Kita and Ari arrived in the Southeast of the city, walking on the pathways lit purple by the glowing lake flowing beside them. Tipis here are neatly organized in rows, with signs marking the different sections. Stone bridges with seating areas suspended above the purple streams, decorated with sculptures similar to those in the marketplace, but much larger. Many of them have vein-like streams of glowing purple, waving amongst the sculpture's design.
Kita’s conversation with Ari left wondering if she had ever been as horrible as Ari’s first owner. If she was as powerful as Raya had described, she may be much worse- But her actions aren’t in vain, are they? Sure it’s selfish, but how else could she get her soul back? The thoughts alone triggered a response in her. A desire to retrieve not just her soul, but Jan’s and Starlet’s too. At the very least it would ease Kita’s mind, and justify her actions every so slightly more. The thought of acquiring souls sent the recurring sensation throughout her body, the need for more souls and the pleasure that came with each one. It had a hold on her- one that felt instinctive and indomitable.
"Ari?" called out the voice of a young girl from across the lake.
Ari barked- or something- a high-pitched squeal at the little girl across the lake. Raising her snout and wagging her thick tail as her body clattered with excitement.
"Starlet!" Ari called out, darting across the nearest bridge and diving into the arms of the young girl.
"I thought someone stole you," The little girl embraced Ari as she shed a tear.
"I'm too tough for that," Ari and Starlet both chuckled.
A smile peeled subtly across Kita's face. It was cute seeing how excited they were to see each other- Kita never knew soulless eyes could look so pretty coupled with a smile.
"Thank you, lady!" The kid said, looking at Kita with her abyssal eyes.
"I didn't do much," Kita responded.
"She saved me!" Ari said.
The little girl bowed her head, holding up both hands and stomping her feet close together. "Please join us for dinner,"
Kita felt uncomfortable by the gesture of gratitude- very overblown considering it was just a minor inconvenience. But, free food. How could Kita say no? She had to spend all that time listening to Ari's depressing story and weirdly mature view of life. Eating will do Kita good in getting her mind off of it.
"Sure," Kita chuckled. "I have a friend who'd like to join too,"
The little girl nodded, "It will be my honour to cook for the both of you,"
"Let me go get her, she isn't too far,"
Kita walked further down the lake, trying to spot Raya's blue hair near the tipis closest to the lake. Along her walk, the conversation with Ari gnawed at her mind alongside the perpetual hollowness of her missing soul. It was harder for her to ignore it, and she didn’t know what to do about it either so she continued her search- Ignoring the rambling of her mind, crying out for the memories of her past she’d gotten a glimpse of.
"Ugh," Kita scoffed.
How did her life turn out this way? Why is it so… difficult? The tug of her soul has a power over her she cannot control. That never worried her until today and she’s not sure she ever could. It’s her soul after all, every instinct within her prioritizes retrieving it… Including the lives of others.
Kita’s unanswered questions remained so as she noticed a tall girl with blue hair step out of a tipi near the river.
"Princess," Kita called out to her, relieved to get out of her own head.
Raya turned, and raised both arms in confusion. "Did you lose our money? Where’s the food?"
"I got us the next best thing,” Kita grinned, waving Raya over, “Follow me,"
Raya zipped up their tent and walked over to Kita before they both made their way back up to Ari and Starlet.
°?°?°?
"Thank you for having us," Raya bowed her head as she and Kita sat on the carpeted interior of Starlet’s family tipi. Kita bowed her head too, following Raya’s lead. The tipi was decorated with hanging ornaments of different shapes and sizes. The entire interior glowed a soft orange and purple- each ornament was decorated with flowing purple streams that subtly cast light across the room. The candles suspended on some of the ornaments and counters around the room brought warmth to the space.
"No, thank you for bringing Ari back to our Starlet," Starlet's Mother smiled, "She’s very excited to share dinner with you,"
"How did you find her, Kita?" Starlet's Father asked, with an endearing smile on his face.
"Like I told Starlet, I didn't do much," Kita responded, scratching behind her ear. "Ari found me,"
The parents chuckled to one another, "Ari doesn't speak to people she doesn't trust," Her Mother responded. "It must mean you have a pure soul,"
"Hmph," Kita chuckled, "I wouldn’t know,"
“It must be,” Starlet’s Mother continued.
"That’s why it was taken from you," The Father added, “And our daughter,”
"When did the dark one take it?" Raya asked.
"Not long after her birth," The Mother frowned, "I can remember looking into her green eyes when they first opened. So bright and full of life, but… I watched them slowly turn to black like an illness that overcame her,"
"I’m so sorry,” Raya added, “The dark one has no shame,”
"How did he take yours, Kita?" The Father asks.
"Hmm," Kita wondered, trying to recall how she'd lost her soul in the first place."Honestly, I can't remember,"
"That's why she's on a mission to get her soul back," Raya came to her aid, “She lost her memories of her past when her soul was… taken,”
"Oh," Both parents responded as they glanced at Kita with startled looks on their faces.
"How will you do that?" the Father said.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
"I'm not so sure yet," Kita shrugged.
"Can you get our daughters back too?" Starlet’s Mother asked. This is what Kita was afraid of- committing to a task she couldn’t deliver.
"I uhh-" Kita stammered, hesitant to make promises, "I don't know,"
"If you discover how to get yours back. Please get our Starlet’s soul as well," The Mother bowed her head.
"I will try my best," Kita responded.
"Dinner is ready!" Called out Starlet from the connected tipi. She walked into the common room with two large dishes in each hand. One with a spiced porridge likely made out of maize, smelling like it has been mixed with many herbs. The second dish was stew. A thick, brown sauce with the occasional chunk of meat amongst the spiced vegetables and rice. This kid can cook, Kita felt her stomach growl.
"There's more than enough for everyone," Ari said, bringing another dish with toasted bread delicately balanced on top of her head before placing it with the rest of the food. Before sitting down, both Starlet and Ari turned to Kita, and bowed their heads. Stopping Kita amidst reaching for the food and awkwardly pausing to receive their gratitude.
"Thank you for bringing us back together," They say in sync.
After a filling dinner and a comforting conversation with Starlet’s loving family, Starlet began tidying up the plates and dishes- refusing assistance from Raya.
"You're a good cook, kid," Kita burped.
"Reary?!" Starlet mumbled with a full mouth.
"Now now, you don't speak with food in your mouth," Her Mother chided.
"Sowy!" She added.
"Have some more," Ari said glaring at Kita's plate.
"Are you trying to fatten me up?" Kita jested, reaching her hand out to grab seconds.
"She likes watching other people eat- Ow!" Starlet wails as Ari playfully bites her foot to keep her quiet, getting a laugh out of Kita and Raya.
"What was that for?" Starlet asked with a look of betrayal on her face.
"That was supposed to be a secret!" Ari rebuttaled, equally as offended. "Now they think I'm weird!"
"You're not weird," Raya empathized.
"Super weird," Kita shrugged.
Ari's tail dropped, and she let out a disappointed sigh before opening her mouth and dashing at Kita's foot.
"Hey-hey!" Kita jolted, shifting her foot out of reach of Ari's attack.
"Meanie," Ari scoffed, refusing to look in Kita's direction.
"I get it," Kita shrugged, "I'd watch other people eat too if I couldn't eat anything," She leaned over to Ari's face and took a slow, crunching bite of bread to mock her.
Ari let out a satisfied purr in response. Holding unnecessarily deep eye contact with the food as it went into Kita's mouth.
“Kinky,” Kita chuckled, more uncomfortable with the interaction than Ari.
"You thought I wouldn't like that, huh?" Ari chuckled.
Subtle vibrations bring the banter to a halt as a tremor ripples through the cave. The myst was passing overhead and despite a mountain separating them from the outside, the myst continued demanding the attention of any life that was lucky enough to evade it. The cave is safe, and not as bad of a place as Kita was expecting. In fact, Kita was glad she’d met Ari, despite her reluctance. She’d gotten a free meal out of it and a sense of personal growth. Thoughts that she hadn’t realized were bothering her. Being evil was inherently something she didn't want to be. However, there are certain pleasures she knew she shouldn't enjoy, but couldn’t resist- Being good wasn't what she wanted either, as she didn’t care for checking the morality of others to be a ‘good person’. She just wanted to get her soul back without feeling guilty in the process.
"Thank you all again, for the meal," Raya bowed her head, prompting Kita to follow suit. "We have a long journey tomorrow so we should be getting some rest,"
"No, thank you," Ari said, bowing her head in return alongside Starlet.
"It is the least we could do to return your kindness," Starlet added.
"Honestly, I'm glad to have met you all," Kita chuckled. "Sorry for being so grumpy at first, Ari,"
"I'm sure it's difficult for someone without a soul," Ari cackled. "But, I knew you were kind from the moment I smelt you,"
"She's become very polite recently," Raya said. "She rarely assists others out of the goodness of her heart,"
"There's a first time for everything," Kita chuckled.
"Let's hope it isn't the last," Ari said, wagging her tail.
°?°?°?
The next day, Kita and Raya left the cave city of Vhifet, leaving behind the beautiful array of turquoise and white tents minted across the cave floor. Kita glanced at the little Rayn sculpture she’d bought at the marketplace, momentarily entranced by the streams of purple liquid perpetually flowing amongst its bevels.
"They call this purple stuff Vhifet," Kita said to Raya, holding the sculpture into the air as the rising sun cast a warm glow through the fluid.
"Yesterday was quite educational for you," Raya chuckled.
"You know what, It was,"
"I was surprised to see you'd helped a pet get to its owner," Raya added, "The old Kita could never have done something so mundane,"
"What can I say, the new Kita prefers real challenges- like personal growth,"
"Oh, you've grown from this, huh?" Raya raised an eyebrow.
"I think so… When I went to the market there was a moment where I thought I passed out but, I woke up somewhere else. It felt like a different world,"
“Hmm,” Raya mumbled in a seemingly unsurprised manner, “You’ve had similar experiences in past lives,”
“What are they?”
“I presume they’re memories or dreamlike states but I don’t know- I’ve had dealt with the aftermath of you being unconscious. You never used to share what you saw,”
“I think I saw my Mother. Well, I saw the back of her head but I feel like it was her,”
“Interesting,” Raya pondered, “I wonder what it means,”
“Ari thinks it’s my soul calling out to me,”
“Not a bad theory, it would make sense that your soul would seek out a connection with you,”
"Yeah…” Kita sighed, uncertain of what to make of it, “I also want to help the other soulless, and get their souls back too,”
Raya turns to Kita with an impressed look on her face, nodding in approval.
“I’m still going to be taking souls, of course,” Kita waved away Raya’s grin, “I just figured I should do it for more than my own gain,”
“Impressive,” Raya added, “If you pull that off, you’d be a hero in my books,” Raya winked.
“Let’s see what happens with Jan before we jump to any conclusions,”
"About that. I heard a few rumours about River City, where they took Jan," Raya's tone suddenly stiffens.
"I ran into a raider that recently left their crew. He told me that Chevo is making his way there too,"
“So?” Kita asked.
“Well, two separate crews of raiders occupying the same city usually means one thing… War,”
"War?" Kita chuckled, "Didn't we just kill a bunch of Vlad's men,"
"That's barely a drop in the bucket. Canyon City isn't their main outpost,"
"Why was he even there?" Kita grunts, now aware of how unlucky she got back in Canyon City.
"My guess- to prepare,"
"Any idea what this war’s about?" Kita asked.
"No one seems to know. Whatever they're fighting for will supposedly shift power into one of their hands,"
"Hmmm, so we go in there and kill them all,"
"What? No, we should just sneak into the city, grab Jan and leave,"
"That's not very heroic," Kita rolled her eyes.
“And killing hundreds of people is?" She raised an eyebrow in response.
"Well, they’re assholes," Kita chuckled.
Raya sighed, knowing it was pointless trying to rationalise with Kita. "I think the dark one is planning something,"
"What do you mean?" Kita asked.
"I'm not sure yet. But I can't remember a time when we ever met other soulless people. We’ve met a soulless child in each city we’ve been to and there may be more we simply missed,"
"Seriously? This is a new thing?"
Raya nodded with concern. "Between the soulless and whatever Vlad and Chevo are planning… None of this sits well with me,"
"Well whatever it is, I don't like it either," Kita confirmed.
Kita barely knew the dark one. She had no idea what he even looked like, and yet every bone in her body was worried about the signs she was seeing. He was consuming the souls of children, that can’t be a coincidence. The void within her was screaming for her to stop him. To get her soul back and end all of this before it went any further. There was no more room for failure.
If this war broke out and Jan was still in the city it could put him at risk. She can’t let that happen. She wasn't sure why or what the result of it may be, but she still knew what she had to do. I have to kill the dark one.
