Chapter 7: Liz Returns / The Magic Kitten

“Hey guys, I finally found you. I got let off the hook for work. I can hang out for the rest of the day!” Lizzy said

“Hey, Liz! Welcome back!” Evan said

“Lizzy!” Lime said

“Hey, Liz. Look, we have a new member in our group.” Suika said

“Ah. Yes, hi, it’s nice to meet you, I’m Lay.” Lay said

“Lay, why are you being so polite? Treat her like you treat us.” Suika said

“Oh. Alright, hi Liz. It’s nice to meet you.” Lay said

“lay? Barkers kid? It really is nice to meet you.” Lizzy said

“Oh, I’m surprised you heard anything about me.” Lay said

“Well, Barker always complains about his son Lay being just as lazy as his name implies.” Lizzy said

“Oh. Well, he does yell at me a lot for not finishing my work. Or not starting it. I do the important things, at least.” Lay said

“I’d say cleaning your room is pretty important.” Lizzy said

“Ugh. True.” Lay said

“Well, enough teasing, it’s nice to meet you lay, I’m Elizabeth Hero.” Lizzy said

“Elizabeth? Not just Lizzy? Wait… Elizabeth… oh! You live here, don’t you.” Lay asked

“Um. Yes. I do. I see the newest addition to our little group isn’t really the thinking type.” Lizzy said

“Yeah, he’s definitely a leap without looking kinda guy.” Evan said

“Well, sometimes doing is just easier than thinking. I’m not exactly the smartest person. So if I can’t think, just act.” Lay said

“I’m pretty sure the only reason that mindset works for you is because you’re lazy. You don’t really have to do that much.” Evan said

“Yeah. Wait. It’s getting kinda dark, what time is it?” Lay asked

“No clue. Let’s see here… oh, it’s around 8pm. Makes sense. Let’s head back.” Evan said, checking his phone

“Which way is back? Actually, where are we?” Suika asked

“Looks like we wandered into the forest while we were talking… I guess we all stopped paying attention at a certain point.” Lizzy said

“I would have noticed from getting tired, but Evan used magic, so we have just been floating behind Suika for quite a while.” Lime said

“Hey, Liz?” Evan asked

“Yes?” Said Liz

“Exactly how large is this forest? And why does it seem to disrupt low level magic?” Evan asked

Lizzy froze

“We have no idea. The forest is actually off limits. It connects to another dimension apparently. As for why it disrupts magic, I don’t know. I assume it’s because it’s another dimension.” Liz said

“So... we’re trapped here?” Lay asked

“Um. Yes.” Liz said

“Oh, dear. That is an issue.” Suika said, her voice a little bit higher pitched than normal.

It wasn’t only Suika. Everyone seemed to be having issues other than Evan and lime.

Lizzy was biting her thumb

Lay was trembling

And a voice came from the darkness

“I smell... fear. you seem….. frightened. This place is…... safe. Just…. relax.” It said, sinisterly

“I recommend not listening to it.” Evan said, fiddling with some machines while floating.

“I think we already knew that.” Suika said nervously

It spoke again

“This one here. He is…. floating? Are you... not scared? Are you not….. worried? This is not your home little one. It’s not somewhere to take….. comfort.” the voice said

“I’ll keep that in mind. By the way, gravity magic is far too powerful a spell for the likes of a mere forest of cursed mana to nullify. Thats why I'm floating. What’s your name? Your species?” Evan asked

“You… know of this place? You can use such…. powerful magic? And you use it to merely…. float? Who are you?” The voice asked

“Hm. I’m assuming you’re one of those cats. Are you the orange one?” Evan asked

“You...know of us? You know of.... me? Can you… tell me about… who I am? Where do I come from? Why am I ….here?” The voice asked

“Lemme get rid of this annoying lingering curse mana, first.” Evan said

He generated a holy light, and sent soothing mana across the entire dimension

“Ah. There we go. Now I can use a low level light spell.” Evan said

He lit up a large area around them

“You can come out.” Evan said

“You...will answer?” The voice asked

He emerged from the darkness.

His appearance was that of a tiger. Not a cat. Damnit Evan.

“Yes. Your name, huh? Do you recall anything if I say Mikan?” Evan asked

“That...name is familiar. I feel… odd.” Mikan said

“Yeah. That speech pattern. You’re definitely Mikan. How the heck did you get out here?” Evan asked

“I… can’t remember. I’ve lived here….. ages.” Mikan said

“And you eat people?” Evan asked

“Hm? No. I…. feed off of fear. They ….die because they can’t return. I can’t …..do anything about that.” Mikan said

“True. Well, there’s four of you big kittens.... You know mana, right?” Evan asked

“Yes. Of …..course.” Mikan said

“Good. Feel the center of your mana.” Evan said

“There is a….. stone. It seems to be…. on fire. Is this normal?” Mikan asked

“Yeah, you’re a mana beast. One of the four cats. You were born out of mana. When mana first came into existence it came from god. The god had condensed a core. It is known as the infinity core. All mana originates from there. Something people don’t usually pay attention to, is the fact that mana has a will of its own. Mana beasts are made when mana condenses into a small rock, and that rock gets a part of Manas Will. It’s similar to our souls. Instead of a soul, mana beasts have wills. You, Mikan, were born of the mana containing fire coming into contact with mana containing darkness, and mixing. Normally it isn’t possible, but a Manas Will holds two different categories of mana together like glue. When these two categories of fire and darkness absorbed enough mana, it condensed into a solid object. Mikan, when you search your mana, what does the color look like?” Evan asked

“It reminds me of….. the night sky.” Mikan said

“That’s something that's usually impossible, as well. Never before, and never again, has, or will someone’s mana be dark, like the night sky. At least, not like you. Your mana capacity is specifically attuned to dark and fire mana. So you can’t use anything other than that, and basic magic or extremely low level spells of other categories. But your abilities in dark and fire magic are surpassed only by the god and the demon.” Evan said

“I….see.” Mikan said

“Dear, that probably wasn’t the information he was asking for.” Lime said

“Huh? Oh. Right. Mikan, you probably feel incomplete, empty. Am I correct?” Evan asked

“Yes…. that’s indeed ...correct.” Mikan said

“Hey, lime, can you summon Sayuri here?” Evan asked

“Oh. Sure.” Lime said

Lime chanted a few words, and a brilliant white and blue tiger appeared

“Lime? Where exactly are we darling girl? This fores-“ Sayuri started. Her head immediately shot towards Mikan.

“Mikan? ……… Mikan?” Sayuri said, blinking

“Yup. That’s Mikan.” Evan said

“Huh? God? Why are you here? Why are you… 5? I like the new look, though” Sayuri said

“Oi, little Sayu. We found Mikan. Forget about me right now.” Evan said

“Yeah. How did you find him? He seems disoriented.” Sayu asked

“Well…. we accidentally walked into a dimension rift. He was trying to eat our fear. I’m pretty sure that the curse mana in the area took a toll on him.” Evan said

“You… wait, did you call me for Mikan, or to help you escape?” Sayu asked

“Ehh.. both. I have some friends over there that I don’t want to get hurt. But I have quite a few other tricks to deal with this. I brought you because of Mikan, too. Let’s go to the previous dimension, first.” Evan said

“Yeah. I’m assuming you have a place we can stay?” Sayu asked

“Sayu, you can still transform into a human, right?” Evan asked

“Yeah. Same with Mikan. You want us to stay in a human room, so live as a human. Right?” Sayu asked

“Only when you sleep, you’re inside, or other stuff. Basically, we have a massive garden you can go run around in.” Evan said

“It’s fine. Being human isn’t really uncomfortable anymore. Actually, I quite like it now.” Sayu said

She started to glow.

“Oh, dang it, warn me first! I haven’t even made you clothes!” Evan said

“It’s fine. Not like there’s anyone around.” Sayu said

“There are kids literally right there, and you aren’t even trying to cover up.” Evan said

“Then make me some damn clothes, already. Even I feel itchy and uncomfortable like this” Sayu said

“Here.” Evan said, handing her a pair of clothes.

“Oh, these fit a lot better than what usually gets made during transformation.” Sayu said

“What?” Evan asked

“Oh. The clothes that get made when we transform are incredibly uncomfortable.” Sayu said

“Why exactly were you nude.” Evan said

“Jeez, it’s better than those scratchy things. Either way, just go to your house in the other dimension, right?” Sayu asked

“Yup.” Evan said

Sayu snapped her fingers, and the world around them distorted, the dimensions shifting.

“Annnd we’re here! Ta-da!” Sayu said

“Four, five, six, seven. Yep, we got everyone. Good.” Evan said

“Who is this?” Lizzy asked, referring to the big orange tiger who was studying her

“Huh? Mikan, you ok there?” Evan asked

“Oh…..yes….. God… no, Evan… I wish to vow my allegiance to this…. girl. May... I?” Mikan asked

“Do you remember what it means?” Evan asked

“No. It’s just that..... my thoughts keep telling me …..that it’s what I should do.” Mikan said, shaking his head

“So, it’s a destiny vow?” Sayu asked

“Seems like it. I don’t think he knew about the vow of loyalty until he asked about it. If that doesn’t scream destiny vow, I don’t know what does.” Evan said

“What are you guys talking about?” Lizzy asked

“Oh. Well, this kitten wants to become your… what’s a good term? Ah. Familiar, partner, that kinda thing. It’s a pretty impressive event.” Evan said

“Yes…. familiar. To bind….. my will. I pledge….. my loyalty. With your permission….. I make you my master.” Mikan said, lowering his head

“You mean the thing that just popped up right in front of me?” Lizzy asked, pointing at a scroll and a pen that appeared, hovering in front of her.

“Yeah, if you accept, just sign.” Evan said

“Um. Let me just read it….. oh. This is pretty interesting, I’m in. I don’t completely understand what’s been going on, but I basically have a familiar right? A protector?” Lizzy asked

“Yeah. But, the others already fell asleep. I’m going to take lime to our room. Mikan can take you home.” Evan said

“.....Got it, I understand.” Lizzy said

She signed it, and something similar to a tattoo appeared on her wrist. It was a bunch of orange trees. They swayed occasionally, as if they were being blown by the wind. They faded after a few minutes.

Mikan picked her up and put her on his back. He picked up the other two as well.

“Alright Mikan, let's go home!” Lizzy said

“Yes…..little miss.” Mikan said

Mikan dropped the other two children off in their homes and brought a now sleeping Elizabeth into her room, laying her on the bed

“Good night…...little miss.” Mikan said

Morning came, and Mikan went to talk to Elizabeth’s parents. About why there was suddenly a tiger in the house. Pretty big deal.

“So… why exactly were you wandering around the house as a giant tiger? Evan sent us some clothes for you. We know basically what happened. How the hell is that kid 5, again? Ah, anyway. Here.” Said Elizabeth’s dad. He gave Mikan a suitcase.

“Your room is next door to Elizabeth’s room. That’s where you will be staying. Ask us if you need anything, I guess that’s all for now. Also…. thanks. Evan also mentioned what that vow thing of yours means. Make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble.” He said

“Yes….sir.” Mikan said, leaving.