The framework, as it turns out, is pretty much like a system in video games, and some of those LitRPGs. I could barely believe what Cici was telling me, but given how this was all being explained to me by a beautiful cat girl with stark white hair and fur, I was becoming a lot more open minded as of late.
"So... this syst- uh, framework, do you like, kill monsters and level up or something?" I asked, and she looked at me like I spoke foreign language.
"I don't even know what that means. That sounds ridiculous." The cat girl from a fantasy world with a video game system told me, and I chuckled.
"Sure. How silly of me." I said as I rubbed her head.
"There are classes and there are ranks. When you integrate into the framework for the first time, you are given a class based on what it deems to be your best match. People think it's random, but I don't think it is. I got Stealth, and that lets me sneak around easier, as well as transforming into my smaller cat form. I was always sneaking out of my home and causing mischief as a child." She said, smiling at a memory, "Caused my mom and dad a lot of worry. Guess the Framework saw fit to give me a Class to fit that part of me. I never actually thought I would have to use it to save my life until..." She said, her words choking off at the end.
I held her to me as I replied.
"So, you think if I integrate into this... framework, it'll give me a class? You think it'll help me?" I asked, and she nodded hesitantly.
"It might... it might not, but it's the only hope we have. If you get a good enough class, it might give you the skills needed to push through whatever is wrong with you. You may start off as a low rank, but anything is better than sitting here and watching you die... I don't want to lose you. I can't..." She said, tearing up as she rubbed against me.
"Cause I'm your mate?" I asked softly, and she leaned up and kissed me again.
Hell... I had accepted my death would be coming soon, and I had made my peace with it. But now... with this girl in my arms, treating me like I mattered, I didn't want to go anywhere. Our kiss ended, and I found a new determination burning within me. I didn't want to die. I couldn't die, and leave Cici alone. I stared into her gorgeous green eyes.
"Okay. I want to know a little more, but I can't bare the thought of leaving you." I said, and she began to tremble, and more tears fell from her eyes as she squeezed me so tight I felt my ribs crack.
"Of course! I'll tell you anything!" She said into my chest, and despite the possibility of her breaking my ribs, I didn't even care. This woman just made me feel something that I've never felt before, not even with Rach.
"Well, you mentioned ranks. Would it be good if I got something high ranked?" I asked, and if it worked like a video game, or a book, then I was pretty sure I already knew the answer. And indeed, Cici nodded at me.
"Yes. Incredibly so. When I got my stealth class, it was at F rank, which is the lowest rank something can be, but after having it for about 8 years, I've trained it all the way up to D rank. Classes, as well as creatures, are ranked on a scale of F to S,with S being the highest, and there ranks in between those, like C- or B+ for example. Some say that there are ranks beyond that, but it's just legends so far. I've never even seen someone or something with an S ranked class, or an S ranked creature. Monsters and creatures don't get classes, so they are given power ratings from the framework instead. I've also been told a person's class can change and evolve the higher rank you become, and some are even specialized to an individual. No one I know has ever had that happen, so it's just what I've heard. I trust my parents though, so I believe it to be true."
That's interesting. No levels and no experience, yet it sounds like you can become stronger through training your class. I've read a couple things similar to that before. It sounded pretty damn cool, almost too cool to be true. However, again, a pretty cat girl was explaining this to me, so I was inclined to believe her.
"And how do I connect to this framework once we get there?" I asked.
"That's what I'm not sure about. I got a message from it when I was around 12. The framework connects to you based on your age. I assume it waits until your body is able to handle the influx of power and mana. For me, it was a painless transition." Cici said, and I nodded as I made up my mind quite easily.
I was fully on board at this point. I had nothing keeping me here anymore. I would miss my mom, but there was nothing I could do for her at the moment, and less I could do if I was dead. If I got a strong enough class, and could actually do something about it, I wonder if I'd be able to come back and help her. Still, no use in thinking about any of that if I died. Plus, I wanted to stay with Cici. She chose me, and I refused to let it end like this.
"Alright. Where do we go?" I asked, and Cici smiled wide as she began rubbing her face into my chest, her ears tickling my face.
"Hey! Hey! Easy there, love." I said, laughing at the sensations.
"Mmm. Your love. I like that." She said in contentment as she just laid down on top of me again.
It just kinda came out, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that way. I loved her when she was my cat, and that didn't change just because she transformed into a person. I just had to get used to new feelings I felt for her as a result. She loved me, and it was as more than just a caretaker, or a friend. She wanted to be... my lover. And you know, I'd be damned if I died on her now, without even getting to know the proper Cici.
"I'm going to do this, Cici. I accepted my death a while ago, but now..." I looked at her, and without even hesitating, I kissed the top of her head, making her purr and nuzzle into my neck, "I have something to lose. Something very precious, and I won't leave you alone without a fight. It's worth a try."
"I'm scared to go back..." She mumbled into my neck, "But, if it means saving you... I'll do anything. My mom would be so confused if I told her I fell in love with a human..." She grew quiet after that, and I just held her.
I didn't tell her this, because I didn't want to get her hopes up, but if I got there and it actually gave me a good class, there might be something we could do to help her people, and her family, provided they were still alive. That's a lot of ifs, but...
"Whenever you are ready to go, Cici, we can get dressed. You'll have to help me a little bit." I told her, and she smiled at me as she leaned up and kissed me again.
Her kisses were much more than I'd gotten from Rach in a long time. They were softer, more gentle, more caring, and conveyed a deeper sense of love that I've missed for quite some time. This made it crystal clear to me now. Rachel fell out of love with me a long time ago, and I was just pretending like everything was okay. But this girl, right here, she was worth fighting for.
"Let me just enjoy snuggling for a bit longer." She said as she rested her head on my chest.
I ran my hands through her hair, playing with her cute little ears, making them twitch. I smiled at the sight.
"Anything you want." I muttered as her soft purrs soothed my mind.