Chapter 41 The History

Three hours later, Evernya awakened with the intense need to pee. In a flash, she was out of her bed, dashing toward the bathroom. After relieving herself, she wandered back to her bed and laid down.

It seems like that nap did the trick I feel like I did before my catnip experience. Note to self, stay away from catnip, or bad things will happen. I can’t believe the same catnip I used to give to my cats now affects me.

Evernya scanned the books stacked to her right on a table. Now, where should I start reading? I suppose history is a good spot to start. I don’t need to be a history expert. Still, a basic overview of the last couple hundred years would help. History directly impacts today when people live for centuries. Including one in this very house. It’s crazy how you can get firsthand accounts of history from centuries ago.

Too lazy to leave her bed, Evernya used her telekinesis to levitate a textbook titled modern history toward her from a stack to her right.

I’m getting pretty good at telekinesis, or at least a lot better than I was when I first started. That stupid remote hurt! Meira said not to use any magic, but I’m sure this tiny amount is okay, besides it’s her fault for stacking the books out of reach!

Evernya spent the next three hours reading through the textbook. She didn’t even notice Meira poking her head in to check on her as she read. After closing the 300-page textbook, Evernya descended in thought. I wasn’t planning on reading that much, but this world’s history is so fascinating I couldn’t stop.

According to the textbook, humans packed themselves into five independent cities surrounding a lake called Cerulean Origin until 600 years ago. The Cerulean Origin received its name because of its deep blue, dimly glowing waters, thought to be the source of all mana. Six hundred years ago, Luca Sespina and his powerful family rose to power by taking control of the five cities, proclaiming himself as the king establishing the Sespina Federation. To cement his throne, he had an island raised at the center of the cerulean origin, naming the newly created city Sespina, the capital of the Sespina Federation.

Within a year of establishing Sespina, he began to expand outward from the cerulean circle of cities. As the Sespina Federation expanded outward, they encountered several groups of demi-humans. The Sespina army easily conquered and enslaved the much smaller groups of demi-humans to aid them against the mana beasts of the wilds. It sucks that most of these enslaved demi-humans were shifters since the other races retreated deeper into the wilds. I suppose I can relate as an alpha shifter. I wouldn’t want to leave my home either, but it was stupid of them to stay against such an overwhelming enemy.

Shifters are hardly innocent, though. They caused a violent uprising about 100 years ago, killing millions of humans and demi-humans alike. The textbook was pro-human, but it seems detailed enough to be the truth. One of the most powerful wolf shifters ever recorded became sick of his race’s treatment, prompting him to take over most of the major shifter packs and start a rebellion. At least according to the pro-human textbook, he became drunk on his power. What started as a mostly peaceful rebellion turned into a civil war, claiming the lives of millions on his quest to enslave all humans. It took the combined force of humans and several demi human races, including shifters, elves, dwarves, and Mer to put down the uprising dubbed the wolf rebellion after two years.

I’m assuming Mer are some sort of aquatic demi-human. The textbook didn’t go into as much detail on the demi-human forces. I wish they skipped the bios for every human general to explain the demi-human forces. I’m sure Meira would know more since she lived through it. At least demi-human slavery became outlawed since it was a condition from the Allied demi-human forces to join the war. Though it mentions that all surviving rebels were either executed or enslaved. I didn’t see any enslaved shifters in Druth. The thin black band is hard to miss though, and I’m sure the slave band isn’t the only way to enslave someone. So there may be truth to it. Emily said the government looks the other way when a shifter faces enslavement. Maybe some were enslaved. I didn’t look at every shifter.

After the war, all the Allied forces devised the dueling system to prevent more large-scale wars. Minor battles have happened since, but never on the scale of the wolf rebellion. These duels favor humans since they have a much wider variety of magic, but since humans greatly outnumber demi-humans and a shifter caused the war, they had little room for negotiation.

A lingering side effect of the wolf rebellion was the treatment of shifters in Sespina controlled territory, which explains my treatment by humans. Unfortunately, most shifters live in human settlements, unlike most other demi-human races such as elves, dwarves, and merfolk. Those races have their own settlements separate from humans. It seems humans focus their racism on demi-humans, especially shifters, instead of each other.

There were also many wars involving the wilds, but as long as sentient races leave the wilds alone, they don’t cause trouble. However, humans continue to expand their territories, so they have had many conflicts with the wilds. For some reason, the thought of damaging the wilds disgusts me. Maybe other demi-humans feel the same? Since demi-humans coexisted with the wilds before humans invaded, we must have a way to avoid damaging the wilds.

Unlike humans, most Demi-humans live in the wilds only carving out enough space for their people to live. I don’t know what constitutes direct harm to the wilds, but it probably means avoiding permanent damage to the wilds ecosystem. Meira’s little territory likely doesn’t cause much harm since she keeps most of her property as natural as possible, except for her house yard and a narrow road. From what she has explained, she also is careful with how she acquires energy to power her house.

This world is interesting compared to earth. I can’t wait to explore this world personally when I grow stronger!

“Mealtime!” Announced Meira loudly out of nowhere.

Evernya sprung to her feet in a flash with her claws out, frantically scanning the room for threats. She found Meira sitting relaxed on the couch to the left of the bed, smiling. While grumbling, Evernya shifted her claws away and dropped to her bed cross-legged.

Evernya glared at her sneaky Elven keeper. “Don’t scare me like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack, if that’s even possible. How did you sneak in without me noticing?” Evernya questioned.

“I didn’t even try to be sneaky. You were so focused on the book I probably could’ve grabbed your tail before you noticed.” Teased Meira, causing Evernya to grasp her tail instinctively, cradling it while staring at Meira with suspicion.

Meira chuckled before reassuring her suspicious kitten. “Don’t worry, I would never touch your tail without your permission. Grabbing a shifters’ tail, especially a female shifter’s tail, is equivalent to sexual assault and one of the fastest ways to get attacked by a shifter.”

Evernya calmed down but continued to cradle her beloved tail.

Meira glanced at the book on modern history lying on Evernya’s bed and changed the subject. “Did you finish that book already?”

“Yeah, it was so interesting I just couldn’t stop reading,” Replied Evernya, tail swishing in excitement, embracing the subject change.

“Impressive reading speed. If you can read and remember all the books that fast, it won’t take you long to finish them all.” Complimented Meira.

Evernya’s face brightened as she rambled. “I used to read a lot from where I came from. Thankfully, my reading speed seems to have transferred over if anything, I read even faster. Plus, my memory is amazing, so reading something once is enough to remember it. I wish I had a perfect memory as a human. Life would’ve been much easier.”

Meira nodded her head in approval. “Good, you have plenty of time to read before Elizabeth visits tomorrow morning for your checkup.” Her expression shifted as she insisted with a serious tone, “I want you to stay in bed until then to avoid accidentally over-stressing your body.”

To Meira’s surprise, Evernya didn’t argue if anything, she seemed excited. “It’s okay, I understand. Besides, I will be busy reading these books anyway. The proficiency test showed how clueless I am about the outside world. I’ll have to increase my knowledge if I want to survive out there. Plus, if the other books come close to the last one, I’ll enjoy reading them.”

Meira puffed up with pride at her kitten’s mature statement. “You can never have enough knowledge. Especially with subjects that have a direct impact on your well-being. Anyway, sorry for interrupting your reading, but you need to eat.”

At the mention of food, Evernya’s stomach immediately growled. “Well, it looks like your body has made its opinion known,” chuckled Meira.

Meira handed her the feeding tube and turned on the pump connected to the typical tank filled with her liquefied meal. She watched her kitten suck down her meal while with a thoughtful expression. “you don’t make sense. Both shifters and vampires feel a constant hunger for their particular diet, yet hunger doesn’t seem to drive you. Unless reminded, you don’t seem to notice. We will have set up a set schedule with reminders or you may accidentally starve yourself, especially when you are living on your own.”

Evernya stopped drinking at exactly ten liters. “Still a lot, but better than before. That’s still fifteen to twenty kilograms of liquefied food per meal. It should be less if it is solid food though. I’ll do some research and consult with a nutritionist I trust to create a feeding schedule for you.” Meira observed after storing away the translucent forty-liter tank.

Evernya pulled the tube out of her mouth before speaking. “I would like to eat solid food again, like a regular person. This liquefied diet is convenient. I liked smoothies in my old body, but not liters of it at every meal. Plus, with it pumped directly down my throat, I barely taste anything.”

After Meira stored away the tank, she responded, “Bear with liquefied food for another day. I don’t want to waste what I already made. I will go hunting tomorrow morning before Elizabeth arrives.”

Evernya paused before compromising, “Fine, but you better catch me something extra tasty.”

“I will try. Do you need anything else before I leave?” Asked Meira.

“I don’t think so. These books will keep me busy for a while,” Evernya replied, staring at her collection of books.

“I’ll be back in two to three hours for your next meal,” Meira announced as she walked toward the door.

After Meira left, Evernya returned her attention to the stack of books. I think geography would be best to focus on next. Too bad only books on the Sespina Federation are in the stack. How odd. Well, it won’t matter too much for now if I focus on Sespina. I doubt I will leave this area anytime soon anyway. I’ll need to research the rest of the world soon. I want to be prepared in case I have to leave.

Evernya set the modern history textbook off to her right before levitating a textbook titled geography of the Sespina Federation toward her.

I love telekinesis, it’s the perfect tool for the lazy and vertically challenged. I don’t even have to worry about becoming fat from being lazy by telekinetically grabbing everything. According to Meira, using magic keeps your body in good shape. I wonder what physically working out while using magic would do. I guess I will find out soon when I start training. One thing is for sure, I doubt I’ll have to watch my weight like I did as a human.