Their next destination was Puzzle City. It was the city that was the center of the transportation of goods in the East, and it was pretty famous for the number of rock towers around the city.
Cale needed to find an unfinished rock tower in Puzzle City.
"Are we camping out today?"
On took a bite of the jerky as she asked Cale. Cale nodded his head.
"Yes. Starting today, we will be camping outside every so often."
Cale had set a pretty filled schedule from here on as well. It was because he wanted to have enough time in Puzzle City. He turned away from the kitten siblings, who were whispering quietly to each other, and looked outside the carriage window.
'The Vitality of the Heart.'
That was the name of the ancient power that would strengthen the Indestructible Shield. This was a power that was focused on restoration and vitality.
'That was why the eldest son was looking for it.'
Taylor, the eldest son of the Marquis, who had lost his position as heir. He was the only good person in the Marquis's family, but the lower half of his body had become paralyzed because of Venion's schemes.
'But it was useless.'
The, 'Vitality of the Heart,' was unable to restore an already injured body. It only was able to restore any injuries recieved after earning the power. There was also a limit on how much could be restored, as well as a cost to pay for any restorations.
Taylor fell into despair after learning about that fact. He had no time, and that ancient power was his last hope. It was because Taylor did not know when Venion would come to kill him.
'He dies a month after finding the power.'
The crazy priestess. She was Taylor's friend and the only person who survives Taylor's assassination. She kills half of the assassins in anger, and ends up becoming excommunicated by the temple. She ends up with a large injury on her back from the incident and confidently tells the temple about what she had done.
['I acted as a human rather than following the will of the lord. I believe that is the right thing to do.']
She then continued on after that.
['I am now free!']
That is when she starts to be called the crazy priestess by others. Her specialty was using the strength of the God of Death for curses. The temple had excommunicated her, but her god did not throw her away.
When the war broke out, she became famous, even though she was not a hero, because of how she helped to heal the injured.
'I think it will be different this time.'
There was a good chance that Taylor would not die in a month. Venion was going to be busy dealing with the dragon incident and sucking up to the Marquis. He probably would need to focus on his younger siblings rather than his paralyzed older brother to maintain his status as the heir to the Marquis title.
'And since I will be taking Taylor's last hope away, I will need to give him a new hope.'
Although the Vitality of the Heart was an ancient power that Taylor did not need, Cale was not such a bad guy to take someone's last hope away.
Cale was also curious to know about what that combination of Taylor and the Crazy Priestess could achieve if they managed to live longer. He thought that the two of them could change the Marquis's estate. If that could happen, that would be better for Cale in the long run.
At that moment, Cale looked down after feeling something tapping at his leg. He could see the golden pupils of the kittens shining, as the kittens started to speak.
"I heard from Hans earlier."
"Hans said."
Hans still didn't know that the kittens were Cat Tribe kittens, and continued to say all sorts of things in front of the kittens. The kittens seemed to want to tell him something they had heard Hans say.
"What?"
The siblings seemed to have gotten used to Cale's rude way of asking, and started to speak.
"If you make a wish at a rock tower, it will come true."
"He said the rock towers were pretty.''
"I want to go. But it's okay if it is too annoying."
"I want to go with you, but it's okay if it is too difficult."
Cale blankly stared at the fidgety kittens before casually asking.
"What kind of wish do you have?"
Hong shook his fur, that was now healthier and shinier thanks to getting good treatment from Hans, and shouted out with excitement.
"That everybody, including my new little brother, can live a good life."
'Little brother, eh?'
"That's a good wish. We'll go later then."
Meowww
Meowww
Cale could see how the kittens became very excited after hearing his answer, and turned away from them with a smile on his face. The carriage stopped at the same time. They had arrived at the location of their campsite for the evening.
"Looks like we are camping out again starting today."
"Indeed."
Cale answered Hans's statement, before looking around their campsite. The wind from the forest blew by his head. Cale spent the night with a pretty relaxed mind.
The next morning.
"Young master."
"...What is this?"
Cale stared at the dead deer that was at the border of their campsite. It had been hunted recently. Hans reported to Cale, who just continued to stare at the deer.
"Someone left it here on our campsite."
Hans pointed next to the deer. Cale was looking at that spot as well. On the ground was a drawing of a fork and a knife.
It was as if someone had left the deer there for them to eat.
'I think I know who it is.'
An individual that could speak, but could not write, had left the deer for them.
'So he is following as expected.'
The two siblings seemed to have realized as well, but Cale pretended to not know about it. However, a new ingredient was delivered to them every time Cale and crew camped outside. Wild hog, rabbits, and all sorts of fruits. Cale was now sure about the existence of the dragon following behind him.
Cale then arrived at Puzzle City with that confirmation in his mind.
After easily passing through Puzzle City's gate, the Henituse family's Golden Turtle carriage followed the lead of the butler Hans to the inn.
"It is smaller than Western City."
"Right. Small."
Cale nodded at On and Hong's words, and looked outside the carriage.
'Will he be following me in the city?'
From what he observed so far, the black dragon was keeping his distance from the humans. Most likely because he couldn't stand the sight of them after what he has gone through. That was a natural response. So going into a city full of them was definitely going to be a challenge for him.
------------------
"Will we be staying here?"
Hans quickly responded to Cale's question, as they followed behind the inn owner. Hans seemed to be very excited, as he was walking with the kitten siblings in his arms.
"Yes sir. We arrived right before the Rock Tower Festival season, so the room was not that expensive."
The Rock Tower Festival. Puzzle City was currently busy preparing for next week's Rock Tower Festival. Cale just let out what he was thinking without giving it any thought.
"It's not like there are a lot of rocks here, but the rock towers are quite interesting. Very odd."
"I know the reason for that."
'Huh?'
Cale peeked toward Hans, who had responded to his mumblings.
"There is a sad yet thought provoking story that has been passed down through the ages."
"Stop right now if it is going to be long."
Cale really didn't care about it. However, Hans continued to speak, as he had probably determined that the story was not very long. The group that had entered Cale's room watched as the attendant stepped out of the room and then had to listen to Hans's story.
"This story, well, this legend, is about something that happened in ancient times."
"Ancient times?"
Click.
The attendant had closed the door behind her and only Cale's group was left in his room. Cale responded to the words, 'ancient times.'
"Yes. Ancient times."
"Go on."
The kitten siblings in Hans's arms were wagging their tails, as if they were interested in the story, and looked up at him.
"Ahem! This city supposedly fell out of the grace of a god in the past."
'Falling out of grace?'
Cale did not know anything about this story.
"This is my first time hearing about it."
"That is because young master has not studied history."
"...You seem to enjoy talking back to me these days. Are you going to keep talking back like that? Hmm?"
Hans quickly turned his gaze away from Cale.
"It is only natural for a great butler to inform their master about things that the master does not know."
Hans started to speak about the ancient times.
"I do not know why this city fell out of the grace of a god. However, that is apparently when some of the people in this city started to gather together to build rock towers. It seemed to have been an act of worship to reach out to the god that had abandoned them."
"Did it work?"
Hans sternly responded to Cale's question.
"No."
The god did not listen to them.
"Apparently, none of the prayers went through. That is why the present day Puzzle City does not have a single temple."
"There's no reason for me to worship a god who has abandoned me. Is that it?"
"Ding ding ding! Our young master truly is smart and does not need to study at all."
"...You want to get punched?"
Hans turned away from Cale to look at a far away mountain and continued to speak.
"Ahem. Anyways, they have rock towers instead of temples. The rock towers represent a promise that the people made after all of that. It was a promise between the people, as well as a promise with themselves."
"What kind of promise?"
Hans started to explain an odd rule that was followed in Puzzle City.
"A human who has had their wish granted will destroy their rock tower."
Cale started to smile.
"What an interesting city."
"Isn't it? Since they were abandoned by their god, they needed to achieve everything with their own strength. The act of destroying their rock tower represents, 'overcoming the odds.'
Cale liked the act of destroying the rock tower very much. He then recalled the numerous rock towers in front of the houses.
"The rock towers are not created to seek help from a god."
"Right. It is more of a representation of their own determination."
This kind of rock tower held a lot of importance, even if you never got to destroy it.
"I guess it wasn't the god granting their wish in the end."
"Yes. You are right. Although it is sad that they were abandoned, this story also gives people a lot of hope."
Cale casually gave an ordered to Hans who was responding to him.
"Look down."
"Excuse me?"
Seeing Hans looking confused, Cale pointed to Hans's chest with his finger.
"Looks like the kittens are angry."
"What?"
Gasp! Hans looked down and gasped as his eyes opened widely. The kittens were showing their teeth in anger. The golden pupils staring at Hans were vicious.
"Aigoo. Why are our kitten-nims so angry? Should I go bring you some more jerky?"
Hans started to smile as he put the kittens down from his chest. Since he still had no idea that they were beast people, he just assumed they were angry because they were hungry. However, the kittens were not angry because of that. Cale recalled the things that the siblings had told him earlier.
['I heard from Hans earlier.'
'Hans said.'
'If you make a wish at a rock tower, it will come true.'
'He said the rock towers were pretty.']
Tap. Tap.
On seemed to be angry, as she was tapping on the floor with her paw, while Hong was tapping on the floor with his tail. They were angry that Hans had lied to them about the rock tower, but Hans seemed to have gotten the wrong message.
"Aigoo, our precious kitten-nims. I will go get some delicious snacks for you! Young master, may I go get something for them?"
"Yeah, sure."
"I will be back really quickly."
Hans said that he would hurry back, but he still made sure the things he brought for Cale were neatly organized, before heading out like the wind as soon as it was done.
"Hans is a liar!"
"I trusted that butler!"
The kitten siblings finally let out their anger after the butler was gone, while Cale was ignored them by looking out of the window.
Cale was looking in the direction of a cave in the corner of Puzzle City. This cave was the location of the incomplete rock tower and the, 'Vitality of the Heart.' There should be a small house in that cave.
'Didn't it say the person lived until they were 150 years old?'
This was a power that an ancient being left after naturally dying from old age. The deceased person thought his power to be a curse. Cale got up from his seat, fixed his clothes a bit, and opened the door.
"Aigoo!"
Hans happened to be right outside the door. Seeing the butler, who had run back with his arms full of jerky, Cale started to speak.
"Let's go see the rock tower."
The kittens ears started to twitch. Cale smirked internally at the kittens, who ran toward him like they were never angry to start, and picked the people that would go with him.
"It will just be us and Hilsman. Oh, bring On and Hong with you too."
The human who died at the age of 150 had wanted to finish a rock tower in this Wind-Gathering Cave.
'It was wood last time, now it is wind?'
The center of the cave has a hurricane that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. The old man had spent over 100 years trying to build a rock tower in the eye of that hurricane. However, he failed.
Well, the old man always destroyed his rock tower whenever it looked like he was going to finish. He repeated that over and over until he died one day after stacking it back up about half way.
Just what wish did that ancient old man have? Cale didn't really care. He just planned on carefully looking at one thing while they were out looking at rock towers today.
'Might as well make it look good if I'm going to build it anyways.'
Since he had to do it anyways, he was going to make it look good. He also had to pay attention to some people, just in case, at the Rock Tower Ruins.
A bit later, Cale, the two kittens, Hilsman, and Hans arrived at the entrance of the Rock Tower Ruins. They didn't bring their carriage that showed the symbol of the Henituse family.
'They really are still here.'
He was able to locate the people that he was looking for as soon as they entered into the ruins. Cale stealthily hid behind Hilsman and Hans.
At a bit of a distance was a casually dressed man and woman. The man was in a wheelchair, with the woman pushing the wheelchair and heading out of the entrance of the Ruins, which was also the exit.
They didn't notice Cale's stealthy gaze and casually left the ruins. The man turned his head slightly toward the woman and asked.
"Why did you want to come here today?"
"I don't know if it is a message from the lord or just complete bullshit, but I've had the same dream for a couple of days that I needed to come here. My dream said that our future benefactor will show up if we came to the ruins. Something about how even the lord didn't know how that benefactor will act, other than the fact that they will be coming to the ruins today."
"There's even a person that the lord cannot predict?"
"Who knows? Half of the things the lord says is bullshit. Complete bullshit."
The woman with short brown hair vented with annoyance.
"Bullshit? It is the word of the lord. Plus, wasn't it a secret that you can hear messages from the lord?"
The responding man was the eldest son of Marquis Stan's family, Taylor Stan.
"It's not like there are any priests in Puzzle City. And who cares about the word of the lord? Does the lord feed us? How can there be a benefactor for people like us? Absolutely bogus. I'm hungry. Let's go eat."
The woman who looked annoyed was Taylor's close friend, Cage, the woman who will eventually be called the Crazy Priestess. Taylor responded back to Cage with a serious expression.
"Cage, I suddenly feel like drinking beer."
"Really? I'm craving smoked pork."
They looked at each other with serious expressions. Taylor pointed forward with his finger, and seriously responded to Cage.
"What a wonderful combination. Let's go. Push! It'll be my treat!"
"Aigoo, your treat?! This priestess will do her best to escort you there."
The two of them started to laugh as they started to move.
Cale could not hear their conversation because he was far away, but he was doing his best to remember the faces of these two individuals, who were still able to laugh while in the middle of some terrible situations.
'Now that I've confirmed what they look like, I just need to make sure to avoid them.'
Since they didn't know who he was, Cale just had to make sure he avoided them in the future.
To be continued...