Help Cai

“We've got your back, Cai!” You exclaimed, rushing to her side. You looked back at Milk hopefully. The Cow nodded proudly at you and pumped her fist to show additional support.

“Yeah!” Milk threw her new weapon over her shoulder and stood beside you.

“Good answer. I wanted to help this one, as well.”

Cai looked at you both with wide eyes. She was touched by the display, but something was on her mind. It was stopping her from just saying yet. “But... Sun wasn't wrong. You're a Beast, right?”

“I am.” Milk nods.

“I don't know how responsible it would be to take you back to my Sect.” She admitted shamefully.

You stared Cai down. “She literally saved you and maybe Hao. How can you say that?”

She looked at you apologetically. “No no no! I didn't mean it like that. I meant that I am worried that my Sect will side with Sun.”

“That's why we need to get there to explain before he can fully poison the well. Is your Master a good person?” You questioned.

Cai blushed and smiled warmly as the question crossed her mind. “Yes. She is.” She took a breath and hefted Hao further up her shoulders.

“Alright, then. It's decided.”

“Yeah!” Milk cheered.

The three of you set off at a brisk pace. “Are we slowing you down?”

“No, I'm tired from the fight and my Soft-Step is less advanced. I can run on my own but carrying Hao with me is-” She blinked as Milk took Hao off her back and threw him over her shoulder easily.

“Ah... A-are you sure.”

“Just go on ahead.” Milk offered. Cai looked to you for approval, surprisingly.

You considered your options and came to a reasonable conclusion. “If you run ahead without us you can explain to your Master what happened without worrying about us scaring your people. Then we'll show up with Hao and support your story.”

Cai nodded. “That is a sound plan! I'll see you both there!” With that she leapt off into the trees and sped away, branch to branch. You noticed she was leaving behind a trail for you as she went. Branches cut down behind her in a particular way that you could easily identify. You Closed your eyes and began to trek forward. It was only a few steps before you felt Milk's strong arm around your waist. You gasped as she picked you up and threw you over her other shoulder to run at a steady pace.

“I-I can walk!”

“Walking? We should be running!” Milk uttered jovially with no particular ill intent behind her words. She was simply correct.

“I guess you're right...” As she carried you, you had time to observe Hao's state. He was no longer frothing and instead shifted to unconsciousness.

'Maybe that is a good thing? It seems like whatever the Horse was, it invaded his brain and nervous system. He very quickly gained control of his lower half, but if Hao gained control it would've been a problem. Maybe it was controlling him? I have so many questions.' Deep down you wanted to see those creatures assimilate more people as examples for your study. Potentially yourself, as well so you could feel it...

'Bad! Bade Eve!' You shook off those thoughts.

'I-I'm not a bad person... Right?' You asked yourself.

''I'm just interested... I don't enjoy watching people fall.' As you thought that, you felt like you heard an echoing, feminine laugh in your head that faded as quickly as it came. It quickly left your mind, as it could have been anything. A hallucination, most likely. You were very stressed from the encounter and what was to come.

-

Milk followed the clear trail to a walled structure on the edge of the forest with sloped roofs slanting down from intricate-looking walls. There were several buildings visible within the walls, like a small town. Without any choice you were carried through the Sect's arch by Milk. She stopped in a white courtyard, throwing you and Hao down. A crowd that had assemble turned to jeer at you and Milk and Hao. They were already in the process of berating Cai. Among them, Sun stood smugly with his arms crossed over his chest. It was puffed out proudly. He had effectively turned everyone against you all before you even had a chance to explain yourself, just as you feared.

“There they are!”, “Sun was right, It's a beast!”, “Hao is a beast now, too?”, “Is the Master called?”, “Forget the Master, we need to take this into our own hands!”

You overheard many, many overlapping voices from the crowd from different people that all seemed to share the same warped perspective. You stepped forward and insisted.

“We aren't your enemy! She is peaceful!” To their credit they quieted down to listen and observe.

“That 'beast' fought Centaurs to save your friend. She brought Hao back to you and allowed Cai and Sun to come back to you. If she or I were dangerous, would either of them be here? Why would WE be here?”

As the crowd of students looked to be turning in your favor, Sun chimed in. “Are we easily fooled? A Hound that attacks the flock will take it's prey once before being caught. A wolf that hides among the flock will feed only when found.” He offered a parable that seemed to resonate with the crowd. It got them back on his side.

“Cai has been tricked. I will not be. How about you all?” There were shouts of 'no!' as he said that, looking at Cai with a smirk. He seemed to be daring her with his eyes, saying; 'well, what now?' You sensed a long-standing rivalry that had bubbled to the surface. By your perception, Cai was being overwhelmed by having the crowd against her. Just as it seemed they were going to act, a voice rang out from behind them all.

“Enough!” Sun cringed. Cai breathed a sigh of relief, but as she began to think, anxiety still crept back in. She was uncertain. You watched a figure with cute, perky cat ears and a tabby tail part the crowd. Her gray and black striped hair and ears stood out. She had pale skin and wore simple robes, though you knew by the way she was treated by those around her, rather than her dress, that she was the Master that Cai spoke about. She regarded you, then Milk. Notably, she ignored Cai and approached the two of you immediately. Sun rushed to her side.

“Master! These-”

She glanced at him. That once glance was enough to stop him in his tracks. The Cat approached you. Milk stood beside you and postured defensively, but you eased her, intent on giving the Master a chance. That did not go unnoticed. The woman smiled down at you benevolently and removed her hands from her sleeves to perform the same salute that Cai did.

“I thank you for bringing my Disciples home safely.”

“Y-you're welcome?” You said.

She turned to Milk and saluted her again, though you could see subtly that she was eyeing Milk closely. Milk grinned at her, holding her weapon at ease over her shoulder.

“I thank you...” She paused, finishing her assessment with a nod.

“And greet a fellow Master.”

“Finally, some respect!” Milk laughed. You cringed, but thankfully she stowed the shaft of her glaive in the curl of her elbow and offered a similar salute.

“Though I WAS far more than a Master before I lost my ability, I'll greet you as a fellow Master, for now.” Milk winked at her.

The woman covered her mouth to laugh. “Is that so? All the same... Thank you.”

The interactions seemed to cool the crowd, much to Sun's frustration. He stormed back through them, disappearing. A few other boys and girls followed after him. You felt like you won, for now.

'But that's not over, is it? He'll keep being a problem...' You thought about the Centaurs and their threat.

'If only Sun was taken instead.' You frowned.

'Stop! What are you thinking?' You turned to the Master.

“Uhm... What is your name?”

“I am Master Saedi, of the Soft-Step Sect. You, young lady, have a curious heir about you.” The Master, who previously had a calm and caring air, had a hungry look as she looked you over. She inspected your form and tried to feel your Aura and your Soma. From her perspective, you wondered what she saw.

“I see potential.” She answered. You blushed.

“R-really?”

“Would you like to join us?” She offered, extending her hand.

“What about Milk?”

“Hmm.” Saedi looked to Milk, then back to you.

“For now, Guests. You could learn while here, and if interested you could become a part of our Sect officially. Both of you, if interested.”

“I'm not gonna join a Sect, but Meekling-” Milk nodded to you.

“You could learn something useful.”

“You think I could learn Soft-Step?” You asked.

“Some version of it.” Saedi claimed.

“There are degrees that we teach. The most advanced...” She hopped up and began taking steps higher and higher into the air like she was simply hopping up a set of stairs. It was effortless for her. Milk Whistled to show she was impressed. Saedi landed from high to stand before you again.

“What do you think?”

“I guess this was the whole point...” You remembered something important.

“W-wait! Did Sun even mention that the Centaurs swore to come back in greater numbers?”

Saedi closed her eyes in contemplation. “He did not. This is troubling.”

“Are you strong enough to hold them back? You're a Master. Also, Milk basically put them through a ringer. They barely escaped.”

“Beasts have their own 'Masters' that can be a threat all on their own. If they are promising to return even after being beaten by your friend then that simply means that they believe they have a chance against her if they return with reinforcements.”

“That's true.” You remarked.

“Walk with me...” She seemed to be waiting for something.

“Oh! My name is Eve.”

“Eve. You do not have to stay here. You have already given us a gift that is priceless to me. As such, I would not feel bitter to see you and your friend off with a fitting reward.” Saedi offered Graciously.

“What if we stay?” You glanced back. As the two of you left Milk, a group of girls had already cautiously approached the Minotauress and she was loving the attention. She flashed her muscles and the blushing girls and seemed to arouse them with words whispered down to them. Some that could be seen by you reading lips. Others you did not want to see.

'That's... Interesting.' You thought.

“If you stay-” Saedi began, looking quite serious.

“I would be even more grateful to have you both here. Especially your friend. However... It will be dangerous. I can not ask you to. I can only wait for your decision.”

“I see.” You had already resolved to help these people on more than one occasion? Why stop here, you thought. The only question really on your mind was whether to try and learn their technique and potentially commit to joining their Sect. You glanced over at Milk. Watching her fight made you realize that there was someone right beside you that you could have been learning from.

“We are definitely going to stay and help you!” You announced. The second question, the one you made for yourself weighed on your mind.

* * *

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