The Creator's Past | AnotherWorld: Original

Chapter 3 - Curiosity

Mocha squirmed as the chains got tighter around him, he struggled to get out. His mind was filled with fear and panic, he couldn't think of a way to escape. He felt a tightening in his limbs, as if his muscles were wrapped in rubber bands.

"That was a very unwise decision. You clearly should have not challenged someone who you don't know what they're capable of."

"And someone you just met. That's straight-up rude."  They voiced, glitchy and static sound lingered around their words.

They formed their hand into a fist, and the chains got even tighter. Red gleams appeared brighter around the chains, angrily compressing its grasp. Mocha's skin began to redden, almost turning soft shades of purple.

"So tell me, how did you get here?" They threatened as their garbled voice deepened. "And do not try to think of lies for the answer."

Mocha's mind slowly began to go blank, he experienced nothing but pain and agony.

However, he must answer the inquiry asked. Or else the situation might be messy, only for him.

"I-if you l-let me go from these chains, I'll tell you honestly.." Despite the excruciating pain from the heavy chains around his body, the man was capable of putting together a sentence. Mocha forced his arms to spread, trying to ease the gripping pressure.

"I don't believe you."

"Please, it's hurting me badly..., Please let me go.." Mocha pleaded.

Unforewarned, the chains evaporated and Mocha fell to the ground. Though he had been set free, the pain was still tormenting him, holding his torso where the aching hurts the most. He lifted his head, gazing at the tall sturdy figure.

"T-thank you, forgive me for trying to have a combat with you...w-what are you? What wizardry are you using? Why do you-"

"You're asking too many questions but you didn't respond to mine." They stated.

Mocha's words were cut off by them again. He got up on his feet and tried to take a closer look, taking slow cautious steps. This person is a mystery, capable of doing things that no mortal could achieve. His curiosity drove him higher. His hunger to catch sight of their countenance was thwarted by the hood. His face conveyed frustration, his tail resumed to wag around.

The sturdy figure waited for his answer, they kept silent.

"I'm sorry, I was being chased by the guards in a village, they accused me of stealing but I didn't... I guess the villagers weren't welcoming the outsiders..." He chuckled nervously. Although there was more to share about what happened, he hesitated to delve into it.

They listened intently, their ears attuned to every word. Acknowledging the werecat in front of them behind the black hood.

Mocha took a moment to shake off the dirt from his ears and tail, ensuring he was presentable before proceeding to continue his chatter.

"And I ran away until I found a forest. I think I'll lose the guards here... and I did! But then it turns out the forest was huge and deep!! I didn't know where to go, so I kept walking and then I found this lake and thought I could rest here..." He went on.

They sighed and shook their heads slightly. "Travellers are so annoying, this is why I'm not fond of them." They muttered quietly, but their malfunctioning voice reached his ears. Despite feeling offended, he couldn't help but empathize and understand the reasons behind it. His once perky cat ears droop down in a display of sadness.

"I'm sorry again, for challenging you to a battle... It was a foolish decision to make..." He said faintly, a hint of gloom in his tone was noticeable.

There were a few moments of silence. Mocha hung his head low, trying to hide the sudden unhappiness. He couldn't find a way to express the full extent of his melancholy at the moment, even though it was with a stranger.

His mood swings shifted like a house cat.

"Apology accepted. You feel threatened by me so you did it to defend yourself." They nodded.

Mocha fiddled with his fingers. He felt a wash of relief through him, but something about the figure pierced his curiosity.

"So... What are you?" He asked.

The tall figure only stood in silence. Mocha could tell by the air that the figure was confused, as well as the slowly tilting head of them.

"You should leave. Go somewhere else. Don't step foot in this forest again." They whipped around, walking away.

"Wait! Wait! You can't just leave me hanging! I need to know!"

He really does, it already bewildered him. The magic, the sudden chains coming from thin air, the strength, the witchcraft. All of this was new to him. Like a side of the world he just discovered. As a traveler in nature, he must explore.

"Why do you want to know so bad?" They said while turning their head to the traveler.

"B-Because I want to know! I need to know! I need to know why!" He said loudly. Plus, going back will only in result him being captured by the guards again. The chances were high. His luck was helpful as he found something to distract him from his problems, and he intended to not lose it. Especially when he was lost in the thick, deep forest.

"Curiosity kills the cat." The distorted voice mocked.

That made Mocha quite frenetic.

"Stop with your cat-related idioms! It is very annoying!" The traveler grumbled, his hand moving like a child begging for candy.

The frustration grousing and whining made them laugh. As if the distorted, unsettling voice that left him feeling uneasy had disappeared. It had been revealed, or replaced with the sound of an alluring feminine voice of a woman.

"They laughed. She laughed. The voice of laughter sounds like a woman. She's a woman. That's the first hint I have found out." His mind began to excite, a sudden triumph grew in him. His eyes glistened with hope. He wouldn't let go until he found his answers, the brown werecat was so dragged by his curiosity.

"Some things are better off not knowing or not to be known." She walked away. And before Mocha could halt her she vanished after walking behind a tree.

"Wait!" He jolted forward but it was no use. He grumbled in exasperation, sighed in irk, and groaned in defeat.

"Damn it, You almost killed me, made me curious about your existence and now you're gone?!" He shouted. "I want my answers, lady!" A concerted effort he expressed to call her, deep down he hoped that she was around but he knew it was otherwise.

"I need to know what you are! I've never seen someone like you!"

"Hello???"

Mocha felt like he'd been a little ridiculous for yelling out loud without anyone there to hear it. He rubbed his forehead, his brown eyes scattering around the woods, looking behind the trees and bushes. His cat ears were flattened back and his wagging tail had stopped and curled.

A sigh escaped his mouth, He effortlessly snatched his bag off the floor.

***

Felicia did not leave. She teleported without a sound, with a sudden zap taking her to a distant location within reach of the traveler.

She was curious as well. Felicia was incredibly guaranteed that he was not immortal, but something felt off about his energy, something unfamiliar to her.

"I need to know what you are! I've never seen someone like you!"

What does he mean by that?

His remarks made her even more confused.

He's a cat, he's not a regular human.

Doesn't that mean he's one of her kind?

His behavior, also, made Felicia feel a bit pleasant. Judging by how brave he was and his indestructible level of curiosity. Even now the traveler was searching for Felicia, wandering, occasionally glancing back and forth at the tree that Felicia had just vanished behind.

"If you want answers, I'll give you some taste of it."

With a snap of her finger, a red storm whirled around Mocha.

"Whoa! Hey!" The werecat yelped.

Within seconds she vanished along, bringing the traveler along with the disappearance.