Invited By The Leaders
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“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you in.”
The man’s voice was as cold and hard as ice. He stood at the entrance to a large room that had been built into an old abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. There were no windows or doors—just one single door with two guards standing outside it.
They looked like they’d just stepped out of some kind of medieval fantasy movie; their armor made from metal plates covered them head-to-toe, while long swords hung over each shoulder. Their faces were hidden behind helmets shaped like animal heads. It seemed this place wasn’t safe for anyone who didn’t have special permission to be there.
A young girl wearing a nun’s habit approached the guards and spoke up politely: “Excuse me… My name is Sister Mary Katherine. I’ve come here today because my master has asked us all to meet him inside…” She then turned her gaze toward the man blocking the way. “…And he said we should ask you if it would be possible for us to enter.”
She was around fifteen years old, with short black hair tied back in a ponytail. Her eyes were big and round, and she wore glasses that gave off a gentle impression. But despite looking so innocent, there was something about her that felt very mature. And yet, even though she was clearly nervous, she still managed to maintain a calm demeanor.
Sister Catherine nodded slightly before turning to face the man again. “Thank you,” she replied softly. Then, after giving the guards a quick glance, she began walking forward. The moment she did, the guards moved aside without saying anything more.
They led the group through the building until they reached another set of double doors. Once everyone passed by, the guards closed the heavy wooden gates behind them. As soon as the sound faded away, silence fell across the entire area.
There were several people waiting inside the room. A few of them were sitting down, but most were standing around talking quietly among themselves. Some were dressed casually, others in military uniforms. All of them appeared to be adults.
As Sister Catherine entered the room, the first person she saw was a middle-aged woman with silver hair. She wore a simple white dress, which contrasted sharply against her dark skin tone. This must be the leader of the organization known as the Black Cats, thought Sister Catherine.
Next came a tall man with broad shoulders and a muscular build. His blond hair was neatly combed back, and his blue eyes shone brightly under the light pouring in from above. He was probably around thirty years old, judging from how much younger than the other members he looked. Judging by what he was wearing, he was either a soldier or a member of the police force.
Then there was a small boy who couldn’t have been older than ten. He was wearing a sailor suit and carrying a bag full of books. Next to him was a teenage girl wearing a school uniform. She was holding hands with a little kid who looked like a toddler.
Finally, there was a beautiful young lady with long blonde hair and bright green eyes. She was wearing a red dress that showed off her slim figure perfectly. She also had a faint smile on her lips, and she held a book in her hand.
Everyone else present was staring right at Sister Catherine. Even the children were watching her intently. After taking a deep breath, Sister Catherine walked straight toward the center of the room.
“Hello!” she called out cheerfully, waving both arms. Everyone immediately stopped talking and stared at her.
“…Um, hello?”
After a brief pause, the woman with silver hair finally responded. “Ah! You’re Sister Catherine, aren’t you? Welcome to our meeting.”
Sister Catherine smiled happily. “Yes, thank you. I’m glad to see you all again.”
The woman nodded. “It’s good to have you here. Please, take a seat anywhere you want.”
Sister Catherine took a look around the room. Most of the chairs were already occupied, so she decided to sit next to the young boy with the bag of books. She placed her things on the floor and sat down carefully.
“So, where are we going now?” she asked.
The boy looked up at her curiously. “Huh? Where do you think we’re going?”
“Well, I know we’ll be leaving tomorrow morning, but beyond that, I don’t really understand what’s happening.”
“Oh, well, you see…” The boy scratched his cheek awkwardly. “We’re not sure ourselves. We only found out yesterday afternoon, when Master told us everything.”
“Master?” Sister Catherine repeated.
“Yeah, that’s right. Our boss is named ‘Master’ too. It seems strange, doesn’t it?”
“I guess so…”
Just then, someone cleared their throat loudly. They were followed by an elderly voice. “That’s enough chitchat. Let’s get started.”
All the people in the room turned to face the speaker. Standing in front of them was a man wearing a military uniform. He had a stern expression on his face, and he seemed to be glaring at the people gathered there.
He was quite large for a human being. At least six feet tall, he had a thick neck and a wide chest. His muscles bulged underneath his clothes, making him appear even larger. There was no doubt he could easily overpower anyone in this room if he wanted to.
But despite his intimidating appearance, Sister Catherine didn’t feel any fear. Instead, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. If this man was the one leading the Black Cats, then surely they would be safe.
“First, let me introduce myself,” said the man. “My name is Colonel William Rookwood, and I am the commander of the Third Army Corps stationed in the capital city of the Kingdom of Mismede. Now, please listen closely. My goal today will be to explain exactly why you’ve been summoned here.”
***
Colonel William Rookwood stood in front of the crowd and spoke slowly. “You may have heard rumors about a certain incident that occurred last night.”
A murmur ran through the group of people. Some of them looked confused, while others frowned deeply. But none of them interrupted him.
Rookwood continued speaking. “This incident involved some of my soldiers, who were attacked by a mysterious creature. As a result, two of them died.”
Several of the men and women in the room gasped. Others began whispering to each other.
“Now, I’d like to ask everyone here: Do you believe these deaths were caused by a monster?”
There was silence as the question hung in the air. No one answered.
“Very well. Then allow me to tell you the truth behind those events.”
At that moment, the colonel raised his voice slightly. “Last night, several of my soldiers were patrolling the forest near the border between the Kingdom of Mismede and the Principality of Arcadia. While doing so, they encountered something unusual.
A giant beast appeared before them, and it killed three of our men instantly.”
As soon as he finished explaining the situation, the entire room erupted into chaos. People shouted angrily or cried out in shock. Many of them covered their mouths with their hands, trying desperately to hold back their emotions.
“What?! That can’t be true!”
“How dare you say such a thing?!”
“Are you saying monsters exist in this world?”
“No way… Monsters are just stories from olden times. Nobody believes in them anymore.”
Some of the people in the room were shaking their heads furiously. Others were shouting curses at Rookwood.
“Shut your mouth! What gives you the right to make fun of us like this?”
“Who cares if you believe in monsters? This isn’t funny!”
“Don’t talk to me like that, you bastard!”
“Hey, stop fighting already! Can’t you see how upset everyone else is getting?”
One of the men sitting across from Sister Catherine grabbed her arm and pulled her away. “Come on, we need to go somewhere quiet.”
She nodded silently. After all, she knew nothing good would come from staying here.
They left the main hall and walked toward the exit. Once outside, they headed straight for the nearest building. When they reached its entrance, the man stopped and pointed inside. “Go ahead. Take a seat wherever you want.”
Sister Catherine thanked him and entered the building. Inside, she saw many tables lined up against the walls. Several people were seated at each table, talking quietly among themselves. She spotted a few nuns walking around, handing out food and drinks.
The man led her to a small table in the corner. He sat down next to her and asked, “So, do you think it’s possible that monsters actually exist?”
“Of course not,” she replied immediately. “It’s ridiculous to suggest otherwise. And besides, nobody has ever seen one.”
“Hmm… Well, maybe you’re right. Maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m sure the colonel is lying. The only reason he brought us here is that he wants to scare us.”
“Maybe you’re right…”
After a short pause, the man spoke again. “By the way, where did you learn to speak English so fluently?”
“Oh, I lived in England until recently. It’s a beautiful country, full of wonderful people.”
“Really? So you came here to study at the convent school?”
“Yes, I studied there for five years.”
“Wow, that must have been quite an experience.”
“Well, I suppose it was. Although, I never really liked studying very much.”
“That’s too bad. You could have become a nun yourself.”
“I thought about becoming a nun when I first arrived in the kingdom, but now I realize I made a mistake. I wanted to live life without being tied down to anything. I guess that’s why I decided to leave the convent.”
“Yeah, I understand. There aren’t any rules or regulations here. We can do whatever we want.”
“Exactly. In fact, I’ve always dreamed of traveling the world.”
“Me too. My father used to take me on long journeys whenever he had time off work. One day, I hope to travel even farther than he did.”
“Traveling the world sounds amazing. If I get the chance, I’ll definitely visit every single place on Earth.”
“I wish I could join you someday. But unfortunately, I haven’t got the money to buy a ticket.”
“You shouldn’t worry about that. Just keep saving your allowance, and eventually, you will be able to afford a plane ticket.”
“Thank you. I promise I won’t forget.”
“Okay then, let’s order some tea.”
He paid for two cups of hot water and placed them on the table. They sipped their drinks while chatting idly.
Eventually, the man stood up and said goodbye. Then, he turned around, took a step forward, and froze mid-stride.
“Huh? Why is there someone behind me?”
A young girl wearing a white dress was standing directly beside him. Her hair was black and curly, and she looked no older than ten years old.
“Hello, sir,” she greeted politely. “My name is Marie.”
***
Marie smiled gently and bowed her head slightly. She wore a simple blue skirt and blouse, along with a pair of sandals. A silver necklace hung around her neck.
“Um, hello. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
The man stared at her intently as she approached his side. His eyes moved over her face, taking in every detail.
“May I sit down?” she asked.
“Uh, yes, please.”
As soon as she sat down, the man leaned back into his chair. He crossed his legs and folded his hands together.
“What brings you here today?” he asked.
“I heard that you might know something about this whole monster thing. That’s why I came to ask you questions.”
“Ahh, you mean Colonel von Degurechaff, right? Yes, I believe I overheard her mention your name earlier. What exactly are you looking for?”
“I just want to find out if anyone knows more about these creatures. Do you happen to know anything about them?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t. However, perhaps you’d like to hear my story instead.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“When I was little, I went camping with my family. On our last night, we stayed in a tent by the lake. At midnight, I woke up to see a giant creature staring at me from outside. It was covered in fur, and its skin shone bright red under the moonlight.
Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth. I screamed and ran away, but it followed me all the way home. When I told my parents about what happened, they didn’t believe me.”
“So you think those monsters were real?”
“No, I don’t. I saw it myself. It wasn’t a dream. I swear.”
“Hmm… Well, I’m sorry, but I still can’t help you.”
“Why not?!”
“Because I’ve already given up on finding answers. I stopped searching after hearing the news about the massacre.”
“But you’re wrong! Those things exist!”
She glared at him angrily, tears welling up in her eyes. The man sighed heavily.
“Look, I appreciate your concern, but I’ve accepted reality. I gave up because I couldn’t stand living in fear anymore. And I refuse to give up again.”
“Then how do you explain the dead bodies found near the castle?”
“Those corpses belonged to soldiers who died during training exercises. No one else has ever seen them before.”
“Are you sure about that?! Have you forgotten the reports from yesterday?”
“What reports are you talking about? I have no idea what you’re referring to.”
“Yesterday, several people reported seeing strange creatures lurking around the city. Some of them even claimed to have been attacked by them.”
“That’s impossible. Monsters wouldn’t attack humans unless provoked. Besides, I would’ve noticed if such an incident occurred.”
“How can you say that?! You must’ve known about the massacre since you have been involved in it yourself.”
“Wait a minute. Are you accusing me of murder?”
Marie shook her head furiously.
“Of course not! I only wanted to know if you knew anything about those monsters. Now that I know you don’t, I’ll leave you alone.”
“Fine. Please excuse me.”
Without another word, Marie rose to her feet and walked away. As she passed through the doorway, she glanced back once more.
“Goodbye, sir. Thank you for listening to my story.”
After watching her disappear beyond the door frame, the man returned to his seat. He picked up his teacup and drained the remaining contents inside.
The End