Chapter 1
150.
Going back to the previous event in Kemitopia, FeLinE finally regained her lost memories. The group now must collect the 7 Mystical Runekeys even faster due to the information that they gained from Hideo. The urgency made the Catgirls finally decide to split the group into two teams. The first one is team FeLinE who made their way to Hachtile. Tons of struggles tested and truly surprised them, especially with how it all ended. It took team FeLinE 5 days before they returned to UniPaws, barely moving a muscle, but of course, with the 4th Mystical Runekey in their pocket.
On the other hand, team Kita entered Blizshore minutes before team FeLinE entered Hachtile. It's time to know what happened to the other team while the rest was busy in Hachtile, thus the story in Blizshore begins.
Setting foot inside the coldest realm existing in the cosmos, everyone in team Kita still shivers despite wearing thick winter clothes. The trees are all white, and the place is covered in snow. As of now, they are on a flat snow surface. The snow is always 2 feet deep, it never goes lower and often goes beyond it. The shore is also frozen, Kemis need to break the ice and create a hole for them to catch fish. It's an unforgiving environment, at least for those who are not used to this type of climate.
After analyzing the area, FeLinE created the map and gave it to the group. It tells the direction to the Mystical Runekey and the nearest civilization. FeLinE then left the realm and let team Kita do the rest.
"We might freeze to death here," Kita said.
Maiko chuckled and said, "This is not too bad, nyu'll get used to it. Right, Byakko?" Byakko roared in response.
"It's easy for nyu to say, nyu live in Snowy Tribe, I'm from the Seashore Tribe," Kita argued.
"I hope we can adapt quickly," Hana commented.
"So, which way is the civilization?" Queen Grace asked.
"Hmmm… According to the map, it's the Northeast, not that far from here." Celeste answered.
"I see, let's start moving before the snow gets deeper." Queen Grace said.
Celeste leads the way as the rest follow. At first, Maiko, Kita, and Hana thought that the scenery in Blizshore would be just like the ones in the Snowy Tribe. But that was not the case, team Kita witnessed a lot of praise-worthy places, especially the Crystalline Woodland—white trees with frozen lakes, a big forest near the mountains.
Based on the map, the nearest civilization resides in Crystalline Woodland since it's slightly warmer there compared to the mountains. The resources are also easier to collect, making the place much more survivable compared to other places, plus the threat of avalanches only happens in the mountains.
After some time, team Kita finally spotted a village. It wasn't that far from the Ruin but because they carefully navigated the place, it cost them a couple more minutes than they should have. The village looks gloomy, that's why the group cautiously walked through the neighborhood, trying to look as friendly as they could. No one knows what type of community the village has, it's better if they will not be seen as a threat.
"Ahm… Hello? Is anyone here?" Kita politely asked while they walked through the village.
Moments later, an Arctic-type Catgirl came out from a hut. Pearl white skin, long white single braid hair, royal blue eyes, ears, and tails are extra furry. She's wearing a long beige winter coat with fur on the collar, dark brown fur boots, gloves, black long sleeves, and dark brown jeans. It is the typical wardrobe of the villagers in Crystalline Woodland. Her name is Linx, the daughter of the Chief in the village.
"Good morning… Outsiders? Are nyu from a different village?" Linx confusedly asked.
"Hi! We are indeed outsiders but not just from a different village." Kita answered as she chuckled.
"Hmm… Must be mountaineers from the south. Anyway, the Chief is currently busy discussing with other villagers about the resources. Maybe come back later or wait somewhere until they are done." Linx explained.
"I see, by the way. I'm Kita." Kita said as she wiggled her ears. The rest of the team also introduced themselves, following Kita's lead.
"And I'm Linx, the daughter of the Chief," Linx responded and then wiggled her ears as well.
"She is also a Catgirl but quite different than us," Celeste mentioned.
"I guess there are still some types of Kemis that are similar in terms of the category but still have different features depending on the environment," Hana said.
"Different? No, I'm not. If anything, it's your group that is different. Every Arctic Kemis have thick fur to protect us from the snow." Linx argued.
"Oh, we didn't mean that way. We truly are the different ones since we are not from here. We came here because of the news that some of our kind were living somewhere in this place." Queen Grace explained.
"Your kind? Oh, wait… I just remembered that a long time ago a bunch of Kemis arrived here. They also claimed to be from a foreign land. They have been living here since then, maybe they are the ones that nyu are talking about," Linx responded.
"A long time ago? Then that must be them. They have been missing for a lot of years now." Queen Grace replied.
"If that's the case, I'll inform the Chief this instant. Nyu can all wait here while I talk to them." Linx said.
Team Kita waits patiently even though they are all nervous about what will happen next. The rest of the group is trying to calm Queen Grace down, it's apparent that she's the most anxious one. Her hands are trembling from the situation, this is the moment that Queen Grace has been waiting for.
"I hope we are not too late, I should apologize first for taking this long." Queen Grace told herself.
"It's okay Queen Grace, I'm sure they'll be excited to see nyu," Hana said.
"Hana is right, nyu have done so well up to this point!" Kita added.
After a short while, the Chief comes out from the hall, together with Linx and 3 more Kemis following them. Queen Grace immediately recognized the 3 other Kemis at first glance, even though they aged a lot. They are indeed the missing scholars, the followers of King Luke.
151.
Shiin the Dogman, Aries the Sheepman, and Fenry the Foxman are the 3 out of 8 missing Kemis from Kemitopia. It's been ages since the scholars met Queen Grace, they remember her as the little girl who kept wandering around, and always following King Luke. They barely recognized the Queen, but when they saw how emotional she is right now, the followers got the gist of the situation.
"Greetings, my name is Iberx, the Chief of this village. My daughter informed us that nyu are looking for Kemis who's been missing for years." Iberx said.
"Ha-hai… I… I am Grace, the current Queen of Kemitopia." Queen Grace answered while stuttering.
"Grace? King Luke's daughter? Is that truly you?" Shiin questioned as he walked closer.
"Hai, we are here to finally take nyu all home. I'm sorry it took us this long." Queen Grace said with remorse.
"She does resemble the King's child, I can't believe this is happening. This… This shouldn't be happening…" Aries said.
"Huh?" Kita and others confusedly reacted.
"What do nyu mean?" Queen Grace asked.
"You shouldn't be here, and we shouldn't return to Kemitopia. Not until the King is done with his mission." Fenry answered. The situation gets way more confusing because of the scholars' answers.
"Perhaps it will be better to discuss this matter inside, please follow me." Iberx intervened and invited them to the hall. It's a long discussion that needs to be cleared up, good thing the Chief is willing to accommodate them.
Upon settling inside the hall, Queen Grace noticed something. There are 8 missing Kemis including King Luke, 3 of them are in front of her right now, whereas King Luke is in the Realm Sanctuary, which means there are still 4 more Kemis that they haven't met.
"Where are the other scholars? I hope they can join us too," Queen Grace asked.
"Aaa… Anoo… Queen Grace. We are saddened to inform you that 4 of our fellow scholars died years ago. We are the only ones left…" Shiin answered, and the horrible truth stunned the group.
"If it's okay to ask, may we know how they die?" Maiko responded.
"King Luke said it was a Rune corruption, at first, they can use talents, and then violet veins come out on their bodies. Eventually, their hearts stopped beating, along with the other residents here. The King also showed the same symptoms." Fenry replied.
"Though for some unknown reason, King Luke was the only survivor. He said that he would stop this madness, but it's been more than a decade now. There's a possibility that your father may never come back." Aries added.
"About that, we already know where he is. We also found shreds of recent evidence that he's been in different realms. That's how we were able to find nyu, King Luke is still alive." Queen Grace said.
The scholars were shocked, they never thought that this day would come. Years of waiting without any news from the former King himself made the scholars lose faith. The last thing they knew was King Luke severely suffered from corruption. That alone made them think the King wouldn't last long, just like everyone else in Blizshore. But now, Queen Grace brought them some updates they had been waiting for, it made them feel reassured. The rest of team Kita helped the Queen to explain the situation.
Even though it was hard to believe, the scholars put their trust in the new Queen. After clarifying the events, it's time for the scholars to tell how they got into Blizshore, and why they stayed in this realm all this time.
"A decade ago, King Luke found a Runekey. We studied it for a long time, which led to discovering that the artifact could unlock the Ruins toward a different realm. We went to an island and located the Ruin. The primary plan was simple, it should have been a quick peek into the realm and then we'd go back to Kemitopia before anyone noticed. But that obviously never happened." Aries started the story.
"Upon our arrival, one of us picked up a Forbidden Rune, we didn't know what that was before. That's when strange things started. The Forbidden Rune entered his palm and later on, that man could create flames on his hands. It was beyond our comprehension, that's why we sought help. It could be a generational milestone if we can figure out how it works. And that's how we ended up in this village." Fenry added.
"We were excited about the discovery, but it all changed when Iberx told us their history about the Forbidden Rune," Shiin said.
"2 weeks before they came here, a villager also had the same experience. After a couple of days, his veins turned violet, spreading through his body every hour." Iberx responded.
"We saw that villager, barely moving from his bed. We realized that could happen to our friend too, so King Luke decided to stay and study how it can be treated. He wanted the rest of us to go back to Kemitopia and cover for them, but we couldn't just leave the King behind." Shiin mentioned.
"King Luke searched for another Forbidden Rune, it wasn't that many before. It took us a lot of time before we finally found another one, and we carefully picked it up. It looks like the Forbidden Rune doesn't automatically fuse to a Kemi through direct contact, it requires more. King Luke spent the whole day studying the artifact. It could be a potential threat to UniPaws if we leave this unchecked. But that night, King Luke fused with the Forbidden Rune too." Aries said.
"Based on our studies, the reason may be someone's desire. King Luke was able to hold the Forbidden Rune earlier without a problem, but when his desire to know more grew, it allowed him to fuse with the Forbidden Rune. Which gave him the talent to see the past, present, and possible future." Fenry explained.
"Because of his new talent, our plans drastically changed. By the next morning, he told us what happened to Oceanaia will happen again, and we were currently experiencing the first phase. King Luke also claimed that he heard a glass shatter upon fusing with the Forbidden Rune that night. It was an outrageous thought, but it all made sense when we saw Forbidden Runes scattered beneath the snow. And then the corruption of Kemis continues up to this day." Shiin added.
152.
At last, the truth behind the disappearance of Kemis from Kemitopia was revealed, and the scholars told everything that they knew. Ever since King Luke saw the possible future, he decided to do whatever it takes to change their fate. He told the scholars to stay in Blizshore for the time being while he traveled toward the Realm Sanctuary. In this way, no one will know about the looming catastrophe besides them. It might take years of missing without a trace, but it is a small price to pay in keeping the peace in the UniPaws.
It was a hard decision for them, but the scholars trusted King Luke, even though the King himself told the scholars that their chances of survival were low. Some of them were already gone, but with the news that the group brought, the scholars felt like their sacrifice did not go in vain.
Knowing that the corruption is still ongoing in the village, team Kita helped the villagers using Hana's talent. Iberx escorted them toward the patients and started healing them. It was the first time they heard about the Runecrystal and how it unlocks a Kemi's talent without corrupting them. Everyone was amazed, they never knew that there was a counterpart of Forbidden Rune.
After some time, the corrupted villagers were finally healed. Iberx and Linx were in tears, words could not express their utmost gratitude. It has been dark times for them, and knowing that there's a cure to this state made the villagers see a light of hope.
"We are truly grateful for your help. As the Chief of this village, we are willing to do anything to return the favor," Iberx said.
"Weeeell, we are looking for the Mystical Runekey, and we already got a map towards the cave. Maybe some assistance or tips that will help us with our mission will do." Kita replied.
"Oh, good thinking! A snow sled that we can borrow will be helpful in this environment." Celeste responded.
"And Byakko can pull the sled, it will make things easier for us," Maiko added.
"Wait, you are collecting Mystical Runekeys too? Are you planning to help King Luke with his mission?" Shiin questioned.
"It's not exactly like that… At first, Queen Grace asked us to help her find King Luke. And then we stumble a lot of problems in the UniPaws, which are now solved. But our friend from the Realm Sanctuary couldn't go back to her place, so we decided to help her by gathering the Mystical Runekeys. It so happens that the King is also there. In short, we can achieve 2 missions by going there. Maybe helped King Luke as well when we finally understand what he is up to." Kita said, trying her best to answer the question accurately.
"It's a little complicated but I guess the answer is yes," Hana added as she chuckled.
"Wait until they find out about FeLinE," Maiko whispered to Celeste.
"Maybe we shouldn't add that to the equation, for now, it looks like they are clueless about the Realm Sanctuary," Celeste whispered back.
"We will prepare the sled and add more equipment to help nyu in your journey in this instant. Nyu may rest while we arrange your needs." Iberx said as he immediately moved.
"Please follow me, I'll escort nyu to your room," Linx added.
Kita, Hana, Maiko, and Celeste followed Linx while Queen Grace decided to stay with the scholars for a little longer. There are some stories that she wanted to ask about her father. The rest of the team respects the Queen's request and they leave the hall to give them privacy in their conversation.
While the rest of Kita's group is on their way, Linx can't stop thinking about something. Seeing a young Kemi handle such a complicated situation made Linx highly respect Queen Grace. When the group reached the spare room, Linx started to ask some questions.
"Anooo… Is it okay if I ask something? About Queen Grace?" Linx politely asked.
"Sure, what about her?" Kita answered.
"Is she always that calm and collected? I'm just impressed with how she handles the situation despite being young." Linx replied.
"Being the current Queen of Kemitopia was not that simple, she trained and built her image so her citizens can view her as someone they can rely on, just how nyu view her right now," Hana said.
"She does look graceful, like always knows what she's doing. But believe me, we've seen her panic and lose her mind. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not stabbing her back, I'm just saying that she is still a Kemi." Kita responded.
"Honto? Does that mean I still have a chance to be better? I'm the next-in-line Chief of the village and I'm nervous that I couldn't lead our people in the right way." Linx admitted her fear.
"I'm sure nyu will! Months or maybe years ago, none of us could do what we can right now. I was once only good at sports, Hana couldn't heal other Kemis before the training, Maiko was clueless about her talent, and Celeste was only an assistant who couldn't voyage a ship. All of us surpassed our own limits." Kita said.
"We grew a lot through experiences, though some things remain the same. Like how Celeste cries during a frightening encounter or Kita being hopelessly impulsive." Hana kiddingly said.
"Oy!" Kita madly reacted.
"I can't argue with that," Celeste replied as Maiko and Hana laughed.
"That's reassuring to hear, I thought leaders are just naturally born. For example, Maiko looks like a leader even though she's not doing anything. It's evident that I don't possess that image." Linx mentioned.
"It is because Maiko is also a leader, she's the Tribe Leader of Snowy Tribe," Celeste responded.
"Also, Queen Grace was kinda born to be a leader? I mean she was technically in line to take the throne by the moment that she was born." Kita added.
"Oh…" Linx reacted shortly.
"Though we both still molded ourselves to be like this, just like your situation as the daughter of the Chief. Nyu just need to rise up to the challenge." Maiko explained.
"I see… If that's the case, can nyu guys help me?" Linx asked.
"I can't see why not, we can let her tag along with our quest," Maiko responded.
"FeLinE will definitely be against this idea, but she's not here," Hana added.
"Then let's do it our way, let's all go to the cave!" Kita energetically said.
End of Chapter 1