Chapter 9 The Mistake

An hour later, Evernya stirred awake. Her eyes took in her change of scenery with slight confusion as her mind booted up.

Upon seeing her kitten had awakened, Meira explained what happened, causing Evernya to apologize with a sheepish expression. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me one second I was watching you place the food in front of me, the next everything disappeared.”

“No need to apologize or be embarrassed. We are both learning here. I think your breakfast proved one thing. You need food and a lot of it.” Meira said, perched on the recliner to Evernya’s right.

Meira continued explaining her theory. “It seems you can survive on just mana, but it’s not healthy. When you devoured your food, it looked like a starved shifter who hadn’t eaten in weeks. It’s unusual for a shifter to not notice their hunger. Usually, shifters have a bottomless stomach wanting to eat at all times. Your lack of hunger might be a protective mechanism to mask your starving state until it is safe to eat. Hopefully, your appetite normalizes once we find a proper diet or you may starve yourself without knowing.”

“When was the last time you ate anything besides pure mana?” Meira asked.

Evernya stared down at her hands, playing with her tail, embarrassed, as she replied in a whispered tone, “I don’t know.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, where were you kept as a slave?” Meira inquired.

Evernya froze as her mind raced to decide what to reveal. What should I tell her? Can I trust her with the whole truth? Would she even believe me? I feel like I need to tell someone, and she seems to be the best person for it. She appears to want to help me. I’ll ask a few questions first. I need to know how much she knows about how I ended up in the hospital.

“Where was I found?” Evernya inquired.

Meira replied without suspicion, assuming her kitten dodged the question because of her discomfort with the subject. “Almost a month and a half ago there was a Mana disturbance on a leyline running through the forest just southwest of Druth, so the Druth Mages Council deployed a team to investigate. Near the disturbance location, the team found you laying on the ground. They brought you to Druth Magicals Hospital, where they diagnosed you with severe mana vein overload. Mana vein overload or MVO for short is typically caused by backlash from a magic spell or ability. Luckily, you didn’t have any ruptured mana veins or damage to your mana core. You were unconscious for over a month at the hospital before waking up and destroying your room.”

So they didn’t find me in the lab? I suppose if I were, I wouldn’t be here. They probably would have brought me to another lab somewhere instead. Thought Evernya, while keeping the relief from showing on her face though her tail twitched in her hands, wanting to wave.

After receiving the answer to her question, Evernya descended into silence. I should be honest with her. We can work out plans better if she knows my situation. It will also explain why I know next to nothing about myself or other magicals. I could use the excuse of enslavement, but even slaves should know more than I do about myself. I could go the amnesia route, but my instincts scream at me to avoid that route. I’ll ask more direct questions about her before I give my full explanation I need to see if I can trust her. She may be from whoever owned the lab.

“So why would an elf have a fancy house with modern styling? I thought elves liked to be in nature,” Evernya inquired, staring up into Meira’s eyes with suspicion.

A sad expression crossed Meira’s face for a second, but Evernya held firm, as she needed to know more about her benefactor.

Meira paused for a moment before beginning. “Well, most Elves live out in the wilderness where the mana beasts roam, but I liked the technology of humans. Plus, one of my magic classes is an enchanter. Humans love to buy enchanted items, so I had a lucrative business opportunity as long as I stayed nearby.”

Tears formed as Meira continued, “My Elven clan disapproved of my time spent near humans and gave me an ultimatum. Either cut off all contact with humans or exile myself from the clan. Angered by my clan spying on me, I impulsively chose exile. My decision didn’t sink in until the clan elders ordered my father, the current head of my bloodline, to sever my bloodline, removing my family name, and forever banishing me from my clan. My exile was 180 years ago, and I settled outside Druth around 100 years ago. I had this house built as a mix of human and Elven design when I was sure I would settle here long term.”

Regret momentarily flashed as Meira suddenly confessed, “I was the one who enchanted the mana isolation cell that nearly killed you. Because of my involvement, I feel like it was my responsibility to help you get back on your feet.”

Evernya fidgeted as she thought. Wow, I feel like an asshole now. I may be in a difficult situation, but at least my family didn’t disown me. Though, I don’t know what will happen when I meet them with my current body. I don’t even know if my original body is rotting somewhere. Evernya shook her head to banish the morbid thoughts as she processed Meira’s sudden confession. Surprisingly, I don’t feel resentment towards her. If anything, her confession makes me trust her more.

Evernya returned her attention to Meira’s tearful face with a reassuring smile. “I don’t blame you for making the cell. It serves a purpose. Unfortunately, that purpose can hurt me. You didn’t put me in the room, you rescued me, and for that I’m grateful.”

A smile bloomed on Meira’s otherworldly beautiful face as she rambled, “Thank you for understanding even after all these years, I still feel terrible when one of my enchantments unintentionally hurts someone. I’ve made countless enchanted weapons that have taken countless lives, many by my own hand. But the mana isolation cell purpose isn’t for killing only to incapacitate.”

“How did you know I needed help?” Evernya inquired, tail forming a question mark now free from her hands.

Freed from her guilt, Meira explained with an upbeat tone, “To prevent the mana isolation cell from turning into an execution chamber, I weaved an enchantment in to alert me when it causes direct harm to the occupant. You aren’t the only person who needs mana to function after all.”

Evernya pressed the advantage of Meira’s improved mood to ask another question. “You said your father stripped you of your family name. What does that mean? I hope I’m not insensitive by asking. I don’t know much about elves.”

Unaffected by her kitten’s question, Meira replied, “It’s ok, Elves are secretive. Most non-elves only know the basics of my race. Family names are essential to all sentient magical beings. For elves, the stripping of our family name makes us infertile. Also, the family name has a direct connection to one’s bloodline, so the person loses both when stripped of one’s family name.”

Upon catching her kitten’s saddened expression, Meira added, “I never had a desire to have children, but it still hurt to have the ability taken away from me forever. Elves can live for thousands of years, and with our poor birth rate, I may not have had a child for hundreds of years either way.”

Done with talking about elves, Meira shifted toward shifters. “Shifters have more extreme rules. Only Alphas can carry a family name. Any shifters below alpha must join a clan or pack and take that alpha’s family name. To make it worse, a clan or pack-less non-alpha shifter is infertile and slowly weakens the longer they are without an alpha.”

After a momentary pause, Meira continued lecturing her intently listening kitten. “I don’t know how these rules came to be, but they are unbreakable. For this reason, there are few rogue shifters because they grow too weak to defend themselves and can’t have a family to multiply.”

Wow, there are a lot of magical laws controlling things. It seems to be a checks and balances thing, so one Magical race doesn’t take over. It’s sad she can’t have children, but she seems content with her choice. Wait, she mentioned shifter laws. Do they apply to me? Will these rules force me to bow down to an alpha? Just the thought of that repulses me! Evernya thought with a deepening scowl.

Meira watched the changes in Evernya’s expressions. She first had a saddened expression for Meira. Her sadness turned into curiosity about the magical laws and shifter laws, but then became confused and angry right after. Meira guessed what was going on in her kitten’s head. “Yes, the laws shifter laws will apply to you. Luckily, you don’t have to find yourself a clan to join because you appear to be an alpha yourself. If you weren’t, your instincts would’ve pushed you to pledge yourself to a worthy alpha. Just the fact that you seem repulsed proves you are an alpha.”

Evernya fell silent as she descended into thought, afraid to ask any more basic questions without arousing suspicion. Until I know more about what is possible with magic, I think I will continue to play the isolated escaped slave angle or amnesia girl. My instincts will scream at me, but I don’t want to risk my freedom until I know I can trust her. Meira seems trustworthy, but what if I say the wrong thing and she turns against me?

After several minutes of silence, Evernya revealed, laying it on thick with tears brimming. “Sorry, I don’t know much, even about myself. I woke up in an abandoned lab all alone. I didn’t realize I was a slave until you brought it up. I don’t even know how I escaped, so I am clueless about just about everything.”

Meira nodded her head as if expecting her kitten’s explanation as she spoke. “Altering slave’s memories is relatively common during their initial training and conditioning, but they usually keep practical knowledge intact.” Meira’s demeanor suddenly shifted, staring at her kitten as she inquired. “Are you sure don’t remember anything?”

While playing with her tail, Evernya nervously clarified, “I would say I still have practical knowledge like I am at least at a high school level in most subjects. I just don’t have any knowledge of anything magic-related.”

Meira’s suspicion dissolved upon witnessing her kitten’s timid body language. “How unusual. Why would they keep you in the dark about something you need to survive?”

Tension eased from Evernya, prompting her to open up a little more. “I don’t think they had any intention of me leaving. Whoever built the lab set it up to sustain me indefinitely, at least I think. I didn’t find anything to eat, but I felt no hunger or thirst either. Though, as we found, hunger isn’t a good indication of my health. Maybe something kept me fed? Robots were running around behind the scenes, maybe they were feeding me when I was unconscious.”

“Robots? I’ve never heard of robots outside of science fiction. We have machines that can perform automated tasks, but nothing that I would call a true robot.” Meira commented, confused.

“Really? I know for a fact at least basic robots have existed for decades. Nothing compared to the robots in the lab, but I would still consider them a robot.” Evernya questioned, tail in a question mark.

Meira stared at her kitten doubtfully. “There have been discoveries of broken-down robots in ancient ruins, but never a functional one. Golems exist, but they are nothing more than big mindless zombies.”

Evernya fidgeted under Meira’s gaze as she described the robots. “I don’t know what a golem looks like, but they seemed to be robots. They ranged from about knee height to about your height, with most at least partially resembling a humanoid.”

Meira revealed, “Not a golem then. Golems are usually at least three meters tall with a bulky stone or metal body. Golems exist all around the country usually used for lifting.”

What does she mean all around the country? I’m pretty sure I would have noticed golems if they existed. Thought Evernya, before her eyes suddenly widened. “Where are we?” Evernya asked, praying she was wrong.

“In my personal territory about thirty kilometers east of Druth Tier 3 city of the Sespina Federation.” Replied Meira, puzzled by her kitten’s sudden question.

“How far are we away from the United States?” Inquired Evernya, holding onto the hope they were in a magically hidden country.

“United States? Where is that?” Meira asked, genuinely perplexed, but she received no answer, as Evernya was already freaking out.

Oh no! I should have noticed this sooner. I’m not on earth anymore! Not only do I have a new body, but a different world! I’ll never see my cats or family again! What am I supposed to do? What if this world is nothing like earth? How will I survive? I can’t rely on Meira forever! Thought Evernya as realization flashed on Evernya’s face, then tears fell. She collapsed onto the couch, curling up into a tight ball, crying.

Meira stared at her kitten’s extreme reaction with bewilderment, causing her to inquire with a worried tone, “kitten, what’s wrong?”

“I can never go back! Everything changed!” Evernya wailed.

Her mana cocoon reformed, then small objects floated around her as she continued to wail. Her last shred of hope vanished, sending her spiraling.

When objects floated, Meira had a realization on her kitten’s class. It’s not Air magic. It’s so much more. Her magic class may complicate things at her magic testing, but depending on what tier she awakened, it may be worth it. But first, I need to get her under control.

Meira released her mana aura on the hysterical girl. Evernya froze, staring up at Meira with an expression of pure terror. Her entire body shook as her tail went between her legs. She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them along with her tail with her arms, trying to make herself as small as possible. All the levitating objects crashed onto the floor, some breaking as Evernya’s connection to them snapped. Within seconds, the pressure became too much, causing a wet spot on the couch as she passed out.

Meira stared at her unconscious kitten, horrified, instantly regretting her decision. Why did I think using my mana aura would calm her down!? She felt the full force of my aura. It hit her like she was a mundane. Damn it. I am an idiot! I may have destroyed what trust she had in me with one stupid mistake!

I can’t let her wake up like this. How could I hurt an already traumatized girl? She was just coming around. I am no better than Dr. Fisher! He thought he was doing good when he put her in a mana isolation cell. Now I did the same!

Tears flowed from Meira’s eyes as she carried Evernya up to the bathroom in Evernya’s bedroom. Meira scrubbed her clean, eradicating any trace of the urine. After placing Evernya on her bed, Meira rushed out of the room to grab another old pair of her old pajamas. She cut a hole in them for the girl’s tail on her way back to Evernya’s bedroom.

At this rate, I will run out of pajamas in a few days. I need to take Evernya into Druth to get her own clothes. If I can get her to trust me again. Everyone she has met has hurt her, including me. Meira panicked, still distraught from her mistake.

After dressing her in the clean pajamas, she tucked her in, being extra careful of Evernya’s tail. She wrote a note, setting it on the nightstand since she doubted she will get close to the girl for a while without traumatizing her further. On her way out, Meira removed the camera she installed to keep track of when her kitten first woke up.