The Neplims.

One of the Four Great Ones that watches over the realm of Asteria. They are considered to be an omen of good fortune and health. Monikers aplenty have been bestowed upon these mythical beings of heaven’s creation throughout the span of centuries worth of rare sightings.

Twilight’s Angels. Fabled Creatures Of Dusk. Moonlight Divines.

And also Meow-Meows… as my three-year-old cousin so eloquently puts it.

I remembered having encountered some in-game, not knowing of its significance, and was understandably baffled as to why my companions suddenly started breaking down into tears, praising be to the Gods above for blessing our party.

When I looked it up, apparently it was a random event. A 0.01% chance for it to occur in one’s playthrough.

So lucky me, I guess.

Even luckier me, Earth was packed with enough of those fellas to dedicate an entire planet to them to run and colonize.

But who am I kidding, they already rule over this one, am I right? Accursed creatures of fluff and their adorable subjugating ways. I curse thee!

No actually, I bless thee, I thank thee, even.

Not only have you reinvigorated this poor weary soul of mine, but you’ve also roused awake this despondent maiden’s spirit by the mention of your name alone.

Moral of the story - relationship trouble? Get a cat.

Anyway, our little venture to find the aforementioned creature of extreme fluff had us walking along routes less traveled, ditching away with the gravelly roads and concrete sidewalks, and into the tresses and curls of mother nature’s finest greenery.

In layman’s terms… as Ash muttered out loud, “You people refer to these places as ‘parks’, yes?”

“Central Park more specifically,” I replied.

Ash’s eyes were wide and searching. Through tall grass, atop trees, into bushes, not a single patch of the land going overlooked.

“From hearsay, the Neplims tend to inhabit regions untainted by acts of evil. Those rare few places left unsullied by the sins of man.”

Again, yeah… heard that all before. That brain of hers was like a portable codex or something.

“You’re going to be hard-pressed to find places like those left in this world, I’ll tell you that much,” I said.

Ash stopped and turned towards me, looking absolutely crestfallen. “Then… our coming here… all in vain?”

Such despair in her tone, I couldn't help but be a little amused by it.

“I wouldn’t say that,” I assured her, waltzing over to a nearby bench and taking a seat. “Watch, see how I attract a litter of Neplims with this one weird trick! Asterians hate me for it.”

“You’ve met with other Asterians?”

“Figure of speech,” I waved my hand away. “Anyway, you wanna see it in action?”

Ash nodded her head vigorously. “By all means.”

I readied myself. There I was, a simple man atop a rickety bench, a sight as mundane as any other. Harboring beneath it all though, instead told a tale of sheer focus, commitment, and will.

So grandiose and extravagant, but really all I did was take in a breath and started clicking my tongue repeatedly while clapping my hands to the rhythm of my lips.

I learned this little trick way back when, long before I met Ash. See, when I was down in the dumps, out of luck, often I would find myself wandering about the park devoid of all purpose in life.

It was during one of those meaningless strolls, that I happened upon two cats I dubbed Mr. Black and Mrs. White, a lovey-dovey couple that grazed my saddened and depressed self with their reassurance and comfort.

And by that reassurance and comfort, I just mean that they simply brushed their soft fur against my legs. Such a simple gesture, but nevertheless it was enough to pull me out of my misery and become the dazzling ray of sunshine that I am once more.

Of course, that could have just been them pestering me for something to eat, but I can take it whatever way I want. Don’t ruin my dreams, please.

I haven’t visited them in a while. Well, if we take into consideration recent events as of late, then that hardly comes as a surprise really.

Despite it, I can always guarantee that no matter how long we may have been apart, just a simple click of the tongue and the clap of the hands, and they’ll always be there to heed my call.

They had call signs, and I always know to look out for them. For example, the one right then, right across from us.

A ruffling in some nearby shrubbery.

“There they are,” I said.

No sooner had the words left my lips, than a white blur of fur had darted past Ash’s ankles and made a beeline to my direction, lunging and landing directly onto my welcoming lap.

“Why hello there,” I said, responding back to Mrs. White’s grand entrance. “Where’s the husband, m’lady? Got a divorce already?”

Speaking to the contrary, Mr. Black meowed from below, wrapping his long bushy tail around my legs.

“Oh, there you are,” I said, looking down and beaming at the patch of black. My bad, Black. Never should have doubted you.”

Pet. Pet. Pet. Headpats everywhere to everyone. There’s a reason why we have two hands, after all. No offense to… uh… to those who don’t, but hey, if you still have one, then head pat away.

It was a delightfully simple scene, indeed, so simple in fact, that I can sum it all up in five words.

Furs, purrs, meows, and wows.

The last part was Ash, staring away from a distance, awestruck beyond belief. I could have presented her with a Lamborghini, Ferrari, or whatnot and I doubt that any could have produced the same level of wonder as these little balls of fur had instilled onto her state of mind.

Then that awestruck and wonder gradually dispersed, a total inverse of emotion, like a flip of a switch.

I have seen her speechless before… but I have never seen her like… well… utterly appalled.

It was as if she was looking upon a deity itself which… to be fair, she kinda was. Still, I highly doubt stumbling backward in place, while clasping a hand onto your lips, wide-eyed in horror was the proper reaction to a soft meow going your way.

Unless, you got a severe allergy, of course. In which case, run for the hills man.

“You okay, Ash?” I asked, holding the cats by my side.

“No… I - I assure you,” Ash shook her head, swallowing hard. “I most certainly am not.”

Now I’m confused. “A while ago, you were so excited. I thought you wanted to see the Neplims?”

“And so I did,” She said. “Eagerly to seek an answer. Solely for that. Now I… I have my answer.”

“An Answer? Answer to what?”

“Master… I thought you mentioned - were you not aware after all?”

“Aware of what?”

I thought back to what I’ve read, to what I’ve seen. Neplims… Neplims... guardians of the realm, omen of fortune and health, extremely rare creatures, and affectionate when approached. I remembered my party spending a good ten minutes doing nothing but stroking their fuzzy coats, all with tears glistening in their eyes.

Which is it among those descriptors could warrant such a show of apprehension? I honestly don’t get it.

“They aren’t going to hurt you, Ash.”

“Master, Neplims are… they... “ She tried shifting her gaze onto one of them and instead shuddered at the sight. “They are beings of extreme divinity, purity, kindness… goodness...”

“Niceness?”

“Master, I do not jest,” said Ash quietly, her expression painfully strained.

I heard the thunder rumble, the wind whistle, and the leaves rustle. The sky as grey as could be. No jesting… got it.

“Sorry.”

Another pained face. No apologies either. Ash didn’t like those.

“Neplims brim benevolence,” She continued. “As such, they can sense it in others too. The innate goodness in all beings, it’s what draws them to others… it’s what draws them to you.”

Affirming her claims, were Mr. Black and Mrs. White on either side of me, curled in a ball, peacefully in slumber.

“Cat things,” I told her. “It’s normal for cats. They trust you, they come to you. I’m sure even in Asteria they - “

“They do not,” Ash interjected. “Not for all.”

I found that hard to believe. My party members were a diverse cast of hooligans and outcast. I had an Orc with me. A big, burly orc with an even bigger reputation. People know to flee at the very sight of him.

If a cat could climb atop his shoulder and nuzzle its face against his…

“Who’s the exception, then?” I asked. “You?”

“They can sense the good in others,” Ash muttered. “Likewise, for the impure and evil… they can sense that too.”

Oh no… I didn’t like how she said that, I didn’t like how she could even imply of such a thing.

“Don’t tell me you really think that. Ash, don’t. That’s just being silly.”

Ash shook her head. “I don’t have to think anything, Master. They already know.”

“You’re not evil, Ash,” I said. “You think you are? Why? Because the other races hate your kind? That’s - it’s not… Ash, that doesn’t make you evil! It just makes them blind! They wanna see what they wanna see, let them. Just don’t go looking to where they look and accepting that’s the way things are, because it isn’t. You aren’t… a bad person.”

I tried my best there. Mustering all I had, stressing all I had, trying to assure her of the fact. I would have gone on and on rambling to eternity and beyond if it meant convincing her, if only just a smidgen slight.

There was a smile on her face after hearing what I had to say. It wasn’t a nice smile though.

‘I like to believe that I’m not,” She said. “I try my utmost not to be, but Master, it’s imperative that you understand that the animosity against my kind is not unwarranted. Everything has a reason for being… even hatred.”

“Hatred’s unfounded.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Why? Because the cats here deemed it so? How can they even prove that?”

“They already have, Master,” Ash lowered her gaze. “At first sight.”

I thought I knew how this would all play out. I thought I had all this planned. I saw those cats bring joy and laughter to my members, and I thought I could do the same for Ash.

It was definitely going that way up until this point… how did things go so awry?

‘First sight?” I asked.

“The Neplims are capable of eliciting an emotional response out of those fortunate enough to have sighted them,” Ash explained. “Most… those inherently good… would be overcome by tears, as the purity deep within them start to overwhelm themselves. They’ll feel blessed, grateful… and happy. Just by sight alone.”

That… that actually makes sense. My party members being reduced to a sobbing mess… now it makes sense.

Those inherently good would feel good. It made sense, but I didn’t want to, because then I’d have to believe that the exact opposite is true too.

“And you?” I said, nudging over to Mrs. White laying by my side. “When you see them now… right here, what do you feel?”

A short stare, a fleeting stare, before she broke away.

“Shame,” muttered Ash. “Only shame.”

“Ash, don’t - you only feel that way because you want to - “

“Master…” Ash interrupted, her voice heavy and worn. “You believe... shame is what I really desire to feel?”

“Of course not, Ash. I just - “

I was becoming desperate, impulsive, even I was aware of it. I just wanted to prove her wrong, make her understand that she was more than she claimed to be…

These cats aren’t Neplims anyway, they’re just cats! Maybe I can get her to understand that. Neplims might be god-like in her world, but here on this normal mundane planet their just normal mundane cats.

Right?

Eshwlyn came to mind. Eshwlyn, with her sword gleaming red, her twisted lips baring wide.

“Pet one,” I said, placing Mrs. White, the friendlier of the two, onto the ground in front of Ash. “We’ll see for sure this way.”

“Master, I don’t think - “

“Just indulge me,” I pleaded. “If she lets you pet her… then yeah, you’re wrong, and you’re not bad… you’re just… misinformed.”

Ash, with uncertainty in her gaze, stared silently at Mrs. White, who had begun sniffing the chilly air with eyes every curious.

“And if I’m right?” She asked.

I simply nudged my head forward. “Pet the cat, Ash.”

She complied. Reluctantly, hesitantly complied. Bending down, leveling with Mrs. White. Just like Ash’s, Mrs. White’s ears had perked upwards in attention, sensing the presence of another nearby and slowly inched her way towards Ash.

It was almost a mirror reflection. Both had white hair, both had glistening emerald eyes, and both came to me at my time of desperate need. There was never a more likely match for one another than the two of them across from each other.

I wanted so much to be right.

Was I?

Ash stretched out her hand and Mrs. White crept closer. Will she be accepted? Would she feel accepted? Barely there, fingertips barely grazing at her fur… one more step, and then -

A shriek. A swipe. The sudden show of aggression baring her fangs wide.

I didn’t want to believe it. Then it happened again.

Mr. Black beside me hollered and yowled, his sharp claws extending from his paws, his pupils forming into narrow slits.

What the hell…

“There’s your answer,” Ash said, standing back up, her gaze averted to the ground. “As is mine…”

“Cats… they… y’know, they don’t,” I sputtered. I kept sputtering. “Sometimes they don’t trust people and they just - “

“You claimed they do.”

“I was just generalizing,” I said, springing off from the bench. “It’s… argh, it’s just complicated, alright?”

“Not really,” She said. “I am what I am and what I am is far from just. Asteria’s hatred for my kind is not unfounded.”

I shook my head. “Asteria isn’t…”

Asteria isn’t what? Isn’t real? She doesn’t know that. She doesn’t need to know that.

“You aren’t in Asteria.”

“Perhaps not,” A sigh. “Still, it does not change what I am.”

‘You can’t believe - “

“Kindness. Kindness again,” she muttered. “The same kindness that had sheltered me, the same kindness that had clothed me. The same kindness… that ultimately had led us here.”

“I was just trying to help you.”

Ash smiled sadly. “And you have.”

“Not like this, come on.”

“My eagerness to meet the Neplims was not simply prompted by wonder alone. Surely you must have known that by now. I had a reason… a question, a question I longed for resolution for years and years now, a question that only they hold the answer to. An answer I so desperately sought out, and I found it. Thanks to you.”

A light drizzle pouring down at our feet. The rain had finally come.

“You don’t want that answer,” I said, still fighting, still trying. "You know you don't."

“Want?” A chuckle, a shake of the head. Ash clicked open the umbrella and raised it up high. “Master… a servant does not want, remember?”

The thunder rumbled. The sky cried. How could this get any worse than it already has?

“And you,” Ash said, leading us to the park’s exit. “You finally have a justified reason to be afraid.”

That caught me off guard. That had me turning towards her. That, I breathlessly inquired, “You think I’m afraid of you?”

Ash continued to walk. The rain continued to pour. Everything continued to get even worse.

“Master, I hear you... sometimes… throughout the night," She looked at me. "You mutter in your sleep.”