A wet, rough sensation dragged across my cheek. I groaned, swatting aimlessly at whatever was disturbing my sleep.

  "Meow!" came the insistent reply, sharp and accusing.

  Let me sleep a little…

  The licking persisted, then escalated into tiny, prickly claws kneading my jaw. My eyes snapped open, and I found myself face to face with two bright amber eyes set in a furry, mischievous face.

  "Gods above, you're relentless," I muttered, my voice thick with sleep.

  Furball, unimpressed by my grumbling, let out another high-pitched meow and batted at my nose with her tiny paw. I blinked, the grogginess ebbing away as my surroundings came into focus. The golden light of the setting sun filtered through the forest canopy above, painting the clearing in warm hues. Shadows stretched long across the ground, signaling the close of another day.

  "Wait wait... Dusk already? Damn it," I sighed, realizing I had lost precious daylight.

  I sat up, the kitten wobbling slightly on my lap but refusing to relinquish ger perch. Stretching my limbs, I flexed my left hand—and froze. My arm, which had been mangled not so long ago, was completely healed. My fingers moved easily, strength coursing through them as if the injury had never happened.

  "Okay, that’s good," I whispered, turning my hand over and inspecting it from every angle. The skin was flawless, not even a scar.

  The kitten pawed at my arm, tugging me back to the present.

  "Right, focus on pressing matters first," I muttered, shaking my head. "Loot, food, and getting the fuck out of here before something worse shows up."

  I rose to my feet, and as I was about to brush dirt from my trousers, I froze… my deadass was buck naked.

  Fuck… no wonder I felt chilly, clothes… trousers here…

  Quickly finding spare clothes in the ring, I put them on as the kitten let out an indignant meow. This thing is an attention-seeker…

  "Yeah, yeah, I hear you," I said, smirking at the feline’s glare. "Don't look at me like that. You'll live."

  I surveyed the clearing. To my astonishment, the bloodstains that had painted the ground earlier—my own and my enemies'—were gone. The dirt was pristine, as if nothing had happened here. Even the metallic tang of blood in the air had vanished.

  "Nothing weird, yup totally normal…" I muttered.

  "Meow!"

  Sharp pain shot through my thigh as the kitten dug she claws into my leg, clinging to me.

  "Ouch! God damn it!" I yelped, stumbling backward. "Holy what?"

  The kitten stared up at me, her tail lashing like a whip. It let out a long, scolding meow and batted my boot for good measure.

  I burst out laughing. "Oh, you're mad that I ignored you?"

  I reached down and scooped up the kitten, who squirmed for a moment before settling into my arms with a huff.

  "You're lucky you're cute," I said, stroking the soft fur between her ears. The kitten leaned into the touch, letting out a contented purr that rumbled against my chest.

  Still chuckling, I carried the kitten toward the spot where I'd stashed my belongings. My gear was scattered, but nothing seemed to be missing.

  My eyes fell on my armor—the Noctis set, or what remained of it. The black leather was still torn and shredded in places, the sigils etched into its surface faint and unresponsive. Repairing it would take time. I would have to do something different and risky with it.

  "Guess for now, I'll have to make do with the spares," I muttered, setting the kitten down and digging through my pack. I pulled out a simpler set of leather armor—worn but serviceable—and began strapping it on.

  The kitten watched me with keen interest, occasionally batting at the dangling straps.

  "Yeah, you're really helpful," I said dryly as I tightened a buckle.

  The kitten let out a playful meow. Then, she pounced on a discarded gauntlet, wrestling it like a fierce rival. I couldn't help but smile. For all her antics, the tiny creature had an uncanny way of lifting my spirits.

  Once I was fully dressed, I stood and adjusted the fit of the armor. It wasn't as protective as the Noctis set, but it would do for now. I slung my pack over one shoulder and turned to the kitten, who was now chewing on the edge of my cloak.

  "Are you done? Or do you plan to destroy everything I own?"

  The kitten looked up at me, her tiny mouth still clamped around the fabric. She let out a muffled meow, as if daring me to stop it.

  "Unbelievable," I said, shaking my head. I crouched down and scooped up the little troublemaker, tucking it into the crook of my arm. The kitten nestled against me, her earlier grumpiness forgotten.

  With my gear in order and the kitten securely in tow, I started toward the tree line. The forest seemed quieter than before, the oppressive weight of the earlier battle lifted. Still, I kept my senses sharp, scanning the shadows for any signs of danger.

  "Next priority: find water, eat something, and maybe—just maybe—get some actual sleep," I muttered.

  "Meow," the kitten agreed, her tone surprisingly approving.

  I glanced down at it. "Oh, so now you're on board with the plan? Thought you'd want me to starve, considering how you've been trying to sabotage me."

  The kitten responded by licking my wrist; her tiny tongue was rough but oddly soothing.

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  "Traitor," I said, though my voice lacked any real bite.

  The sun continued its slow descent as I moved through the forest, the golden light fading into soft twilight. The kitten squirmed slightly in my arms.

  "Stay still, you little gremlin," I said, tightening my grip slightly. "The last thing I need is for you to run off into the dark and get yourself eaten."

  The kitten meowed in protest but settled down, her tiny head resting against my chest as her purring grew louder, a rhythmic sound that somehow eased my lingering tension.

  For a moment, I allowed myself to simply walk and breathe; the weight of my recent ordeal faded just enough to let a sliver of peace creep in.

  The kitten's warmth against my chest was a strange comfort, a small reminder that not everything in this godforsaken world wanted to kill me.

  It responded with a soft meow and nuzzled my chin, as if agreeing wholeheartedly.

  I stretched my arms overhead, my joints popping in protest. A deep groan escaped me as I bent to touch my toes, warming up my stiff muscles. "Goddamn, I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of elk," I muttered, rolling my shoulders to ease the lingering tightness. Despite the fatigue, though, something felt... different.

  My body buzzed with newfound strength; my endurance was noticeably heightened. Every breath seemed more efficient, every movement more fluid. The essence absorption earlier hadn't just healed me—it had fundamentally altered me.

  "Must've been that blood essence," I muttered, flexing my hands. "Guess it wasn't just for show." I frowned thoughtfully. "Compatibility percentage? Hidden requirements? Fuck if I know. I'll figure it out later."

  A small meow interrupted my musings, the kitten pawing at my chest. I looked down and smirked. "You're not much for introspection, are you?"

  The kitten blinked up at me innocently, then let out another insistent meow, her tiny nose twitching as it looked around.

  "Alright, alright, no more standing around." I lifted the kitten and nestled it into the crook of my neck, securing it with the collar of my cloak. The kitten squirmed for a moment before her head poked out, eyes wide scanning the surroundings as she swayed slightly with each of my steps.

  The kitten purred loudly in response, clearly unbothered by the jab. I shook my head, grinning despite myself, and turned my attention to the task at hand.

  Surveying the area, I muttered, "Alright, let's start with those five goblin fodder. At least they had the decency to wear clothes and not run and swing their jewels."

  With the sun sinking lower on the horizon, I moved quickly, retracing my steps to the spot where the first three goblins had fallen. Their headless corpses were sprawled in grotesque positions, dark blood staining the dirt around them. I crouched next to one and inspected its attire—a rough tunic and pants, both threadbare and reeking of sweat.

  "No pockets," I said with a sigh, turning out the edges of the tunic just to be sure. "Nothing but shitty wooden clubs, either. Useless."

  The kitten let out a sharp meow, her head twisting toward the fading light as if to say, "Hurry up."

  "I know, I know," I muttered, rising to my feet and brushing off my hands. I headed toward the next two goblins, the ones I had taken out with Exira.

  Their bodies were slumped against a tree, expressions frozen in terror. I crouched beside them, my fingers deftly searching for anything of value. My hand brushed against something cold and metallic.

  A collar.

  "Slaves, huh?" I murmured, examining the crude metal band around the goblin's neck. "That'd explain the shitty gear and pathetic strength."

  The kitten let out a soft meow, tilting her head as she watched me work.

  "Don't look at me like that," I said, glancing at the kitten. "I'm not taking the damn collars. They're not worth anything."

  I stood, a frustrated sigh escaping me. The sun was sinking fast now, shadows growing longer and deeper. I had maybe an hour of usable light left—if I was lucky.

  "Better get to the shaman," I muttered, my tone grim.

  The kitten meowed softly, her tiny paws kneading my shoulder as if offering encouragement.

  "Yeah, yeah, I hear you," I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips despite my irritation. "Let's hope this asshole has something worthwhile."

  I made my way toward the clearing where I'd faced the shaman, my boots crunching softly against the forest floor. The air felt heavier here, the remnants of dark magic lingering like an invisible stain.

  The shaman's body was sprawled near the ritual site, its staff lying broken beside it. I crouched beside the corpse, my sharp eyes scanning for anything of value.

  "Alright, you son of a bitch," I muttered, pulling at the tattered robes. "Let's see what you've got."

  The first pocket yielded a small, rusted dagger—useless for combat but possibly worth a few coins if sold to the right buyer...buyer? Dumb Lexi, I’m in a godforsaken different world; where in the fuck would I find a buyer… The second pocket was empty, save for a few dried herbs that crumbled to dust at my touch.

  "Come on, you bastard," I growled, growing more impatient. I tore open the shaman's pouch, spilling its contents onto the ground. A handful of trinkets clattered out—charms made of bone and wood, a few tarnished coins, and what appeared to be a vial of thick, black liquid.

  "What the fuck is this?" I said, holding the vial up to the dim light. The liquid inside seemed to writhe, as if alive. I shuddered and stuffed it into my pack.

  Miow~

  The kitten meowed loudly; her voice was sharp with impatience.

  "Yeah, I'm done," I said, rising to my feet. "Not much to show for it, but it's something."

  As I slung my pack over my shoulder, the kitten squirmed in my collar, her tiny paws reaching for the wooden charms scattered on the ground.

  "What, you want one of these?" I asked, picking up the smallest charm and holding it out to the kitten.

  The kitten batted at it enthusiastically, letting out a delighted meow.

  "Fine, you can have it," I said, tucking the charm into a pocket within her reach.

  I glanced around the clearing one last time. The eerie stillness made my skin crawl. It was time to leave.

  "Let's get the hell out of here," I muttered, turning away from the remnants of the ritual.

  As I retraced my steps back into the forest, the light continued to fade. The trees loomed taller, their shadows stretching like grasping fingers. The kitten nestled closer against my neck, her warmth a small comfort against the encroaching chill.

  "Need to find shelter," I said aloud, more to myself than to the kitten. "Preferably before something decides we're easy prey."

  The kitten purred softly, as if agreeing.

  I quickened my pace, scanning the surroundings for any signs of a suitable campsite. After a few minutes, I spotted a rocky outcrop ahead, partially hidden by dense foliage.

  "That'll do," I said, making my way toward it.

  Upon closer inspection, the outcrop formed a shallow cave, just large enough to provide cover. I cleared away some debris and set about gathering wood for a fire.

  "Stay put," I told the kitten, setting it down on a flat rock. "And try not to wander off."

  The kitten meowed in protest but settled down, watching me intently as I worked.

  Within minutes, I had a small fire crackling at the cave's entrance. The warm glow pushed back the darkness, and the scent of burning wood filled the air.

  I sat down heavily, the day's events catching up with me. My muscles ached, and fatigue tugged at the edges of my mind.

  "Not exactly the feast I was hoping for," I muttered, rummaging through my pack for something to eat. I pulled out a piece of dried meat and tore off a chunk, chewing thoughtfully.

  The kitten eyed me expectantly, her gaze flicking between my face and the food.

  "Oh, now you want to share?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "After all the trouble you've caused?"

  Little furball tilted her head, her eyes wide and innocent.

  "Fine," I sighed, tearing off a small piece and offering it to the kitten. It sniffed cautiously before nibbling on it.

  "Not exactly gourmet, but it'll have to do," I said, leaning back against the cave wall.

  As we ate in companionable silence, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

  The kitten finished her morsel and padded over to me, curling up in my lap. Her purring vibrated softly against my legs.

  "At least you've got no worries," I said, stroking her fur absentmindedly. "Just eat, sleep, and annoy me."

  It responded by nuzzling my hand, eyes half-closed.

  I sighed, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. "Guess we'll figure it out tomorrow," I said quietly.

  The fire crackled softly, the warmth lulling me into a state of drowsiness. I pulled my cloak tighter around me, the kitten nestled securely against me.

  "Goodnight," I whispered.

  The kitten's purring slowed, and soon it was fast asleep.

  I allowed my eyes to close, surrendering to the exhaustion. For now, we were safe. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but tonight we could rest.

  HOUSE OF END DISCORD

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