Chương 73: Two Cats?

Maximus climbed the stairs, and along the wall, he saw pictures of cats of all kinds, and at the top of the stairs stood two large, framed photos. One showed Mochi, the cat he had just seen, sitting proudly, while the other showed a pure white, short-haired cat with two differently colored eyes, one sky blue and the other emerald. She looked especially fierce, which clashed with the pink ribbon around her neck. Old Maximus sure liked cats, huh? At least that is something I can agree with!

He chuckled and moved to the right into a long hallway. Two doors stood on each side of the hallway, with one last door at the end left half open, still shaking from Mochi's frantic sprint. More photos of Mochi and the white cat adorned the walls, making Maximus chuckle further as he finally reached the last door at the end, where, from behind the door, two voices argued.

"What the hell are you doing now?! I was sleeping comfortably, and then you go and make a ruckus!" A crisp feminine voice echoed.

"Goddamnit, woman. We have intruders! You should probably do something about it!" Mochi argued.

"Butcher my ass! What use is your size if you are only going to cower and cry? Fucking crybaby.

'Bambi, kill this spider. Bambi, catch that fly.' Fucking spoiled cat." She argued, hissing. Oh, looks like Mochi 'The Butcher' is not as fierce as he presented himself. This other one, though, sounds more capable. Could be more helpful. Maximus chuckled inwardly, then took a deep breath and knocked.

"Excuse me. It's me, Maximus. I'm coming in!" Maximus opened the door fully and stepped into a dimly lit room. A large 60-inch TV was mounted on the side wall, currently playing some historical drama; the volume was barely audible. To the right, next to the firmly shut windows, stood a large desk with a gaming desktop and two curved 34-inch screens, currently displaying slides of the two cats. Mana screens probably? Maximus thought as he observed the room.

On the other side of the room was a large bed and, next to it, reaching all the way to the ceiling, a large cat tree with beds and houses, atop which stood a white cat half the size of the orange one, staring at Maximus, while Mochi was shaking beneath the tree and meowing loudly.

"Max, you bastard. You led enemies into my chambers!" Mochi shouted.

"Enough, Mochi, or I will cut off your tail! I swear..." The white cat hissed and jumped down towards Maximus.

"Max." Her voice mellowed as she started to purr.

"I've missed you, dear. Where have you been? We have all been worried sick." She bumped his leg with her head.

"I missed nobody!" Mochi cried.

"Oh, shut it, fool. You kept crying constantly.

'Where is my Max? Oh, Max. I miss our walks...' Truly a spoiled baby." The cat complained.

"So, you are the boss here?" Maximus asked as he crouched and petted the white cat's head.

"You can understand us?" The white one gasped.

"I can. Bambi, was it?" Maximus scratched her under the chin, but she moved away slightly, staring at him carefully.

"Oh, this is wonderful! Now you can listen to my demands properly. Go fetch me some treats, but not those healthy ones. The Butcher is in the mood for some pillows!" Mochi meowed and ran towards Maximus.

"Stop right there!" Bambi slapped Mochi over the head, forcing him to hiss and jump back.

"Damn you, wench. That was uncalled for!" Mochi shouted. She ignored him and asked, "Are you our Max? You don't treat me like my dear Maximus did."

"The white devil is correct. Why aren't you kissing my neck right now so I can complain about it?" Mochi leaned his head slightly, his tail dancing left and right.

"This might be difficult to hear. So, please bear with me, alright, little friends?" Maximus smiled gently and sat on the floor before them.

"You see, two months ago, in another world, a very old person died, and at the same time here, just outside your home, someone attacked Maximus, and before he could die, he was taken to a special place where all humans from here end up at some point," Maximus explained, the two kitties staring at him intently.

"Aye, we know, Max, you oaf. We listen to the news. Now go on!" Mochi complained, while Bambi just listened.

"Forgive me, oh wise Mochi!" Maximus bowed exaggeratedly.

"As I was saying..." His voice grew lower, and he inhaled deeply before adding, "He was mortally wounded outside, and when he was taken, it allowed that old being's mind to enter Maximus's body and replace him. So, you can say that I am and am not Maximus. I share his body, and I even saw some of this body's memories, but I am a different person." Maximus explained. Suddenly, Mochi started meowing and crying loudly as if he were being butchered.

"Nooo, my Max. My sweet Max! Who will pet me like that again? Only you knew the best spots. Oh nooo, who will take me on my walks?" He cried, yet behind his superficial words, true pain could be felt. Bambi remained silent for a while before speaking.

"I see. Max was a good person, you know. He found this fleabag on the streets and saved his life. He did the same for me as well. He truly loved us, and he was the best friend a street cat could ask for." Bambi spoke, her voice hitching. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"That would explain why you look slightly odd, with those ears, I guess." She added.

"Yes, many things happened in these two months, and I won't be able to stay for long. I only have twenty-nine days, but don't worry. I will make sure to protect you two and this place. Once the Trials are over, I will take over all of Maximus's responsibilities." Maximus smiled gently as he petted Bambi's small head. She closed her eyes and gave in before sighing.

"He will be missed, you know. Not often can a cat find a good man like that." She sighed, while behind her, Mochi was still crying. Maximus stood up and grabbed Mochi like a baby before cuddling him and petting his head.

"I know that losing an old friend hurts more than anything. Trust me, I have lost many in my life, but I promise you two things. I will find whoever took your friend away from you and make them pay. I will also make sure that your lives are taken care of and that you have nothing to worry about." Maximus promised as he petted the crying Mochi.

"You better!" Mochi meowed before he started fighting to escape.

"Now unhand me! Who gave you permission to cuddle this greatness?!" Maximus shook his head and let the cat down.

"How are you feeling?" He crouched back down beside Bambi.

"I will manage. I've lost many friends on the streets. Some to sickness, cars, others to monsters that came from somewhere. Life is short. I know that well." She sighed.

"You are wise." Maximus petted her head.

"For a cat, right?" She stared at him.

"Not at all. I once had a good friend. She was a cat and a master of Shadow Magic. A very talented Feliun sorceress." Maximus spoke as if it all made perfect sense to the cats.

"You are odd. Just like my old Max." She sighed, though her words sounded slightly lighter. Maximus suddenly clapped.

"Oh, I remembered something! Would you two like to join me as my companions? That way, I should be able to make you a bit stronger and prolong your lives. This is the least I can do for the old Maximus." Maximus offered.

"What do you mean?" Bambi questioned.

"Oh, shut it, wench. I am willing. Make me all-powerful!" Mochi laughed, wiping away his teary eyes.

"While I cannot take you into the Planes for your own safety, I can make you a part of my team, which should strengthen your bodies. I can also designate this area as my base, making you stronger while within it, and I have a way to make you both Quickened." Maximus explained.

"Quickened?" Bambi asked suspiciously.

"It's a type of animal that was taught how to absorb mana instead of being born with it. You have a weaker start, but you can still grow stronger with time. This is the best I can do with what I have, unfortunately." He admitted. If I had my old mana reserves, I could've transplanted a true beast's mana heart into them, but this should allow me to repay Maximus a little. He thought.

"Alright. I can see that you are a good one, just like my old Max. I'll allow it!" Bambi nodded.

"Haha. Finally, the Butcher is being born anew!" Mochi laughed.

"Why the Butcher?" Maximus chuckled.

"Oh, let him believe his delusions. He was watching some old, horrible superhero show recently and took quite a liking to a character. Luckily, he didn't take on his speech pattern." Bambi exhaled, shaking her head.

"I see." Maximus chuckled.

"By the way, who is Christina?" Maximus asked.

"The cretin wench! She messes up my food royally, that I can tell you! Your first task is to let her go!" Mochi commanded.

"She is your friend, I think. She takes care of the house, you, and us. She is quite dependable, but as the idiot here says, she is a bit confused." Bambi chuckled.

"Hah, confused. If you wish to put it lightly!" Mochi scoffed.

"Do you think that she could've hurt Max?" Maximus asked.

"Haha, don't be ridiculous!" Mochi laughed.

"That fool wanted nothing more than to have offspring with my Max!" Mochi laughed.

"The ginger fool is right. Christina liked Max very much. It was quite obvious, though my dear foolish Max never noticed it." Bambi shook her head.

"Aye, the oaf would rather watch those drawn ladies on his screen." Mochi sighed.

"And here I hoped he would sire more servants for this one." He shook his head.

"Then do you have any idea who could've attacked him?" He pressed further.

"His father, his uncle, his stepmother, his cousin, stepbrother. Hmmm... His ex-lover, maybe those men in black?" Mochi started counting.

"How can this be?" Maximus asked.

"Unfortunately, it is true. My dear Max did not really agree with his family much, and lately he was talking with some odd men we've never seen before or since he disappeared. To be honest, I thought that they had something to do with it, but Crybaby here might be right. His family is... complicated." Bambi sighed.

"Oh, I know. I met Toby." Maximus shook his head.

"That waste of air? Haha, did you kick his teeth in like you used to?" Mochi roared happily.

"Did I use to fight him?" Maximus asked, confused.

"Oh, did you? When we still lived with your family, your father used to force you two to fight like in Bloodsport. It was quite entertaining." Mochi chuckled. Maximus turned to Bambi.

"Don't look at me. I arrived only a year ago." She explained.

"If he trained, why was his body so weak when I arrived?" Maximus questioned.

"That was years ago. Lately, he was only playing games and rotting away." Mochi explained.

"Alright, I understand the big picture more clearly now. I still have a lot to ask you. I need to adapt to this world and train while I can, but first let's make you two stronger, and you need to meet my other friends." Maximus smiled.

"If it's that monstrosity... forget about it!" Mochi hissed. Making Bambi and Maximus chuckle. ‎