1 Ascending Nyghtmare (2/2)
Both the Lady and the leashed were forced to listen to him ramble on.
”He's escaped three times in the last month in half. I've gotten too old and can't deal with the chance of him getting out and put in danger, or the thought of my business being ruined. As much as this saddens me, I'm going to have to put him down.” The old man ranted on.
The Leashed's eyes widened fearfully. ”...”
”Oh, I've talked your ear off. My apologizes. Is there some way I can repay you? Zircon perhaps?” The old man sounded eager. ”You can't say 'no' now. Would you mind waiting here, while I go fetch you a reward? I just need to lock this one back in his cage for the time being.” The old man was already heading for the back.
”...” The lady stared to the door without much expression for a moment. ”(Why must I have a soft spot for cats?)” She turned glancing back to them ”... Sorry to interrupt, but if you're offering some reward, yet you're going to just get rid of him. Perhaps I can give you a counter offer to make things far more simpler.”
The old man stopped, glancing back to her. ”I'm not sure what you're implying, but I'll have a listen to what you have to say miss.”
The cat boy stared to her, as he was growing frantic.
”Instead of Zircon, let me take him. No blood on your hands, and your pockets stay full.” The blond haired lady offered.
”You would want a Leashed who is so hard to handle?” The old man as tearing up slightly.
”I rather enjoy a challenge. So yes, my offer stands.” The girl smirked, but her tone seemed creepy.
The old man was sniffling, happily. ”You have no idea what this means to me. Even with all the fuss and trouble this one has put me through, I would hate to put him down. I've grown fond of the scamp, to say the least. Thank you miss, you are doing me and him a kind gesture. Normally I would have paper work for you to fill out, but I can't do that without a sale. So you don't need to worry about that. I just need to grab his registry, to prove he's yours, and a change of clothes for him. One moment. ” The old man went off into the back, leaving the leashed with the lady.
”An Amygdala breaking the rules of a life of solitude to take in a feral Leashed, to save his life? I'm not sure how to react towards this. I could end up resenting you, and making life hard for you, yet you still want to do this? You didn't even plan to stay after dropping me off. You didn't expect a reward? No ulterior motives?” The leashed stared to her, with a look of confusion.
”Things happen for a reason. I may be taking a gamble here, but you might work as an extra camouflage from the Templar.” She replied, looking to him.
He stared to her, as Mr. Zetto walked back out. He handed a change of clothes to the cat boy, who eagerly went behind a curtain to change. Mr. Zetto then showed the lady a certificate for the Leashed. She observed the paper momentarily. On it showed a blank space for the Leashed's name next to the last name of the breeder, 'Zetto'.
”He doesn't have a name?” She inquired.
”No, we don't make a habit of naming the leashed. Just nicknames, I've called him the feral one for some time.” Mr. Zetto explained.
The cat boy stepped out, tugging at the bottom of the sweatshirt he placed on to loosen it slightly. The hood of it had holes where his ears stuck out the top of. He also now wore red cargo pants, and boots. Some details on his attire was 'x' shaped, including a choker around his neck. He also had on a couple bracelets on one wrist, that he perhaps snatched when the breeder wasn't looking.
The girl glanced to the cat boy, ”(He is very quick on his toes.) Hm. How's Miles sound to you?”
”You're asking my opinion? Um... I don't mind it, I guess.” He responded, with an ear quirked.
Mr. Zetto wrote the name to the certificate, handing it back to the mysterious lady. ”Please do take good care of Miles, miss.”
They bid farewell, before leaving the shop. It had grown dark outside by now. The mysterious woman was leading the way, seeming to be heading to the woods once again.
”Why did you steal those bracelets?” The mysterious lady inquired, casually.
”What? I didn't... okay... you caught me.. I wanted them.” Miles admitted.
”You could have asked.” The woman replied, glancing to him.
”I didn't know, This is new to me. So um, should I call you master? ” Miles rambled slightly.
”Just call me Nye.” She replied.
”Is that short for something?” Miles questioned her, timidly.
”Maybe.” Nye smirked.
Miles' ears dropped with a pouty face as they were passing by some Templar who were conversing near a tavern. Miles seemed surprised, as they stepped out of earshot from the knights. ”They didn't do anything? Is that normal?”
”Templar can sense the aura of all of the dark species, but some of us can hide what we are. It's not as easy as it appears.” Nye explained. ”As for you, well, a Leashed isn't bothered as long as they're with their owner.”
”Oh, that makes sense.” Miles pocketed his hands, noticing a wanted poster, but the photo was too obscured to make out much at this distance. ”So, uh... Where are we going?”
”Investigating something, you'll get used to it.” Nye mentioned to him, glancing with her intimidating eyes.
”I get the feeling you really like looking into things.” Miles shivered a bit.
”Keep catching on like this, and you'll do fine.” Nye teased, deviously.
”O-Okay.” Miles gulped.
They trudged into the path of the woods, creepy wildlife sounds came from all directions. Miles' ears went back.
”Don't tell me you're scared.” Nye glanced to him, as they progressed.
”As if.” Miles scoffed, ”I'm just listening.”
”Whatever you say.” Nye teased.
”Ooh love the sarcasm!” Miles retorted, sarcastically. ”I only have so many fears, and this doesn't count.”
”Now whose being sarcastic?” Nye looked to him with a sharp glance.
”It's just a new experience for me.” Miles crossed his arms, with a grumpy expression upon his face.
Nye patted his head, ”Keep up Miles, you don't want to get lost out here.”
”Well, maybe I do.” Miles replied, sarcastically. However, he followed after Nye.
The two arrived at the cemetery, but the atmosphere of it had gotten more intimidating than during Nye's visit earlier that day. It was rather spooky, without much sound to be heard. Miles grew a bit uneasy, keeping close to Nye.
”Whhhhhhy are we in a cemetery?” Miles spoke somewhat quickly. ”I thought we were investigating something.”
”We are.” Nye replied, heading down into the underground part of the chilling graveyard.
Miles made an annoyed pouty face, before rushing after Nye. In the depths of the graveyard, they noticed two reapers ahead of them. One of them was the one Nye previously encountered, but the other was far larger, and seemed to be made of ink. The reapers noticed them, turning, void of expression, but definitely startling.
”You've returned?” The small reaper was surprised, turning to the other. ”Inkers, this is the Amygdala I met earlier today.”
”So, she's the one who can understand the tongue of lesser fiends, such as us?” Inkers the reaper inquired to the other.
”That is correct.” Nye spoke up.
Both the reapers looked to her.
”How very curious.” Inkers seemed intrigued.
”Nye? What's going on? I don't speak monster.” Miles seemed perplexed, with his ears back.
”I'll tell you later.” Nye said to him.
”What brings you here?” Inkers slid forward, some ink trailing from the fire at his end.
”I was perplexed with how I can understand your speech, and so I wanted to investigate it. Perhaps you can enlighten me?” Nye looked to the ink reaper.
”I can't be for certain. I do wonder though. Nikolai, escort her, and her friend to the shrine. The answers she seeks, may be found there.” Inkers explained.
”Please, follow me.” Nikolai bowed, leading the way.
Nye followed, without question. Behind her Miles trailed after.
”Nye, where is it taking us?” Miles asked in confusion.
”Not sure, but we'll find out soon.” Nye stated, unfazed.
”That's sooo reassuring. Really, I mean it.” Miles grumbled sarcastically.
”Don't fall behind now. These passageways can be a bit on the treacherous side.” Nikolai spoke up.
”What did it say?” Miles inquired.
”He said to stay close and be careful. These paths are dangerous.” Nye explained to Miles.
”Awesome ...” Miles grumbled sarcastically, his tail twitching.
They traveled until they found a secret passageway, inside was full of cobwebs and skeleton bones in the corners of it. Miles kept close to Nye, who continued to follow Nikolai down the path. The path went on for a while, with eerie echoes of the chamber, until they arrived in a shrine room. It was lined with artifacts and curious shaped torches that lit as they entered. Nikolai floated to the center, as Nye and Miles trailed after, observing their surroundings. In the center of the chamber was a statue of the fallen king, Lenault Ghestro.