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Everyone's a Catgirl! Ch. 281: Rolling Girl
🕑 Added 2024-11-10 03:24:00 +0000 UTCCannoli struggled to fall asleep after her session with Sister Madeline. The accurate card reading of her previous trials made her fret with worry that Madeline’s next read would betray her actions toward Muzhira.
Then there was Rozalyn. As far as Cannoli knew, Buttons was still under her care. Not having seen her little blazard for so long made her heart ache and her chest swell with anxiety. What if Rozalyn had let him out in the wild? Buttons would never survive on his own. He’d be cold and hungry…
Cannoli turned to her other side and clutched the pillow until her knuckles turned white. How many mistakes would she need to make before she learned what it meant to be a proper [Priest]? How many people would she have to hurt to get there?
The sun still rose the next morning, as it had for all eternity, and Cannoli blinked away her exhaustion.
Cora had believed that she wasn’t an [Assassin]. Perhaps there was still a chance for Rozalyn to do the same.
Muzhira was already gone by the time the others stirred, but Cannoli couldn’t worry about her. There were more important matters at hand. She padded to Rozalyn’s bedside and clasped her hands at her waist. If they were well within view, maybe Rozalyn wouldn’t panic.
“Rozalyn? May we speak?”
Rozalyn’s ears twitched toward Cannoli. Her eyes widened, and her gaze darted between Cannoli and the door to the dorm rooms. “You… What do you want?”
She’s searching for an escape. Cannoli chewed her lower lip and took a step back. The last thing she wanted to be was threatening. “About yesterday. I’m sorry that I scared you.”
Rozalyn slid away from her covers to stand on the opposite side of the bed. Her tail twitched nervously behind her, and her eyes never left the door. “Why are you here, Cannoli?”
Cannoli opened her mouth to reply, then closed it. It was a question she’d asked herself at least a hundred times since leaving Ni Island. One of the cards had helped reveal what she pined for. Answers. “To become a [Priest],” she murmured.
“[Priest]s are meant to heal and protect. What you did…” Rozalyn’s words trailed, and she shook her head.
“Was wrong,” Cannoli finished for her. “I let my emotions get the better of me.”
“And what if it happens again? Will you take the life of one of your peers?”
“N-no! I could never—”
“You say that. But you pulled a knife on her.” Rozalyn’s voice pitched up as she hissed her accusation. “You threatened her!”
“Muzhira pulled fur off of Cannoli’s tail.” Cora appeared beside Cannoli, playing with one of her pink braids. “I saw her move, and I didn’t know what she was doing at first, but she really hurt Cannoli.”
Cannoli couldn’t hide her surprise. “Cora, you don’t have to stand up for me.”
“Yes, I do. It’s not fair.” Cora squared her shoulders and looked up at Rozalyn. “Muzhira always says such mean things to us. And she did the same to Cannoli before hurting her. So why are you taking Muzhira’s side, Rozalyn?”
Rozalyn looked at the ground and fidgeted with her robes. A dark blush rose to her cheeks, and her ears flattened against her head. “Because I saw the look on Cannoli’s face. That wasn’t someone who was just bluffing a bully.”
A chill washed down Cannoli’s spine. Hearing the truth was almost as awful as it had felt. “I can’t make excuses for what happened. But I promise that it won’t happen again.”
Cora favored Cannoli with a smile, then looked at Rozalyn. “We’re supposed to have patience with fellow initiates, remember?”
Rozalyn picked at something on her robe and stayed silent for what felt like an eternity. “I’m sorry. It’s not that easy.” She knelt beside her bed and withdrew a wooden crate the size of a loaf of bread. Setting it on the mattress, she drummed her fingertips along the top, then exhaled. “I believe you’ll want this back, Cannoli.”
Cora’s brow furrowed. “Isn’t that box for your personal belongings?”
“Yes. And do keep in mind that Sister Sahzi runs random inspections on our things each week.” Rozalyn moved to retrieve her robes, refusing to meet Cannoli’s gaze as she passed. “It’ll take more than an apology to change my mind.”
Ice trickled through Cannoli’s veins, numbing her lips and toes. Despite the overwhelming sense of loss that weighed in her chest, she nodded. “I understand.”
Rozalyn hummed and left her and Cora alone in the dorm.
“Did she have something of yours, Cannoli?” Cora asked.
“Yes.” Cannoli stepped forward and carefully slid the lid backward. For a split-second, she feared that she would find Buttons unmoving inside, and her heart skipped.
“Oh goodness!” Cora gasped.
Thank you, Rozalyn. To Cannoli’s relief, Buttons looked up at her, then wagged his long, scaly tail with glee. “I’m sorry, Buttons,” she whispered, extending her hand into the box. Buttons skittered up her arm until he reached her shoulder, then curled up against her neck.
Cannoli turned to Cora and stroked Buttons’s head. “This is my blazard.”
“He’s so cute!” Cora covered her mouth with both hands and muffled a squeal. “Was Rozalyn taking care of him for you?”
“Yes, she—” Cannoli stopped herself before she could betray Rozalyn a second time. Wherever Freckles was, she was safe for now. “She was.”
“We’ll have to hide him, then.” Cora danced on the balls of her feet, looking around the dorm. “Our robes have inside pockets. We’re not really supposed to put anything in them yet, but do you think Buttons will stay inside one? Just until we find something else?”
Cannoli smiled. “Yes. I know he will.”
“Okay. Good.” Cora nodded, her expression one of furious determination. “We will protect Buttons together! No matter what.”
“Thank you, Cora. That makes me feel a little better,” Cannoli admitted.
“Yeah! We can do this!” Cora glanced at the window and hissed in a breath. “Oh no! We need to get ready fast, or we’ll be late!”
“Late for breakfast?” Cannoli rushed to retrieve her robes and changed quickly beside her bed.
“And morning prayer! Sister Frejya hates tardiness!”
Cora finished changing just as Cannoli tucked Buttons into one of her pockets with an instruction to hold as still as possible. Buttons almost always listened to her; sometimes it felt like he could read her mind. But the fear that today may be different lurked just outside of her purview, and the thought of losing her blazard was difficult to push away.
They rushed into the dining hall together and slid into the first two seats they could find.
Sister Frejya was an old catgirl, much like Granny Nauka. Her hair had turned completely silver, and the wrinkles around her dark eyes creased further as she spared a look of tired disappointment for Cannoli and Cora. But when she raised her hands, her voice echoed throughout the hall, clear and crisp as a bell.
“Good morning, initiates! Today, we shall sing of Saoirse’s patience. This may sound simple enough. However, having patience for ourselves carries as much importance as the patience we hold for others. She has shown us, time and time again, that through patience, we may learn compassion. On this day, let us practice Her grace and understanding, and through them, find our own patience.”
Cannoli let her stare drown in the bowl of porridge that waited before her. Would every lesson they learned about Saoirse feel so…targeted?
Frejya continued. Her instructive tone shifted into a melodic chant. “She works with us and through us. In Saoirse may we be blessed, and may we find the patience to hold one another on high.”
Cannoli repeated the hymn with the other initiates, then lifted her spoon to her breakfast. Buttons repositioned himself inside of her pocket, and her stomach turned with him.
She wasn’t very hungry anymore.
---
Sister Allegra’s classroom was in the music hall, and unlike the other lessons Cannoli had so far, this one she shared with Rozalyn, Cora, and Muzhira. The floor was split into three tiers, and a line of six chairs perched on each platform.
Muzhira stood next to a chair on the tier farthest back, her arms crossed and eyes locked on Cannoli. Rozalyn had taken one of the middle row’s chairs, and she couldn’t seem to settle her attention on any one thing. The tension in the room hung heavy over the three of them, but Cora didn’t seem to notice.
“I’ve heard they bring all of the initiates in here to sing together sometimes,” Cora said quietly as they entered the room. “I wonder if the prophets ever sing together?”
“Maybe.” Cannoli took a chair in the center of the lowest row, and Cora took the one beside her. She didn’t like the idea of having her back turned toward Muzhira. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the Ichi girl would pounce at her first sign of weakness.
Sister Allegra entered the room shortly after; her footsteps were silent, but the way she carried herself was melodic. Her white robes and black hair flowed in perfect time with her movements, as if she commanded the rhythm of the air itself. Cannoli watched, enchanted, until Sister Allegra peered over them with silver eyes and frowned.
“You are out of balance,” Allegra said. She swept one arm across the room in a gesture befitting more than just four initiates. “Why do you seat yourselves so?”
Cannoli glanced behind her at Rozalyn and Muzhira. Neither looked back at her.
Sister Allegra’s frown deepened. Shimmering rays of golden sunlight from the high windows glittered against her smooth, dark skin. Cannoli was reminded of Naeemah’s perfect posture and noble air. “We are not enemies in this room. Rozalyn, Muzhira, move in closer to Cora, and…?” She looked pointedly at Cannoli.
“Cannoli, my lady,” Cannoli squeaked.
“Ah. Yes. My apologies.” Allegra nodded, then clapped her hands together three times. “Come along. We must make use of the precious time Saoirse grants us. Do not waste it by ostracizing yourself from others.”
Both Rozalyn and Muzhira reluctantly moved to the first row. Rozalyn sat to Cannoli’s right, and Muzhira to Cora’s left.
“There. Now we may sing as one.” Allegra moved behind a wooden podium and flipped through a leather-bound tome that awaited her. “For Cannoli’s benefit, we will take a moment to review.”
“T-thank you, Sister Allegra.” Cannoli twined her hands in her lap and did her best not to squirm. She could feel Rozalyn’s discomfort as powerfully as her own.
“Muzhira. Please tell me the name of the Skill that is the subject of our current lesson,” Allegra said.
Muzhira stiffened. “[Beseeching Chant].”
“And what can we do with this Skill as [Priest]s?”
“Heal our Party,” Muzhira replied shortly.
Allegra raised a brow, then sighed. “A little more than that, if you would be so kind, Cora.”
Cora brightened. “It’s a prayer that can save lives! It heals each member of our Party’s [Health Points] over time. They’ll need to keep us protected while we pray, but it can mean the difference between life or death!”
Cannoli looked down at her hands. How could anyone speak so excitedly about life and death?
“There we are. Thank you, Cora. And how many Levels do [Priest]s have access to of [Beseeching Chant], Rozalyn?”
“Five, Sister Allegra,” Rozalyn said. “Levels 3 and 5 will require us to contribute more of our [Myana Points].”
“Excellent. I am lucky to have such dedicated pupils.” Sister Allegra smoothed out the page of her book and smiled. “And now, we will chant, recite, and sing today’s prayer until each of you knows it perfectly by heart. Can you tell me why we would do such a thing, Cannoli?”
Cannoli nodded. The image of Ceres lying in her arms, bleeding and helpless, resurfaced. She bundled the fabric of her robes between her fingers. “Because if we say it wrong, the Spell won’t work.”
“Correct.” Allegra raised her arms and smiled. “Now, surely you’ve memorized today’s prayer after reciting it just once, right?”
Cora and Cannoli exchanged sheepish glances. Rozalyn exhaled a sound that was close to a laugh, but it was difficult to tell. Muzhira stayed silent.
“Goodness. Surely I can see more than just Cora’s smile this morning?” Allegra tapped the podium. “It’s a beautiful day that our goddess has blessed us with. Let us appreciate Her majesty.”
Once Cannoli heard the morning’s prayer a second time, she repeated it in her head until she committed it to memory. No matter how difficult her peers chose to be, or how terrified she was of Buttons’s discovery, she was here to learn. She’d decided that day when Matt showed her the fluffpuffs that she’d come back a [Priest] and stay with her friends.
She would never disappoint them again.
