Chapter 15 14. EREBUS.

"Hello." I said in soft voice and smiled but what happened next had me froze in spot, this time the cat covered in fear, my mind told me why but I refused believe it.

[PI PI PI]

"Guh." what I refused to believe why confirmed by Pyre's snickering.

'Why? Why me?' I walked out of the cave with my back slumped forward and glum expression.

Sniffle

*

I sat outside the cave with a glum face, Pyre was making fun of me.

[PI PI PI PIPIPIPI PI]

"Guh."

"Meow."

I turned my head and saw that the cat was finally coming out, so I smiled involuntarily, put my hands on my mouth, and backed off a little. Pyre flew slowly towards the cat, but what happened next surprised me.

"Hissss."

The cat ran towards me and hissed at Pyre this time; Pyre's face dropped, and I grinned with my hands on my mouth, 'hahaha' it was worth watching and satisfying as he teased me that the cat was scared because of me. I was so depressed that I almost gave up smiling.

"Pfft."

[PIIII]

Pyre glared at me, zoomed towards me, and began bumping into my head in attempt to hit me.

"Pfft, sorry, pfft hahahahahaha."

I rolled on the ground laughing and noticed the cat, pyre seems have noticed as well because he stopped bumping into me. Pyre sat on my head as I sat comfortably facing the cat.

"Hello." I said as I waved my hand.

"meow"

I think it responded, though it was still wary of us, I smiled and slowly dragged myself towards it.

"I'm Eshwar Frost, and this is Pyre." I said as I pointed at myself and Pyre.

"...meow."

I leaned forward slowly and moved my hand towards the cat, caressing its head with my index finger. I caressed it for a moment before lifting it to my hands; Pyre flew off my head, landed on my hands, and slowly walked towards the cat, who seemed pretty happy. I looked at them, it seemed wholesome, so I decided to keep quiet, but then I noticed Pyre was a little smaller than the baby cat.

"..... do you want come with us?" I asked the cat in a soft voice, hoping it would come with us.

[PI PIPI]

"It's a boy?"

[PI PIPIPII]

"Wait, you can understand him?"

[PIII]

"Hmmm.... then ask him if wants to come with us."

Pyre has always been a mystery to me because he is a "forest spirit" rather than a "Dryad." I have many questions, including why letters form on me while he manifests. What do they imply? I've known him for a long time, so I knew if it was important, he'd tell me. Since he didn't, I decided not to delve too deeply. He said he can understand what the cat is saying, so I trust him and have nothing to worry about because I know he trusts me as well.

[PI PIPIP]

"Oi, I can still hear you though."

[PI PIPIPIII]

"Eh? But why though, if I can't understand him then it doesn't matter now, does it?"

[PI PIPIII]

"NO."

[PI]

"No, don't do that, if you feel what he feels then we don't know what will happen."

Feelings are dangerous; if you feel what others feel, you may lose yourself; feelings are not a simple matter; you could say feelings are a 'blessing', you can enjoy different feelings, sometimes sad and sometimes happy; just consider what would happen if you didn't feel anything. That was terrifying to think about. The cat was blooded when we found him and on the verge of death; we don't know what happened, but I don't think it's a good idea.

[...PI PIPIII]

"Only communication between you two is sufficient; if he occasionally Hisses or Purrs at me, that is enough for me."

[PI PIPII]

"Ok."

Let's leave them to it and come up with a name for him; we can't just call him a cat, can we? 'Hellcat' 'kat' '.... if this goes on, I might hurl in a bit.' 'Cat, a black cat, a dark cat who I found in the darkness. Darkness, abyss, hell, nether, cat of the darkness, he looks like a demon too...' 'Hmmmm... a nether darkness... ah!'

"EREBUS!"

[PI]

"EREBUS, means 'Nether darkness.' How is it?"

"Meow?"

He titled his head in confusion as he looked at me; he was so cute that I wanted to hold his head and squeeze it, but I restrained myself because I had just learned that 'I'M STRONGER' than I thought.

"EREBUS, I'll call you 'Erebus.' Do you like it? Do you like it, hmmmm?"

I leaned my head forward towards 'Erebus,' with my twinkling eyes, even if he doesn't come with us, I'll call him that, Muhahahaha.

[...PI]

"Eh? Ahem... so, did you ask him?"

I leaned back and sat straight as Pyre said that I looked really creepy.

[PI PIPIPPII PIP]

"That's too bad."

I'm not sure why, but it appears Erebus declined to accompany us, but he will do so later. 'It's a cat, right?' I thought as I looked at the cat. He appears to be far too intelligent for a cat. Oh well, we can only help him if he asks.

".... Ok, Pyre."

[PI]

"Stay with him and teach him how to fight and defend himself,"

[PI PIIPIP]

"And return in three months' time."

[… PI PIPI PI]

"If he wants to stay here, he should learn to look after himself."

[.. PIII]

".... Say where is the rank- SS dungeon."

I glanced at Erebus as I asked Pyre about the location; Erebus' blood red eyes seemed solemn as he sat with pride.

'The f**k, it this cat?'

*

Pyre gave me the location, so I left him with Erebus and proceeded to the Rank-SS dungeon. It was in the snow-covered mountains. There were almost no trees and only snow-covered boulders; as I walked, the snow reached my knees. It wasn't as cold as I expected, but that could be because I'm used to feeling cold.

"So, this is 'THE SOUNDLESS TAIGA.'" It reminded me of my past; is it a coincidence that I'm here to meet with a dragon now too?

"Hahaha." I let out a bitter laugh, I climbed up and noticed two presences near the portal; they could be associated with those who drew the summoning circle, so I hid behind a boulder to gather information.

I glanced at the figures near the portal; one was wearing a robe, he had brown hair, dark brown eyes, and he was average looking, and the other was wearing light armor, he had pony-tailed his red hair that reached his waist, black eyes, and he was almost as handsome as me.

"Hey, you too." man with red hair asked the robed man.

"Hey, me too." the robed man replied.

"Wait, who are you?" robed man asked with a confused face, as he took a step back.

"Pfft." I laughed; I recognized them.

"This...,"