Calm before the Storm

For the rest of the day, I kept thinking about Kana and how she reacted to the trio. She has scars from her past that much was clear, but it was something that boy said that drew my attention the most. He called her a cursed child and that she already took one family. I guess that whatever happened in her past, possibly involving her family, created this negative image to be placed on Kana. It must have been a big event, so I'm sure someone could tell me about it.

I paused remembering something important. "Right, I can't speak." I ignored Kana's class as I pondered for a few moments, if the event was big enough perhaps there is a written record that I could find. I'll keep my eyes open for a library or any other form of collective written knowledge. Maybe I could enlist some help too, but that might be tricky. While I am digging into the past I should also look into mana beasts, the classes here are great and full of knowledge but so far the only bit of info I could use is the transference of my power to Kana. The rest only applies to humans, there cultivation methods just don't work on mana beasts.

I nodded my head deciding my course of action. I figured the best way to communicate would be to use the written word, all I would have to do is find a way to get my paws on a book with a good vocabulary and I can take care of the rest. Class ended as usual and we started to file out of the class, I pulled on Kana's sleeve to try to hold her back. She looked my and I used my tail to indicate that she should remain sitting, she tilted her head but obliged. I needed to get Mel's attention too, so after I got Kana to remain seated I dashed after Mel before she left and tugged her back into the classroom by the scuff of her skirt. I discreetly noted that she wore pure white panties as I dragged her back to Kana's desk. "I never took the hottest teacher in the school to be a pure maiden" I said to myself as I waited for the room to empty, after the coast was clear I dragged Kana's backpack around to the front of her desk and I started digging through the bag.

They both shared a look as they watched me pull out a huge tome, I also pulled out writing tools and a spare paper sliding them them towards Kana who took them with a curious expression. She stopped asking questions after her first few attempts resulted in me silently staring back at her. In a "How exactly do you expect me to answer you," kind of way. I then started flipping through the pages pointing at word and then the pen in in Kana's hand until she caught on and begun to copy the words I pointed to.

Mel's eyes bulged at what she was seeing, she looked over Kana's shoulder and she placed her hand over her mouth. Her gaze quickly flicking from me to the paper, as she read what was being written. It took me nearly half an hour to get this much down so while it wasn't much, it got my point across. I didn't want to waste hours trying to ask questions or answer them for that matter.

"I know this is quite sudden, but I want access to a library, can you help?" it said as I looked Mel in the eyes as she glanced back and forth between the paper and myself. Kana however seemed pretty unfazed, which somehow made me feel slightly disappointed but then again we talk in charades all the time. She was bound to notice and it seemed she was already immune to my big brain moments. "No fun" I sighed in my head. As Kana finished the last letter she turned to face Mel,

"Aunt Mel, I think it would be good for little white to learn more. I can't say for certain but when I look into his eyes, it doesn't feel like I'm looking into the eyes of a beast but another person. He has helped me so much already. This would be the least I can do to thank him." She gave me a genuine smile and I only just realized how much faith she has put in me. "I don't want to break that trust," I said to myself "That just means getting access to more knowledge is a must. For both our sake."

Mel spoke softly "I, uh, this is unprecedented. A familiar with such a high intelligence is rare but not unheard of. However this is the first time I have witnessed such a brilliant mind from something other than human" she paused as I snorted. "How ironic" I thought. "Uh, I have no reason to deny, uh, Little white's access to the library but the problem should be obvious" I nodded my head in understanding and Kana just looked between me and Mel. "Hey don't leave me out, what is the problem with giving little white access to the library?" I sighed but Mel was able to answer her. "Well Kana, I can see that you don't see Little white as a mana beast and I think I'm starting to see things from your point of view" She paused remembering my cooking fiasco "But you have to remember, regardless of how we see him, to everyone else he is just another mindless animal on a leash"

Kana looked upset and ready to argue with Mel but I just placed my paw on her hand stopping her. She looked down and I just shook my head, she huffed but didn't argue. After a long pause, I pointed at Kana's translation again. "Can you help?" Mel sighed. "I can try Little White, but I don't know how I can manage it. You can't simply ask the librarian for the books you want and not everybody will even look twice in your direction. Let me think about this. I agree that letting you learn more is the least we can do for everything you have done for Kana since you entered her life, but it will be hard to set it up" I nodded my head, I hoped it would be an easy thing to ask for but I guess in practice there were a lot of hurdles, if I could speak I might freak people out but at least then I wouldn't be seen as some mindless beast. And she was right how can I get the books I want to read if the librarian couldn't understand me and beyond that I don't think they would willingly hand a book to a mana beast.

With that settled Kana repacked her bag and picked me up as we started heading back to her home, on the walk back I felt like someone was watching us. Mel suggested that we take a diffrent route today so we ended up in the market district and from what I could tell Kana seemed to have many friends who worked at the food stalls as many people offered to just give her free 'samples' of produce. I even saw Mel put an entire thigh-sized fish into her bag that she grabbed from Kana, a gift from some burly man with a hard to understand accent. As we continued I felt like we were being watched yet and again and Mel and I locked eyes for just a moment before we both nodded our heads. At that moment we were on the same page. We both felt it, someone was tailing us, at that I became more alert. I guess at a time like this being seen as a dumb animal has its perks. I was easily able to spot the one on our tail, he tried to move only when Mel and Kana was distracted. I let him follow for a few turns to b sure before I yipped quietly to get Mel's attention. I flicked my tail to the left, towards an alleyway and we took a slight detour down the alley. Mel stopped Kana from walking further by pulling her into the ally with her.

"What are we" the question was cut off as she got a mouth full of my tail and a stern look from Mel told her now was not the time. As soon as I saw the man that was following us start to pass by I yipped and Mel grabbed the man by his collar and pulled him into the alleyway. She looked at me for confirmation, where I gave her a sharp nod. Kana just stood there holding looking back and forth between the man and Mel who was quietly interrogating the man, I didn't realize it at first but a thin layer of mana formed around them. From my point of view, I could tell she was discreetly inflicting pain to get answers from the man in question but from anyone else's point of view, it might have looked like two lovers looking for a quiet place. This immediately made me want to know more about Mel's background but luckily she was on our side.

Soon Mel dropped the guy. The poor man lay unconscience on the ground. Mel pulled out a small bottle of what smelled like scotch or whisky before dumping the contents on the man's front. We locked eyes again and she winked at me. I was now very curious to know who she was. We quickly left before another tail could find us and returned to Kana's home.

"What was that all about, Mel. Who was that and don't you dare treat me like a kid." Kana started shouting at Mel, who just stood there listening with her head slightly down as if being scolded by her betters "Just please, don't do anything stupid" Kana finished in a whisper

Mel looked up a sad look on her face "Kana you don't have to worry about a thing, I will handle it okay?" Kana looked at her with serious doubt in her eyes but let it drop "It's not like I could stop you from doing what you want anyway" Mel looked like she was struck for a minute before sighing. "Alright, I will stop treating you like a child. That man was hired by the Jarvison family to tail you and if given the opportunity, to take you and bring you back to their estate. It seems one of the nobles from today decided to take things into there own hands." I could feel Kana's panic through our link, but to her credit, she hardened her resolve although she was visibly shaking. Mel continued trying to calm the girl "I was planning on paying them a visit tonight. so that I can" "NO!" Kana shouted making me and Mel flinch "I can not lose you too," Kana said as she sat heavily in her chair, "Not after what happened to Mama" she started crying and Mel held her close "Okay dear, Okay. I understand, shhhh, shhhh" she said as she petted Kana's head. "I understand, listen I'll stay her for the night okay? Just for you" Tears welled up in Mel's eyes but she wouldn't let them fall. I went to the bathroom and grabbed a soft cloth and waited for the two to calm down. "It was at times like this when not being able to speak really sucked," I thought to myself a mix of compassion towards Kana and Mel as well as curiosity and confusion filled my mind. To many questions and so far no answers.

Mel stayed the night and joined Kana in the bath but I was locked out and not allowed to enter. I blame myself for that, after Mel offered to join Kana in the bath I started drooling and couldn't take my eyes off of Mel. She must have noticed this and decided that she didn't like what she saw. So I sat outside the bathroom pouting, curled up in a ball and listening to the sound of splashing water. "Damn it, damn it, damn it," I thought. When everyone was finally cleaned and ready for to sleep we all piled into the bed, I was going to sleep above them on the pillows like I did last night as Kana curled into Mel's warm embrace. It reminded me of mother and daughter, I smiled when Kana dragged me down and in between the two of them held close like a stuffed animal. I yipped at suddenly being grabbed and squeezed but after she relaxed I cuddled in close getting comfortable. I smiled as I watched Kana fall asleep before I joined her in the realm of dreams.

I woke up to the sound of footsteps coming closer to the bed and a figure crawling back into the bed, I didn't realize it before but it seemed Mel left in the dark of the night and just got back. This angered me as she promised Kana she wouldn't go. "Oh how much I wish I could cuss you out lady" but this time she came back and looked no less hurt than she did before. I gave up on thinking about it and instead let my mind drift.

She pulled Kana closer and me along with her. I was immediately smashed between two women, both in their nightwear. I was half-buried between two mounds from one side and held lovingly from behind by the other. I chuckled to myself as I pondered my situation. If I didn't know any better I'd say I got the beginnings of a harem forming, I snorted. If I was being honest I didn't even know how to handle one let alone two, women. I think Kana is a handful as it was, smiling at the thought I feel back asleep.