I stared at the spot where the Altalion and I had locked eyes. I shuddered at the thought, shaking the memory from my mind. 

‘I’ve been trapped within my own story, and the only way to return home is to finish it. But how do I do that? I thought I just had to write my own ending, but now I think there’s more to it than that. Do I have to experience the ending? Is that what it wants from me? If so, will I constantly be thrown into these kinds of situations all the time? How am I supposed to survive all of this? Will I survive it? If I die here that’s it right? So then-’

“Yo.” 

I gasped, awakening from my consuming thoughts to stare up at Fauve and Evolet. 

“Are you okay?” Fauve asked, her expression worried, even Evolet looked concerned. 

I let out a shaky breath, “Yeah, I am okay. Thank you.”

Fauve and Evolet shared a glance with each other, still a bit unsure, but let it slide.

“Thank you for saving me,” I nodded to them.

“We should be thanking you honestly,” Fauve responded. “If it wasn’t for you, we would’ve been toast right now.”

 “But I am the one who got into this mess in the first place, so for that I am sorry,” I bowed, respectively. 

“You don’t need to apologize I chose to save you after all, so I walked into this fight of my own volition. I should probably be more careful with the fights I pick, lesson learned though.”

“Speaking of which, how in the world did you upset an Altalion anyway?” Evolet spoke up, studying me carefully. 

“I think I accidentally walked into its territory,” I responded sheepishly.

“How did you even end up all the way out here in the first place?” Evolet questioned further.

“I-” I stopped.

‘I can’t just tell them I popped here out of nowhere from another world. That would look too questionable and suspicious, and I definitely can’t tell them I’m the author of this world either. The book made that quite clear. Not only that, but who knows what would happen to me anyway if I just told them that I created everything they know. Better to just fake amnesia, it would make sense in the long run. Evolet is suspicious enough as it is. It would do me no good to add fuel to the fire. I just had to make Evolet the cautious type.’ 

“I was trying to find my way home,” I told them, surprising them.

“From the middle of the forest?” Evolet questioned.

I nodded, “I was lost. Actually, I’m not sure how I even got there in the first place.” 

“Do you know where your home is?” Fauve asked.

I shook my head. “Sadly, no, I can’t remember.” 

Evolet kneeled down in front of me examining the wound on my head that I had completely forgotten about.

“Do you think that head injury might have given her amnesia?” Fauve asked Evolet.

“It’s very possible,” Evolet muttered as I flinched from her touch and the now throbbing noticeable wound.  

“Do you remember your name at least?” Evolet asked gently.

I was surprised, I forgot how caring she can be when she isn’t cautious.

“Yes, my name is Liliya, Liliya Scriven.” 

“Well, my name is Fauve and this is my older sister Evolet,” Fauve smiled patting my back.

I flinched, my wounds throbbing in pain from her touch. 

Fauve retracted quickly, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you! Are you okay?” 

“Yeah, I am okay. It was an accident. It’s nice to meet you guys too,” I responded shakily.

“You don’t look okay, you look quite pale,” Fauve responded worriedly. 

“Can’t you heal yourself like you did with us?” Evolet asked suddenly.

“I’m afraid according to the books rules, I can only heal others and not myself,” I responded.

“Books rules?” Evolet muttered to herself.

“Where did you get that book?” Evolet asked curiously.

“I don’t know. I just found it next to me when I woke up in the forest. It seems to be attached to me.” 

“It sounds like a curse,” Evolet muttered glaring at the book.

I thought about it.

“I wouldn’t say so.”

Fauve and Evolet turned to me in surprise.

“Curses are supposed to harm the user, right? This book has helped me, not hurt me, so I wouldn’t say it’s a curse at all.” 

Evolet studied me for a moment before she let out a sigh. “Whatever. Regardless, we’ll take you to the next town to find you a healer as a thanks for helping us out of a tight spot.”

“Thank you,” I smiled.

“Once you’re healed, we’ll drop you off with the knights, and they can help you find your way home,” Evolet glared sternly.

I was shocked by her expression, but I nodded nonetheless. It was a logical move. I am still a complete stranger to them after all, but something told me that her glare wasn’t directed at me, but something else entirely.

Fauve and Evolet helped me up carefully, and I realized how hurt I actually was. Definitely some broken ribs and probably a concussion, but at least my legs weren’t broken. Fauve let me lean on her as we walked, Evolet was too tall for me to lean on, as we headed towards the direction of the apparent nearby town.  

We traveled in silence for a bit, my book tight in my other arm, before I decided to break the silence. “So how did you guys end up all the way out here?”

“We were training. The magical creatures around here were said to be great challenges for mages so we came here to improve our skills,” Fauve explained. 

“Well, I think you guys are pretty strong as it is,” I praised.

Fauve laughed lightly, “Thanks, but as you saw we’ve got a lot to learn if I want to complete my dream.”

“What’s your dream?” I asked.

I already knew the answer, but if I don’t get the answers from them, my knowledge on them might become too suspicious.

 

It didn’t take long for us to arrive at the next town, I was genuinely surprised at how close it was.

The old town was quite large and rustic, every inch of it breathed fantasy as you looked around. The old shops, the market, the magical creatures, even the magic shops, the whole place was stunning to the eyes.

“Wow,” I breathed, glancing around.

Looking at the different fantastical outfits of the people, I suddenly noticed the people around us staring at us as they whispered to one another. My brows furrowed in confusion before I heard one of them. 

“Do you see that?” 

“The black cat?” 

“She must’ve hurt the poor girl.” 

“That bitch of a ravager, someone should just put her down.” 

“Did she bring her here to brag?” 

“She must’ve, do you see that real prize behind her?” 

“Is that?” 

 “It is! A silver fox!” 

“Those are rare!” 

“That ravager must have her as her slave!”

 “The poor dears, someone must free them.”

 I turned away; I couldn’t stand to hear it anymore. Turning to Fauve, I noticed her hard expression as her ears twitched with every word.  

“Fauve…” I muttered to her. 

“Sorry,” Fauve spoke harshly. 

“What are you apologizing for?” I told her. 

“Sorry, you don’t know, huh? Black cats are seen as bad omens, beings of violence and raw destruction. They call us Ravagers and blame us black cats for their problems. Because of this, black cats are discriminated against and most hide or are enslaved. People don’t care about us. Some have even been put to death for disasters they didn’t even cause just because they were in the area.” 

“Silver foxes on the other hand, are said to be direct descendants of Kitsunes, and as such they are seen as deities, good omens. People believe if you give them offerings, they can ensure all your wishes are fulfilled. The thing is, people take it too far. Some have murdered and stolen from others in order to have their wishes fulfilled, and as far as I know silver foxes have no such wishing power. So, imagine the sight. Some silver foxes don’t care and use their position to rise in power, most of the others however, hide in fear of people. And I haven’t even mentioned what messed up people would do if they got their hands on a silver fox.” 

“That’s all just awful,” I whispered harshly, surprising Fauve.  

“You’re all living creatures just like everyone else. Why should you be treated differently just because of the way you look. It’s messed up and wrong. I’m sorry you two have to be treated that way. I promise I will never look at you like that,” I told her. 

Fauve’s eyes lit up and sparkled as she stared at me. Fauve let out a light laugh turning away from me, as she teared up with a smile, “Thank you Liliya.”

I smiled back. 

“Hey!” 

All three of us stopped.

Three knights stood before us, wicked grins on their faces. “What do you think you’re doing to these poor girls ravager?”

Fauve glared at them as her tail spiked.

“These two were kindly taking me to find a healer after I had injured myself in the nearby forest good sirs,” I answered before the others could.

I couldn’t see Evolet as she was behind us, but I could tell she was just as tense as Fauve is. Now it makes sense why Evolet was upset earlier. These Knights are bad news.

“Oh! So this ravager hurt you in order to make her prized slave grant her wish of destruction upon the people,” he yelled out loud to the growing crowd.  

“No sir,” I spoke calmly.

“I injured myself, and they are kindly helping me,” I countered.

“Oh my! Can you believe it? She’s been brainwashed to say she’s injured herself! How horrible!” 

“I haven’t been brainwashed. Now please kindly step aside, and we will be on our way,” I defended, standing on my own.

“She can’t even defend herself, the poor dear. Here, let me help free you from this ravagers grasp.”

Before I knew it, the knight suddenly grabbed my shoulder and threw me harshly aside, slamming me hard onto the ground. Black spots clouded my vision as I cried out, my body spiking with immense pain.

“Liliya!” I heard Fauve call out. 

“Look at that. Your bad luck made her injuries worsen. The poor dear can’t even speak now,” the knight smiled, as I held my side in pain.

Fauve growled, turning to the knight igniting her claws as the knights themselves drew their swords. Evolet tensed up as well, as the crowd gasped.

“Now you’re showing your true colors! It’s time for you to fall fiend!” 

“Hold it!”

Everyone stopped and turned towards the sudden voice. The crowd parted as a cloaked figure stepped forward, revealing her face as she dropped her hood. 

“Princess Chloe…” The knights muttered in surprise.

She had soft white and blue hair with a small braid on her right side. Her dark blue eyes pierced the scene as she spoke once more, “What is going on here?”