Ariaretta

Beyond The Walls

What about dragons? Are they good or bad? 'w')

Beyond The Walls

Kyouka blushed a bit when Gog told her that books lie. She didn't really know much outside the books. They were her only companions in the past. Journeying with Nekoboro had opened her eyes on lots of things, but most of what written were true. well, she must admit that human knowledge is limited...

"This, meow?" Addressing his book, Nekoboro purred. "I don't think it would be something bad by human standard. This is a diary of my father, meow. Someone put this magical binding on it, and now I can't read it anymore, meow. I want to read it, meow..."

The cat hugged the book longingly.

Elder Troll...they had not much luck asking people in the land. Perhaps asking the Trolls would yield some good result. "Ah, if that's so, could you bring us to your elder, Mister Gog?"

"Yes, bring us to elder trole. I can adventure together with Gog-trole and Lia, meow~"

Nekoboro rubbed his face on Gog's leg, then climbed to Lia's shoulder. He purred happily.

"Aah...so soft, meow. Better than Kyouka, meow. Lia, will you be Kyouka, meow?"

"S...sir Nekoboro...are you throwing me away...?"

Kyouka slumped with despair...

Beyond The Walls

aww...but...but...he's adorable :O

whoever have the heart to call him a monster? :D

Beyond The Walls

I like it :3

Beyond The Walls

How prevalent should Magic be in this world? Super rare, like Gandalf? Rare, as in there should be training and learning before able to use Magic? Or casual as in everyone can use Magic somehow?

Beyond The Walls

The bipedal feline raised his ears when Gog's voice came out from the stone. He seemed to understand that the rock was Gog, but remained curious. He rubbed his cheek on the stone's surface.

"It is the trole. Nekoboro likes stone trole, meow. Stone trole is nice, meow~"

"It is a Troll, Sir Nekoboro...aaah, nevermind, just call him whatever you want," Kyouka sighed in defeat, only stroking Nekoboro's head gently. The cat purred in content. "You can pet him if you want, Mister...Gog, isn't it?".

"No fair, Kyouka, not with thaaa...meoooow..."

He let out a voice as if in ecstasy.

"So Mister Gog and Lia travels together, right? It is peculiar for a Troll to be friendly to humans. In my books they're pictured so savagely. Ah...sorry for jumping to conclusion, Mister Gog. Also, please don't hate Nekoboro. He's just...actually I don't understand what he's thinking," Kyouka said while still petting the cat. Her hand was now stroking Nekoboro's belly, with the latter laying sprawled on his back atop the rock.

"That's right, Gog-trole can change to stone. Gog-trole can use magic, meow?"

So Nekoboro could understand that the Troll's name was Gog. That trole thing seemed to linger around though...

"We're in a quest to find someone who could destroy magical bindings, meow,"

Now sitting straight up, Nekoboro produced a thin leather-bound book. What made it stood out was the lines of rope tying it up, having runes etched on them. No matter how strong he pulled the rope, they stayed firm.

"The magical binding prohibits opening through strength. I want to open this, meow. This is important to me...maybe Gog-trole or Lia could, meow?"

Always Looking for Partners~ [Mid Casual - Advanced]

bump~

Beyond The Walls

That was the most singular experience Kyouka had had in her travel. The big guy suddenly changed into a rock in front of her eyes. No longer was the gargantuan figure towering the sky, only a huge, bland-colored rock sitting in the road in exchange of it.

"Whoa..." was the only thing which left her mouth.

The cat peeked out from behind her shoulder, ears twitching with curiosity.

"Where did the trole go, Kyouka?"

"It's not trole, Sir Nekoboro, it is Troll. I've read them in my books. They're called monsters by people, but definitely not a giant or that trole thing you're talking ab..."

Nekoboro had left her shoulder and rushed toward the now-rock Troll. He perched himself atop the rock, kneading on its surface. Once satisfied, he sat down in all-four like a normal cats with a look of content in his face.

"A...ahaha..." as usual, she didn't understand how Nekoboro's brain works.

Kyouka had read about Troll before. They're described as vicious, man-eating monster who would kill everyone on sight. Their brutality was so severe that many disappearances had happened in the countryside. This particular Troll, however, didn't seem too bad. He was docile, even. To be fair, that book also described Troll as grunting, stupid beasts. This one was civilized, even intelligent. Perhaps she shouldn't believe all the books said without confirming it herself. At least the Troll didn't view them as potential meal. That should be enough.

"Umm...I'm called Kyouka," she turned toward the red-haired girl. "And that one is Nekoboro. He is my friend, companion, and master. Are you two...err, three, traveling together, perchance?"

Beyond The Walls

Nekoboro was fast. Too fast. He didn’t know if it was his inherent trait of a cat, but if he really wanted to, he did could leave Kyouka behind.

Even if she had the power of a cat in her body, ultimately it was still human’s. Catching up with the cat took her entire breath.

“Sir…please, I beg you…no runni…AAH!?!”

Kyouka froze. The scenery in front of her eyes begs for explanation.

On her left was Nekoboro holding a big tuna fish on its left hand (front leg??).

On her right was the “giant”, with the red-haired girl tucked behind him in a protective manner.

Nekoboro’s stance was that of a battle, ready to attack on the slightest notice. His adversary, however, was more surprised than alert.

Actually, Kyouka never understood about the fish either. As if there would ever be someone who would take that seriously…

“Myuuuu? A trole? What is that, meow?” the cat tilted his head. There are dwarves, elves, little goblins, but it was the first time for him to hear that name. “I am a cat, meow. I don’t care if you’re a bread roll or a scroll, I’m going to have you release that girl you’ve kidnapped, meow!”

The scene grew too absurd for Kyouka. What’s this have to do with bread roll?

With a short leap, Nekoboro had closed the distance between him and the trole…prole…whatever. Before he could react, the cat was already hovering on the ground right below him, the fish swung in a wide arc toward his cheek.

Unable to watch the cat attacking the “giant” with only a fish, she closed her eyes.

The attack connected with a loud snap. It did…nothing, really. Rather than the “giant” feeling pain from it, the fish looked more in pain itself. It went limp on Nekoboro’s hand.

…

“MEOOOOW?!? Kyoukaaaaaa…”

Running away so fast dust trails covered the air, Nekoboro hid himself behind Kyouka, peeking out with teary eyes and cute expression.

I knew it, Kyouka thought. Humans could be hurt with that, but a “giant”? What’s the deal with the fish anyway?

Aah…no good, the “giant” should be focused on her now.

“Um…Mister giant, will you please release the girl…?”

“Why are you pleading, Kyouka? Kick his ass, meow! Oh and he’s a trole, not a giant, or so he said meow.”

I can’t. Also, what the hell is a trole?

Actually now that she saw it up close, the “trole” looked bigger than before. Too big for her standard. Her body screamed to run away, but she was frozen with fear.

Always Looking for Partners~ [Mid Casual - Advanced]

bump~