"So, why did you choose to stay behind?" Iskandor asked the neko.
"You have a kind aura, nya." The neko answered.
"What's your name?" Hikari asks.
"My name is Koneko, may I join you?" The neko now known as Koneko asks, starting to become a little shy.
"I don't have a problem with it." Iskandor says, "Ow, what was that for?"
Hikari had chopped his head, "Koneko, if you decide to join us and everyone is fine with is just distance yourself from this pervert..." Hikari warns.
"Where did that come from?!" Iskandor asked, shocked.
"The moment you heard of nekomatas you ran off... And now you somehow met one by chance..." Hikari grumbles.
The conversation drags on as the trio heads back to the base. Iskandor catches Koneko on everything save the reincarnation bits. Koneko explains that she has been a prisoner for so long she hardly remembers her parents and Iskandor eventually notices hidden mental trauma.
'It's a good thing she came with me, I doubt anyone here knows about psychology.' Iskandor thinks.
"You live in a mountain?" Koneko asks.
"Yeah, we arrived recently and there's still many traps we have to take care of so hop on my back." Iskandor replies.
Koneko agrees and Iskandor uses Earth magic to propel himself up the mountain to the enterance. Iskandor then repeats the same thing for Hikari after sliding down the mountainside.
"Let's get through now." Hikari says, going through the labyrinth.
As the trio makes it back they see Lar cooking dinner.
"Iskandor... Who's that?" Serena asks, gesturing to Koneko.
"My name is Koneko, nya." She answers shyly despite the energy behind her words.
"We cleared out a cult branch and freed the prisoners, Koneko here decided to stay with us. She's gone through a lot and I would like to help her recover." Iskandor explains.
After the introductions Lar serves dinner, and finnily enough she made fish. Koneko hardly spoke but seemed to be adapting alright despite the major apprehension around everyone.
'Maybe she has anthrophobia because of what she went through. She seems to be relatively fine around me so maybe due to me freeing her she saw me as a pillar of support.' Iskandor thought to himself. His thoughts were nearly spot on, but Koneko saw him as more than a pillar of support but also as an object of affection.
"Koneko, how do you feel." Iskandor asks gently.
"Nervous..." Koneko manages to get out.
"Would it help if for now the two of us ate somewhere else?" Iskandor asked.
"I think so." She responded.
"Alright, I know a spot with a good view if you're up to it." Iskandor offered.
Koneko answers by nodding her head and follows him with her food. As they reach their destination Koneko is in awe of the view. The sun is begining to set and the forest, lakes and rivers look picturesque.
"You are afraid of people aren't you?" Iskandor asked calmly.
"Yeah, but you're different." she answered.
"Because I saved you right?"
"Probably, it makes no sense but I have a hard time around others now. What's wrong with me?" Koneko sobbed.
"Nothing is wrong with you. You have a reason to be afraid of people, but that doesn't mean you can't overcome it. A long time ago I went through something similar, I could hardly be around people but I overcame it. I overcame it with help, the same help I'm going to give you." Iskandor comforted.
"Thanks, I really needed that." Koneko smiles.
'A fear of people, comftorable around me and rapid changes in mood... I hope she doesn't turn out to be a yandere... I better work quickly.' Iskandor thinks.
"Koneko, what are your thoughts about me and the others, and try to exclude the fear." Iskandor requests.
"You are strong, reliable and pleasant to be around. I'm not quite sure of the others, part of me feels like they don't want me here." Koneko answers.
"If I were to guess they noticed that you were scared and didn't quite know how to act. It's a learning process for us all. To start with who seems the most approachable of everyone here other than myself?" Iskandor asks.
"Perhaps Hikari, nya." Koneko answers, her verbal tick starting to come back.
"Then to start off with we'll hang out with Hikari for a while, and when you feel your ready I'll let just you and Hikari interact. When we get to a good point we'll repeat the process with everyone else." Iskandor explains. 'Hopefully small-scale exposure therapy will help.' Iskandor thought.
As days passed Iskandor continued working with Koneko, she's by no means normal but neither is anyone else here. As this was going on renovations to the plateau have also been taking place. With Aerial's help Iskandor managed to reprogram the labyrinth so that the residents would have no issue going through even with guests but otherwise the labyrinth would be even deadlier, the same also goes for the stairway. Iskandor was able to learn quite a bit from Aerial, he likely would have eventually made the same conclusions but at times it is better to rely on your predecessors than to go through the same trials they have.
The plateau base now has the start of a proper workshop and a fairly large manor with a traditional Japanese style with inspiration from other architectural styles.
"Alright, I'm suprised we got all that work done in such a short period of time. It's only June 1st!" Iskandor exclaims.
"Yeah, I can now be around small groups if Iskandor or Hikari are with me." Koneko adds.
"We built a nice house." Hikari adds.
"With a nice workshop to boot!" Serena also adds, covered in lye.
"We reprogrammed the labyrinth, man that was a pain in the ass!" Aerial brings up.
"It's run off of a system comparable to binary, it was only a matter of time before I figured out trinary." Iskandor replies.
"Well, perhaps we should destroy more cultist branches soon." Lar suggests.