FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

It didn't take long for them to get back to the Guild's shop, especially since Kresta seems a lot more familiar with the town than either of the other two. Once inside she doesn't even wait for Erick to show up but instead walks further in the store, apparently knowing exactly where it is that she'll find more clothes. Not really feeling comfortable with following a girl to go pick out clothes Nathanriel stays back and waits for either Erick, Kresta or some other employee to come back. Bob seems content to simply wander the store. Since this place is not likely to get them into any trouble and the fact that since they can tell when someone's entered that they could probably tell when someone is trying to steal something Bob lets his curiosity take over to see what all the store would have.

"Don't worry about it so much," a voice suddenly chirps in, startling Nathanriel considerably since he hadn't thought that anyone was there with him. He turns and sees a housecat sitting next to him, licking a paw. His head hurts slightly and he sees the image of the cat shift ever so slightly, seeing the eyes go white with blindness, several scars appearing all over its body as well as several chains binding various parts of its anatomy to what looks like nothing.

"What the?" Nathanriel starts but finds his body unable to move.

"Hush, I don't have time to let you freak out. I can only afford to talk with you in such a manner this once. I'm sure she'll already know I'm now here as well as a few others that may try to capitalize on me being here in one way or another. But from looking at all of the futures it is for the best that I show my hand to you now."

"Who are you?"

"I'm sure you already know the answer to that. And if you don't it doesn't really change things. The important matter is to simply let you know what's going on. You are very special, even amongst all of the ones I have selected at birth to hear my guidance. By placing you into that fighting arena I have made it so that they can see you and know of your existence. Already there are seven different groups that are or will try to use and manipulate you for their own goals."

"Wait, you're the voice in my head?"

"I am, but that's not the important thing. You're probably going to start feeling like you're a puppet on a string. And in some regards you are, you just have seven different masters all trying to pull on those strings. But always remember that as bad as things get, as hopeless as they may seem I am looking out for you. As there are seven groups trying to put you into their plans, there are seven paths that lay before you. I give you my word that I will not steer your decision on which path to follow. That'll be up to you to decide. But I will do my best to keep you from falling off the paths completely and ensure you see at least one path to its inevitable conclusion. Regardless of which way you walk I can guarantee that your death will affect the lives of countless individuals."

"My death?" Nathanriel exclaims, half attempting to stand again but still is being restrained.

"You over think things too much. I did not specify on how soon you will die. It might be within a year, it might be within a century. Everything dies eventually. I have existed far too long to even entertain the notion of it being differently. I'm sure eventually either She or someone else will get one final revenge against me and I too will die. But that will not likely happen for one thousand years. I'm sure that in their own little way eventually all of the celestials will die. You mortals just seem to get so worked up over the notion of dying it always amazes me. Yes, you will die someday. How you die and when you die will be very much affected by which path you choose and I will not tell you which will let you live the longest. I will, however, tell you that for three of the paths, there is something in Ossal that will help ensure you live longer."

"Isn't telling me to go to Ossal trying to make me follow one path over another one?"

"Nope," the cat states plainly, licking a paw in the process, its entire image seeming to flicker slightly in the process. "Now I must depart. It is far too easy for them to tell when I've presented myself and there are too many here that would see me under their influence."

With that the cat simply ceases to be there. So distracted with the notion of the cat's disappearance that he forgets that he can now move again and falls off the chair and onto the floor. He doesn't get up immediately, instead trying to grasp all of what that cat thing told him. Why was it that he was considered so important? Is it because he can hear that Voice? That because he's a Child of Fate as Bob put it makes him so enticing somehow? Who are those seven people the cat was talking about anyway. Why did they want to use him and for what purpose? And why would putting him into that fighting arena make them all notice that he exists? He didn't think he did anything extraordinary beyond escaping that place and he wasn't the only one that did. And more importantly what is in Ossal that would prolong his life, never mind the issue of where Ossal is in the first place?

Unfortunately, no answers seem forthcoming and he's snapped out of his train of thought as the door to the entrance of this building opens up and Angylia steps through.

"I'm surprised to still find you here. I would have expected the two of you to be doing some menial chore or something around town or have had already returned to the Inn. Or did you get lost and couldn't find your way back? And where did Bob go?"

"Well we did leave, we just came back. The people working here grabbed our weapons and insisted on cleaning them. As for Bob he's wandering around somewhere in here."

"And how are you paying for that service?"

"Oh, they paid us for letting them know those two black ones were in the area. Apparently there is a bounty on their heads."

"Oh that's good then. Have you put any thought into where you want to go next?" Angylia asks.

"Well," Nathanriel reflects, remembering the cat's words but not knowing if he should actually tell anyone about that encounter just yet. "I had a hope to maybe go to Ossal, though I'm not entirely sure on where it is from here."

"Ah, want to see more of your kind? I suppose Ossal would make the best choice. The biggest town you can find that far north and the only other place I know that your kind exist is in Foznetal which can't be reached by any outsider, Kinal or otherwise. I'm fine enough with that for now, just so long as we are not heading west. And don't give me that look. Of course I know what you are and where your people are located. My people," she places her hand upon her chest in a proud manner, "are renown for being the keepers of knowledge. We go to great lengths to know as much about everything going on and have it all recorded down for posterity, at least the more important bits. You'd be surprised at just how large some of the libraries in Jhralk can get. And raised like a proper lady they made sure that I was well versed on the situation of all races and their histories."

It is about this point that Kresta walks back into the front room wearing what looks to be a sort of feminine adventuring clothes, carrying a few back with her as well.

"So where's Bob at? I wanna give him his shirt back," she comments. "And who's this?"

"Kresta, this is Angylia," Nathanriel introduces, noticing the confused look on Angylia's face. "Angylia, this is Kresta, someone we attempted to rescue and has since been forced into coming with us."

"Just how busy have you two been that I leave you alone for a few minutes and you go about picking up more people?"

"Ey, don't take it out on them. They were doing the right thing. If I had any say in the matter I'd go my own separate way once we leave town but I'm not going to risk Byron's wrath so easily."

"Then why do you have Bob's shirt?"

"Because I was more or less naked at the time and I'd rather not walk through town wearing nothing at all, no offence."

"I see," Angylia nods, trying to wrap her head around the statement.

"Oh," Bob comments as he returns, having heard people talking and deciding it prudent to return from exploring. "This place is huge. I don't think I've ever been in a store this complex. It's almost like an entire marketplace all in one building."

"Here," Kresta states, throwing his shirt back at him, paying him no mind otherwise.

"Thanks," he comments, putting his shirt back on. "Oh and Angylia, your father sends his regards, whatever that means."

"What?" Angylia remarks suddenly, as if in shock.

"Oh yeah, that's right. That one guy did say that he had taken the liberty of informing your dad you were all right and whatnot," Nathanriel adds, having completely forgotten about that part of that incident.

"We have to go, right now!" Angylia exclaims.

"What's the rush?" Kresta asks.

"Because they didn't exactly let me leave, I ran away and I'm not going to go back there. Him sending his regards is his way of saying he's sending some people to come and take me back and they probably won't hesitate to kill anyone that tries to stop them. So we need to leave before they get here."

"Well then, it's a good thing I've finished with all of your things," Erick comments as he, too enters, carrying Bob and Nathanriel's weapons and armor.

Erick hands over the items over as Nathanriel and Bob put them back on. He then reaches into a pocket of his outfit and pulls out a small bottle filled with pills, "And here's your prescription."

"Is that Anrisil?" Kresta asks. "I can't believe you're taking that stuff. How can you still call yourself a demon when you take that filth into your body?"

"To his defense, he wasn't raised by demons," Erick comments nonchalantly. "So he would have never been taught how to handle himself like a true demon. But it is not my place to judge people for what they do. It matters not to me if their parents couldn't raise them right, only that those that ask for it get it as they desire. We even are considerate enough to offer samples of Anrisil and let the customer work out how they are going to pay after getting a pill. We at the Merchant's Guild are not cruel and would never force someone to go through withdrawal just because they lacked the funds."

"Either way," Nathanriel adds in, not pleased how people are talking about him as if he's not there, "it's my body and I'm more than capable of deciding what I do and do not put into my own body. Though would you be able to tell me what would be the best way to get to Ossal?"

"Well ordinarily I'd just say take the north road for a while and there should be signs at various crossroads on further instructions than that. But we're setting up a blockade on the north exit to catch those two Kinal. So my best suggestion would be to send you east to Xinth and then go up that way. That's probably the safest way. Either that or take the east exit, walk out for about a day and then head north off the road but we wouldn't be able to provide the safety of the Merchant's Guild guaranteed safety if you go that way. Not to mention the difficulty in trying to find a town that far away without any form of map or compass."

"Great!" Angylia states, half shoving them out the door. "East is even better. Let's go now before the people my dad sent get here."

"Fine, fine" Nathanriel shrugs, allowing himself to be pushed, though as they leave he can't help but catch a glimpse of what almost looks like a sinister grin on Erick's face.