Katana's Point of View
I felt someone patting my cheek, so I gently opened my eyes, and as the fuzzy cat appeared, I immediately got up from my reclining position.
So, everything that happened wasn't a nightmare? Indeed, I was separated from Dad, but I suddenly remembered that Kahser and I jumped from a bridge to get here.
"Don't be sad." I tightly closed my eyes as he abruptly stated. It's strange that he speaks; I still can't believe there's 'magic' that can't be explained.
"What will happen next in my life?" My eyes widened as I turned to face Kahser. He appears to have grew?
"Lady Katana, this is the way I look in this world." He responded to me before returning to being a cat. Is he a lion? Oh, I see. He can't be a lion in the human world, I realize, since people will panic out. He went on my shoulder unexpectedly, raising one of my brows.
"Why did you climb on my shoulder?"
"I'm too lazy to walk," I locked my gaze on him while he responded sparingly. Thank god he's not overweight.
I took a look around, and the surroundings are vivid, with trees in various shades of green, rose gold, and purple. The breeze is also unusual, and waterfalls with blue-shiny water can be found. Maybe taking a bath there is good, but maybe another time.
"What can you say about this place?" I was still glancing about when I heard Kahser's query. It's extremely lovely! I've never seen something like this before in my life!
"So beautiful..." as my eyes filled with admiration, I whispered.
"This is where our kind lives, and where you came from...The Santuaria." Because of what he said, I looked at him, hoping to find an explanation for the bizarre happenings in my life here.
To be honest, no matter how lovely this place is, it can't take away the sadness I feel because Dad isn't here with me.
•••
"What the hell is that, Kahser, and where are we? We've been walking for quite some time." I asked because we'd been walking for several hours and still had no idea where we were heading, and he actually got on me, so I was the only one walking.
Maybe we're lost, or maybe this old cat is playing tricks on me.
"Help! Let us go!" When I heard a scream, I came to a halt. I hide in the tree when I noticed men with odd faces and green skin.
"What kind of creature are they, Kahser?" They appear human, but their colors are really unusual, and their bodies are very enormous, but they are not giants because they look like bar bouncers.
"They are the bandits." In response, I simply nodded and turned to face them again. They were carrying two girls, one of whom I guess was about my age and the other who appeared to be only seven years old.
These two are having struggles. It appears that they are being kidnapped. There's nothing wrong with me helping, is there?
"Hey! You ugly guys!" I yelled in order to get their attention.
I first placed Kahser on a small branch before emerging from the tree where I was hidden.
"Let them go." They all laughed as they looked at each other and then back to me given that I was so calm.
"Who are you for us to follow?" that is the question of the man in the middle, whom I believe to be their leader.
They're ugly, especially up close, tsk!
"Let them go," I repeated it again, then took a step closer to them. They laughed once more as a result of what I stated.
"You know you're funny, lady?" Their boss kept laughing, and I raised an eyebrow because I don't want people laughing at me!
"Goryo, she's lovely, and we may bring her into the Casa." Goryo nodded at the idea of the person next to him.
"Bring that lady." He gave the order. Someone was about to approach me to take me up, but I kicked it away and struck him in both jaws until he blacked out. The other bandits were on high alert and prepared as a result of what I did.
"I wasn't expecting you to be a fighter, young lady." Gor? Geron said—what is his name? Damn, whatever his name I don't f*cking care!
I'm not sure whether I'll be pleased or irritated. Oh! It isn't obvious from my looks that I can cause harm because when you look at me, you see an angel, but when you strike me, you'll see something worse than the devil.
I smirked and kicked a bandit who charged at me; as I kicked him in the back of his neck, he fainted out.
All that happened was punch here, punch there, kick here, kick there, until there was only one left.
"You underestimate me, filthy creatures." He backed away as I grinned at him.
I didn't hesitate any longer, punched him in the other jaw and then in the stomach. Before he collapsed to the ground, I kicked his face, splattering blood on it.
"T-thank you very much, Lady." I nodded and returned to the tree where Kahser was when the girl, who I believe is about my age, stammered.
"Looks like you're new here, Lady," the little girl said, so I smiled and nodded. She's so cute!
"So you still don't have a place to stay? In exchange, you are welcome to stay in our house." After hearing what she said, I turned to face her. That's a tremendous help because Kahser and I don't have a place to stay.
"Am I not bothering you?" I pretended to hesitate, and they exchanged glances before smiling.
"Absolutely not. Don't be shy, we owe you our lives since you saved us." She said with a smile.
I turned to face the so-called bandits before we left. I think they will have to wait a few weeks before they can be healed.
We got to their place a few hours later. It's simple, and the style is vintage. When we arrived, I looked around their house and noticed that there was very little equipment because technology did not appear to be popular here.
"Lady, we haven't yet introduced ourselves." I smiled as the girl my age suddenly said, because we had been together for awhile but did not know each other's names.
"I'm Abrasya." When the little girl excitedly introduced herself to me, I smiled since she was so adorable. It's just not as endearing as her name.
"I'm Hazel. What's your name, Lady?" She smiled and asked us to sit on the bamboo chair. It looks unusual, so I'm not sure what it's called.
"My name is Katana, and by the way, this is Kahser," I looked around again after introducing Kahser. I still can't believe I'm here, it feels like just yesterday that I was still with Dad and he was nagging me.
"Where are your parents?" I approached them and was astonished when they looked at each other and then turned to me with a sorrowful expression.
"They are dead, they were killed." I was taken aback not because they said it at the same time, but because I could see the grief in their eyes.
"Who killed them?" When I abruptly asked, Hazel sighed and took a moment to respond.
"Adjantal," my brow furrowed immediately as she responded.
What's that?
"Adjantal is a monster with large hands who murders by stealing the strength and soul of a creature he wishes to feed on," she explained, swallowed before proceeding, and I observed that their memories of what happened to their parents were still vivid in their minds since their eyes could see the pain and hatred.
"That's why there are no Santuarians here at ten o'clock at night, since that's when Adjantal appears." I nodded in accord with what she said; a part of me wants to kill the monster they're talking about, to avenge their parents' deaths and ensure that no one else is tormented in the future.
•••
Kahser and I are presently in the room that Hazel gave to us.
"What are you thinking, Katana?" As Kahser broke the silence, I gasped. Should I inform him? "I was just thinking about that Adjantal." In the end, I also told him that I intend to exact vengeance on behalf of Hazel and Abrasya's parents, is that it? I expected him to chastise me, so I was shocked when he smiled and complimented me on having a good heart. What else could it be?
He also said that I must continue to train in order to defeat that monster quickly.
I left the room when the siblings called me since they were preparing to have dinner. I went into their kitchen and discovered them sitting but not eating; perhaps they were waiting for me.
Hmm, that's embarrassing.
"Wait, why are you eating that?" I wondered when I saw Alice had eaten it—a big flower, I'm not sure what kind of flower that is, all I know is that she ate a flower. Hazel chuckled at my reaction, and Abrasya seemed taken aback by the inquiry.
"Why, big sis Katana? This flower is actually eaten, and it provides strength to Santuarians like ourselves." Anya answered to me, her expression still puzzled.
"It's unbelievable, you weren't aware that these flowers could be eaten? Katana, where are you from?" Hazel asked, frowning. I hesitated whether or not to tell them I was from the human world, but in the end I decided to tell them as well.
"In the mortal world." I responded simply. When they stared at me, their eyes widened, so I quietly laughed.
"For real?" when Hazel asked, I nodded while chewing my food.
"We've heard that there is a human world, and they even told that the creatures there are normal and have no power." I nodded again because what Abrasya said was true.
"Oh! I still can't believe you came from there, Katana. But how did you end up in our world, and does that indicate you're human? You have no magic?" Hazel kept asking questions, so I gestured with my hand for a bit, but they didn't seem to understand, so I winced and answered them in the end.
"You're right; that's where I came from and grew up, but I'm not human, I'm just like you. I'm a Mage as well." I explained to them, and they seemed to sigh with relief at what I said, but then they looked stunned again.
What is their problem?
"Mage?" They posed a truly awe-inspiring question.
They don't seem to understand what Mages are, do they?
"Hmm, how can I explain this—wait, why don't you know that? That's just English." This time I was the one who's wondering.
"Ahm...I'm sorry, Katana, we don't know how to speak English." Abrasya reacted, and as a result of their response, I placed my attention on the two of them.
Haly appeared to sense my surprise and responded right away. "Because we are poor, we are unable to study. Only those with money are able to do so." I felt terrible for them because they lacked education. Life is not fair here, as it is in the human world. When you are not wealthy, people look down on you, not everyone, but some do.
Despite our wealth, Dad and I treat the poor nicely. I recall Dad giving food to the poor when there is nothing to eat once a month, thus I idolize him because he has a big heart for the poor and doesn't regard them as different from him. I sighed, missing Dad and hoping he fulfill through on his promise to me.
"Big sis Katana, is your world beautiful?" Angel inquired, so I returned to reality, unaware that my thoughts were profound.
"Of course it's very beautiful, when everything is okay I can take you there." Abrasya laughed, her eyes twinkling with delight at what I said.
"Really, big sis Katana? Wow! I like it there!" My sadness faded as I smiled broadly.
"Yes, you can live there." Like Abrasya, eagerness can be seen in Hazel's eyes. When my father came back into my mind, I shook my head and thought to myself, 'I'm sure they'll have a happy life there.'
Dad, I hope you're safe wherever you are right now.
I walked back to the room after eating, but first I insisted on washing the dishes, but Hazel wouldn't let me; she claimed she'd take care of it, so I didn't.
"Kahser," I called him, who was lying on the bed where I intended to sleep. I winced since I knew it would be too difficult for my back there. Okay, that's fine! When I looked at Kahser again, I noticed that his eyes were open.
"What is that?" I laid down on the bed without foam and spoke.
"Can you tell me what Adjantal's weakness is?"
"Hmm...weakness? His weakness is his huge hands, which he uses to suck the strength and soul of what he wishes to victimize but difficult to destroy." He answered me so I nodded.
"Why?" I need to know this so that I can finish Adjantal quickly.
"You can't touch his large hands because it will burn your flesh." I nodded again when he said that it would be difficult for me to do so.
I'll make sure that he dies. I'll make sure that he will not hurt anyone else from now on. After that conversation, I became drowsy and immediately fell asleep.
~ To Be Continued...