Civil war, words which most clan were undoubtedly familiar with. If a choice had to be made about the most harmful events that could befall a clan, civil wars would definitely clinch the top spot.
Before coming to this region, I was told about an existence known as the Cat King. Cat Kings were basically the central authority of the clan. Although their power wasn’t as absolute as those Emperors in ancient China –back then, they could basically order a person’s death with just a snap of their fingers– the orders of the Cat King were usually followed as long as it didn’t involve killing off someone directly. Just from that alone, one could see how prestigious the position was.
It was precisely because of this prestige and power that made the position so unbearably tempting for those involved. Thanks to that, they found themselves in this whole debacle of hand versus feet, where siblings warred with each other.
The elderly Cat King passed away not too long ago but annoyingly, he didn’t appoint a successor before doing so. Even more annoyingly, he had two sons and one daughter…
In order to ascend, these three siblings argued day and night, finally resorting to blows in the end.
“So a female cat can become a king as well….the Purgatory Shadowcats seem pretty progressive.” At the side, Mo Na listened with rapt attention to the tale of how a younger sister warred against her two older brothers. Most likely, it was the fact that a female was involved that she became so invested in the whole story in the first place: “Mama, once Mo Na grows up, she wants to become the Demon King!”
“Ambitious! Your Papa approves.” Just like a parent who had just heard his child proclaim himself as a future scientist or president, my heart fluttered and I couldn’t help but give her an appreciative pat on the forehead. “Sweetie, Papa is sure you will succeed if you put your mind to it.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Mo Na vigorously nodded her head as she smiled back at me.
“If your clan is in the midst of a civil war, what are you doing here then?” Unlike Mo Na’s off-kilter way of thinking, Sinmosa’s question cut straight to the crux of the issue instead. Normally, under such extraordinary circumstances, Anmi shouldn’t even have the time to mess around with Sidarth and yet just looking at him right now, he seemed rather carefree.
“Civil war huh…” Anmi lifted his head and stared at the depressingly grey sky above, doing nothing for what felt like an eternity before rolling his eyes at us and saying the following words in an extremely disdainful manner: “What has that got to do with me?”
Me: “…”
‘You’re good, your whole clan is busy waging a war and here you are with your “what has that got to do with me?” attitude…such callousness, are you sure you’re fine like that?’
‘I think I get the whole picture now…it’s precisely because of his callousness towards his fellow cats that he ended up in this state with Sidarth…’
“Hey, don’t give me that look, I know exactly what you’re thinking right now…honestly…other than me, there are a ton of other Purgatory Shadowcats who don’t give a d*mn about those three siblings.” Anmi sighed in exasperation, voice still as disdainful as before.
“There are many who don’t wish to get caught up in that mess, it’s not just me, I swear. The majority of the clan doesn’t care about this whole succession war…as long as it doesn’t come knocking on our doorsteps, we do our best to keep our tails out of it.”
“Why? Don’t you guys feel any sense of loyalty to the throne?” If this was a human war, the rivers would probably be red with blood already. Even though everyone knew that such a war was a bloody affair, there wouldn’t be any lack of volunteers thanks to the irresistible promise of rewards.
“Why?” Anmi scornfully harrumphed. “Because those three siblings are all morons.”
“Morons…” That had to be the first time I heard someone speak of their country’s royal family in such a manner, in front of an outsider no less.
Well, whether or not they were morons had nothing to do with me at all. My only goal was to find a Purgatory Shadowcat and attain the method of entering Abaddon.
“Let’s put aside the matter of your clan’s civil war for now, how about we talk about my requirements instead.” Seeing as that topic was basically spent, I prepared to lay my cards out on the table. “Truth be told, I came here because I heard that you Purgatory Shadowcats have an ability known as Dreamwalking. That’s why you guys are known as scholars, right?”
“That’s right.” As he acknowledged that in a matter-of-fact tone, he tilted his head in the smuggest display I had seen thus far. “So you’re really here for help then? Speak then, I might just give you an answer seeing as you’re so sincere about seeking help.”
“I did say we wanted your help…” Looking at his absolute confidence, I knew that this time, for sure, we were going to get the answer we wanted. Even though his smug face was rather off putting, I had no intention of aggravating the situation any further before I got my answer.
Thus, I asked the question that had been bothering me all this while, “I wish to enter Abaddon, do you know the way?”
“…you wish to enter Abaddon?” His face froze up and whatever smile he had left on his lips stiffened: “How about another question instead?”
Me: “…”
“Mo Na just knew this kitty isn’t reliable at all.”
“Hey, who are you calling unreliable?!”
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