We finally arrived at Toulouse. The city has thick stone walls, some houses on the outside with plantations, stone block roads, and a gate with two guards wearing red tunics. Ouah... walls, these houses are so different too, where is the straw? It is made with a mix of stone and wood, fascinating! Even the fields are so different from what I saw in my old village, there are vegetables I never saw before.
Regvnir and I take the road after leaving at the edge of the forest. So this is how a stone road feels... it is flat and comfortable.
As we approach the gate, the gatekeepers put up their lamps to see our figures.
"Stop right there! State thou business and why this woman possess this strange appearance" One gatekeeper says in an authoritative tone
Their hearts are beating quickly, is something wrong? Does not seem to have a reason for anxiety around. Revgnir then speaks casually.
"Im Revgnir from Allemanni, my unity had an encounter with a Visigothic raid bring news as the sole survivor, and this pale woman is a foreigner who comes from unknown lands where everyone looks like this"
Hopefully, they believe this, Revgnir thought of this excuse on the way here. Even if they do not burn me like Christians, I'm fated to suffer from their suspicion because of my unusual appearance.
When Revgnir says his name, the air tenses a little and the gatekeepers pull out their swords pointing at him.
"Do not move Revgnir! You are under arrest for cowardly running away from your duty on the battlefield"
By Lucifer! We barely entered the city. My expression shows my surprise and Revgnir clenches his teeth in rage.
"Run away?! Lies! Im no coward, who is the one who said such a thing?" Says Revgnir angrily
The gatekeeper proceeds.
"Couriers came two days ago after examining the battle at the north, Visigothic troops were in overwhelming advantage, and all thy troops died so why thou are the only one alive? Turn yourself, traitor!" Says a gatekeeper authoritative
By Lucifer, this is my fault! it is an obvious assumption to think that Revgnir cowardly ran away from the battle. How would he prove them wrong? Urgh... because of me letting the Visagothic troops go, it seems like they won and Revgnir ran away to survive.
Revgnir angrily yells but abides, apparently an appointed person shall judge the case to see if Revgnir is truly guilty. As an unknown person with strange body features walking with a 'traitor' I was ordered to follow them too.
Sacre bleu... the city might be infested with hunters who pursue me and where im, following guards to a cell. A light sigh escapes my mouth as I walk the empty streets of Toulouse.
Soon, we arrive at a guardhouse, entering inside I see various guards talking, some sleeping, weapons, and tunics. A door with a wooden stair leads us toward an underground dungeon with a few cells with iron bars and no windows. The only illumination comes from touches in the walls and inside my cell, there is a familiar pile of straw. The guard locks my cell and proceeds to put Revgnir inside the oposite cell to mine.
My mind drifts as I sit down in my empty cell.
Bah! My first time in a true city and im already inside a cell! A frown forms on my eyebrows. Annoying... urgh, my nonhuman side screams for me to get out of here and tear apart the human who dared to put me in here. Not a completely bad idea, although staying in this city would be impossible after that.
What am I thinking, the poor guard is only doing his job yet argh... my rage is boiling up. My mind is in dire need of distractions right now. Thankfully Revgnir sated my thirst before entering the city, if not I would fear losing control.
At the peak of my boredom, my attention turns to a lonely guard making rounds in the corridor to keep watch. He seems young and has blonde short hair. Hmm... a small test could not hurt.
Getting up from the floor, my posture changes completely to a more harmless and gentle demeanor. This feels strange, it is like an aura screaming trustworthy surrounds me, it was the same when talking with that hunter. My abilities seem to manifest themselves by instinct when the time calls for it, the same happened in that raid. Now, let me see.
Leaning against the iron bars, an afflicted expression appears on my face. As I thought, the young guard came at me with a worried expression.
"Do thou need some water dame? It might help in calming yourself" The young guard speaks worried
Why, what a useful gift. On my arrival, he was looking at me with disgust and in mere seconds he started worrying about my well-being, FOOL.
"Ah... gentle guard, forgive me for my indisposition, if I may ask, could thou help me distract my mind by speaking with me? I feel so alone here"
He seems hesitant for an instant as he still has to uphold his guard duties, yet, after looking at me one last time he chooses, with a warm smile, he accept my proposal.
We chatted about a variety of topics, when I say 'we' I mean, he was talking while I listened carefully picking up any useful information. This chat led me to discover multiple things about Toulouse, including an uncommon wave of outsiders who appeared some days ago asking strange questions.
...
The day soon came, alongside a man who wears seemingly fancy clothes. The one who came to check the truth stops in front of Revgnir's cell. Revgnir who is furious, quickly starts to shout.
"I demand to see Duke Charles at once! This is outrageous! The Merovingians shall hear about this offense"
Being the target of Revgnir's fury, a giant and muscular warrior, would make anyone shrink, and of course, as I hear the heartbeat of the man who stands in front of Revgnir, he is no exception.
"Please Commander, I ask thee not to make any harsh judgment. Lord Charles is indisposed and does not seem to be in his right mind, he takes back his decision on this matter" The man talks anxiously
Finally, but the thing is... the sun, how im going to leave? Urgh what a headache. My decision to come to this town was wrong? Im starting to wonder.
Revgnir seems confused with what the man said.
"Indisposed? Mere weeks ago I reported to him before leaving, Lord Charles was perfectly healthy" Says Revgnir confused
The nobleman then goes closer while looking around to make sure no one is peeking. He speaks in a low voice but my ears pick up perfectly.
"Physicians talk about mental illness but the word around Toulouse speaks of a curse. In less than a month, Lord Charles changed, he spends more time in his room with whores than fulfilling his duties, and he who once was kind and wise is now arrogant and stupid"
Cursed? Interesting, although I do not know if curses exist, I used to think my appearance was a curse as my parents said it was devilish, but now, Lucifer has given me his blessing so he could not have cursed me. Why would he curse me and then bless me? Makes no sense.
After this, Revgnir asked for something interesting, a coffin. Apparently, is a box to put the dead and bury them, impenetrable by sunlight. The nobleman was very confused, but I was capable of convincing him with my new ability. Thanks to Revgnir's idea, we could leave the prison easily.
At first, the thought of entering a cramped wooden box made me feel insecure but it is actually comfortable. Feels safer, usually, I have this nonstop bell in my mind when it is daytime but as soon as this coffin door closes, it stops.
A giggle escaped my mouth inside the coffin while being carried to Revgnir's residence. The whole situation is rather ironic as im somewhat dead. After arriving, Revgnir let me know we were in his house then I just went to sleep inside the coffin, it would be dumb to die because of a window.
...
Night came alongside my rise.
Looking around seems like im in the middle of a living room. Revgnir sits at a wooden table enjoying his meal. His house is nothing otherworldy but it is comfortable, there is a wooden table, a fireplace with a mechanism to hold a soapstone pot, one bedroom, and furniture made of wood. Compared to my old house this one is luxurious, there is even a housemaid.
The gentle housemaid smiles and waves her hand to me as I look around a little after leaving the coffin.
She emits a lewd smell... not hard to guess what Revgnir did while I was sleeping. He is a man after all, but still, this is something only a married couple should be doing, disgraceful. Thankfully, she comes only from time to time to wrap things in Revgnir's house, would be awkward otherwise.
Later night. Sitting at the table, resting my head on it as boredom hits me like a punch, my mind drifts. Revgnir has his duties as a commander so he leaves meanwhile I have no one to talk with to pass the time nor do I know what to do from now on.
Sigh... great Lucifer can thee give me a few directions? Feeling lost here. Although travel is hard, seeing other sights and meeting new people is enjoyable, might as well stick with it for now. The problem is language, no idea how im supposed to communicate in foreign lands, and prejudice against my appearance might render me unable to enter some places too.
If my theory is true, I should try picking up a hobby or two, living forever in boredom seems hellish. First, as someone who plans to walk this world im in dire need of knowledge, learning Latin should become a priority as it is the universal language of all scholars. I should ask Revgnir about this matter, there must be a place or someone in the Frankish kingdom capable of teaching me.
I might need a horse too but if my fears are made true, I might be unable to use one. For an unknown reason, animals seem to fear me unnaturally, maybe they can feel my true nature. Running is better anyway but not as safe, I might need to take other routes if there are people on the way. Ask for some lessons in the art of swordsmanship to Revgnir would be good, I do not know what awaits me in the world outside my walls of ignorance, might as well learn everything.
A little smile forms on my face as I look at the night sky from a window in front of the table.
"I should make some histories to tell Anna when the time of our reencounter comes" I mumble to myself
Imagining her jaw dropping in surprise as we chat about my adventures makes my smile wider. Anna, the world is so cold without your embrace. My mind drifts to memories of our less-than-holy acts resulting in a boiling feeling forming inside me.
A little could not hurt... I look around to make sure there is no one around as my right-hand reaches under the skirt of my tunic dress. Light moans escape my mouth as I touch myself slowly massaging my crotch.
"Mmm... sister, we should not... Mmm"
Shutting my mouth with my left hand to muffle my moans, my mind drifts even further into my fantasies. This is so disgraceful... I should not but...
At the peak of my unholy acts, my senses pick up something behind me. I anxiously jump in shame and fear to see what it is. A cat? Why... a cat is sitting at the window, its yellow eyes were completely fixed on me. Something is wrong... my bell is ringing.
Using my speed, I dash toward the strange cat who is on the other side of the room sitting in a window, grabbing it by the neck in an instant and pinning it against the wall.
"Who are thou?! Reveal yourself" I say with a rageful tone
The cat starts to squirm as my grip tightens around its neck. Am I imagining? But... no, im sure there is something unnatural about this cat. My claws come out and I put my index finger claw an inch from tearing the cat's left eye apart staring at his fearful eyes with a serious and rageful expression.
My suspicions are made true when the cat puts its paws up in a surrender sign. With a grotesque sound of bones cracking and moving, the cat starts to change forms. Its yellow cat eyes turn into normal human yellow eyes, and soon it completely changes into a human being, a woman naked.
By Lucifer... what in the bloody hell is this thing? Without taking my grip out of its neck, my eyes drift to her appearance. Slim body, tanned skin, look around 20s, round ches... no not that... what am I thinking, and black wavy long hair with a light tone of blonde. A light blush appears on my cheeks as I continue to look at her with an angry face.
"Thou saw it?" I ask with a bitter tone but a hint of embarrassment
She then speaks with a fearful and anxious tone.
"No! No! I did not! Please"
"Lies!"
I clench my teeth showcasing my fangs, she starts to squirm and tears form in her eyes.
"Speak of this night to anyone and I assure, thy body shall never be found" I say in a rageful low tone
The woman anxiously agrees shaking her head multiple times and I lose my grip around her neck making her fall to the ground, fear renders her unable to stand.
Ugh... She saw me! What am I thinking? Doing something so shameful with the windows open. A little sigh escapes my mouth. I should compose myself, letting anger guide me is a bad idea. Turning around I look up to calm down and then turn around again to look at the woman on the ground anxiously crawling away.
"Uh... forgive me, we seem to have started wrong..." I say awkwardly while extending my hand to her
She does not take it and with a fearful tone, she asks.
"Wer- Where is Revgnir?"
Oh! So she is Revgnir's acquaintance. That explains why he did not act so surprised when he witnessed my prowess in battle, I was a little curious about it but I mostly thought it was because he is a great warrior who did not fear the unknown or something like that.
When I was about to reply, my ears picked up the sound of the door handle. Oh no! It would be a disgrace for her to be seen naked by a man. Using my speed, I reach for a tunic from Revgnir's drawer, it is overly big but it shall do to hide her body.
Entering the house, Revgnir immediately puts on a confused expression after setting his eyes on us. Me crouching on the ground trying to hide her important parts with a red tunic as she squirms in fear of me and my sudden actions.
"Quesquecette merde?" Revgnir says with a disbelief tone
"Do not jump to conclusions perverted!" I say blushing with an annoyed tone
...
The three of us sit down at the table, me across the cat woman and Revgnir in the head. Ugh... this silence is deafening. The mysterious woman sits with her head down, judging by her heartbeats, my threats left quite the trauma.
Revgnir cleans his throat with a cough and proceeds to speak in a conversational tone.
"Carmilla, this is my friend, Sophia. Do not take this badly but... if you could, in the future not try to kill my friends I would be extremely grateful" Revgnir says with a light hint of playfulness
If my eyes roll more I fear seeing the insides of my own head. It was a simple threat, if I truly wanted her dead... would not be hard.
A light sigh escapes my mouth.
"I said sorry already, could thou proceed with the reason why this woman sought thy household at these hours" I say with a light annoyed tone
Sophia takes deep breaths to calm herself and puts her head up, Revgnir signals for her to proceed with the reason for her visit.
"I look into what thou asked Revgnir, and there is truly something unnatural happening to the Duke. Rumors tell that he had an uncommon disposition a few weeks ago, things like running like a young man or trading swords with knights for fun. A man as old as him could not be doing this, and then some days later after all that, he started becoming different" Sophia says casually
Ah, so she is acting like an investigator to help Revgnir, marvelous, turning into a cat seems useful now. Uncommon disposition hmm this is getting complicated. First, people who turn into cats and now old men becoming younger.
"I do not know what it is but on my short walk in the town I heard people calling for revolt, the situation is dire" Revgnir says with a hint of worry in his voice
"There are even rumors about an abandoned house, apparently, Duke Charles has seen entering there in the middle of the night before this all started. Some travelers enter there but they all leave with disappointed looks like they found nothing" Says Sophia
Hmm... hunters, so they are looking into this matter too? I thought they all were here because of me. Anyway, why does Revgnir care about this duke? He is not from here, perhaps he feels a sense of duty as a soldier appointed to protect this area. Oh, if the Visigothic kingdom gets word of a revolt about to start here it might lead to them advancing here, that must be it.
This is his home after all, and he seems attached to the people of this town I can understand why he would try to protect them.
"I possess strong senses, if I may take a look at the place might help" I say casually
Revgnir looks at me a little surprised.
"Would be a great help but thou do not have to trouble yourself, I do not wish to throw my problems into thy" Says Revgnir with a tone of concern
"It is of no trouble at all, and by the way things are, boredom might be my doom"
That and it would be insensitive to ask for his time to teach me basic swordsmanship when he is dealing with this matter.
Revgnir reluctantly accepted my offer. After this, we spent some time chatting about the matter. Chatting with Sophia we became friends rather quickly, she is a nice person, and we are more alike than I initially thought. She even said sorry for peeking at my less-than-holy acts. I failed to comprehend why she was peeking in the first place she could have announced her entrance or come back later, suspicious but I paid no mind. I should be careful in moments of 'euphoria' apparently my senses get somewhat relaxed, for me to not smell or hear her heartbeat behind me is my own fault.
Later in the night, Sophia guides me into the empty streets of Toulouse. Soon, we arrive at an abandoned house, it is deteriorating and looks very old. Sophia turns to me yawning and speaks with a voice expressing tiredness.
"It is here, now im going to take my leave I fear falling asleep at any given moment" Sophia says with a tired voice
She told me her race is quite lazy but I have a feeling that she is just scared of entering this scary-looking house. Compared to my old basement this house is a palace, do not see why she should be scared.
After saying my farewells, I reach for the door handle, it creaks as I open it slowly. Inside, the house looks even older, there is broken furniture on the floor, spider webs everywhere, and a fireplace that looks like it has seen better days.
Ugh... what is this smell? Disgusting. I can not identify the source, it is coming from everywhere. something is indeed wrong with this house. I choose to get out to look at the house from the front again.
Yes definitely... this house is bigger from the outside, but how? Entering the house again with a confused expression, I proceed to roam close to the walls trying to find clues. Hmm... now that im looking closely, that fireplace is somewhat different from the one at Revgnir's house, why does a fireplace have a background made of wood? it would burn at the first usage.
I curiously walk up to the fireplace, crouching and examining. With a simple knock, the wood plank behind the fireplace falls, showcasing a little tunnel. Ugh... do I really have to squeeze myself there? My hair and clothes would be in great danger.
Sigh... I said I would help and thats my intention, no going back now. Looking from the outside this tunnel seems normal, although I see no end, there is probably another fake wall at the end of it. Thank Lucifer for the gift of seeing in the dark, if not for it I would not dare to enter this tunnel.
Going on all fours, I make my way into the tunnel. Each step comes alongside creaks, the sound of a spider's steps enters my ears, and as I get closer, the smell gets worse. At the end of the tunnel, a knock is enough to put down the fake wall.
What... confusion takes over me as I enter a room, full of corpses, there are at least 15 corpses of men and women alike. Ugh... horrible smell, so that is the smell of decomposing corpses? And why they are all naked? By Lucifer that old man there must be the duke if im not mistaken, he smells... fresher.
This makes zero sense! The only explanation here is that the duke is being replaced but how? It is impossible to copy someone's appearance perfectly enough to replace them, wait... until a few hours ago I would swear people can not turn into cats. The more I know about this world, the stranger it gets. Anyway, I should do my nose a favor and quickly get out of this house.
...
After arriving at Revgnir's house, I tell him the news and he seems somewhat surprised but at the same time anguish takes over him.
Revgnir punches the table and speaks with a bitter tone.
"How could this foul beast! It is not satisfied in killing Charles, this damn thing needs to stain his honor too"
"What is it? This beast" I ask curiously
"I do not know but there is only one way to deal with this. Intisgueting a revolt as fast as possible before this beast becomes Toulouse doom. Without proper leadership we would fall into Visigothic hands like rabbits" Revgnir says with a tone of determination in his voice
Truly, worse is the fact that we can not just deal with it as we would be in great trouble with the law. To save the town we need to replace him quickly and naturally, good thing that most citizens are already talking about revolt.
"But who would replace him?" I ask casually
Revgnir with a sigh and an expression of displeasure speaks.
"Needs to be me, as a renowned warrior and commander of the troops, Toulouse citizens would support the revolt quicker" Revgnir says with a light tone of melancholy
I can see how it must be bad for Revgnir, as a warrior who wishes to live and die on the battlefield, turning into a duke is not attractive. Yet, he is willing to do it for the good of the citizens of Toulouse, he is truly a good man. I do not dare to say it out loud but in his place, I would be leaving Toulouse behind without a second thought.
Revgnir enters his room to sleep and I continue at the table resting my head in boredom.
A light sight escapes my mouth.
Back to boredom...