1 A cat appeared

John Reh, a seventeen year old boy lived in the small village of kashtire dessert. This village, having few people and many visitors, kept John in the little orphanage where he is made to help care for the smaller ones as he was the oldest youth that lived there. One night, he did not return to the orphanage as he usually did.

Den mother: JOHN!!! John?!! Where is that boy at this hour?

John enters through the front door carrying a large bag of books.

Den mother: there you are! Where have you been? Do you realize what time it is?!

John: I told you and the other three mothers that I would be out late at the temple. The grand elder had a new shipment of books come in today.

Den mother: no excuses! I told them you were nothing but trouble having been here for so long. Come, we will have a talk with you now in the office.

John: ah owowow! My ear! Wait! Denmother!

In the office sat a desk with a candle light and three chairs, but no one was there.

Den mother: oh where did that woman go this time?! That's it. You stay in this seat and don't move until I get back, understood?

John:... Yes, ma'am.

Den mother: humph!

The Den Mother leaves John in the office alone. It's quiet. He didn't like it quiet. He began to hum to himself in the room. Tiny blue lights dance on the desk in tune with his humming. He doesn't notice until a shadow slips past his eye level, stopping his humming. The stars vanish as he looks around the room. Nothing.

John: must have been my imagination. I have been reading a lot at the temple for the elders studies. They must be getting to my head.

The door opens. The Den mother walks into the office with the headmaster. The headmaster sits across from John and yawns.

Headmaster: what did he do this time, Melony?

Denmother: this boy just got back here. Do you realize how late it is?

Headmaster: do you? Waking me over this when we could just discuss this in the morning. So why were you late anyway?

John: I told all three mothers I'd be late today. I was helping the elders bring in new books for the library. Denmother doesn't seem to remember though.

Denmother: I said no excuses young man!

Headmaster: oh shut up, Melony. That's not an excuse that's a logical reason that can't be denied since his job was helping the temple this time. Good Christ, woman, are you deaf or stupid? If anything you're the one making excuses to get him in trouble and I'm tired of it. The boys old enough to make his own choices and set his own time schedule. Leave him alone already.

Denmother: but…

Headmaster: no buts! And give him back what he brought here. He wants to clutter his room with books let him. There his to do as he pleases. I know for a fact that I told you this hundreds of times already. Those are his rewards for his work. John go to your room. I'm done looking at you for one day.

John: yes, headmaster. Good night.

Denmother: you're just going to let that wicked do as he pleases?!

Headmaster: woman, if you don't drop the subject, I'm getting the Elders to drop your title as den mother for discrimination! You know damn well the elders hate that. If a witch born child had wandered in here they'd let them stay regardless because the book of earth says "all being are equal and shall be treated as such." knock it off already. You can deal with another year of him at least can't you? Now go home. I need to sleep for early morning.

The Den Mother leaves with the headmaster out of the orphanage. John stood at his bedroom door across the hall from the office. His room used to be one of the utility closets, there was no room elsewhere for him to sleep at his age. Most of the children leave at ten years old to a new home. He never knew why he wasn't given the chance to go with the others.

John lights a lamp in his room sits on his rickety handcrafted bed and opens one of the new books he received from the Grand Elder. It was a spell book. He quickly closes it and looks through more. They were all spells and medicine books. He remembers asking for medicine knowledge, but not casters. One of the books held a note in it.

"Do not return until all have been studied."

The Grand Elder must have given these to him. Any one else would give him history books and myths to read. He start by reading a medicine book. After a few hours, John had finished have the collection he received before taking a break. He started to ready himself for bed until he heard an unfamiliar sound.

Meow.

A large orange and black maned cat with two tails sat before his door watching him.

John: what? Oh. A cat? Where'd you come from?

Cat: oh. So you can see me? Well that just stumped me. And all this time I've actually been hiding from you.

John: ….. Aaaaaaaaahahhhhh! What the hell?! You talk!?

Cat: ah. Guess you can hear me, too. My bad. I didn't intend to scare you, but man you are jumpy.

John: stop! Stop!! I must be sleeping right now. Yeah I'm dreaming. All those myths and fairy tail got to my head and now I'm in a wonderland. Heheh. Heh.

Cat: did you you hit your head or something?

John: stop talking, dammit!! Its creepy!!

Cat: *hisses* have you looked in the mirror lately?! Jesus. You freaking out freaks me out. Calm down a minute.

John: how the hell am I supposed to calm down when a friggin animal I've never seen is in my room talking to me?!

Cat: hey! Be grateful I'm talking to you at all, you lonesome bastard. If I could I'd smack you with my paw right now.

John: wh-what … or who are you? And why are here?

Cat: I am the beast of the abyss, the Leo. I have been awakened by the alfather to return to the celestial kingdom of Shaltar.

John: . . . . wha-... What?

John's door slams open. The den mother had returned.

Denmother: what the hell are you screaming about so early in the morning?!

John: AAH!! I.. I-I-I… s-sorry. Uh….

John looks down at her feet. The cat was gone.

John: n-nothing. B-b-bad dream. Sorry, ma'am.

Denmother: humph! Well get up anyway. There's a new line of adopters waiting for this month. Get dressed and do whatever job you have today.

John: no job today ma'am. I'll get ready now.

The den mother closes his door. John looks to the floor again, but the cat was still gone.

John: I really must have been dreaming. How strangely clear it was.

John gets out of bed, puts on a pair of handmade pants and his shoes and runs out the door with more clothing and heads to the riverbeds far side as fast as he could. On his way he sees a large, fancy horse driven carriage. John knew immediately that he wasn't getting anywhere near that one. After washing up, he rushes back to the orphanage fully clothed and clean. One of the local residents of the village stops him half way. It was the smithy.

Smithy: hey! What are you in a hurry for? I need you to help me carry some metal back to the shack. You mind?

John: I-I'm sorry, sir. I need to get back to the orphanage. I'll get back to you as soon as I'm done. Promise.

John leaves the smithy and runs for the orphanage. Before he opened the door he heard a two familiar voices and one new voice behind the door. He walks in quietly and sees the headmaster and Grand Elder with a strange man in royal garments. They were talking about the young children that may be the oldest. The Grand Elder notices John at the door and stares at him.

Headmaster: Grand Elder? Is something wrong? Oh! What are you doing back?!

John: Ah… s-sorry. Don't mind me.

Stranger: oh? And who is this strapping young lad? One of the residents children?

Headmaster: Oh, no. Definitely not. Since you're here, gather the others.

John: yes, ma'am.

Stranger: ah! Now hold on! If he's one of the orphans here then he'll do just fine.

Headmaster: what?! Really? Him?! But he's a…!

Grand Elder: the wicked belongs to the village. He's not for adoption. I'm sorry, your majesty.

John: your majesty?! Wait. What he just say I was?

Stranger: wicked?! You allow those here? Well I guess if raised right, they'd be decent house members. Why is he here then in the orphanage and not in a proper home?

Grand Elder: I've wondered that myself. I'll speak to you about that later, headmaster.

Headmaster: yes, sir. Come the children will be on the top floor or roof to play.

Stranger: no. I was told I could find at least one young lad here to have and it turns out he's not in the vast system of fostered children. What a shame. I'd have loved to see how I could shape him. Farewell. Good day, young wicked.

John: eh!? Ah! Yes. Have a safe trip.

Stranger: . . . are you sure I can't take this one off your hands? He's so well mannered already.

Grand Elder: I apologize for the false information you received.

The stranger leaves pouting. John is utterly confused as to what just happened.

Grand Elder: . . . John.

John: y-yes, sir!?

Grand Elder: what are you doing in the orphanage?

John: eh? I-I. . . uh…

Grand Elder: I suppose you didn't get informed. You were supposed to stay at the temple. No more "Jobs."

John: . . . huh?

Grand Elder: where are the studies you received? Here? If so, get them and come with me.

John: yes,sir! Right away. I'll need to talk to the smithy on our way…

Grand Elder: move.

John goes to his room without another word and gathers his books together neatly. He hears the Grand Elder talking to the headmaster. He didn't sound happy.

Grand Elder: he didn't know. Why didn't he know, Lucius? And why did he return here after I specifically told all of your workers not to let him leave the temple from now on?

Headmaster: I-I'm sorry, Grand Elder. I wasn't informed by the Den Mothers.

Grand Elder: get them and make them come to the temple as soon as possible.

Headmaster: yes, sir.

Grand Elder: and I mean I want them yesterday. Understood?

The headmaster leaves the building. Meanwhile. . .

John was packing his books he got from the temple and heard the Grand Elder talking to the headmaster about him. It didn't sound like a nice conversation.

Cat:(voice) wow. He does not sound happy.

John: GEH!?

John looks to the bed to find the cat lying belly up on his pillow.

Cat: what? He did.

John: . . . Did I develop narcolepsy? Or maybe the river had cactus water in it?

Cat: well, look at that. Ginger here got jokes. I'm as real as you, boy. You're just the only one that is allowed to see me as of late.

The cat stands and jumps off the bed, then heads to John's empty bookshelf across the room and up to the top shelf and lies down again.

Cat: so, where are you going in such a hurry?

John: uh…

There's a heavy knock on the door.

Grand Elder:(voice) JOHN!! Get out here now!

John: coming!! Coming! Sorry!

John leaves the room with the bag of books and bumps into the Grand Elder.

John: s-sorry, sir! I'm ready.

Grand Elder: good. Let's go. And tell whoever asked for a job they won't be getting your services anymore.

John: y-yes, sir.