Andreas crouched down and reached his hand to the cat's level.
The cat watched him.
"Can you talk?" he asked.
The cat shook its head.
"Can you do anything other than nod and shake your head?"
The cat considered this with an expression that suggested the question was slightly beneath it. Then it sat down.
Andreas stared at it. "Right." He looked up at Anat. "So, is my presence still a problem? The overwhelming thing."
Anat's eyes went immediately to Nanna.
Nanna, who had been watching the cat with something approaching normal human curiosity, startled at the attention. She straightened.
"Yes, Mister Andreas, sir," she said.
A beat passed.
He looked at her for a moment. Then he picked up the cat.
"Stand up," he said. "Both of you. And stop bowing, please."
There was a brief pause where neither of them moved, as though they were checking with some internal authority whether this was permitted. Then slowly, with the careful coordination of people unfolding after a long time in one position, they stood.
Anat smoothed her clothes. Nanna pressed her curls back from her face. They both looked at approximately his collarbone.
Andreas shifted the cat against his chest.
"Okay," he said. "What are you doing in a forest before sunrise?"
The question landed plainly. Nanna opened her mouth to answer.
But it was Anat who spoke.
"We were being held," she said. Her voice was steadier now, with solid ground under it. "By a witch. We were her captives for..." She glanced at Nanna,
"About eight months for Nanna, and I don't remember a time I wasn't her slave," Anat said.
"Yes," Nanna repeated. "We escaped recently. A few days ago." She paused. "Thanks the di Sangro family desaster"
Andreas looked at her. "What kind of situation."
Nanna and Anat looked at each other.
"There was a gathering," Anat said carefully. "Of people who follow the di Sangro name. Devotees." She chose the word like it was the most neutral available. "It created a significant disturbance. The witch's attention moved. So did we."
"They were conducting some kind of expedition into the earth," Anat said.
The cat blinked slowly.
Andreas said nothing for a moment. He scratched the cat behind what would have been its ear if it were a normal cat, and it leaned into the gesture.
"Wait, is the monster forest Bohwood?" he asked.
"Yes," said Nanna.
Andreas exhaled through his nose.
"Okay," he said.
Oh right. I think this was in the dream, the movie, whatever it was. It was an interesting week long ending that resulted in him coming to that city that turned to dust. Interesting. Heh.
"Hmm." Andreas hummed. "Okay, I think I get the gist of it. So are you planning on leaving this place?"
"Yes!" Anat and Nanna both answered.
"We wanted to return to Prence City," Anat said.
Prence City. That's where Aldric's family lived, right? And it's in the same direction Kihoko said I should go.
Andreas stroked his chin and hoped his memory wouldn't fail him.
"So, is it okay if I come along with you two?"
"It would be an honor, Sir Andreas. When would you like to leave?" Anat responded, letting out a quiet, defeated sigh.
Why? Why isn't it fighting? Why is it staying silent? I know for a fact it can speak. No, I shouldn't be having such thoughts. Andreas is like a dragon turned into an ant. Whatever led to his situation doesn't matter, not for now. If the goat is still submissive to him even in this weakened state, then I should do everything I can to gain his favor.
"Well, I'd like to leave now, if that doesn't bother you two," Andreas said, a little awkwardly.
Anat and Nanna both turned to look at each other, returned their gaze to his neck, and said, "We don't mind, sir."
After what felt like an hour of silent walking, Andreas and the two girls were relieved to step onto the asphalt road. The girls turned left and Andreas followed, their silent walk continuing.
Anat sighed and hugged her book tighter, relieved they hadn't needed to tell Andreas about the looping. It would have been embarrassing to explain after all that walking why she hadn't mentioned it when they first set out. She told herself she had simply forgotten.
Walking beside her, Nanna grinned ear to ear and murmured, "Finally. I can take you back home."
Anat heard her and looked over with a blank expression, then smiled at how endearing Nanna was.
Andreas walked behind the girls with a faint smile, feeling some relief at leaving the forest. He took note of their clothing, which reminded him of medieval or Victorian era dress.
They continued walking for about twenty minutes until a carriage pulled by a black horse stopped near them.
The three of them hurried over to speak to the grey haired man holding the reins. Half his face was covered with bandages, and he wore a long sleeved shirt in a striped pattern of light green, dark green, and grey.
"Excuse us, sir. Can we ask you for a favor?" Anat asked, mustering as much politeness as she could.
The old man smiled and answered, "Of course, missy. If it's a ride you're after, I'm happy to oblige."
"Yes, sir. We'd like to return to Prence Town, if that isn't an issue," Anat said with a strained grin.
"Well then, don't mind the mess in there."
"Thank you, sir."
The old man's smile faltered as he heard Andreas's voice, and he replied, "No worries, youngin. But might I ask what you were doing out there?"
"Oh! Hmm well I don't know if it sounds right to say this but I want to resolve what my family started since I know somethings about the situation I think I atleast prevent further damage... or die trying." Andreas answered while stroking his blue cat and smiling faintly.
Damn! Since when could I lie like this, but technically I am going to do the same thing... just for different reasons... yeah.
The old looked at Andreas with suspicion and and said,"alright youngin, you really are as noble as rumors said, Aldric."
Andreas entered the carriage and squinted then smiled.