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Towards a New Era

Pilot Chapter

Clothed in my linen cloak, I walk in the streets of Altia towards my home. I progress slowly keeping the need of hiding my tail from sight. This day, the twentieth birthday of the Felicity, as lupines, felines, and other species of all shapes and sizes roam in the capital roads driven by a sweet feeling of liberty and equality, I still remember the bullying and prejudices from the past. I'm too old to indulge in the exaltation of youth.

We had fought for numerous years before the empire acknowledged our right to exist alongside humanity as equals. It must be said that the Eternal Night helped a lot to change the opinion of the God-Empire about his flock. I can pride myself about the role I played in this crisis, same for my partner and the others. I keep moving forward taking more discreet alleys leaving behind me the screams of joy and the chants.

After a few minutes, I finally reach the door of our familial manor. My beloved is still on the other side of the continent fighting Trinity's rebels. Our children themselves live far from home, studying and exploring the ruins of the civilizations our ancestors built in primitive ages.

I move up the stairs to my office and sit down at my desk without delay, having casually thrown my cloak on the chair. With a quick movement, I catch my pen, dip it, and prepare myself to write. I feel that my end is coming slowly, and I wish someone to remember the price we had to pay to come at this point, the sacrifices and the unspeakable things that we committed.

Here begins my story.

In the Year of Our Lord 628 after the foundation of the Empire of Eden, the known world was united. From the frozen isles of the Phrigian North, passing by the sand oceans of Dremir until the deep and savage forests of Dagan, no one could escape from the authority of the God-Empire. The imperial banner flew to the highest mountains of the world, as high as humanity had esteem for itself and itself alone.

The Trinity, the base of the imperial power and of the hierarchy of life, used this hegemony to oppress all those who were inferior to humanity according to the God-of-all-things.

The plants were on the bottom of the pyramid, in the same echelon as the beasts, existing only to feed and to clothe everyone who is superior. Among them, the Monsters were the ones who were sapient enough to think and talk, but they remained at the same rank as livestock.

On the summit stood the Human, the holy treasure charged of preserving the balance and sacred order. They were the masters of the world, and everything was below them. The expression of their existence was the product of the purest and the most perfect of God's creations.

Between them remained the Beast-men, a mix of these two worlds, impure beings seconding humanity in the God's great plan. According to the holy scriptures, we were born from the First People who bred animals in the primitive world causing God's wrath. We were carrying the sin of your elders on our own bodies. Among us lived lupines, vulpines, ursides, and many more, all having their place in the hierarchy. I was myself a feline, below a lupine but above an avian.

In addition to the horrendous conditions we had to endure, even a human criminal was better treated than us. But we still had oases of liberty where we were able to live. Our nature had very little importance in these places. They were like hell for humans sometimes, but they were also our paradises.

I was trying to reach one of these locations near the end of spring. I was walking alone on the Via Imperia, a vast network of paved roads covering the whole continent from the Imperial Palace to the farthest territories across the empire. However, my trip wasn't leading me to the Glorious City of the hundred majestic towers. I was on the other side of the continent, in the Eastern Lands, on the way to Twilight Port.

I wasn't aged enough to be a man, but I was too old to be a boy. It was dangerous for the teenager I was to travel alone with a bag containing scrolls, my writing kit and a few clothes, as sole luggage. I had already run out of food the day before and I was in a hurry to reach my destination.

My gaze lost itself in the vast blue of the ocean, beyond the forest bordering the cliff below. No cloud was roaming the sky, cleansed by the soft breeze. It brushed my fur the same as the rusting foliage of the trees, sweet music in my candid ears. Several times I let myself be carried away by this enchanting atmosphere until inevitably stumbling on the roughness of the pavement at each.

At the bend in a grove, I saw a few soldiers near a cart belonging obviously to a feline family, like me. I couldn't directly recognize their insignia, but their leather and metal armours, coloured with a pigment like the vast central seas, gave me no doubts about their identity: the Imperial Watchers.

They were the armed forces of the church within Eden's army, taking responsibility only before the God-Empire himself and his ministers. They were brutal and zealous, enforcing with strength the holy words. However, they didn't care much about our rank in the great order and took it out on the humans as well. Their real focus was one something different, more insidious: the Flow of Estal, an old and infamous evil, and Devil's corruptive power.

The felines were afraid. The father was protecting his wife and children, keeping them distant from the Watcher's golden sword who was standing before them. The latter was waving a dark amulet of bone in his other hand. I was pretty sure it was an Estal Fetish, an item embowed with this power.

I squeezed my fists, deeply afraid myself, and I decided to bypass them across the trees while keeping a fair distance from the group. The Watchers were not to spot me at any cost. Luckily, if there is something felines are good at is stealth.

I removed the straps covering the soles of my feet and attached them quickly to my belt. Without delay, I got on all fours like a feral beast and entered the bushes on the right side on the road. Thanks to my pads, I was completely silent. Then, in a slow and steady motion, I moved through the vegetation surely around the Watchers.

The cliff was close, so I had to approach the group with some apprehension. If at least one of them spotted me, I was doomed. My fear was strong, and it strengthened my senses. My eyes widened and my ears picked up every sound around me. I could perceive the children's cries begging their parents, the rattles of the cart being manhandled by the impatience of a horse, and the metallic scraping of slowly drawn swords. I was able to listen clearly that was said.

“We don't care if this a familial heirloom or not. Fetishes are banned throughout the empire," argued a deep urban voice.

“But how the fuck do you expect that we knew it contains Estal?!" The father protested. “My family have never had anything to do with this evil!"

“And I do not believe in rabble like you! For all I know, you could be already stained by evil!"

I could hear the metal parts of his armour rubbing against each other, betraying his agitation. I even smelt the mutual fear in the air, turning into aggression. I quickly moved away, as far away as possible from a situation which was about to blew up at any moment and which I did not want to see.

After a few minutes of quick scrawling, I successfully left the area far enough not to be able to hear them anymore. I checked above the bushes and was relieved that I was out of sight. I stood up and got out of my hideout. I dusted off my paws and clothes before cleaning my tail of dead leaves and twigs which had clung to it. I felt guilty by my cowardice, but I resumed my journey trying to forget.

This was daily life for us. Humans, confident about their superiority, versus beast-men, who were stronger but panicked by the idea of purge if they rebelled. However, my case is different. It was true that I could have just passed next to them without watching. They would have surely let me go without any interest in me, but it was a risk I could not take. To be honest, I was bearer of Estal myself.

The Estal was far from being cursed. It was the primitive magical power derived from the control of will over the natural flow of life and universe. With it, even the weakest bearer was able to create new beings, but also to alter and to morph them. A thousand wonders were possible for whom held it, but the Trinity stated that it was a malignant and dangerous force for soul redemption. The power of modelling reality should be only the privilege of God, no one else to the risk of angering him.

I hadn't questioned this fact; I was a true believer, and this was easier considering that I knew my Estal was quite different. Unlike most, mine brought only suffering and destruction. I could feel the evil in me.

Without looking back, I followed the road towards Twilight Port. I still had a whole day's walk before reaching the city's gates. The shock of this event was such that I forgot my hunger growling in my tummy.

It came back after an hour when houses raised in number progressively as I approached of the Port's countryside, bringing with them the sweet smell of meat and vegetables prepared for lunch.

Though skilful negotiations, I got some bread and rice from a peasant in exchange for writing a poem for his beloved. His name was Darius and he looked very nice, for a human.

“What brings you here, kid?" Darius asked with curiosity while I ate.

“I was invited by the Prelate of Port's parish. By Father Hugo, if I am correct," I answered shyly.

“Yes, it's him. I saw him a few times during regional festivities. This old man is as crazy as he's wise."

“I heard good things about him by François."

“François?"

“The priest who took care of me in Altia's harbour chapel, until he had issues with the Cartel of the Dark Fangs."

“Altia…" He repeated, pensive. “It's a long journey from the provincial capital. However, knowing its reputation, I understand easily why you left despite the road being dangerous."

“I had just enough food… I used all my savings, and it was barely enough." I sighed.

“Don't worry," He smiled widely. “Father Hugo is used to taking care of lost cats like you. He will give you a home and a good job."

He noticed my sad look and stroked my head like if I was a pet. I surely thought that it would cheer me up. I didn't prevent him to do so to avoid offending him. I forced myself to purr to satisfy him.

“Just avoid being captured by a brigand on the road. There have been a lot of them in the area since Count's family took control of the slave trade."

A shiver of fear and unease ran down my spine.

“Youngsters like you often end up on the market stall sold like mere livestock."

Something in his eyes did not reassure me.

“I… I must continue my journey," I stammered. “It's going to be late."

“And now I'm scaring you with my nonsense!" He exclaimed with a great laugh.

I laughed awkwardly. I noticed something in his gaze that I saw too often at Altia: a tingly veiled greed. Perhaps he was thinking of selling me? Or maybe he wanted to exploit me to some debauchery like a few friends of mine did because of despair.

After a few words and to end it as soon as I could, I agreed without negotiation to bring his poem to his love. In return, he gave a gourd filled up with mare milk, a luxury to me. I struggled internally to decide whether I would enjoy it or throw it into bushes.

After a shy salute, I got out of his house with haste. I had hardly set foot outside that I was assailed by the chilling question of an unknown voice.

“Chief! Wasn't that the feline who dodged us sooner in the morning?"

I looked up slowly. I was seized. The officer of the Imperial Watchers, the one who manhandled the family earlier, was looking over me from head to toe. He wasn't wearing his helmet, revealing a bald and shiny head. His facial features were hard, and he bore a huge scar covering a pearly white eye. His body was huge, contrasting a lot with mine. His stature was enough to crush me just by his gaze.

“Yes, it's him." He confirmed with a disdainful look.

“What do we do?" His colleague asked.

“Yes, kid, what do we do?"

He spoke to me directly. I kept silent, not knowing what to answer. His aura weighed on me. I wanted to run away, but this would surely mean my death. I could withdraw too, but only God knew what they would do to me. The indecision paralysed me while he was approaching slowly, his hand the hilt of his sword.

“What's going on here?"

Darius got out of his house, surely curious about this sudden turmoil.

“Darius…" The officer huffed. “So, it was your bloody hut."

“Henry."

“Could you tell me what this brat was doing in your house?" He asked with a suspicious look.

“Absolutely nothing. He simply stopped and wrote a poem for Marguerite in exchange of a meal."

“Is that true, kid?"

I promptly nodded. The tone of their conversation was dry. I quickly realised that my feeling was not unfounded. So, when the officer Henry proposed me to follow him, my choice was strangely fast; I preferred to be accompanied by potential murderers than fleeing alone with a pervert roaming around.

We resumed our trip and walked without saying anything for some time. After quitting the hamlet, away from eavesdroppers, he questioned me with a more benevolent tone than before the house. He didn't know about my nature and the sight of the peasant seemed to have erased his doubts.

“So, you're going to Twilight Port, aren't you?"

“Yes, I am. I'm going there to meet Father Hugo."

“Then we'll see each other quite often. He worked at the city's cathedral, and, with his help, we based there our regional headquarters." He chuckled. “I can see by that cute tiny face breaking down that the idea scares you. Don't worry, Hugo's pupils are also under our guard. We will protect you from bandits like Darius, but only if you don't do anything stupid. You were lucky to find us. I wouldn't have given you five more minutes before him to put you in a cage in his basement."

I observed his golden sword, still in his sheath. With a fright mixed with fatalism, I saw dried but fresh blood on his hilt. Henry noticed my gaze.

“This is what happens when someone does something stupid for all to see," He warned me.

He took a tissue and cleaned it carefully. These blades were important for the Watchers. They were embued with Estal, just as fetishes were created, but, even if one could say that they were simply fighting evil with evil, this was way more insidious; for the Trinity, this was not Estal but Sacrum, the magic given the Lord to the righteous.

It was just Estal of course, but this was one of the greatest hypocrisies of this unfair world. I was pretty sure that this truth could not have escaped the Holy See. This meant that they just killed everyone they couldn't control, even if some of them deserved it. The God-Empire was full of contradictions.

I talked with Henry and his subordinates on the rest of the way. The officer, lieutenant commander of the Port divisions, had rude and tough words, but he was more and more conciliate towards me as time passed. He didn't hate the beast-man I was, but was a believer of the natural order, as I was myself.

I learned that he had no family, to avoid turning him away from his duty, but he would have wished to have a son. His comrades themselves became more familiar with me. It was rare for them to have the opportunity to discuss with people of my race. A few embarrassing questions for a teenager were asked, but the talk remained surprisingly nice.

It was getting dark by the time we reached the city gates. Twilight Port was a huge, fortified town, surrounded by numerous hamlets and villages, cultivating vast fields of potatoes, wheat, and corn. A few small groves dotted the hedgerows here and a certain quietness reigned in the region.

“This place is calm and beautiful!" I noted enthusiastically.

“Twilight Port is very different from Altia," He confirmed. “The provincial capital smells and nothing good ever comes from there. The Port is a quiet and peaceful oasis, even if the God-Empire have no real power in this place."

“I read that before coming here. The town is almost a City-State, with a mayor elected by his citizens."

“You use very complicated words for a street kid."

I was embarrassed by his comment and returned to the shyness I temporarily left behind. The lieutenant laughed out loud while I didn't know obviously how to react.

“Anyway, don't dream too much, kid," He warned me. “The life is still hard here and, sometimes as you noticed yourself, pirates kidnap unlucky children to sell them on their stalls." His gaze wandered. “Young androgynous felines like you are sold at high prices, or worst, exploited in dubious tavern."

Baffled by these words, I didn't talk as we passed through the gates without issue, under the curious look of the city guards. Henry brought me back to reality; I was just a young orphan beast-man in a feral world.

Streets were crowded with plenty of people of all species. I was amazed by the apparent indifference of humans here, mingling with their inferiors. Many of the shops were open with signs indicating the species for which they were intended. Even if the segregation was still the norm, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't applied to whole neighbourhoods like in Altia.

We walked briskly the main street toward the heart of the city. Houses were built with the pure style of the Eastern Lands: smooth stone and wood as materials, with thatched roofs for the humblest ones.

I also discovered on the way more wonders that I thought I would never see in my life but in books: the vision of a ship so large and majestic that it could make those of the God-Empire's personal fleet pale in comparison; a vast wooded park along an impressive river watched by gigantic, intimidatingly realistic statues; then, finally, my destination, the famous Dawn Cathedral.

The religious edifice was gorgeous. It stood on a vast, pristine tiled square on the other side. While we approached, I was able to discern better each of its details. Strong, elaborated buttresses supported its heavy walls. The latter were scattered by bas-reliefs and sculptures featuring fearful monsters. The Order of Life was represented on front of the monument with a quality and realism that struck me.

Despite my childish look, I could see that the building was very old in and barely maintained. Stained-glass windows on the top were damaged, same for a few statues of Saints. It was a blasphemy for all true believers. The fatigue was omnipresent. Only the bell's metal was glowing under the reddish sun and looked to avoid time devastation.

We climbed the steps reaching the parvis. I saw a few people discussing there, monks and two lupines wearing dark leather armours. They wore an emblem I had never seen before: a white phoenix rising to the sky. They were armed with jet-black swords. Their uniform was different from that of the city guards.

“Who are they?" I asked Henry, pointing them.

“Count Hawner's pawn," He answered with disdain. “They call themselves 'The Militia'. They replace and help the guards at the request of the mayor, but make no mistake: they are the real masters of the town."

One of the lupines turned his head towards us as we passed by. His grey and blue fur was beautiful and well cared for. Even if he was quiet at first, his ears and tail perked up at the sight of me. His deep green gaze was filled with confidence and curiosity. His long muzzle, characteristic of his species, gave him an undisputable charisma.

“Lieutenant," He called out to Henry. “I smell that you found a new prey within our kind. You must be very desperate to bully our youth."

“He is just our guest, Hammerton."

“Guest?" said the lupin said with a doubtful voice.

“He came to meet Father Hugo, and, on the way, we avoided him to join the market as goods."

“You are so 'caring', Henry."

He glanced at me for a moment before returning to his discussion and apologising to his interlocutors. As we entered the cathedral, I still could feel his gaze on my back.

The nave was like its façade. Many of the benches were being repaired and paintings and pictures on the pillars were fading despite the obvious luxury of a past not so far.

Now that we arrived, Henry and his soldiers greeted me before leaving and disappearing through one of the numerous doors at the side. I was alone and lost in this huge space. Many pilgrims were present and were praying in the centre of a large rosette, between heavy oak benches. I was watching them chanting, remaining silent so as not to disturb their concentration.

Despite the increasingly dimmed light, I noticed an old human leaving a room next to the altar. He was walking slowly towards it. When he spotted me, he rushed to me with surprising speed. The candles, lighted up by monks, revealed his long grey braided beard concealing a face with worn and stained skin. His pearly priesthood robe floated at his feet, giving me the impression that he was gliding across the floor with ease. His tired look was full of intelligence and unexpected ardour.

“My child?" He said as he came closer. “Are you lost?"

“Are you Father Hugo?" I ventured.

“Yes, I am… Oh, you must be the young feline François wrote about in his letters."

His voice was comforting and soft. His caring was evident in every word. The few apprehensions I still had were dissipated in an instant.

“Wait a second, my child. My memory fails me sometimes… You are Waru, aren't you? A very exotic name. I was looking forward to meeting you."

“Yes…"

I nodded shyly. I didn't know what else to say. He led me in the backrooms of the cathedral, towards monks' cells and dormitory. On the way, he took the time to explain the customs of his community. He assigned me a bedroom and I realized that I wasn't the sole non-human boy he would care of. An avian boy, younger than me, would share this room with me.

Hugo explained me that I would work as copyist and assisting the monks in the maintenance of the court and the kitchen garden, near the cemetery. I was completely forbidden to enter this place. He firmly refused to tell me why. Then, he left me alone to settle in before the evening meal. This gave me an hour or two of free time.

The avian boy, named David, wasn't very talkative and gave up on me quickly after he saw that I wasn't either. I left the bedroom to visit the cathedral to keep me busy and get a feel for the place.

Back in the nave to admire statues and paintings, I had decided to light up a few little candles for my family. Several of them were near a display stand. They were of various colours, depending on the wish you had when you lit them.

I was about to take some and do it when I felt a presence close to me. It spoke to me with a boyish voice.

“I beg your pardon. Can you help me?"

I turned my head and saw a human teenager. He looked to have the same age as me. The first things in him that struck me were his beautiful sparkling blue eyes. His face was neat, without blemish at all. Taller than me, I could see from his arms the well-built musculature of an apprentice warrior. His short blonde hair shone brightly in the flickering light of the candles. His voice, though young, inspired strange and unknown feelings in me.

My tail tensed up like the rest of my body. If my dark fur wasn't concealing my skin, he would have seen me blushing as I turned my head in turmoil. There was something impressive about him. It was the first time in my short life I had been so fascinated by a stranger, and a human one at that.

“Erm… Are you alright?" He asked me with obvious confusion.

“Yes!" I exclaimed much too loudly. “Yes, I am."

“My father demanded me to light a candle in honour of my grandfather's memory. I don't know which one to choose."

Without looking at him, I took a black candle and handed it to him awkwardly.

“Thank you," He just said with a divine smile.

After giving it to him, I took three candles for myself: two black and one white.

“For whom they are?" He asked.

“The black ones are for my parents," I answered after some hesitation. “They symbolise mourning. The white one is for my sister who disappeared seven years ago. It symbolises my hope of finding her one day."

“What happened to her?"

“…"

“I'm sorry. It's none of my business."

I wished to have been able to reply to him, but the pain was so strong. My parents died when I still was an infant, killed by pirates during a raid on the coast. My sister, Sara, had taken care of me until I reached my seventh spring before being kidnapped by the Cartel of the Dark Fangs. I never knew what happened to her. I had survived as best I could for several months or years until I was taken by Father François in his chapel.

The young human sighed wearily. He lit his candle and whispered a short prayer before raising his head in relief.

“That's it! I can go home now and hope that my father will leave me alone."

“E-everything is alright?"

“No! It's not! I am here because he's lecturing me about the importance of respecting your elders and their teachings. A great man my grandfather was. A role model! He was a douche, mostly."

His verve surprised me. I was talking to a feline as an equal. I looked at him again thoroughly. I noticed his fancy clothes, his finely crafted blade, and his silver bracelet.

“You… Are you a noble?" I asked apprehensively.

“No! ... A-and even if I am one, it does not matter. My family is full of idiots."

After a moment of stupefaction, I began to laugh stupidly. I couldn't stop myself and his falsely outraged reactions worsened my condition. I did not expect meeting such a human.

We had discussed with enthusiasm for an hour. My shyness gradually disappeared as we continued. We spoke with ease about his life as an apprentice. He was the son of the captain of the Imperial Guard garrison in the city. His father had promised him to integrate it under his wing. He was a demanding and strict man. The boy was impressed when I explained to him that I could read and write. His parents kept telling him we were just good-for-nothing ignoramuses.

We continued until the dinner bell rang.

“I apology. I am to join the others for dinner," I informed him.

“No worries. I also must leave before I get punished."

“I enjoyed my time with you!"

I smiled like I rarely did, forgetting the worries of the last few days. I didn't even realize that I was purring with sincerity at this young stranger. As I started to walk away, he interrupted me.

“What is your name?"

“Waru…"

“I'm Arthur! See you here tomorrow?"

“I would be happy to."

We left each other with these words. The destiny was sealed at that very moment, with simple childish smiles. Everything would have been extremely different if this young boy of fourteen years, a bit rebellious, had not approached the young lost feline that I was. From then on, everything followed like an immense river in the canvas of existence. We were transported in the tumultuous rapids of suffering, happiness and adventure until the fateful moments preceding the end of the world we knew.

Not even the God-Empire in all its enlightenment could have known what the future held for us.

I put down my pen, overcome with an immense fatigue. I remember the price we paid to bring this new era. All the trials we went through came back to me, one by one. I wonder what I would have done if I could have prevented that moment in the cathedral when we fraternized so naturally. Tears begin to roll down my cheeks as I hear a knock on my office door.

“Master? Dinner is served."

“Very well. I'm coming."

I dry my eyes and face, determined to resume my story in the light of dawn after I get the rest I need.

“I owe it to all of you…" I sighed.