I Am NOT a Catgirl! Ch. 8: The Backbone (Patreon)

Celestia’s furious gaze turned on Tristan, flickering to his outstretched arm. “What lies has this insolent girl poisoned your mind with, young master?”

Tristan curled his fingers into a fist and his hand trembled, but he maintained the barrier. “I haven’t said anything yet, Celestia. Why would you assume she’s lying?”

“Madeline is not meant to be here. Miss Augustine’s name was correctly penned into your schedule.” I had to give Celestia points for her composure. She must have practiced it for more years than I’ve been alive. “Her very presence in this room is a lie.”

Damn. She was quick.

“Are the Defiled destroying cities, Celestia?” Tristan asked.

“What ludicrous falsehoods she brings,” Celestia growled. “Venicia is under the watchful protection of—”

“Not just Venicia. Catania? Leche? Anyona?” Tristan lowered his arm. “Are they under the same ‘watchful’ protection?”

I noticed Augie writhing her fingers together in her lap, her usually ivory cheeks a deep crimson. Her tongue poked into her cheek when the name of her city left Tristan’s mouth.

“I-I assure you, young master, I have spared no expense to revitalize Shi Island…” The first cracks in Celestia’s collected expression started to form.

I wanted to grab Celestia by the shoulders and shake her until the rest of her crumbling façade fell to pieces. I wanted to fight for Augie and the other girls who’d lost their homes. But I’d done my part. I had to trust Tristan to do his.

“You, Miss…?” Tristan pointed at Veronica.

“Veronica,” she said as she curtsied.

“Miss Veronica, where are you from?”

“Venicia, Master Tristan.”

“And Miss Augustine?”

Augie hesitated, then performed a perfect curtsy of her own and kept her gaze on the floor. Celestia trained her eyes on the back of Augie’s head, and I could read the expectation in her rigid ears and tail. Lie to him. “Anyona, Master Tristan,” Augie said meekly. Celestia’s gaze narrowed.

Good girl, Augie!

“Do you have any news from home, miss? Letters or otherwise?” Tristan continued.

I’d underestimated him. He was young and maybe a little too experienced in touching catgirl tails, but the way he asked his questions was pointed and calculating.

“There…” Augie’s voice cracked in her throat. “There are no letters, Master Tristan.” Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as she squeezed them shut. “Anyona… Anyona…”

Tristan slid his hand into hers and guided her across the room. She hissed a tiny gasp, but followed him in step. I moved to the left as they reached the mirror.

“Would you please picture in your head the last time you saw Anyona for me?” Tristan asked gently.

Augie nodded.

“Augustine!” Celestia snapped. “Do not think for a moment—”

“Celestia. Stop talking.” Tristan looked at the headmistress, and the light-hearted, easy-going demeanor he’d worn just a few minutes before was gone. He was pissed.

Celestia didn’t look too pleased herself.

Tristan touched Augie’s shoulder and lifted her hand to the mirror. My Seattle skyline faded away, and the scene that came after was a gut-wrenching contrast. Burning houses. Catgirls running and screaming. A skeletal dragon swept its tail through a cottage, sending two more women flying into the distance. On its back was a…little girl? Both of her arms flew around at her sides, pointing at a house, then a catgirl, then a tree. Wherever she pointed, the dragon sent a fresh burst of flame.

“Holy shit,” I murmured.

Fear blanched Veronica’s face, and she covered her mouth.

“T-this is tainted magic, Master Tristan,” Celestia whispered.

But the tears streaming down Augie’s face were very real. Her shaking shoulders, drooping ears, and tucked tail between her quivering knees were unquestionable.

Tristan pulled Augie into a tight embrace and touched his hand to the window, summoning the beach scene he’d had on when I first came into the room.

“I’m so sorry,” Augie whimpered. She buried her face into his shirt and clung to him like a lifeline. “I c-couldn’t do anything…”

“Hey, it’s not your fault. It’s okay.” Tristan stroked her hair and looked back at Celestia. He nodded toward the dining table and commanded her with one word, “Sit.”

Celestia marched obediently to the chair and lowered herself into it. “Veronica, Madeline, you may go—”

“Miss Veronica can go. Madeline stays,” Tristan interrupted.

“…Very well.”

Veronica didn’t need to be told twice—her face had taken on that sick green color like she was about to throw up. She turned on her heel and bolted. I stayed in my corner; arms crossed over my chest.

Augie’s sobs quieted, and her tail relaxed. Tristan took the empty chair from the table, brought it beside him—away from Celestia—and helped Augie sit down.

“Tell me, Celestia. What are you doing to fix Shi Island?” he asked as he moved to the table. He poured a glass of water and walked it back to Augie.

Celestia licked her lips and folded her hands in her lap. “I have distributed the majority of Venicia’s Bells to efforts set on rebuilding the fallen cities.”

“And where does Venicia get its Bells?”

She shifted her weight in her chair. Uh oh. “From you, young master.”

Tristan cocked his head, and his long bangs fell into his eyes. “From my what?”

“Well… If you should recall, each man is assigned a [Cat Pack] when they first arrive.”

“The one that you suggested I hand over for safekeeping?” Tristan replied.

Celestia cleared her throat. “Yes.”

“Continue.”

“You see, there is a series of [Quests] given exclusively to the men of Nyarlea. After a set number of successful couplings with catgirls, you receive Experience and Bells,” Celestia explained.

A sex Quest? With catgirls?! God damn it, Leiana!

Celestia’s ears tipped forward, and for a second, I really thought they would droop flat. But no, she caught them, straightened her shoulders, and continued. “The Bells are sent directly to your [Cat Pack]…”

Augie and I watched the exchange in silence. Tristan paced the room between Augie’s chair and the bookcases, tapping his thumbs to his fingertips in silence. Made me think of a cornered wildcat about to pounce. “How many Bells, Celestia?”

“I-I would need to consult my ledgers—”

“Then estimate,” he snapped.

“Around six hundred thousand Bells, young master.”

Augie gaped. I raised my eyebrows, but really, I didn’t know how that amount scaled. Outside of Augie buying the sleep potion and telling me it cost her savings, I couldn’t say if it was enough money to rebuild three cities or even to keep Venicia running.

But it certainly gave Tristan pause. His face paled, and he ran a hand through his hair. “Shit,” he murmured. It was the first time I’d heard him curse. “Don’t I get a say in where that goes?”

“I would never wish to burden you with such a task, Master Tristan. You are too important to our school and this island to divert your attentions.”

That was apparently the wrong thing to say. “People are dying!” Tristan cried. “Are they not important enough to ‘burden’ me with? Is Miss Augustine’s family not important enough?”

Augustine whimpered and toyed with the edge of her dress.

Celestia regained some of her oomph and met him with an anger all her own. “Do not question me on importance, young master. I have watched countless people die. Men, women, kittens. I feel each of their lives slip between my fingers, and I do all that I can to save them—”

“Except let him fight, right?” I interrupted. Time to give the kid some backup. “There are ‘brutish’ [Magic Knight]s in Sorentina who are trying to hold up their end, and I’m sure all of these cities have limited guards, but you won’t let Tristan fight.”

“That’s it, then.” Tristan blinked, then shook his head. “You’ll give me back my [Cat Pack], and I will fight.”

Celestia snorted. It was very unladylike. “I will not lose another island’s man to such careless, brash decisions. Braving this island alone?”

“He won’t have to go alone. I’ll go with him,” I said.

“You…” Celestia turned on me, apparently finally remembering that I was there. “You would suggest representing the Venicia School of Etiquette beside Shi Island’s man?”

“Yeaaah. Me.” I let the end of that “Yeah” drag on for probably way too long, but she deserved it. “Would you rather explain this all to someone not in this room?”

“I’ll go, too,” Augie said quietly.

“Augustine?” Celestia and I said her name at the same time. Augie’s dream was to finish her schooling. The whole point of this ridiculous exercise was for her to be able to finish her schooling.

“Excuse me, Madame Celestia. The school is my home, and I… I betray my greatest ambition in this offer, but I feel it is my duty to help protect Tristan.” She looked up, fresh tears welling in her eyes.

Celestia looked between the three of us and adjusted her glasses. “Alright, then. I have a proposal, young master, if you would hear it.”

Like you deserve to have another chance.

“Go on, then,” Tristan said. He was a lot nicer than I would have been in his shoes.

“Throwing yourselves at Defiled will end in your deaths. You must practice. Level yourselves on smaller Encroachers that threaten Venicia and Sorentina before you rush to restore the other cities.” Celestia clasped her hands on the table. “Allow Miss Augustine and Miss Madeline to continue their schooling during the daytime. You, young master, will continue your schedule as normal. I will clear your evenings so you may begin your efforts in learning your combat Classes near the Venician borders.”

“You want us to go to classes and fight monsters?” I asked, incredulous. I’d never been so tired in my life after my etiquette training, and now I had to add this on top. “Are you insane?”

“I admit, I find the idea abhorrent. However, your etiquette training will make you a better representative at Tristan’s side.” Celestia’s eyes slid from the top of my ears to my feet. “And teach you the proper way to dress.”

I shifted uncomfortably under her stare, but there was no hiding anything beneath this little number.

“What will happen with the money from my schedule, Celestia?” Tristan asked.

“I will no longer withhold information from you, young master,” Celestia replied. “I will show you the fruits of my efforts, and I would appreciate it if my opinions and experience are considered, but you will have the final say where your funds are distributed.”

Tristan pinched his chin, and his concentration wandered for a while.

“I accept these terms, so long as Master Tristan is willing to have me in his Party.” Augie looked up at Tristan. “Though I may need to move two of my classes to my day of rest to accommodate my schedule. W-which is fine!” She waved her hand and smiled.

Augie’s made of something else, man.

“Are you sure? I know your class load can be a lot,” Tristan said.

“Master Tristan, there would be no greater relief than to know my efforts will one day help Anyona.” Augie clasped her hands to her chest. “I will sacrifice whatever it takes.”

“And what about you?” Tristan looked at me. “Is… Is this what you want?”

Why is he blushing? Whatever. There was no way I’d know if this was what would bring me closer to my own body or not, but hey, it was something interesting to do in the meantime. “Yes. It’s what I want to do.”

“In that case, I have one more contingency.” Tristan nodded and looked back to Celestia.

“And that is?”

“There shouldn’t be any repercussions for Miss Madeline, Miss Augustine, or Miss Veronica for what transpired here tonight. If this agreement is to work, all of us continue our days as normal, and the three of us will meet outside at the school gates after Madeline and Augustine’s classes are over.”

Celestia looked between me and Augie. I doubt there would have been any punishment for Augie or Veronica, but expulsion or this mysterious “Room” had my name plastered all over them.

“Very well,” Celestia said after a time. “Now, Master Tristan, your schedule is clear for the rest of the evening. I recommend taking this time to reacquaint yourself with your iPaw.”

Tristan raised an eyebrow, and the wry smile that twitched at the corner of his mouth said it all. “Oh? The other thing you said I wouldn’t need?”

Celestia pushed her glasses higher on the bridge of her nose. “Yes.”

“Summon iPaw,” Tristan murmured.

A silver device that looked a lot like an iPad with cat ears appeared in Tristan’s hand. What the hell? He touched the screen and, as he scrolled up, his eyes widened. “There are so many completed Quests…”

“I’m positive you will uncover a significant amount of…illuminating information from the device.” Celestia stood and bowed at the waist. “I believe it is time for us to say goodnight. Please ring should you need anything further. Madeline? Augustine?”

Augie stood and curtsied to Celestia, then Tristan, before quickly leaving the room. I suppressed flipping Celestia off, but gave Tristan a quick pat on the shoulder. Really quick. Those sounds he’d made come out of me were still haunting my ears.

“Good job, man,” I muttered.

“Yeah. Thanks, Matt,” he said, low enough so Celestia couldn’t hear him. “I’ll, uh, see you tomorrow?”

“You will.” I left him alone with the weird iPaw and chased after Augie.

Now, how the hell do I pick a Class?