversible panic.
Such would jeopardize her chances of getting back.
"What are you trying to tell me?" She played her words wisely, broadening the topic but also narrowing it to where he would have to answer the question in some form. At first, she thought that he was attempting to push his advances on her. Now, it looked like he had seen through their façade of a story. Her mother had once mentioned a quote years ago that stuck with her.
"Conversation is the origin of Chess."
Gibbin shrugged his rounded shoulder. "You may be dressed all proper, but there's more to you. I saw it when you took Vasan to the ground like a legless Ginyol. That boy didn't see it coming. You're a fighter – and maybe a hunter. Would I be correct?"
Her defenses lifted as she found herself stunned by his remark. He was right on the money. Was it that obvious or did someone like him have a special intuition that would notice such a thing? She decided to keep it at that, unwilling to divulge any further information about herself.
"You'd be right," she told him with a small grin. "Hunting is a part of me."
"You grew up in it?"
"You could say that. I had to push for it, yes. I am the only one in my family who truly loved the sport."
"Ah, 'sport' you say?" He picked up on the word with one raised eyebrow and a crack of his wide teeth. She doubled down on her statement with a swift nod and a smile of her own.
"The thrill of the hunt is what calls me," she explained. "Nothing else like it."
"I agree." He reared his thumb over to the bountiful racks that he had collected throughout his hunts for the town. There were two reasons to be out there: food or fun. Some people could manage both, but the latter only meant one thing; killing was a joy. "You ever eat what you catch?"
"Sometimes, when I am hungry. I keep a few trophies. The bigger the animal, the better the hunt."
"I used to be the same," Gibbin said. "I'd head out there with the intent to find the biggest beast around. Wait night and day. Oftentimes, I found what I sought. I'd have only a lance to win the fight. The animal had its horns, claws, teeth; whatever this world gave it."
"Putting yourself at a disadvantage?" She was puzzled as to why he would set the odds against him so greatly. For her, chasing and cornering the animal, watching it buckle in fear as she descended upon it was a rush on its own. When she entered those forests, she was the apex predator. The food chain had a new link at the top – Cassandra Dimitrescu.
Her home did not breed the toughest of animals, though she remembered a bear taking a while to die on one occasion. Her swarm bit at it as much as possible before it collapsed and rolled down a hill toward the trees and rocks. If the Lycans were around, they'd serve well, but those were the children of Moreau – not nature. She did not care for lab experiments.
"Always," he laughed. "I was the intruder coming into their home. If someone entered your domain, you'd want the advantage, would you not?"
Don't remind me of the wretched man-thing. When I get back home…
"They've come to die," Cassandra responded fiercely.
"As did I," Gibbin emphasized his place amongst the animals. "If I was to win, I'd have to fight like it was my last fight. I've got scars in many places. Close calls, bad mistakes. I kept returning – kept killing. Do you wish to hear a little story?"
With a casual shrug of her shoulder, Cassandra gave him the go-ahead. "Do tell…"
"One day, I go in looking for a dhin. Ravenous beasts they are. I spot one later that day. Never turned around to see me. I followed its backside until dusk. Daylight doesn't call a break. I kept on tracking him. We got so deep into the forest that dragging it out was not an option any longer. Now, I only had to finish what I started." Gibbin reached over and pulled off a strand of dried flesh, taking a bite as he continued with his story.
Cassandra was engrossed in what she was hearing. The imagery that he described was enticing. She wanted to be in his boots, facing Locwitary's monsters head-on. They had to be more fearsome than whatever her home world had to offer.
At the same time, she felt that she had been leveling the playing field too much in her favor. She had her powers and used them against mostly docile creatures. A deer was nothing but yet she prided herself on taking them. She could never stand to lose to such a thing, but it stood to wonder how well she would have performed had she not been gifted with what she had.
Could she even catch one?
Gibbin took a second bite before wiping his mouth with the backside of his hairy forearm. "When we reached a small clearing, I had the perfect lineup to spear the dhin through the side. Its heart would've been pierced in an instant. That's the best way to end those things. Well, right as I was about to throw my lance, I heard a powerful rustling in the bushes behind me. I spun around," he said as he turned dramatically, one arm reared back, re-enacting his past hunt to the two of them. "Out of the shrubs charged another dhin, larger than the one I had been following. I tried to re-direct my aim toward it but it immediately knocked me over and kept speeding through."
Gibbin took a breath, followed by a short scoff at his actions that day. "The second one turned around and flashed its teeth at me wide. As I pushed myself up from the dirt, I saw that sinister smile. It knew I was behind it the whole time. I was not the hunter anymore. It had led me into a trap."
Leta gently gripped the side of Cassandra's dress, evidently getting a little scared by the story that Gibbin was telling them. Her companion, on the other hand, could not have been more excited, now casting a broad smile of her own and breathing a small glee of suspense. It was a thrilling tale. Since he was standing before them today, there had to have been a chaotic ending.
"How did you survive?" Cassandra inquired, mouth open, fingers curling with impatience. "Did you kill both? Were there more of these dhin?" She couldn't be more enthralled.
"Well, aren't you an avid listener?" Gibbin chuckled before clearing his throat. "I got up to face the first dhin and readied my lance. That was when the second reared itself back and looked at me. I couldn't throw it, even if it meant a hit as I'd be defenseless right after. That's when I realized that I had gotten what I wanted: the perfect challenge. If I could turn the tables on those beasts, I would have earned my life. The first one kicked off, speeding toward me like a shooting star," he said as he imitated holding a spear against his hips.
"I held my ground, watching as it got closer and closer. I could see the impact before it happened. This dhin was going to carry me with it, even if I pierced its heart. As he barreled toward me, my eye caught the second one following suit. My mind dropped its concentration in favor of the threat further away. It was the costliest mistake I made that day." His face relaxed, humbled by whatever memories he had yet to confess. Leta brought herself closer to Cassandra's body, while the fascinated woman leaned in to hear more.
"Please, tell me more."
Gibbin took a large, final bite of the meat in his hand before scarfing down a small bottle of what could have been Mioclak or whatever variation these people enjoyed here. He chuckled again, amused at her reaction. "Such a taste for the morbid. I was right about you, you know?"
"This is getting fun," she said, "I must know how you managed to escape."
"My spear lowered a few inches as I looked at the other dhin. By the time I remembered the first one was closer, it collided with me, stabbing my torso with its horns. Sure, I speared it, but only wounding it in the process. That dhin threw me up in the air and carried me fifteen feet before throwing me off. I hit the nearest tree and ricocheted back to the ground. My consciousness went in and out. All I remember after was the second dhin sinking its teeth into my lower leg and thrashing me about. I blacked out again. For a while, I thought I was dead until I finally awoke further down the sight where the encounter took place. I was bleeding heavily, wounded with holes in my stomach and sides. My leg was torn apart. Everything was red. My clothes, the soil – all of it. My lance was nowhere to be found. I began crawling away as fast as I could, fearing that the dhins were still nearby. They're sinister creatures and will watch you suffer."
If our homeland had such things around, I would have begged mother to keep one as a pet. Moreau could never have made something like that!
Gibbin began to wrap up his tale, eyes locked onto Cassandra's. "I thought I was a goner. If they didn't kill me then and there, the damage to my body would have been fatal in minutes. I made it a couple of dozen feet before I blacked out again, waking up in Milo's and Lia's care."
Milo saved him?!
"How did you get there?" Cassandra asked.
Gibbin peered over at Leta, whose tension was now beginning to ease up. "Leta's sister is an extraordinary fawn. She sensed that I was in trouble in those woods. From my understanding, she sent herself there and grabbed me before re-appearing inside that castle. Milo handled the rest after that. Brought me back to health over the next few days. I couldn't shake my desire to hunt and thrive in the woods, but I decided to do so to provide for the good people here, as those two had provided for me. As for the hunt, I got what I wanted; I finally lost. Maybe the dhin offered me a second chance. Maybe they were waiting to kill me by the time Lia showed up. I'll never know." He briefly looked down at his table, the same way Cassandra had kept her eyes on the ground after feeling a sense of defeat moments ago.
"What I do know, is that I entered their domain and paid the price. It's easy to believe you're unstoppable until the day that something or someone finally gains the upper hand. There are no do-overs when you lose. It is settled there and then."
"Hmm," Cassandra pressed her lips, feeling the message of what he was trying to convey. Ethan Winters had come off as such a pitiful waste of life when he was captured by them. He couldn't have stood a chance, but somehow the man escaped and ran amok throughout their home. Her mother was no longer the calm and collected woman that she was when they brought him to her. There was something that she was withholding for the time being. She shuddered to think of any harm coming to her sisters that day. She wasn't certain, but as soon as they fought and he sent her out of the hole in the wall, she knew that he was stronger than he let on.
If he could have bested her, then Bela and Daniela…
Cassandra returned to the present. "A noble way to think about it. Indeed, a fight worth fighting. I've lost once before. It was a terrible feeling. I'm still coming to terms with it."
"Scars tell stories. You can keep chasing the path that will give you more. Can't tell you if they will make a difference or not."
"You're a wise man, Mr. Gibbin." She took a slow breath, finding his words more realistic than he knew.
"I overheard that you are staying inside Milo's castle while he helps you with your illness and to find your way home. You're in good hands over there, with good people." Gibbin smiled at her. "I'm sure he sees the good in you as well."
NOTES:
Hello everyone! Hope you all enjoyed this new chapter! It is the longest so far, but I wanted to cover their visit to the town significantly. Cassandra showed a few sides of herself there. We see a woman who is ferocious yet quiet and to herself when she is in over her head. She's likely rarely been in public before, so this is all new to her.
We're also beginning to see Leta's character, as she is smart and willing to help Cassandra whether she is asked to or not. I also wanted to touch on this world some more, as am I sure you all were wondering what kind of place Cassandra has found herself in. I wanted it to be on par with what we saw in the game. As I've also stated, magic isn't so prevalent here, either. Fawns seem to be the only ones who can actually do it, and they're in thin numbers. Just because this world seems docile – it is still fraught with danger.
Some of you have been curious about the dhins. Is Cassandra ready for them? The hunting story told here should put into perspective how encountering one might turn out.
The next chapter is going to be a big one – not in length, but in content. We're going back to Castle Dimitrescu again too and you can expect to spend a lot of time there. I don't want to say anything else besides this one will be very important to what is ahead.
It will release on the 19th, so mark your calendars. Follow this story on AO3 to check out the artwork I include with every chapter. I try different art styles from time to time but expect the next artwork to be way more detailed. If you have any requests or ideas as to what I can create or what you want to see, I will definitely consider them!
As always, I love to hear what you have to say. To know that there are others out there who are enjoying and looking forward to my work inspires me to put my fingers on my keyboard and put my pen to paper. It just makes creating it all the more fun and I'm happy to have you all with me on this.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think. If you have a question or a concern, criticism, or anything, feel free to mention it. Leave a kudos if you'd like. Thank you so much for everything! Until next time! See you around!