The guards escort John to a large hall behind the throne into the first room. It was simple and mellow, but John really felt out of place.
Cat: I take it he was talking about that girl from earlier?
John: jee, how'd you guess.
John sits on the large bed and looks at the mirror by the closet door. He could see the cat on his shoulder.
John: so, what should I call you? Or do you even have a name?
Cat: give me one. For the last two decades, I've been waiting for you to notice me. I never really had one to call myself.
John: you want me to name you? Why?
Cat: you are my new king. My master. Of course its only you. I've told you before, that you have the power of a god, though not close to being the next alfather yet.
John: the next what?! Okay, first, start that over. What the heck am I?
Cat: have you heard the stories of the fallen guardians of Shaltar?
John: I have not.
Cat: as many books you've read?! And stories you've been told?
John: nope. That knowledge was defied to me until I left. But, as you saw then, I didn't get much information out of it.
Cat: the is gonna be a long night. I'll try to keep it short. To start, do you at least know the name given to the alfather?
John: ...
Cat: .... For pete's sake. I'll just start. The Alfather, your father, was once a simple man and a grand warrior and ruler of a forgotten ancient race known by the rest of the world as Crimsons because of their hair color. To you, they are called Messi(Mah-see). Jutea, your father, was chosen by the pillars of Shaltar, the kingdom of the skies where we the celestial beasts were born, to rule as the lord of the earth and stars. He journeyed through the world to find our stone tablets, that little stone chip in your pocket, and choose 12 creatures of the earth to be our medium. Mine as you can see is a cat. A rare one at that.
During this time, he was made to create heirs to his blood. It didn't matter what race. In turn he made four before you. But they did not have the power he was granted to take the throne after him. Some time in a millennium later he found your mother, the witch of daybreak, and came to know her as a person instead of a chosen bride and thus came you. But something happened before the Alfather knew you were even born. The village were she had you found her a threat somehow, and killed her by fire, but not without consequence of his wrath. With so much sorrow built up inside him, he left Shaltar with no king and we as guardians with no master. And by some miracle, you were born.
Don't ask me how. I simply found you sleeping in a pile of ash and bone after that calamity. The biggest miracle is you being born with the power to take the alfathers place and you surviving that hell scorn in the first place. So I did my best to take you to a place that could keep you safe until you were developed enough to at least see me.
John: so let me get this straight: my parents are an ancient dead race made god and a witch. Mother was killed in a fire, then my dad committed a full scale homicide taking himself with them. And you saved my life?
Cat: not really saved. I don't even know what happened while she was carrying you. But hey, here you are.
John: and now I have four older siblings of different races.
Cat: To be precise they were born from a drop of his blood and the pillars, but for some reason, they didn't receive the blessed power. You did. And honestly only two of the four were a proper fit to take it, because there were two requirements to having it. Be born with the blood of the alfather and be the only one born. The first two met those requirements just fine. Why they didn't have it I don't know. The other two... Well, they're twins, so that was automatic.
John: okay. I guess that makes sense.
Cat: I'm just as confused as you are. Trust me. The first born was the best suited for it in my opinion.
John: don't think I can give you blame for that, but still.
Cat: I only say this because unlike you, they were born in shaltar. Anyway, all of that is in the past right now, so don't worry about the future and we can focus on the present and get you ready for your rightful place as the next alfather. We've been left without one for so long that no one has the real story right anymore. "Alfather is the one true being." "None shall take his place." And the worse one, "one guardian must gather the celestial beast and deliver them to the Alfather to be the next pillar." Grrr.... It pisses me off thinking about it. Stupid humans.
John: ah haha....
John stands and places his bag on the bed to get a few knives out to go back to get the spiders he left with the guards. Soon after, there is a knock on his door. It opens without his consent. It was young miss Hale, the kings niece. She sees the knives and pulls her clever out in offense, ready to strike. John puts up his hands and steps away from the bed screaming.
John: Aaaaahh!! Whoa! Whoa!
Hale: shut it!! What are you doing here?!
John: I-I uh...
Hale: I said shut it!
John: you asked me a question, stupid!! What the hell?!
Hale: then answer!
John: let me answer, then! For crying out loud drop the clever, lady!!
Hale: my name is Sicily Hale, big nose.
John: big nose!?
Johns tail starts bristling. He was getting irritated.
Hale: do you even know who I am?
John: the kings niece. Who cares?
Hale: you should care. What are you doing here?
John: drop the clever and I'll tell you.
Hale: tell or I'll gut you where you stand.
John: you're a freaking lunatic!!
The king barges in the room and grabs Sicily's clever.
King: What the hell is going on in here!? I can hear you all the way from the court!
John: we just met and this girl's trying to kill me after barging in!
King: wha...!? Urgh... Bart!!
A guardian enters the room.
King: get this child out of here. She being a nuisance again.
Bart: good lord. Come on. And you wonder why you haven't graduated yet.
Hale: hey, no! He pulled a knife!
John: I was going to get my spider legs and eyes.
Hale: what?! Ew! Weirdo!
John: says the one that obviously know nothing about material even though she's wearing bear hide!
Hale: grrr....!!
Bart: Sicily, you're staying in your room until he leaves.
Hale: what!? You're keeping a creep like that here!? What if he was plotting something?
King: he's not! I checked already! Now leave!
Shocked, She leaves without another word. John's irritation finally settled a little but not by much.
John: okay. I apologize for the way I reacted, but still, uncalled for.
King: yes. She is over the top. She used to be very trusting. And trust worthy for that matter.
John: I don't wanna know. First impressions have been a big deal in my village second to building trust.
King: ... I take it you were raised strickly?
John: no. It just took me tell the moment I left to get them to stop hating me for being different. Anyways I'm gonna get those spiders. Were are they again?
The king guides John to the storage were the two spiders he killed lay on the table as he left them.
John: its gonna take me a while to get used to this. Yuck.
King: and yet you took them out with ease. What even promped you to do this?
John: ... Money for food. And places to stay as I travel.
King: you are indeed strange. Unless all of your village is like this.
John: no. Just me.
John begins skinning and decapitating the two spiders for the back hide and legs. After having them cleaned he set them to sterilize in leather water, they needed to soak for a day. The knowledge he got from his village temple was paying off perfectly. The king then invites john to see the sights of the city with him while he waited. John gladly takes the offer and heads out with the king and a young guardian apprentice.
King: this is Casper. My top apprentice in knighthood and most gifted guardian. He is also one of my distant nephews.
Casper: good day. I hope we get along well.
John: same. So were should I start? The market? Informant?
Casper: I suggest a guild. They have all kinds of information and jobs to take. I'm sure you'll get a lot from there.
King: Casper can show you the best places to start you journey. He's been on quite a few himself. I'll go back to have a talk with Sicily. You two enjoy.
Casper: yes, sir.
John: thanks for your help.
Cat: what are you gonna do? Get a job?
John: well, lead the way, sir Casper. I'm in your care.
Cat: don't ignore me! Hey!