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The Rahara Tour

She tended to have nightmares. Memories, flashes, instances of days gone. If I told you the form you see of her is not her true form, would you believe me? If I told you she had knowledge and wisdom beyond that of even your great-grandmother or great-grandfather, would you believe me? If I said this mysterious woman had a heart somewhere beneath all of the shadows, would you believe me?

Maybe... maybe not...

When Natsume told him about her plans to return to Rahara, his response was natural.

What's Rahara?

Rahara wasn't a name you'd hear often. Occasionally, you'd hear of it off the tongue of a well-informed scholar. Perhaps you may even come across its name in historical text or – more rarely – a geographical book. Maybe even, you might hear tales of it from the lips of someone who has actually been there.

No. That last account... is nigh impossible.

Matthias was not the most learned person around. He was a courier, and before that, he was a farmhand. And while farmers and delivery boys aren't exactly stupid, they're not scholars either. He knew very little outside of the continent he called home... and even lesser about the land his lover called home.

Was it her home? Was it? She rarely spoke of it. He got the sense from her that she did not like speaking much of where she came from. That it caused her great pain to even think about where she was born.

He could relate...

She claimed it was something she had to do as a sun-priestess. The 'Pilgrimage of the Twin Suns', she called it. When he asked for more information, she rolled her eyes. A typical response from one as aloof as her. Not that he was bothered by it. He knew that this pilgrimage – whatever it was – would fly over his head with all the religious jargon and customs he'd have to learn. In a way, her eye roll was her sparing him. Besides...

She had no intentions of him going with her.

The Pilgrimage of the Twin Suns was an important journey she had to take as a sun-priestess. Even though her religion was practically dead, and her people were so few and so scattered that they may as well not even exist, she still was honorbound to uphold the traditions that were the backbone of her faith.

Did she do it out of love for her faith, her people, herself? Or perhaps she was like an automaton programmed to follow the orders bred into her sense birth.

It sounded like a spell she'd cast upon him for acting foolish. Huff...

She was going to go alone. She had planned to go alone. She had readied herself to go alone. She even hired a local peasant to look over her shrine and make sure no villainous ne'er-do-wells attempt to steal her things.

Again, that was the plan. But like before, Matthias found a way to throw a wrench into those plans.

I'll come with you! He said with that simple yet charming smile of his.

She remembered glaring at him with that flat stare of hers. He said it over dinner – turtle soup with goblin ears – and she just glared at him. She didn't smile, she didn't growl, she didn't say a word. For several moments, there was naught but silence between them and the smile on his face.

Absolutely not, she remembered saying, even turning away in defiance.

But he was persistent. He was always persistent. And now that they lived together in her rustic shrine, she could not escape him. During breakfast, he'd say 'I'll come with you!', and during breakfast she'd say 'Absolutely not'. During her morning sweep to clean away the foliage that gathered upon her shrine, he'd say 'I'll come with you!', and during her morning sweep she'd say 'Absolutely not'. During her afternoon prayer when he left for his courier job, he'd say 'I'll come with you!', and during her afternoon prayer, even when her eyes were closed and her hands were together, she'd say 'Absolutely not'.

But...

He was really working her defenses down.

She should've told him a week before she left. Or, maybe, she should've told him the day before she left. If she did either of those, then she would have remained defensive enough to keep telling him 'no'. But like an idiot, she told him several months before her eventual trip, giving him all the time in the world to keep saying 'I'll come with you!' and for her to reply with 'Absolutely not.', before her defenses start to break.

It was his smile. It was that stupid smile. It was the way his cheeks grew bright when his lips curled, and how his brown eyes looked up at her, that it seemed as if his expression caught the sheer radiance of the sun upon his surface. But it wasn't the sun he was reflecting. The sun was beautiful, and warm, and life could not live without it, but that's not what he was seeing whenever he smiled like that.

Nope. It was her. It was always her. Whenever he looked up at her, and he gave that beaming expression, she knew it was because of her that he smiled so. Because – for as stupid and childish and ignorant that he was – he loved her. So when he said 'I'll come with you!', she knew it wasn't a request, but a promise.

He was coming with her. And all she could say was...

Ugh... fine...

So they made the preparations necessary for this trip. Natsume had already prepared for the trip, but now she had to help her lover do likewise. Thankfully, he wasn't a member of her religion, so he didn't need all the religious tools needed for the journey. Still, readying all of his clothes for the pilgrimage was annoying in its own right.

Leave it to Matthias to make her life that much harder...

But they got it all done. They made the preparations, Natsume's house-sitter came to watch over her shrine, Holy Grace Deliveries were told about Matthias' 'vacation', and they left the city of High Bishop aboard a boat for distant lands.

Matthias didn't move much on the boat. He had bad memories of boats. But for as standoffish and distant as she can be, Natsume held him close for every hour of the trip. It made those days fly by.

But then the ocean waves were replaced with... something else. A dusty, seemingly abandoned port town on the coast of some distant land. To his back, Matthias tasted sea salt, and smelled sea breeze. To his front, he saw...

Decay...

It blew in from the horizon, layering an already forgotten city in a thick blanket of dust and sand. Sand pushed through the windows and open doors of stone buildings, cascading down in mounds of forgotten rubble. This place had not been lived in for years, nay, decades. Even the wooden dock he stood upon when stepping off the boat seemed close to shattering into pieces. Whoever made this deck did a fine job.

Matthias' eyes traced along the stone buildings before him, wondering about the history of this place and how it came to be. Time had cut this land to pieces with a scythe, reducing it to a degrading husk. And when he closed his eyes – if only for a moment – he saw memories he wished he did not see.

Thunk. Thunk. Thuuuuuunk.

“Matthias...”

Then her voice pierced the darkness of his memories, and he reopened his eyes. Standing before him on this deck, wearing a white kosode and red hakama pants, was a tall and voluptuous feline woman. Her fur was jet-black, smooth, and shimmered in the light when the sun fell upon her. And her hair was just as black and incredibly long, though tied into twintails which fell along the side of her head.

She stood before him with her satchel slung over her shoulder, her back pointed towards his face, and her tail drooping slightly. Sand billowed at her feet, but she remained as still as a statue. The only time she moved was when she breathed in hard, as if... remembering something. But before he could speak, she turned and faced him.

She was a beautiful and mature feline, one whose slender face and sharp gaze had turned the heads of many. Though only a few were brave enough to ever speak to her. And Matthias Neltzer was just that brave... or... more accurately... just that stupid.

He was almost everything she wasn't. He wasn't a beastkin; he was a human. He wasn't tall and mature, being instead lean and young. His cheeks were still a bit smooth, his skin was tanned from all the time he's spent in the sun, and his unkempt hair was reddish-brown. But for as dusty and untidy as he appeared to be, he had one thing no one in the world had.

Natsume's heart.

“Matthias...” said the feline as looked at him, “Come. Our pilgrimage starts now.”

“Right... eheheh...! Right behind ya, Natty...”

She began walking off, entering into the decaying city proper. Matthias lingered behind briefly... before tugging along both of their luggage. All Natsume had was her satchel, while he had to carry around everything else.

Ugh. He brought this upon himself. Oh well; it was time to go.

And thus, the Pilgrimage of the Twin Suns began in earnest.

…

Matthias was a courier. It was his duty to travel along the western seaboard – usually by foot. The minimum distance was normally the nearby town of Ablom. Sometimes, he had to travel as far Vyril City, which was a trip that typically took two days – going and returning – by foot. During those travels – which he often did alone – Matthias thought he had seen all that nature had to offer. He had walked through forests, walked through jungles, walked along well-warn paths through endless fields. He had seen the sun rise over the mountains to the east, and saw the sun set upon oceans to the west. Putting it lightly, Matthias knew what life looked like.

This? This was not life.

The forest was... gray. Soot laid upon once lush foliage, filling the air with dust motes and smog that was choking to breathe in. A river ran through it, yes, but it was so weak and so quiet that you'd be forgiven for thinking it was there at all.

And yet, despite it all, there were signs that this place once played host to people. Beneath their feet there laid a stone walkway that had grass and vines growing through them. They were distorted and warped by nature and erosion, but still visible and still tactile beneath the boots on his feet. But flanking the sides of the walkways were shattered poles of wood. Some were tall, others short, others were just the base, but then they passed one that was – mostly – in take.

It was a shrine. A small wooden shrine that wasn't too dissimilar to the small shrines outside of Natsume's home. This shrine appeared similar in height and design to a mailbox, but Matthias dared not say it. Even he knew that this shrine had importance beyond holding letters.

There were times where Natsume would stop and look at her surroundings. Matthias would stop too and look up at his lover, wondering what was going on through her head. She remained stiff and indifferent, but he wasn't blind. In her eyes, he could see the distress and sadness within her, as if she was being assaulted by memories she did not want to relive, and sights she did not want to see.

Her chest grew tight. Matthias stepped forward.

“I uh... went to Jokke the other day,” he suddenly said, making Natsume tilt her head towards him, “Have you... ever heard of Jokke? It's a bit beyond Springbrook. A small little village... like... really small. Weird place too. Just a... lot of farmlands as far as the eye can see. Even more than usual, and I didn't think that was possible!”

He chuckled at his words, while Natsume looked forward. Dropping his chuckle, Matthias puffed out his chest and shook his head.

“Anyway. Uh... when I went to Jokke, I had this letter to be sent to a man named Durvish. Not too problematic, right? Nope! It was really problematic! Because there wasn't one Durvish in Jokke. There were six! Six Durvishes! How is that even possible for such a small village? Anyway...” he shrugged his shoulders, “I had this lovely letter with all these pink hearts and stuff on it. I'm pretty sure it was a love letter. At that time, I had narrowed down the Durvish it was meant for to two people. A Durvish who ran the local tavern, and a Durvish was a goat herder...”

Matthias stopped speaking, his eyes closing shut and his lips turning into a straight line.

“I gave the love letter to the goat herder. That was the wrong choice,” he shook his head and gazed to the side, “I don't even think I was out of the town before that poor goat herder's wife started beating him with a stick, thinking he was cheating on her with a girl over in Evon. Gosh. I still feel terrible about it!”

Natsume was a woman who barely responded to things. If she did respond, it was with a glare or a punishing hex. But this time...

“Ku...”

A smile spread out on her lips.

It wasn't much – it just cracked out as a line on her lips – but it was there. Seeing her smile at his little account caused Matthias to smile and chuckle as well. He could see it not only on her lips, but in her eyes as well, and how they sparkled.

Natsume – for all of her mysteries and curses – was a very beautiful woman, one he was happy to love. So seeing her be so negative as she gazed at their surroundings caused him pain. He could tell the difference between normal Natsume negativity and genuine Natsume negative. This? This was genuine.

“So...” he whispered as he nudged against her, “What is this place? I can see you look rather... uh... sad. And...” he shook his head, “I'm not used to seeing you be sad, Natty.”

“I... ah...”

Natsume was typically indifferent. Natsume was never sad. Even when her spells fail or even backfire, she was never sad. Annoyed, yes. Frustrated, assuredly. But sad? Never. So to see her sad was disheartening.

Natsume sighed.

“This is... the Duat Valleys,” Natsume said whilst looking forward, “It is a deep and fertile valley with many dense forests within it. Or... well...” she shook her head, “It used to be fertile. Now it is...” she extended her hand, “This. Bleh... The afterlife – Duat-no-Mori – is said to be contained within this forest. In the past, we would come to the valley in order to honor our dead. These shrines around us are ancestral shrines dedicated to the families of those who lived – or once lived – in Rahara.”

“What happened here...?” Matthias asked, “You rarely speak of your family or your people. I always assumed something happened to them. And now that I look around...” his eyes slid around the forest, “I feel it even more...”

Matthias looked back at Natsume. Now more than ever, her expression shifted. Her face grew sad... forlorn... and she clutched a golden amulet talisman to her chest. He watched her eyes quiver and her lips tremble, before she began whispering prayers to herself. The courier thought of saying something, but he feared doing so would only cause her more undue distress.

What happened here? That's all he could think to himself. From the onset, this land appeared abandoned... dead. The decaying infrastructure at the empty docks was enough to tell him this, but walking through this sacred burial ground carved into a valley only confirmed it. Something happened here, something that happened years ago, and Natsume was still grappling with the memories of it all.

“Let us... keep going...” she whispered as she tucked her talisman back into her satchel.

She kept pushing forward, while Matthias lingered behind. Gazing down at the shrines around him, he placed his hands together and bent over, eyes closed in a solemn yet quick prayer to those who departed before him. They may not know him – and he definitely did not know them – but he knew they were important to Natsume. And anyone important to Natsume was important to him.

Yes, that includes Enos. Ugh...

Their walk through the Duat Valleys continued on. They passed many more shrines – some big, mostly small, all decaying – as they traveled deeper into the forest. Down this path, through this little cul-de-sac of shrines, and over this crumbling bridge of stone and moss. Eventually, the forests became thinner and thinner, and the number of shrines reduced in number. And greeting them at the end of this gray forest of dust and sand was...

A staircase.

Matthias came to a stop. This staircase sat in the center of what could be called a hallway made of stone and gravel. And it extended up... and up... and up. It was like a thick rocky cliffside had been carved in half so that stairs could be embedded into it!

Matthias stood at the entrance of this staircase, his head tipped back in awe. It extended so far, he couldn't see its exit! And Natsume?

Well... she just walked up it.

“N-Natty?” said Matthias, making her stop, “We... have to climb up this...?”

“Yes,” she answered whilst facing him, “This is the most direct path through Mount Horus-no-Kaze,” she turned, facing the staircase, “So let us continue our journey.”

“B-but... but...!” he said as he tugged on their luggage, “It's so tall and... our luggage... it's...” his arms shook, “I don't think I'm gonna survive this...”

“I told you not to come,” Natsume replied as she continued walking up the stairs, “Now you have no choice but to accompany me. If you feel too weak to move, I can use one of my spells to force your body to move. Would that make you feel better...?”

“I... n-no... not really...”

“Then walk forward on your own strength, Matthias. I will not have my time wasted by you.”

“Aaah...”

Here he was, fearing his own death of exhaustion, and Natsume didn't seem to care. Matthias would be annoyed... but this was typical of his lover. You don't date a witch maiden and not expect to be treated cruelly sometimes. All he could do was put on his big-boy pants and start climbing these stairs.

So he started. And it was immediately a bad idea. Trying to climb up stairs with one suitcase is bothersome. He was trying to climb a mountain with two suitcases! And all he had to look back at him was Natsume's voluptuous figure. Her hips swayed left and right with her feline gait, as if purposefully flaunting her butt. And with how tight her hakama pants were tied around her waist today, there was a lot to appreciate.

“Matthias...” she groaned, annoyance dripping in her voice, “I can feel your lecherous gaze. Your eyes are transfixed on my backside. Could you please stop.”

“I mean...” he mumbled back, “Where else am I going to look? There's just... stone and rock around me, and a few trees growing out of the walls.”

“Is that supposed to be an excuse?”

He chuckled. In his head, it was supposed to be a joke. A bad joke, but a joke nonetheless. Natsume didn't seem to like it, so he sighed and dropped it there. But as the sun rose overhead, casting down a ray of light that illuminated the pathway they walked upon, Matthias tipped his head back and closed his eyes.

The sunlight did not last long. A shadow fell over his head. He opened his eyes. Natsume stood before him.

The witch maiden gazed upon her lover, her face as solemn and serious as ever. But before Matthias could say a word or even gasp, she fell upon him. Eyes closed shut, Natsume placed her lips to his in a kiss, one that caused him to grow weak... before stiffening up. Blood pumped through his veins as he kissed her back, before watching as she pulled away with an audible...

Chu~

Matthias felt emboldened by Natsume and her kiss. And when he looked up at her solemn face, he watched a rare smile spread on her lips. She said nothing, but she raised her hand. Hovering her fingers a foot or so away from her head, a golden light appeared on her digits. She then performed a gesture around her head, like she was twisting a cap around her head. In doing so, the witch maiden caused a conical hat to appear from thin air around her head. It cast her face in shadows, protecting her from the overbearing sun. She then brought her hands near Matthias' head, and...

Fweeaam!

She did likewise for him, producing a conical hat for his head that would protect him from the sun's relentless rays. Matthias sighed and a smile spread on his lips as the cool shaded air fell on his face. Natsume meanwhile turned around, and continued walking up the staircase. And after a few moments, he followed suit, bolstered by her kiss and her hat.

The view of Natsume's butt didn't hurt things either.

So they walked. And they walked. And they walked. And they walked, they walked, they walked. Walked, walked, walked. Walked walked walked walked walked walked walked. Walkedwalkedwalkedwalkedwalked.

And. They. WALKED!!!

The view of Natsume's backside was lovely, but... damn... was it hell on Matthias' legs and feet. There were occasional stops along the path. Matthias needed those stops, less his legs give out and he falls down these stairs to his death. Thankfully, his lover acquiesced to his requests, stopping with him as they stood in silence. But they continued on nonetheless.

Walking and walking and walking and walking and walking.

And more walking and walking and walking and walking and walking.

Walking and walking and walking. Walking, and walking. Walking... and... walking...

Until finally...

They reached a plateau. Natsume climbed the last few steps to the top of this staircase, while Matthia's head leaned back. The sun gleamed in his eyes, blinding him to his surroundings. But when he took the first steps to the top of this staircase, a strong gust of wind blew around him. It felt rejuvenating, reassuring... divine.

Then his eyes fell forward.

And his jaw dropped.

Before him were desert sands that shimmered a color of golden-red. They stretched on seemingly endlessly, broken only by the crumbling signs of settlements, the occasional oases that dot the land, and verdant highlands. One could see the signs of roads running through the landscape, but time had either eroded them completely, or the desert sands had swallowed them whole.

And in the center of it all – looming tall and wide like a diamond – was a pyramid. It stood over the desert lands with a sprawling metropolis circling it like a sun disk. But the pyramid had unique attributes to it that made it unlike any pyramid he had heard of. It was tiered as it rose up, with each tier having a wooden roof of a Shinto-style with curved eaves. The top of the pyramid too appeared similar to the roof of Natsume's shrine.

And yet...

In the past, this place was once vibrant and beautiful. A golden diamond that glowed upon the city surrounding it. The true heart of this nation. But now? Now. Now it was all crumbling and decaying. Its tiered roofs were breaking apart, the metropolis at its feet laid abandoned, and sand had swept into its streets, swallowing it whole.

Matthias stood there, his mouth slightly agape. He felt as if he had stepped into a completely different world. This was unlike High Bishop, or the lands that surround the city. If he could describe it in one word he'd say...

Natsume...

Natsume had a style that was mysterious to him. A unique blend of cultures that was so perfectly fused that he couldn't describe it. There was Mrs. Sakura in High Bishop who hailed from the land known as Solaria. On the other hand, there was Ramses, a local chef in High Bishop who came from a land named Guarude.

Both Sakura and Ramses had attributes about themselves and their cultures that implied they'd have some sort of relationship with Natsume... but no. Natsume did not come from Solaria nor did she come from Guarude. Natsume did not come from Kuvatis, nor did she come from Kahlil. Natsume came from nowhere you could find in a textbook, or locate on a map. No.

Natsume came from here.

The forgotten land of twin suns: Rahara.

Natsume stood on this cliffside, gazing out upon her homeland with a wistful look in her eyes. That talisman she clutched before when in the valley found its way into her hand again. Embracing it against her bosom, she closed her eyes and began whispering prayers. Matthias – noticing this – tilted his head at her as a forlorn look appeared on his face. He didn't like seeing her sad.

“Natty...” he whispered, cutting her prayers short, “Why don't we... take a seat...? We've been walking for a while.”

For a second, she said not a word... before nodding.

“Yes. Let's.”

Letting their luggage drop down to the ground, an exasperated groan left Matthias' head as he sat upon his suitcase for support. Natsume mirrored him, sitting upon her suitcase as she inhaled deeply. For the next few moments they sat there in silence, gazing out upon Rahara together. There were a hundred, no, a thousand questions he wanted to ask, but he wasn't sure how to ask them without causing her stress. The words struggled to form on his tongue, and when he did speak, it was completely instinctive.

“This is your home?”

Simple.

Natsume turned, facing Matthias with a forlorn look in her eyes. He looked back as a reassuring smile painted his lips. She nodded.

“Yes,” the witch maiden answered as they gazed forward again, “This is my home. I was... born here...”

“You were... born here...” Matthias repeated, “I can... see it. Rahara... it's... big. It's very big. I...” he gazed over at Natsume again, “I've never seen so much sand in a place that isn't a beach! It's... very beautiful, Natty.”

His praise was genuine, but Natsume shook her head. Even her tail fell down to the ground, hanging low.

“Matthias...” she whispered, before looking at him with her face in its typical scowl, “You need not try to assuage me. I am no fool. I can see the state Rahara is in now. I know what it looked like in its prime, and I can see it now in its death.”

“Natty... I didn't mean it like that...” Matthias whispered.

“I...” she whispered, before sighing and nodding, “I know, Matthias. I know. It's just that...” she gazed forward, “This pilgrimage we are on... I have gone on this journey multiple times during my life. Even since moving to High Bishop, I still make this trip once every two years. It is imperative that I do so. Not just for my people, but for myself. Aaah...” closing her eyes, her expression became one of frustration, “But this is the first time I have gone on this trip with someone else.”

“Is my being here... making this difficult for you?”

“N-no... that's not it,” she said whilst shaking her head, “I just... just...”

Closing her eyes, Natsume grabbed her conical sun hat, and pulled it down to obscure her face. Matthias tiled his head at her, trying to see her emotions, trying to see what she felt beneath that mask. All he could imagine was the face of sadness and distress she no doubt wore; a far cry from her normally aloof features. But then her hat left her face, and her expression returned to that flat look she always wore.

“I... appreciate you, Matthias,” said Natsume, her voice monotone.

“Really?” he replied jokingly, “Because with your tone... I can't really tell...”

Natsume glared at him, annoyed at his response. But then she sighed... and even smiled. His joke – light though it was – felt oddly energizing. Not because it was a funny joke, but because it was him. He had this effect on her. Annoying though it was, his earnestness and childish kindness was just so damn hard to hate.

And believe her, she tried to hate it. It just didn't work.

“So... uh... that weird pyramid...” said Matthias as he looked at the massive structure within the abandoned city, “Is that our destination?”

“That 'weird pyramid' is known as a shrine-pyramid,” said Natsume, “And that shrine-pyramid is perhaps the most important shrine-pyramid of them all. It is known as the Grand Temple of Dual Suns, and - yes - it is the destination of our pilgrimage. We will enter the temple, and our journey will begin.”

“Wait? Really?” Matthias asked, “But I thought... I thought our pilgrimage had already started.”

“No. This is just the preliminary,” Natsume explained, “The trip before our journey begins in earnest. We will find a place to rest for the night within Shin-Kemet, and come sunrise, we will enter the temple, and complete the trials.”

“Shin-Kemet...? Trials? Wh... what?”

“Shin-Kemet is the name of the city,” said Natsume, “And the trials... well...” she shook her head, “You'll see when we enter the shrine-pyramid.”

The witch maiden then stood up. Arms stretched up above her head, her eyes closed shut as she performed a stretch that flaunted her feline grace. Matthias' eyes traveled along Natsume's body, marveling at her predatory figure, before her arms dropped down.

“Time to go, Matthias,” said Natsume flatly as she began walking down another stone walkway to the side, “Watch your step with these stairs. There's no guardrail to stop your fall if you tumble.”

“What? What!?”

Matthias didn't know what was worse; the fact that they were walking again already, or that there was nothing to stop his fall if he slipped... and that Natsume was acting so blasé! Well... actually... Natsume acting blasé around his suffering was normal, all things considered.

Well... there was no use sitting around here. Natsume was already heading down the stairs, and he didn't want to stand out here under the desert sun any longer than necessary. Shin-Kemet awaited them; it was time to get a move on.

…

Matthias didn't know what was worse; the climb up the mountain, or the climb down the mountain. After a good long while of deliberation, he came to the conclusion that both were equally miserable experiences. Such a shame he'd have to do it again when it came time to leave.

Ugh...

When they climbed down Mount Horus-no-Kaze, they entered into the main desert plains of Rahara itself. And all Matthias saw was... sand. Sand for miles and miles and miles. As a courier, he was used to walking long, flat distances. Thinking back to the little story he told Natsume about his trip to Jokke, he was reminded of the seemingly endless farmlands. For miles around, all he saw were fields of wheat. Golden plains of wheat would softly billow in the wind, giving such simple farmlands this mythic quality.

And that's what Matthias felt right now: Mythical.

There was a presence here in Rahara, one he felt when standing upon Mount Horus-no-Kaze. That feeling was amplified as he and Natsume walked upon a forgotten path towards the city in the distance. Matthias could feel a presence here, one that was unlike the feeling he felt when at High Bishop or its surrounding lands. With every step he took upon this sacred land, he felt as if he was traveling somewhere that was truly... otherworldly.

And as they walked down this path, he stole glances at Natsume. The witch maiden remained focused on the path ahead, never stopping to look at their seemingly empty surroundings. This was a path she had walked hundreds, if not thousands of times before. Matthias could tell in the way she moved, and how she kept her gaze straightforward. He also could see the small ruminations and rumbles that coursed through her body.

She gripped her satchel tighter. Her tail hung low. Her ears did likewise. Occasionally, he'd hear her take a deep, deep breath... but she'd never say a word, nor would she stop. She didn't even slow down. She kept the same pace walking forward now as she had before... all as Matthias followed behind.

What was going through her mind? How did she feel returning to Rahara? She said she does this pilgrimage every two years, but if that's the case, why was she still so emotional? What happened here that led to Natsume leaving this place? Why was everything so abandoned?

Matthias wanted so desperately to ask these questions and more... but he didn't. At least, not now. Not as the sun began to set... and as the walls of a city began to rise.

Shin-Kemet: The Capital of Rahara. It was a sprawling and massive metropolis, one that circled the largest and grandest shrine-pyramid of them all, and stretched on for miles upon miles. Matthias had heard of cities so large, that they had buildings that touched the skies. Skyscrapers, he heard them be called. Apparently, they were common in places like Ash Kingdom or Jyotisha. No buildings like this existed in High Bishop however, aside from the clock tower at the center of the city.

But... that's not really what Shin-Kemet looks like, is it? No. Perhaps in its prime it was this large and sprawling city. He could imagine the beautiful sights here; the streets with animal drawn carriages, the gold on rooftops and structures, the busts of gods and spirits that lined the roads. It was all so beautiful at one time, and he could tell.

Now all that remained was... sand. A lot of sand. It overflowed from windows and doorways, spilling out on the streets like a flood of soil had roared through the land. Mounds laid here and there, even on rooftops, with more sand being blown in by the desert's stirring winds. It all painted the picture of a land abandoned to time, left to erode and degrade against the desert's harsh environment.

And yet – somehow through it all – life still grew.

Matthias came to a stop. Before him, growing in a patch of land all its own as if untouched by time, was a cherry blossom tree. It stood at a modest height, its branches spread out like the strands of a spider's webs, and its pink leaves swaying softly in the wind. His mouth agape, Matthias gazed in awe of the cherry blossom, comparing it to the small bonsai tree Natsume kept in her shrine. Stopping as well, the witch maiden gazed up at the cherry blossom, and for a moment, all of life seemed to come to a halt.

And then Matthias spoke.

“What happened here...?” he asked whilst looking over towards Natsume.

She looked back at him, her face seemingly indifferent to the eyes of others. But to Matthias, he could see the slight shifts in her expression that showed her sadness and pain. Her chest swelled – once, twice, thrice – as she took deep breaths and exhaled just as sharply. Then her gaze returned to the cherry blossom, and she gripped her satchel's strap tight.

“Mireval happened,” Natsume answered, making Matthias tilt his head.

“Mire... val...?” he repeated, confused.

“They invaded suddenly,” Natsume continued as her gaze returned to the cherry blossom, “Solar eclipses are rare in Rahara, and are incredibly important in my religion. While we practiced our sermons and prepared for the eclipse, the Empire of Mireval invaded from the north. They overwhelmed and... slaughtered so many people. Even to this day, the sight of Shin-Kemet burning is... ah...”

She closed her eyes and looked away, her chest swelling as she took a deep breath and regained her composure.

“Ah...” she then looked back at Matthias, gazing into his face of concern, “They wanted to erase all of Rahara. They wanted to erase my religion as a whole. They saw our practices and teachings as heretical compared to their religious order and empire...” she looked back, “It wasn't about taking land, stealing resources, or even robbing us of our gold. It was all about destroying Kemetokami.”

“Kemetokami...”

Yes, that's it. Kemetokami. That was the name of the religion Natsume practiced. She said its name so rarely, he nearly forgot about it.

Kemetokami...

Natsume was as mysterious as the strange religion she spoke of. No one knew exactly all the customs she followed, and even fewer knew the name of her faith like he did. All anyone knew – Matthias included – was that her religion was very important to her. She always whispered the names of her gods, always prayed to them at night and in the morning, and tended to her shrine with the utmost care.

Natsume was a woman that many people thought was uncaring to those around her. But in reality, she cared a lot about those who were no longer with her.

So desperately did Matthias want to ask her about her past. To ask her about her mother, her father, her siblings if she had any, and the people of Rahara that she missed so dearly. But if merely standing here was enough to cause her anguish, then he knew asking about her past would only cause her more distress. So he bit his tongue. For now, those questions didn't matter. Right here and right now, she was the only person who mattered.

“Natsume,” said Matthias as he grabbed her hand, giving it a tender squeeze, “I just want you to know... that no matter what happens, I'll always be at your side.”

The feline looked over at her lover, her face remaining seemingly indifferent, but the look in her eyes spoke a thousand words. Her chest swelled as she took in a deep breath, held it for several seconds, and then exhaled just as deeply.

“I know...” she whispered lowly, almost so low you wouldn't be able to hear it... but Matthias did, “Now then...” she looked up, “That building over there. We can use that as a camp for the night. We've walked a lot already. The moon will rise soon.”

On one hand, the moon rising in a desert means things will go from incredibly hot, to blisteringly cold in under an hour. On the other hand, Natsume was giving him the chance to finally – finally! - relax after a day spent entirely walking. His legs hurt, his feet hurt, his arms hurt, his entire body hurt!

But he didn't complain. It's not like complaining would do much anyway, as his uncle would say.

The building they retreated to was an opulent one... that is, he imagined it was opulent in its heyday. Faded tapestry hung from the walls, there were signs of furniture once resting in here, and there was even a shattered fountain in the center of it. Everywhere else, there were – of course – mounds of sand.

Matthias sat first, dropping their luggage and bags before falling upon his suitcase and resting upon it. Groaning audibly, he let his weathered body collapse in on itself as he gasped for breath. Natsume on the other hand extended her hand, and--

“Dniw...”

Her command was silent, lacking the usual strength she had when casting a spell. The effect was all the same as a powerful gust of wind came blowing through the air, sweeping up mounds of sand and casting it aside. Matthias watched as the golden-red sands were pushed through the open door and gaping windows of the building they were in, mixing with the sands that permeated Shin-Kemet's roads.

Mathias looked down. The sandstone floors that were obscured by sand were now revealed to him. But – of course – they were marred, split, and cracked by age and erosion. All he was left with were the thoughts of this place's beauty in the past.

Bah... he didn't have time to think about it. Natsume had done her part; now it was time to do his.

With the floors cleaned of sand, Matthias reached into his luggage to pull out... a camping tent. When one is as diligent a courier as he is, it's important to keep a camping tent on his person when planning on leaving home for more than a day. Sometimes, you're not lucky enough to find an inn, a hotel, or a cheap motel. When that happens, you need to make your own sleeping quarters for the night.

That's where camping tents come from. They were lightweight (relatively speaking, of course), and were easy to put up. What would take a newcomer an hour to pitch, took Matthias less than fifteen minutes!

“Viola!” he said, his arms extended out as if presenting a work of art to Natsume, “This'll make for our humble abode for the... what?”

Yeah. Fifteen minutes. It took Matthias fifteen minutes to pitch this tent. In those fifteen minutes, Natsume had transformed an entire corner of the room into her own personal study! There was a bookcase containing books on it, a rug that extended out, candles set up to bring light to the area when darkness came, and a pitch-black cauldron that was already bubbling with some mysterious substance. And sitting before the cauldron in a high chair with a book in her hand was Natsume.

“Good job, dear,” she said casually whilst turning a page in her book, “You did amazing pitching our tent for us...”

“Tch... show off...” Matthias murmured, a smirk on his lips as he walked over towards his lover, “So what's in the pot? Dinner?”

“Of course,” she answered whilst turning another page of her book, only to go, “Ah-ha... that's what's next...”

Reaching over for a nearby shelf containing a variety of ingredients, Natsume grabbed a bottle off of a shelf and began dumping its contents into her bubbling cauldron of liquid. It immediately fizzled and exploded with steam, cackling and filling the air with the scent of cooking food.

The disgusting scent of food. Natsume had a rather... uh... curious cuisine. Like everything surrounding her, no one in all of High Bishop ate the same meals she did. But now as he stood in Rahara, Matthias came to realize that Natsume herself ate food different from the rest of her nation! Maybe she just had a diet that was unique to her. How unique? Well...

“What are you making?” he asked as he stood outside the rim of her study.

“Lake eel stew,” she answered.

Matthias did not mind. After eating Natsume's strange food for several months, he was used to it.

…

“Zzz...”

“Matthias...?”

“Zzzzzzzz...”

“Matt... hias...?”

He didn't mean too. Honestly, he didn't. He did not mean to fall asleep.

But he did.

Resting there against the cauldron and his bowl of eaten soup, was Matthias. His body was relaxed, his hand propping up his head, his eyes closed, and mouth agape. Drool oozed from his bottom lip slowly, while his expression was one devoid of energy and life. Expected of someone who spent the whole day walking while carrying two suitcases behind him.

Book in hand and an annoyed look in her eye, Natsume gazed down from her chair upon Matthias who slept on the floor. He was beguiling her with his stories of lost packages and trips through thunderstorms, before falling asleep mid conversation. If he had been anyone else, she would have slapped him awake. Actually, no. If he was anyone else, she would have left him to sleep on the floor. But of course...

“Tch... irksome boy...”

Placing her book aside and standing up from her chair, Natsume walked over towards Matthias, her face expressionless and indifferent. And it was with that same indifference that she picked her lover up from off the floor, holding him bridal style. He did not move, did not flinch, didn't wake up or say a word. He just kept sleeping. To him, it was like being picked up by a cloud. And that cloud – ever so tender and gentle – carried him towards the tent he set up, opened it, and gently rested him inside. It was large enough for the two of them, and came equipped with a blanket and pillow as well. Gently, she rested his head upon that pillow, and just as gently she pulled the blanket up on his body, wrapping him in its warmth. She then turned, facing the small firepit she had set up earlier. And with a swipe of her hand and a call from her lips...

“Erif...”

Zwooosh...

A blaze emerged in the firepit, bringing more light to the room, as well as warmth for the slumbering young man in the tent. It cackled gently, reflected off the sheen of Natsume's eyes... and brought memories of days gone by.

Here she stood in the heart of Rahara with her lover... and yet all she could do was reminisce. Maybe it's impossible not to think about the past when standing in it. She saw not the dead and decaying buildings around her, but instead the vibrant and lively streets of the place she once called home.

In years gone, the building they were staying in was a hotel of sorts. Rahara used to host many visitors, most of which being scholars, archaeologists and professors who wished to learn about their nation and its many secrets. To help them, this hotel not only had multiple rooms, but public baths.

For public bathing was normal in Rahara.

With Matthias sleeping blissfully in the tent, Natsume began walking. Her footsteps brought her away from the lobby of the hotel, traveling through its halls where she passed by multiple other rooms. Eventually, she came to a doorway with a huge sand pile oozing through an entryway where two sliding doors would have been originally.

“Dniw...”

That is until Natsume blew the sand pile away and stepped through it.

With a silent command, eerie yellow lights appeared on the walls of this massive room, illuminating it whole. Before Natsume was a large and wide chamber, one with a great basin in the center of it. Stones lined the edges of the basin as if naturally formed, while everywhere else had been filled with sand.

In the past, one could imagine how this place was supposed to look. The stones would be glistening when showered with water, the walls would be wooden and warm, the sand would be water as clear as day, and trees would rest at the four corners of the room. But above all there would be people here, all casually talking and enjoying themselves without a care in the world.

But it wasn't here now, not anymore.

The stones were dusty and worn by time. The walls had holes and cracks in them, and were as stiff as glass. The trees? Heh, what trees? They weren't here anymore. Sand was everywhere, having collected in the basin, in the corners, even falling from the ceiling. And the people? They've been gone for decades.

A forlorn look sat on Natsume's face as she silently traveled around the room. Whispering arcane incantations, the feline caused the sand piles in the room to hover and be scattered throughout the room, shooting to its four corners. The basin was cleaned in a matter of seconds, but it wasn't done yet.

“Retaw...”

Within the floors of the bathtub, the sound of bending steel began echoing out. It was low at first – soft rumbles and trembles – but it grew louder and louder with each second. A wicked 'Grrrrmmmbbbllee!' noise echoed through the room, but Natsume stood there immobile, gazing at the basin and leering at portholes within the sides of it. She remained this way for several seconds before finally...

SPRRRRIITTZZZZZZZ!!!

Water flooded from the portholes, pushing through pipes to rapidly fill the massive bathtub. Hot and strong, it quickly filled the air with steam and mist, blocking one's view if they were to be standing on the outside. But Natsume's silhouette was still visible, standing at the corner of the tub while the sound of rushing water sounded like the cascade of a waterfall.

It was her clips that Natsume took off first. Her black hair was almost always done up in those twintails, but once those clips fell from her head with a 'Snap!', her hair fell long upon her back. It shimmered in the unnatural light of her candles, being as vibrant as the night sky on a star-lit day.

But Natsume did not stop there. Hand sliding into the hem of her hakama pants, she pulled her kosode free from her pants, and slowly opened the garment up. It fell slack on her shoulders, revealing her voluptuous frame. The feline did not stop there however, as she let her kosode drop to the ground, and began undoing the knot that kept her hakama pants in place. Once loosened, they too fell slack upon her hips, allowing her to easily pull her pants off.

In the baths, surrounded only by steam and mist, Natsume stood in all of her naked glory. Only her side-tie panties sat on her hips, hugging the curves of her hips. Locking her gaze on the baths before her, she placed one hand on her hip, while her other hand stroked back her hair, and an airy sigh left her lips.

“Haah... huff...”

She undid the tie of her panties, and they fell to join the rest of her crumpled clothes.

Walking forward, the jet-black feline stepped down into the waters of the basin. It came up to her knees, then her thighs before she stopped and sighed. In the center of the massive tub, she streaked her hand down her hair and body, letting her figure glisten in the sheen of the water.

She felt... divine. The clean waters of the tub – drawn out by her magic – mixed with some of the residing sands that marred the basin. But instead of dirtying the water, the golden-red sands began to glow and shimmer like sparkling embers.

Misogi-Ka.

As this water and sand fusion flowed up and down her body, she felt the negative dross of the day start to be cleaned away. Not just the sweat and grime she accumulated during their walk, but the spiritual impurities as well. The negative thoughts she had – which were a lot and often, let's be honest – were all cleaned away. Instead, her mind was replaced with clear thoughts; of blue skies, gilded sands... and twin suns.

“Aaah...”

Misogi-Ka was important. It purified the body, and was an essential ritual to perform before one starts the pilgrimage in earnest. She needed to be pure of mind, less those thought dark thoughts of her past ruin her focus. It would be difficult, she was sure of that, but... she would not be alone.

Matthias. Just whispering his name was enough to instill courage within her. She felt bolstered by his mere presence, even if she didn't show it much, and even if she'd never say it out loud. Even thinking it to herself was enough to make her shudder and sight, but she did not grow angry.

This young man. This idiot, country-bumpkin young man. This idiot, country-bumpkin young man whom she loved. Every story he told, she hung on like she was glued to it. It didn't matter if he was telling her some dumb tale of misplaced packages or curious sights he's had during his travels, they were all precious to her.

She was used to the silence her shrine offered her, with her only friends being the animals outside her home, or whatever demented creature she summoned for the hell of it. But Matthias shattered all of that. Matthias pierced the silence of her life with warmth, and love, and stories told during dinner meals. Putting it lightly...

Natsume wasn't alone anymore.

Ever since the fall of Rahara, ever since leaving her homeland, she's felt alone. Her fellow Raharians were spread so far apart and so thin, that finding them was near impossible. Assuming they even wanted to be found in the first place. And due to that solitary life, Natsume felt she'd be forced to live the rest of her long life alone.

But then Matthias appeared, calling her Natty, always calling her Natty... and always looking up at her as if she had the radiance of the twin suns upon her face. She was used to the lewd leers from drunkards, or men with wives who wished for an affair, or any sort of unscrupulous fellow who was just begging to be chucked into the void. But Matthias was none of that. Matthias was young, and kind, and helpful, and sweet, and so damn cute.

And before she knew it, he had cast a spell on her.

When it happened, she could not say. At some point – without her realizing – she had begun to look forward to Matthias' smiles, or hearing his voice, or even seeing him wave goodbye as he left town for his courier duties. She then began awaiting his returns, waiting for the moment she could see his smile again, hear his voice again, and watch him wave at her while entering the city. All while saying his trademark...

Hey! Natty!

Just thinking about it annoyed her. Just thinking about it made her heart flutter. Just thinking about it made her want to curse him. Just thinking about it made her want to kiss him.

“Aaah...”

A shudder traveled through Natsume's body as she guided her hands along her body. She embraced herself, and her fingers inched up slowly along her shapely arms and towards her elbows. Clinching in, she caused her breasts to bounce, while her eyes remained closed, and her head was tipped back.

“Aah...”

She was used to spending her days alone. She wanted to spend her days alone. She wanted to live in her shrine, perform her duties, hone her witchcraft, and, hey, cast a few hexes every now and then. But Matthias made all of that impossible. She now had something to look forward to in life.

Natsume had a future. Natsume had a family

Her hand dropped to her belly, rubbing it idly. While she may not appear it on the outside, ever since her and Matthias had gained a relationship, the feline had proven herself to be quite... lascivious. And with the number of times she and her lover had spent their nights entangled in each other's arms, well, it was only a matter of time until she grew pregnant.

Tch...

Now was not the time to have such thoughts taint her mind. This was a purification bath; she needed to be purified.

Splash!

Natsume dove beneath the cleansing waters of the bathtub. Eyes closed shut, her hair fanned around her head, floating up and pooling at the surface of the basin. Again, she felt the impurities of her body be washed away, and the impurities in her head be cleaned as well. It left her feeling buoyant and airy; as if a great weight had been lifted from her body. Clutching herself beneath the bathtub's waters, she spun around a few times like a turbine, before finally breaching her head above the surface of the tub.

SPLASH!

“Auh...! Haaah!”

Yes. That's it. She felt clean. She felt pure. She felt true. And when her eyes opened, she saw...

“Matthias?”

In front of her was Matthias, standing there with his cheeks red, eyes wide, and face perplexed. His expression was met by Natsume's, who didn't appear as shocked as her lover, but was still surprised to see him standing before her.

“I... the steam...” he mumbled, “All the steam woke me up, and... I was... uh... you weren't there... s-so...”

“Tch... it's okay,” Natsume replied as she stroked her hand along her head, pushing back her glistening wet hair, “There's a towel over there. Grab it for me.”

Matthias nodded, though he stumbled backwards. Natsume's voluptuous figure and staggering height caused her to loom over him, and the indifferent gaze in her eyes made her appear to be some sort of apathetic goddess.

Matthias was used to feeling small in her presence; she was a witch maiden, and she worshiped this bizarre combination of religions that was still difficult for him to wrap his head around. But now more than ever, he felt truly outclassed. The way water streaked down her body, how she glistened in the light of her candles, and how she did it all without any bend, break, or flaw in her body, was unlike anything he had ever seen before. Natsume always had this effect on him, but it was amplified now. Doubly, no, triply so with the flicks of golden sands embedded in her fur now.

“Matthias...” said Natsume, a slight growl as she looked at him with an annoyed look in her indifferent eyes, “The. Towel.”

“Right! Riiiighhht! S-sorry, Natty. Heh heh... uuuhh...”

Matthias turned around, doing as he was told and grabbing a towel that hung on a nearby banister. Returning to Natsume, he averted his eyes, fearful that looking at her would cause him to stammer and gawk at her again. Silently, the feline thanked him for the towel, before bringing it up to draw it upon her face.

Out the corner of his eye, Matthias again gazed up towards Natsume, watching her dry herself off. Her towel streaked up and down her face and body, brushing along her shoulders, her hips, her curves, and her breasts. Matthias' chest swelled as his gaze lewdly leered at her bosom, watching it bounce up and down as she breathed, and as she dried herself off. He wanted to look away – she may be his lover, but he still felt wrong leering at her like some lecherous pervert – but he just couldn't. Who could ever look away from such a beautiful woman?

Natsume remained focused on drying herself off, brushing her towel along her body... before her black eyes snapped upon him. Tail pointed up like a stiff pow, her gaze focused and tightened upon Matthias like she was sizing up prey. It took him a moment too long to realize that she was glaring at him.

“Nat... ty...?” he mumbled.

But it was too late.

With a loud 'Grip!', Natsume's hand fell on his shoulder. He gasped, stunned by her sudden forcefulness. But before he could cry out or say a word, the feline spun him around, and threw him forward.

“Whoa!?” Splash! “Glrblbrblblgle!?”

Matthias fell beneath the waters of the tub, where he struggled against it. Confusion wrapped him as he fought to stabilize himself... only for his feet to touch down at the bottom of the basin. It was just a bathtub – a big bathtub, but a bathtub nevertheless. It wasn't that big. Once his feet were planted on solid ground, he stood up above the waters of the tub and brushed his hand along his face.

“N-Natty? What was that for?” he said as he looked up.

Above him was Natsume, standing at the lip of the bathtub with her white towel wrapped around her chest, her arms crossed, and this stern gaze in her eyes. Matthias walked over towards the tub in order to climb out of it, but the feline stepped on his hand.

“Ouch! N-Natty!? What's wrong?”

“You, Matthias! You are what's wrong!” she replied before dropping her arms to place her hands on her hips, “Every two years, I make the journey to Rahara to perform the Pilgrimage of the Twin Suns. I have done so without fail every two years since leaving Rahara, and this year will be no different. Or... well... it wouldn't be different, save for the fact that you are here. You wish to participate in this rite with me, do you not? Then you must be prepared for it. And to be prepared, means to be cleansed. And to be cleansed, you must take part in Misogi-Ka.”

“Misogi... Ka...?” Matthias repeated.

“Yes, Misogi-Ka. The Purification Rites,” she explained, “In Kemetokami, Misogi-Ka is used to cleanse one's body of spiritual impurities. It purifies the mind, the body, and the soul, all at once. Before we go into the shrine-pyramid in the center of Shin-Kemet, we must take part in Misogi-Ka. I have done my bath, now it is your turn.”

“So... I just... uh... bathe...?” Matthias asked with his head tilted, causing Natsume's ear and eye to twitch in annoyance.

“Not. Quite,” she answered, “If it was a matter of cleaning, then we'd need only to shower. Misogi-Ka is more important than that.”

“I... I uh...” he shook his head, “I think I get it.”

“No. No you do not,” said Natsume, her hips sashaying to the other side as both hands sat on her hips, “You think you understand, but you do not understand,” she pointed down, gesturing towards the water, “You are here with me, Matthias. You chose to participate in this pilgrimage. While I do not expect you to take part in every part of this journey, you will at least purify yourself before we go into the shrine-pyramid. So...” her foot tapped against the edge of the tub, “Dive underwater, Matthias. I will guide you through the next steps.”

Matthias looked up at his lover, an incredulous look on his face. She wanted him to dive underwater? Like, he trusts Natsume, 100%, but she's still a witch! And he's not using that word as a pejorative; he's being completely earnest. Natsume is a witch! So when a witch tells you to duck your head underwater, you're naturally going to be wary.

But...

But as stated before, Matthias trusted Natsume: 100%. While she may be a witch, he knows her love for him would mean she wouldn't try to kill him. At least, not without some way of bringing him back to life. Not that he wanted to experience death anytime soon.

Anyway...

Matthias nodded, and looked down at the waters of the tub. They were so clear that he could see the bottom of the basin, and the glittering flickers of golden sand drifting through it. There was something mystical about this pool; he realized that now as he paid more attention to it.

“Breathe, Matthias. Breathe,” Natsume whispered into his ears.

Doing as he was told, Matthias began taking deep breaths. He was used to deep breathing, knowing to do so before heading out for his deliveries, especially when he knew he'd be traveling a great distance. But now he stood still, breathing in... breathing out... breathing in... breathing out... breathing in... breathing out. Breathing... breathing... breathing...

“Now dive underwater, Matthias.”

“O-okay...”

With one final deep breath, Matthias' chest swelled tight, he pinched his nose hard to block air from escaping, and water from entering... and then he ducked down.

SPLASH!

Water fell over him. Matthias sank beneath the water, feeling its cool touch soak into his flesh and... clothes? Oh! Right! He was still wearing his clothes! And now they were completely drenched! Why did Natsume push him into the tub? He would've undressed first! It's not like she's never seen him naked before...

“The thoughts in your mind. Empty them, Matthias,” Natsume said, her voice as clear as day, even as his head sat underwater.

He knew not what she meant by emptying his head of thoughts, but he figured that simply meant thinking of nothing. So that's what he did; he thought of nothing. But, wait, doesn't that count as thinking? Was he doing this right?

Wait. Wait. Waaaiiit.

He was under the waters of this tub... but that's not what he was thinking about. With his eyes closed and his head empty, he suddenly saw his uncle's farms. It was a beautiful day with blue skies, endless fields of grain, and a gentle spring breeze blowing through the air. Matthias shook beneath the water, alarmed that he could see such a thing... but... he wasn't really seeing this, was he? No. His mind merely conjured these images as he felt the impurities and exhaustion of the day be washed away.

At least, until his lungs began to burn.

Splash!

“Guh! Haah! Haah! Haaa!”

Matthias flung his head back up from the surface of the water, where he began gasping desperately for breath. He had returned to the bathing chambers of this abandoned hotel... though his body now felt oddly buoyant and airy; as if a great weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He didn't know if he was really experiencing this, or if his imagination was merely playing tricks on him. But none of that mattered as he gazed forward...

Fwump...

And watched as Natsume's towel fell from her body.

“Tch. So annoying...” she murmured as she descended into the tub, “Of all the time you've spent with me, you have yet to learn how to properly clear your mind. I am ashamed.”

“Weeeeeelll... it's not like you've taught me how to do that,” Matthias replied with a hapless smile on his face, “Why don't you help teach me...?”

Natsume leered at Matthias, reading between the lines of his words. And yet – be it from annoyance, attraction, a desire to get things done, or a combination of all three – the jet-black feline began descending into the water basin. It came up to her thighs as she stood before her lover, whose head tipped back to gaze upon her face.

“You truly are annoying, Matthias,” said Natsume as she rested her arms upon his shoulders, “And I will be sure to curse your mouth shut when this is over.”

Her grip on his shoulders tightened, and her head began moving in. Matthias matched her stride, placing his hands upon her sides to grip her back whilst moving his head to match her. In the center of this pool that glittered with golden specs of sand, their lips met in a gentle and passionate kiss.

The bath was necessary. Impure thoughts were filling the heads of both of them now. But when they emerged after another hour or so, they'd be pure of mind.

Though Matthias wouldn't be saying much...

…

Smack!

“Guh!?”

“Wake. Up.”

The rising sun peered over the mountains, illuminating a land of golden-red sands, pyramids with an eastern architecture to them, and abandoned roads and towns. But in this one building within the nation's heart, a building where visitors from distant lands would stay, a young courier from High Bishop awoke in his tent, with his lover looming above him.

Oh, yeah, and he was naked.

Matthias pulled up, his head groggy and vision blurry as he shook off his sleepy demeanor. Before him was Natsume, who looked down upon him from the entrance of their tent.

“Get. Up. Matthias,” she ordered, her voice curt and straight to the point.

She pulled away before he could get a good look at her, coaxing him to get to his knees. A few times he rubbed his head, his mind thinking back to the previous night. They had that purification bath – Misogi-Ka, Natsume called it – where she swiftly silenced his mouth as she threatened to do. They then retreated to their bedroom, err, tent, where they slept for the night.

For a moment, he thought they'd 'enjoy' themselves. But that would be counterproductive after the purification bath. What's the point of purifying one's mind if it's just going to get dirty again? But, hey, at least she let him speak now. Wait, he could speak, right?

“N-Natty?”

Yup! He could speak!

Emerging from their tent, Matthias stared over towards Natsume's corner. However, was her cauldron and bookcase. Replacing them were two mannequins. One of them had the figure of a woman, and was completely nude. The other had the figure of a man... and was wearing robes. Robes that were mostly silver-white, with golden seams and edges, with red flowers embroidered upon its surface. The robes appeared to be made by a talented tailor's skillful hand, as they shimmered when the light struck their surface.

And they were exactly Matthias' size.

“What is this...?” he mumbled as he approached the robe.

“This is a kimono,” Natsume explained as she walked up behind him, “A ceremonial kimono. It is important for the pilgrimage.”

Matthias turned around, facing Natsume... where his eyes grew wide. On her body was a kimono all its own. Normally, that wouldn't be too surprising. Natsume always wore kimonos or yukatas, as that was her casual wear. But this kimono was similar to the one he saw on the mannequin, being silver-white, gold, and red. Her hair too had been done up, with her twintails being replaced by an elegant bun that had two needles stuck into it, one being gold, and the other being silver.

And at the tip of the needles were two unique symbols. The golden needle had a sun, and the silver needle had a full moon.

But that wasn't the only jewelry she wore. It wasn't even the most impressive jewelry she wore. Around Natsume's neck, she wore an opulent collar. It extended towards her shoulders, and glowed with colors of gold, blue, and silver... with a red jewel in the center of it. On rare occasions, Matthias had seen Natsume wear such a collar, but what was it called again? Oh, right, a Usekh collar.

“Put it on, Matthias,” Natsume ordered as she pointed at the kimono, “You must wear this when we enter the Grand Temple of Dual Suns. Once you dress, we will depart.”

“R-right... ah...” he looked down... then back up, “Uh... but first, Natty... is my... underwear dry yet?”

Natsume sighed... then pointed towards a nearby table.

“It is over there.”

It took Matthias a bit longer than he expected to put on this kimono. He thought it would be as simple to wear as bathrobes were, but that couldn't be any further from the truth. Natsume had to fold it around his body several times before he got the gist of it, and she made sure to tighten the sash to make sure his kimono stayed fixed on his body.

Once the robe was on, then came the sandals. Zori sandals, he remembered them being called. They sat on his feet, being comfortable as opposed to his shoes. Both sandals were made with care, being perfectly fixed for his body, much like his kimono was. It left Matthias wondering how Natsume got his measurements down so perfectly. Yes, they slept with one another, but that meant she'd have to measure him while he was asleep.

She totally measured him while he was asleep.

But now here he stood, completely dressed in a kimono, zori sandals on his feet, and a smile on his face. Matthias felt like he was wearing someone else's body as he looked himself in the mirror Natsume produced. The clothes on him just made him feel like a completely different person!

It made him feel like a person who was deserving of Natsume.

The feline stood behind him, her face that indifferent visage it always was. But in her eyes, he saw a flicker of... love... passion. Natsume hated showing her emotions; she saw it as a flaw if she couldn't keep control over herself. But how could she not smile when Matthias was smiling in such a way.

Such brilliance...

“Now let us go. The Grand Temple of Dual Suns awaits us,” said Natsume as she reached down, grabbing a hold of Matthias' hand.

“Oh! W-wait!” he said, stopping her, “There's uh... one thing I need to grab, heh heh!”

Resting next to their tent was Matthias' courier bag. He swiped it from the floor and quickly wrapped it around his shoulder, before turning to face his lover. She looked back, where she rolled her eyes... only for a soft smile to appear on her lips.

“Do you feel... comfortable with that on?” she asked, somewhat rhetorically.

“Of course I do; you know that,” Matthias answered as he grabbed her hand, “Okay. Let's go now!”

The two exited the derelict hotel, entering the sandy city streets of Shin-Kemet once again. Hand in hand, Natsume led her lover towards the grand shrine-pyramid in the middle of the city: the Grand Temple of Dual Suns itself.

It was a majestic structure, one that stood tall over all other buildings in the grand metropolis of Shin-Kemet. A massive shrine-pyramid, one with multiple tiers that loomed so tall that Matthias' head had to tip back in order to gaze at its complete brilliance. There was a difference from gazing upon the shrine-pyramid when on the mountaintops of Mount Horus-no-Kaze. But now as he stood before the Grand Temple of Dual Suns directly,

But its size was all that remained of the temple's once glorious status. When dragging his eyes upon the structure, Matthias could see the signs of a battle that was waged here in decades past. Aged and faded scorch marks laid on various edges of the shrine-pyramid, with some of its tiered roofs even being broken. There were once platforms that had busts of gods and spirits on them, but where those busts were now was anyone's guest. Some of them remained in shattered pieces, but most appeared to have been stolen and vandalized.

And at the front of the shrine-pyramid's front steps were two pillars... or... well... where two pillars should have been. Instead, only the base of the pillars remained, one one glittering from the remnants of gold, and the other glittering with the remnants of silver.

Despite this shrine-pyramid's derelict state, with so much sand staining its surface and pouring through its orifices, Matthias felt an incredible presence as he stood before it. If a building could be alive – faded though it may seem – then this building was certainly alive.

The desert winds whispered through the air, sending a gentle rumble through the land, and causing sand to surge through the air. But along with the wind something else was carried. Matthias smelt the scent of lotus blossoms, not unlike the ones that grow outside of Natsume's shrines. He also smelled similar incense to the ones the witch maiden kept. Both of which mixed together to instill confidence within him.

And standing at the edge of the Grand Temple of Dual Suns, erect and immobile like a statue all her own, was Natsume. Her kimono fluttered like wings in the wind, her gold and silver jewelry reflecting the rays of the morning sun. She looked every bit like the maiden she was: stoic, regal, and completely untouchable.

And then there was Matthias. Sure, he wore a kimono like her, but as he fumbled with his courier bag, it was obvious how out of place he was. Just some dusty farm boy standing next to this goddess of a woman. And, yeah, he felt out of his depth and the world around him was alien... but he didn't care. He smiled, grinned even, before tipping his head back to once again gaze at the sheer radiant height of the shrine-pyramid before him.

“So... we're climbing this, right?” he asked whilst glancing at Natsume.

His lover didn't answer, at least, not immediately. Instead, her hand clutched at the usekh collar she wore, while her expression grew saddened and forlorn. Her chest then swelled, and she finally spoke.

“It is tradition, Matthias,” she answered, “Each tier represents a trial... a purification... a memory.”

“Memories? Heh... I've got plenty of those,” Matthias replied with a chuckle, “Most of them involve having sand in my boots...”

His joke – lighthearted and simple – brought a soft smile to Natsume's lips. For a moment, the grievances of the past didn't matter, even as she stood in her homeland. For a moment, it was just her and him. And for the first time, she didn't have to participate in this pilgrimage alone.

Natsume spoke.

“Let's go.”

And she began walking up the sandy stairs to the front doors of the Grand Temple of Dual Suns. Matthias lingered behind for a moment, took a deep breath, and then followed behind her.

The two entered into the main lobby of the shrine-pyramid, with the courier's head tipping back in awe. Before him were the once glorious halls of a once glorious building, one that was wide and spacious, with two seats of stone resting side by side, with mirroring thresholds that led to two other chambers. On the walls were hieroglyphs that were alien to Matthias, depicting gods and spirits whose names he did not know. But there were two symbols that stood out the most to him.

Two suns. One gold. One Silver. They sat above the two stone thrones at the walls, and represented two opposing – yet similar – forces. They were still both suns, but they were both so completely different.

Matthias' mouth gaped in awe of the temple's lobby, his eyes drinking in the décor around him. If only – if only – he could have seen the temple in its glory days. What did this place look like when not rusted over with sand? What did this place look like when there were people everywhere? What did this place look like when it was alive?

Natsume appeared less stunned. She had seen this many times already; what was there to be stunned by? This was a common sight for her.

“This place,” Matthias whispered as he stumbled behind Natsume, “It's so big...”

“This is the resting place of the twin suns,” said Natsume, “The area where... Amaterasu and Ra met for the first time.”

“Amaterasu and... Ra...?” Matthias repeated, “Jeeze... I feel so stupid not knowing all these names...”

“Amaterasu and Ra are gods,” Natsume explained, “They came together from distant lands, meeting within Rahara. They came together, unionized in a dance, and gave birth to Rahara, the kami-neteru, and the dual suns themselves,” she turned, facing the stone thrones before them, “Statues in their likeness once sat upon these thrones, but... they've long since been stolen, stripped of the gold and silver that represented them,” she gestured to the rooms next to each throne, “On the left is the Solar Wing, representative of Ra-no-Kami. To the right is the Celestial Wing, representative of Amaterasu-no-Neteru. They are the heavenly Father and Mother of Kemetokami.”

Natsume's head dropped, hanging low for several moments, before gazing up towards the thresholds before her.

“In the past,” she whispered, “The Solar Wing was bathed in sunlight, filled with golden mosaics, and had fire altars lit all around. The Celestial Wing was cool and dimmer, with moonstone floors, whispering fountains, and silver mosaics. Both have long since been ransacked by others, its treasures pillaged, its halls defiled. All that's replaced it is... sand...”

Natsume looked away again, her face both saddened and angered. How many times did these negative thoughts fill her mind? How many times did she ponder the degradation of her homeland and its people. Probably the same number of times he bemoaned the death of his parents, and his homeland to the plague. But where as he had family and loved ones to help him through those trying times, what did Natsume have? Nothing?

No, not nothing. He had her.

Matthias reached out, grabbing Natsume's hand. She tensed up, then looked over, where she saw the radiance of the twin suns glow upon his face. His smile – simple though it was to others, and even in the grand scheme of things – felt so elevating. It imbued her with strength.

How ironic. This mundane courier strengthening her; a witch maiden. She could curse him straight to Hell if she pleased. Instead, she clutched his hand tighter, squeezing him.

“Let us continue,” said Natsume as she looked forward, “We'll take the stairs down the center. Towards the Shrine of Whispering Leaves.”

“The Shrine of Whispering Leaves. Okay, I got it. Let's go, Natty.”

Hand in hand, the feline began leading her lover towards the staircase that sat between the twin thrones. It extended up, bringing dreaded memories of the stairs they took to climb up Mount Horus-no-Kaze. Still, Matthias puffed up his chest and climbed the stairs alongside Natsume. Thankfully, these stairs were nowhere near as long as the others.

They came to the second floor of the shrine-pyramid in only a few minutes. Sunlight poured in through the windows, illuminating a chamber that was basked in darkness and shadows. There was a rug that ran down the center of the chamber, to the corners were pits that would hold trees, and in the center of the room, there was a circular, fenced off area that was similar to the tree pits. An area that would hold a small garden... and the large tree that would overlook the garden.

A large tree that was still there.

Much like the cherry blossoms outside on the streets of Shin-Kamet, there was a cherry blossom that overlooked the chamber. It sat within this fenced off area, surrounded by a green grass and glowing flowers, while a sunroof overhead allowed natural sunlight to pour upon it unimpeded.

Matthias gazed in awe of the cherry blossom in the chamber, while Natsume pulled away. In front of the cherry blossom was an altar, one she knelt before as her hand reached into her pocket to pull out a charm made of gold known as an ofuda. Placing the ofuda down upon the altar, her hands came together in a prayer position, and she closed her eyes.

Lingering behind, Matthias stood there, watching Natsume pray in silence. It left him confused; what should he do right now? Just watch her? He was in this place of holy worship; it didn't feel right to just stand there.

“Natty,” he whispered, making her ear twitch to face him, “What should I do? Should... I kneel too?”

Her eyes reopened and she faced him, her tail sliding over to pat the empty spot beside her.

“Only if you wish to speak to the ancestors,” she stated, “One of the oldest texts in Kemetokami is known as the Whispering Leaves. It is an ancient book that collected messages written by my ancestors upon enchanted lotus leaves. It is said that, in the past, that the original lotus flowers that the messages were written upon, grew in this very chamber. So to commune with our ancestors who sent us messages from the past, we pray in this chamber to speak with them.”

“I... I think I get it...” Matthias answered as he knelt beside Natsume, “I just place my hands together and... speak, right?

“More or less...” the feline answered before tilting her head, “Please don't say anything embarrassing. I don't want my ancestors thinking poorly about you.”

“Weeeelll... I don't know your ancestors, but I want them to know me,” said Matthias as he faced the cherry blossom and lotus flowers before them, “Hey! Can you hear me? I'm the guy who's in love with your granddaughter!”

A blanket of silence descended around the chamber. Natsume's breathing got caught in her throat, and her eyes grew wide. Slowly, her head turned to face Matthias, who looked back at her with this cheeky grin on his lips. A cheeky grin that didn't last for much longer when he saw his lover's face turn pale.

“Was I... too loud...?” he asked.

Natsume wanted to strike him. She wanted to pounce him to the floor. She wanted to cast a spell to shut those lips of his. But she also wanted to embrace him, to hold him close, to kiss him on those lips. She felt embarrassed, yes, and yet, she wasn't angry. How could she be angry or upset? This was typical of him. This was... Matthias.

Taking a deep breath, Natsume shifted her attention back towards the altar before her. Physically, she appeared composed. However, there was an obvious blush on her cheeks, one she tried – and failed – to hide behind her frowning lips. Matthias saw it however, and that's all that mattered.

Focusing his gaze forward, he looked up towards the cherry blossom, and the lotus flowers that sat in this small garden. He then closed his hands together, mirroring Natsume's position as he closed his eyes and began to pray.

So... uh... hey, Natty's ancestors. It's me, Matthias Neltzer, and... I was being honest a few moments ago. I really am the man who loves your granddaughter. Or daughter? Or... great-great-granddaughter? Ah... that's all I wanted to let you know.

And for a moment, all he heard was silence.

But...

Just for a moment.

Matthias Neltzer...

That voice wasn't Natsume's voice. That voice wasn't his voice. That voice wasn't even one voice. There were multiple voices, all coming from different lips that date back hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years.

Matthias' eyes opened, a cold bullet of sweat streaking down the side of his head. He opened his mouth to speak, no doubt to ask Natsume a question... but the words failed to leave him. Instead, he looked at his lover, watching her pray silently with her face composed. And after a few moments, he mirrored her again, and prayed to the ancestors.

He gained no response.

“Matthias...”

“Guh!?”

Natsume's voice broke through the darkness of his closed eyes, causing him to snap upright like he'd been poked in his side by a cold hand. Snapping his eyes over, he gazed at the jet-black feline, who stared back at him with an indifferent expression.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, her voice somewhat flat.

“Uh! Y-yeah! Yeah! Yes... uh... e-everything's okay, Natty... everything's okay...” he replied, not really instilling confidence with his reply. Doubly so as he palmed his chest, rubbing his heart as he took several deep breaths.

Natsume shook her head, then stood up as she brushed off the dust that had collected on her robes.

“Let's go,” she said, somewhat stern, “The twin suns will rise soon.”

“Right... uh... right...” Matthias said as he stood up beside Natsume.

As she started walking for a doorway at the back, he began to follow her... only to stop. Facing the cherry blossom and lotus flowers one last time, Matthias placed his hands together and performed several bows, giving final praise to the ancestors who spoke to him. It may have been brief, but for that moment, he felt the full weight of history fall upon his shoulders.

Okay. Now it was time to go.

“So what's next, Natty?” asked Matthias as he walked up beside the witch maiden.

“The Trial of Wind and Flames,” Natsume answered as she placed her hand on the door before them.

The door slid open. With the name 'Trial of Wind and Flames', his mind was filled with a plethora of thoughts and images. He thought about a tunnel, one with flames dancing around it, while a blast of wind pushes upon you from the other end of said tunnel. That's what he imagined anyway. What he got reminded him that this temple was far past its prime.

The hallway was dark and sandy, with only a few glimmers of sunlight peering through windows at the side. There were archways that extended down the long hallway, lined up as if to lead someone towards the other side. Where was the fire? Where was the wind? Where was the trial that gave this location its name?

Well...

Natsume raised her hand. Upon the archways, there were small lines carved into their surfaces. Lines so small, you wouldn't notice them unless you were told they were there. But once you did see those lines, you'd shortly after notice the scorch marks around them. And it was from these lines...

“ERIF”

ZWOOOOOOOOSSSH!

That fire emerged.

The archways bursted into flames, bringing light and heat to the tunnel. Matthias pulled away, covering his nose and mouth as the smell and taste of fire and smog quickly rushed him. Natsume however remained still, almost indifferent as she gazed at the flames and let her hand drop.

“This is the Trial of Wind and Flames,” said the witch maiden as she faced Matthias, “During the pilgrimage, one walks through these arches of fire in order to test their devotion, and the clarity of their heart,” she turned, facing the arches again, “It is a long walk, and a grueling one. The flames here can reach well over 100 degrees. And with the desert heat, it grows even hotter. Matthias...” she tilted her head to the side, “You need not walk with me under the archways. There's a path to our right that's more comfortable. Take that path and wait for me at the end. I will not be long.”

Without another word, Natsume stepped forward, walking under the archways of fire with her head held high and her posture composed. Matthias lingered behind, his hand reaching out for the feline, only to pull back. Head tilted to the side, he gazed at the blazing flames before him, watching as Natsume's silhouette glowed in the heat, before vanishing as the distance grew too great.

He wanted to follow her. He needed to follow her. This wasn't just her pilgrimage, it was their pilgrimage. But the fire was too intense! Just standing next to it felt like he was being set ablaze! If he took that safe path to the side she offered, he knew she wouldn't think any lesser of him.

And yet...

While she wouldn't think lesser of him, he would think lesser of himself. He made the bold declaration that he loved Natsume. He shouted it to her ancestors, and her ancestors called out his name in response. What kind of lover would he be if he couldn't muster up the courage to walk through a hot tunnel? Did he even deserve the right to call himself her lover?

There was only one way to find out.

Matthias took in a deep breath, breathing hard through his nose specifically. When he did, he smelled something. Not just the flames and smog, but something flowery and sweet. He smelled incense. The flavorful fragrance of flowers started dancing in his nose, bolstering his body, and numbing him to the incredible heat of the flames. Without even realizing it, Matthias had begun walking, entering into the tunnel of fire as he followed Natsume's fading figure.

The Trial of Wind and Flames: It tests one's devotion, and the clarity of their heart. That is what Natsume said, and Matthias felt it. Not on a physical level. On a physical level, he felt hot, sweaty, and his body trembled! But on a spiritual level, he felt not the fear of burns, or of failing, but felt the lucidity if nothing.

No. That's not true. His mind wasn't completely clear. While he did not think about the flames around him, he did think about something... someone. He thought about Natsume. He imagined her indifferent face, her black eyes, her midnight fur, and her domineering aura. And that – his devotion to her – gave him the clarity needed to block out the intense flames of the trial, or the distance he needed to walk.

Ten minutes. It took ten minutes of walking through intense flames before he began nearing the end. There were stumbles here and there, but he kept going. He was so locked on to the image of Natsume and proving himself to her, that he hadn't realized it when he completed the trial. All he saw before him was the feline standing there, waiting for him with her arms stretched out.

At first, Matthias didn't realize that this really was Natsume. He thought the flames were causing him to hallucinate. But then he reached out for the witch maiden, placing his hand into hers, and gently gripping them.

“Matthias...” said Natsume, her voice gentle and laced with genuine concern for him, “You... ah... you didn't have to do that...”

“Wh-what? Me?” he said as he smiled at her, coughing a few times on the smog that clogged his throat, “I... gh...! I couldn't let you walk through this trial alone. I had to do it with you.”

“Hm... but why?” she asked whilst kneeling down, her hand gently clutching his cheek so that he could look her in her eyes.

“Because... heh... every step brought me closer to you, Natty.”

Natsume's head tilted to the side, her cheeks turning red as a rare smile appeared on her lips. She tried – oh gods did the try – to keep her emotions in check, but Matthias was so effortless at breaking them down. She gripped him tighter, holding him in place. And after a few moments of sitting there, she moved in and pressed her lips to his, taking him into a chaste kiss.

They held the kiss for several moments, before the jet-black feline pulled back. Her eyes glowed as they stared into his eyes, and her smile felt so warm... so gentle...

“So... uh... now what...?” asked Matthias, making Natsume giggle.

She didn't answer, instead raising her hand. With a cry of 'Dniw!', she sent out a gust of powerful wind which blew through the corridor, causing the flames on the arches to vanish. Gone was the heat and the aroma of incense, replaced by an odor of smog and dust. Without another word, Natsume turned to face the sliding doors behind them, causing Matthias to do the same.

“One more trial, Matthias,” said the feline as she walked over towards the doors, her hips swaying, “The unofficial Trial of Support.”

“Wh... what...?” Matthias mumbled, “Unofficial? What... what makes it unofficial?”

“This...”

Natsume slid the doors open. With a name like 'the unofficial Trial of Support', Matthias was expecting something where people would have to uplift one another. Both of the previous trials had been rather literal, with the Shrine of Whispering Leaves requiring him to speak with Rahara's ancestors, and the Trial of Wind and Flames requiring him to walk through a tunnel of fire. So what did the unofficial Trial of Support require him to do?

Well...

For this area – and this area alone – the mysticism of the shrine-pyramid vanished. He saw not some ancient chamber that was erected to serve some god or deity, instead he saw dust, sand... and stairs. They spiraled around the walls of the chamber, and stretched up and up and up and up and up. So high into the sky in fact, that all he saw was a white light where the exit was, and where the sun poured through.

“Welcome,” said Natsume, a torturous smirk on her lips, “To the unofficial Trial of Support.”

Matthias' jaw dropped. This wasn't a trial; this was a fitness workout! They expected him – and anyone else for that matter – to walk up all these stairs without a break in between? No wonder it was called the unofficial Trial of Support!

Did they have a lift or something somewhere? He'd rather walk through the Trial of Wind and Flames again before he climbs these stairs!

“Ugghh... stairs... what is with this place and stairs?” Matthias groaned, making Natsume giggle.

“That's what makes it unofficial,” she explains, “There is nothing flashy or exuberant about this test. It is only a walk up towards the top of the shrine-pyramid, where we shall watch the dual suns rise. In our youth, we called it the unofficial Trial of Support after the stairs, and how climbing them is a trial on its own. Perhaps an even more dangerous trial than the Trial of Wind and Flames. Watch your step, Matthias. There are no guardrails here, so falling can be quite dangerous. Unless you don't mind the fall.”

By the gods. Natsume was trying to kill him. There was no arguing against this. He was going to climb up these stairs, his legs were going to give out, and he was going to fall to his death. That's how things were going to pan out for him.

But Natsume grabbed his hand. The architect of his death was also the person who bolstered him. Hand-in-hand, she led him to the first steps of the unofficial Trial of Support. And – hand-in-hand – the both of them began to climb the stairs together.

The climb was either equal in height to the climb up Mount Horus-no-Kaze, or just slightly shorter. And yet, despite walking up these stairs for hours, it did not feel like it took that long. As he held hands with Natsume, watching her walk, and listening to her hum some hymn from her people's history, Matthias felt at peace. There wasn't pain in his legs, nor a numbness. Just the walk up this dusty shaft towards the glowing light at the top.

Soon, that light grew so bright, it was impossible to ignore. Matthias pulled up his arm to block the light from his eyes, but Natsume giggled, finding amusement with his struggles. The sunlight that blinded him came through a skylight at the tip of the shrine, one that seemed to act like a funnel that directly guided the sun's rays into the shrine-pyramid's staircase.

Looking at her lover with a smile on her face, Natsume placed her hand upon the door before them. It was another sliding door, but this one felt different. Much like the kimonos they wore, this door was silver-white, with golden edges, and red flowers embroidered upon its surface. Yes, it looked old and aged, but it was still remarkably beautiful. The sun struck it in such a way that the light itself felt regal and opulent... divine even.

“Almost there,” Natsume whispered reassuringly as she looked over at Matthias, “On the other side is the end of our journey... the end of our pilgrimage. Matthias...” her eyes slid to the side, “You... you will be the first outsider in a long, long time to experience the great secret of Rahara... of Kemetokami...”

“Natty...” he replied, gazing at her face, “I...” he then sucked in air, puffing up his chest in a show of bravado, “I'd do anything for you, Natty. I'd go anywhere. Even if it hurts my feet. So...” he looked at the door, “Whatever secret you wish to share with me, I promise, I'll keep it to my dying breath.”

Natsume faced the door again, her smile spreading wider. She then looked at Matthias and nodded, her cheeks turning red.

“I know, Matthias,” she whispered, “You're too stupid to be deceitful.”

Ouch. That was rude. But, also, fair. He couldn't argue against her, and even chuckled. Natsume however placed her hand upon the sliding door in front of them, and gently pushed it open. The light gleamed in Matthias' eyes, once again forcing his arm up to block it. But the feline kept her hand on his hand, and gently guided him through the door.

They stepped through the door... and Matthias opened his eyes.

Before him was the grand land of Rahara. For as far as the eye could see, there was naught but the golden-red sands of the desert nation. Endless plains of sand, stretching on and on, ad infinitum. From one horizon to the next, there was nothing but desert.

But... there was something wrong about it all. Despite having seen this land before, why did it feel different? They walked through Rahara just the previous day, after having climbed down from Mount Horus-no-Kaze. And yet, Matthias did not see Mount Horus-no-Kaze. In fact, he saw no mountain range at all. Nor did he see the sand-covered roads they traveled upon to reach Shin-Kemet. In fact, all of Shin-Kemet was gone, as if it had never existed!

Here they stood atop a flat stone surface, with nothing but sands for as far as the eye could see. Matthias' jaw dropped as realization dawned on him. That door they entered through wasn't just a door to an exit. It was a door to another world. And when he spoke...

“What the...?”

His voice reverberated, echoing like he stood in a chamber, not out in the open.

Heart racing, Matthias' chest began to tighten as fear and confusion gripped him. Was he having a heart attack? Because that's what it felt like! It was like his mind was struggling to comprehend what he was seeing, and it was taking effect on his body!

“Nat--” he just managed to eke out, only to feel her hands fall on his shoulders.

“Shhhh... calm yourself, Matthias. Calm yourself,” her soothing voice whispered, flowing into his ears like honey and sugar, “It's okay. I promise. It's okay.”

When a witch says something like 'It's okay, I promise'. That's normally cause for concern. When Natsume says 'It's okay, I promise', it is also cause for concern! Look, he loves Natsume, but he knows how punishing she can be, and how liberally she loves to sling spells.

But this was different. He sensed not malice or sadism in her voice, nor even her typical indifference. Instead, he heard excitement in her voice. As if she couldn't wait to share something with him.

“Watch, Matthias,” she whispered, “Watch as they rise.”

“Th-they...?”

“Eons ago,” whispered Natsume, “Before Rahara existed, two deities of the sun came to this vacant world. They left their realms – left their homes – to find a place of solitude. But in that brief escape, they somehow found the same land at the same time. An endless horizon, a place with no ocean, and thus, no horizon. A land of shadows and darkness.”

“A land... of shadows... and darkness...” Matthias whispered back.

“This land would have no life, no sound, no nothing, not without a sun to gaze over it,” Natsume continued, “And thus, these solar deities – still blissfully unaware of the other – decided to bring light to this land. They used their immense strength to bring light to a land of darkness, illuminating the shadows, and bringing forth life. But in doing so, they revealed themselves to the other. To think that in the grand expanse that is the cosmos, two solar gods could exist, and yet be completely unaware of the other. These two gods then came together, introducing themselves. Ameterasu, the goddess of the sun. Ra, the god of the sun. Two divine beings who both ruled over the skies and the sun itself, sharing the same position, yet being completely unaware of one another.”

As Natsume's words drifted into his ears, Matthias' eyes locked upon the horizon in the distance. Over the edge, he saw the rays of sunlight begin to emerge. But they were not alone, for opposing it, on the opposite horizon, he saw the rays of sunlight begin to emerge as well.

“Amaterasu and Ra. The Mother and the Father,” Natsume continued, a rare smile spreading on her lips, “In this world, separated from the realms, they began to talk and speak. They shared tales of their homes, of their families, of the people that worshiped them, and they came to realize how similar they were. For the two gods, they spent hours in this realm, talking about their homes, and of their similarities and differences. But in our time – in the time of we lowly mortals – their conversations went on for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years. And in those centuries that flowed like a river to them – in this world with their twin suns illuminating it – they decided to paint a beautiful portrait in their honor. Ra was reminded of the golden sands of his home, and Amaterasu remembered the cherry blossoms of her home. Ra then recalled the great pyramids of his realm, and Amaterasu thought back to the shrines and palaces of her realm. And after sharing all of the stories of each other's lands with one another, the two gods were inspired to create a land combining their realms. They then came together, where they created the land of Rahara. From the verdant peaks of Horus-Kami, to the oasis of Inari-Isis, and the great dunes of Ma'Mitama that surrounds it all, every inch of land was painstakingly crafted by their talented touches and hands. And when they were finished, they – for the first time – touched one another. Their hands met, and from their union, they birthed life into Rahara.”

“Natsume...” Matthias whispered.

He felt numbed to it all. Not numbed because he was indifferent or cold, but numbed because it all seemed so... beyond him. Here he stood in this different realm, watching as over the horizon, two suns emerged to bring light and life to the land they overlooked. Is this what the Pilgrimage of the Twin Suns was about? To bring one closer to the gods they worship? And here he was, this outsider, being given the highest honor of witnessing one of Rahara's – and Kemetokami's – most sacred sights.

Natsume trusted him so much.

“To seal their creation, and lead the people they had birthed under their light, the two gods formed a pact with one another,” the feline continued, “Ra would govern the day, shedding light upon the laws and trials of mortals. The dawn and dusk would be governed by Amaterasu, her heavenly voice whispering dreams and guiding spirits. And once every biannual cycle, their twin suns will rise in the skies of Rahara to gaze upon the creation they forged together. This event is known as the Dual Ascension, and it is why the Pilgrimage of the Twin Suns exists, so that its most stalwart believers may face the trials needed to watch the suns rise together. Matthias... gaze up.”

But...

Matthias closed his eyes.

He wanted to open them. He wanted to see what Natsume wanted him to see. But the sheer scale of this situation felt too large for him to manage. He feared that if he opened his eyes and gazed upon the pure radiance of the Dual Ascension, his mind would break from how small he was.

But Natsume wouldn't let him break. She wouldn't let him feel small. She spun him around so that he'd face her, and then pulled him in so that his head would press up against her bust. Body growing hot, he melted against her chest, and increased the hold of his hug.

“Natty...” he murmured.

“Matthias...” she whispered, “For so long, I thought you had been a spellcaster in your own right. Naive and foolish thoughts to be sure, but I had no other explanation for how you managed to sneak your way into my mind so often. Your smile, your jovial personality, the way you held your head up high no matter what you faced, I was convinced you had some magical talent somewhere, because I found myself thinking about you so often.”

Matthias pulled his head away as Natsume spoke, and opened his eyes so he could look up at her. She looked back, this warm smile painted on her usually indifferent lips. The twin suns glowed upon them, as if shining a spotlight for them and them alone.

“I came to realize how silly such thoughts were,” the feline continued, “You weren't a wizard, or a warlock, or a witch, or a spellcaster of any kind. You were just you. Just you. Matthias Neltzer, the courier. A young man who held his head high even when the world kicked him down. A young man who was stupid enough to call me 'Natty' no matter how many times I sealed your mouth. A young man who – whether intentional or not – drove me to fall in love with you.”

Natsume closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Flowing into her nose was the clean air of this strange realm. It smelled as pure as the incense within the Trial of Wind and Flames.

“I was taught to serve the dual suns,” Natsume whispered, “And when Rahara fell, the world taught me to be distant. People would hate and fear me for how strange and weird me and my customs were, so I further learned to be as reclusive and secretive as possible. But those things never deterred you. My attempts to remain distant never stopped you from approaching me. You have this... stupid honesty to you, and it doesn't stop you from following your heart, no matter how many times you get bitten for it. And, sometimes, that sincerity of yours is rewarded, even if you don't realize it.”

“Natty... what are you trying to say...?” Matthias asked, causing her smiling face to fall flat with annoyance.

“Perhaps you are too stupid for your own good...” she grumbled, “I am trying to say, Matthias, that I love you. You make me feel like something no one has made me feel in a long, long time. Not as a priestess, or a witch, or as the creepy lady who lives in High Bishop's shadows. No... you make me feel like a woman. You make me feel – if ever so brief – normal. That I...” she smiled, her expression beaming with the radiance of the dual suns, “That I'm allowed to laugh... and cook... and worry... and love... and enjoy my days without being weighed down by the full weight of my history and guilt.”

Raising his hand, Matthias placed it upon Natsume's cheek, before brushing aside some of her hair. He exposed her face, and for the first time in a long time, he gazed upon her the beautiful resplendence of her smile. He always thought the feline was beautiful, but now – for some reason – she appeared positively radiant. Less like she was some morose cat who gloomily stalks her shrine, but more like a goddess given form.

Is this what she saw in him whenever he smiled? Is this the radiant light that always attracted her eyes? With the dual suns of Rahara gazing down upon them, he now understood just how divine she was.

Slowly – reverently – Matthias raised his hand, and placed it upon Natsume's cheek. The warmth of her smile continued to glow, while the dual suns above passed by one another... and slowly began to descend. As the twin suns of Rahara began to set, Matthias' gaze remained locked on his lover, stroking her face as if marveling at something truly perfect.

“Natty,” he whispered, “I... ah... I don't know much about anything, honestly. I just know about delivering parcels... and I tend to mess that up too a lot. But of all the things I do know in this world, I can say without a doubt that... I'm lucky to walk beside you. And... if walking beside you helps lessen the weight of your history even a little bit, I'll do it without hesitation.”

There wasn't much a mere courier like him could do for a powerful witch maiden such as her. Outside of sharing his love, that is.

His love. His love. His love.

Gently, Matthias clutched Natsume's cheek. This was always difficult to do, since she was a fair foot taller than he was. But, still, his fingers gently curled around her cheek, causing her to nuzzle against his touch. Against the void-like silence of the realm they stood in, all Matthias could hear was his own breathing... and the sound of her purring.

Natsume could purr. Has he ever heard Natsume purr before?

With the sound of her cute purrs echoing into his ears, Matthias leaned up and forward, his eyes closing shut. Natsume matched him, closing her eyes as her head tilted down. And after a few moments...

Chu...

Beneath the setting twin suns of her gods, Natsume and Matthias shared a kiss.

…

Within Rahara, not too far from Shin-Kemet – you could reach there in a few hours walk – there is a place known as the Oasis of Inari-Isis. It is a hidden lake, one that is surrounded by palm trees. In days past, lotus fields would stretch from the oasis, but they had long since been swallowed up by desert sands. Most importantly, within the lake, glistening even after all these years, is a shrine-pyramid. It was tilted to the side, erosion had marred its surface, and it appeared to be sinking into the waters below. But on the surface – blurry though it was – were celestial symbols. One stood out most, being a fox with wings.

Inari-Isis was a kami-neteru: a goddess whose dominion was over magic, rice... and fertility.

“Mmmf... chu. Mph... chuu... Nmmm~ Chu~ Oh... haaah... Matthias... Mmmph...”

“Mmmmm... Chu! Nmmph... chu... Nmmmph... Chu! Haaah... Chu... chu... N-Natty... Mmm...”

In days gone, one would go to the Oasis of Inari-Isis, where there laid a temple before its shrine-pyramid, one hidden away by the palm trees and lotus fields. Here in this temple, beneath the watchful eye of Inari-Isis herself, people would make prayers to the goddess. They asked for things like bountiful harvests, but – more often than not – they asked for...

Children...

Matthias didn't know how they got here. Everything felt like a blur after he shared his kiss with Natsume beneath the twin suns. When they dipped beneath the horizon, they reentered the Grand Temple of Dual Suns, rushing back down the stairs, going through the shrines, and returning to Shin-Kemet. He doesn't even remember if they got their things from the abandoned hotel. In those moments, it felt like he had been possessed by someone – some_thing_ – else. A higher power was guiding his feet, and the only person there who could lead him through it was Natsume.

And she led him. Not to the place they stayed at the previous night, but beyond it. Beyond the limits of Shin-Kemet as a whole. They came to this oasis, and entered this temple meant for fertility and pregnancy. And as soon as the shadows touched their bodies, Natsume's lips met his. And they did not leave.

Pinned to the floor of the temple, Matthias' lips were claimed over and over again by the voluptuous feline atop him. The sounds of their kisses bounced off the temple walls, mixing with the soft cackle of lit candles that circled them. Wait. Lit candles? When did that happen? Oh, right, Natsume did that. Right. Right.

Not that it mattered.

She pulled back briefly, the two breathing hard as a bridge of spit hung between them. Matthias gazed up towards her, watching as fire danced upon the edges of her erotic curves. Bringing up his hand, he placed it upon her side, stroking his fingers down towards the curve of her hip and back again. The kimono she wore was so tightly fixed to her body, it left little to the imagination. He could so perfectly imagine what she'd look like naked.

Not that he needed to. He's seen her naked plenty of times before.

Leaning up, Matthias brought his lips near the nape of Natsume's neck, kissing her. A warm cry left her lips as she felt the lips and teeth of her lover sink into her flesh and fur. He didn't just kiss her, he nibbled upon her, sending jolts of pleasure racing through her body as she brought up her hand.

“Don't stop~” Natsume whispered breathlessly as she clutched his head closer, hugging him against the nape of her neck.

Resting atop Matthias' waist, the feline began to grind against her lover, feeling the stimulation of his swelling manhood. It pushed against his kimono, which in turn caused it to push against her kimono, taunting her pelvis with his gifted rod. Closing her eyes briefly, she remembered the feeling of his dick spreading her apart, and how full it made her feel.

Not yet. Oh, no, not yet. She wanted it – she desperately wanted it – but these things take time; even she knew that. So for now, she remained in place, allowing him to feast on her body, and allowing his hunger to grow. And his hunger certainly grew.

As he continued kissing and nibbling on her neck, Matthias' hands traveled towards the sash on waist. Gripping the knot tight, he quickly undid it, causing her robes to fall loose on her body. Not loose enough that they fell off her body fully, but loose enough that it slid off of her body. It inched down her illustrious body, revealing more and more of her midnight fur, exposing more of her chest. And when Matthias grabbed the seams of her robes, he pulled them aside.

Bounce-Bounce!

Natsume's breasts – so busty and soft – bounced free from the robes, exposed to the temple around them. Ember candle lights reflected off of her body, causing her jet-black body to glow, and her pink nipples to stand so proud and firm.

Matthias pulled back, leaving Natsume's neck glistening with his drool while his eyes drank in the image of her luscious upper body. His breathing hiked up in pace as he gazed at her, his hand drifting forward to palm and grope at her sides. The touches to her body drew passionate groans from her lips, as if his touches were enough to elicit pleasure. Those sounds and her body only encouraged Matthias' hunger, who squeezed and pulled her in close.

“Ahh~”

The courier's hands were so... greedy tonight. One of them curled around her waist to grip upon her curvy butt, while his other hand squeeeeezed upon her tit. Natsume's head tilted back, a cry of passion leaving her lips. The softness of her breast spilled through the cracks of his fingers, coaxing her to grope and squeeze her more and more, rolling her tit around in circles.

“Natty,” Matthias whispered breathlessly while her fangs sank into her bottom lip.

“Nmmph~ Matthiaaass~” her deeper voice echoed.

Through the darkness of the temple, Natsume's body glowed as flames danced along her figure. Shamelessly, she presented her upper body to Matthias, her hands at her sides to keep her robes out of her place. He sat there, breathing slowly... breathing deeply... before moving his head in to sandwich it between Natsume's chest.

“Aauuhh~”

Her head tipped back, black hair flowing like the waters of a waterfall as her eyes closed shut. She felt Matthias' head grind against her breasts, which sandwiched him. His hips began moving back and forth, grinding the lump between his legs against her steadily heating honeypot. She could feel it – every pulse, every throb, every vein – even through his robes, and it made her cry out for him.

“Haaaahh~~!”

Then came the biting.

“Nmph!”

“Oh~!?”

His teeth softly ground upon her sensitive nipple, pinching it. Light pain was numbed by incredible pleasure, which went racing up and through her body. But this biting – pleasurable though it was – was quickly outmatched by the wonderful feeling of Matthias' sucking. He drew on Natsume's nipple like he could actually draw milk from her. His tongue then lapped, licked, and swirled around her hard pink nub, while he pulled his hands up to grip the back of his head. Spit oozed from the creases of his lips, oozing down the curvature of her breast, and leaving her chest glistening.

Panting moans and groans left Natsume, who brought her hands up to tangle her fingers into Matthia's hair. She gripped and groped him, embracing him more against her chest, while a sliver of hungry drool began hanging from the corner of her mouth. Pulling down her hands, she pushed them into his robes, pulling them apart to reveal Matthias' fit body.

As he continued sucking her tits, she groped and kneaded at his taut form. So firm and strong. You'd never think it from eyesight alone, but he really does spend many hours – many days – walking and walking and walking. And all of those travels had honed his body to be strong and resilient, not to mention filled with stamina.

But it's not his stamina she wanted to test. No, that would come later. Right now, she wanted to test his hunger.

A perverse desire surged through Natsume, who brought her hands down to fully part open her robes. Mathias laid back against the temple floor, resting among blankets and sand as the feline sat upright before him. As he marveled at the beauty of her body when highlighted by temple flames, he watched her pull open her kimono fully, revealing her shapely body beneath, and the side-tie panties she wore.

All it took was a pull on the strings...

Swwwiiiiiip!

And those panties fell to her waist.

Nestled between her thighs and flanked by midnight-black fur, was Natsume's pink pussy. It oozed with her nectar, which glistened in the candlelight of the temple, and let out this fragrant smell that was delicious.

The incense in the Trial of Wind and Flames... it smelled something like this.

But before he could ponder this thought much longer, Natsume's hand fell upon his chest. She pinned him to the ground, while moving up on his body, Matthias laid there, back on the floor, brown eyes gazing up, watching as Natsume moved to stand atop him. Her pink pussy – so bright and wet – dripped with her nectar, which dripped upon his face, making her flinch.

And then it drew closer... and closer... and closer.

Plop.

“Nmmh!”

Natsume sat on his face.

Her luscious thighs sandwiched his head, her pussy pressed up to his face as she used him as her seat. Matthias groaned against her, not from fear nor discomfort, but from pleasure. The way her legs squeezed him, the fur of her thighs, the warmth of her body, all cradled him so perfectly. He moaned against Natsume before reaching his hands up, placing them upon the small of her back and giving her a squeeze.

“Haaah~”

A cry of ecstasy left Natsume's lips as Matthias began nuzzling himself against her snatch. The hold he had on her body was a strong one, refusing to release her as he licked, kissed, and ground his face against her sensitive pussy. Back arching like a bow-string, the feline gave out a cry that reverberated off the walls of the temple, and echoed back into their ears.

“Yeeeessss~” she groaned, her tail arching upright as she began to gently rock her hips upon Matthias' face.

His tongue was none too shy as it began to slick and slide along her pussy. Fangs sinking into her bottom lip, a naughty smile spread upon Natsume's face. Matthias' tongue had begun to penetrate her cunt, spreading apart her tight walls. He knew her weaknesses; knew how she liked to be poked and prodded, and had no qualms abusing it. His tongue grooved and pushed through her pussy, grinding along her walls, and striking her g-spot, which brought forth more moans from Natsume's lips.

Teeth gritted, the witch maiden placed one hand on Matthias' head, her fingers pushed through his hair. Her other hand traced up her body, running along her stomach, and coming to her chest, where she squeezed one of her tits. Like his hand before, her fingers sank into her busty and soft bosom, groping herself around and around in circles as mounting pleasure brought forth moans from her lips.

“Haah~! Ah~! Hah! Hoh~ Ohnnnn~~! Nmmmph!!!”

Back and forth. Her hips moved back and forth, riding Matthias' face. She felt the features of his face – his nose, his lips, even his chin – all run along her pussy, teasing her as she lathered him in her nectar.

“Oh gods~” she moaned out, head leaning back.

Her fingers pinched her nipples, tweaking and working them in circles while her pleasure continued to mount. That's when Matthias reached up and grabbed her hips tight, fastening her in place. Her ears and tail all pointed upright, her fur standing on end as he took charge. Pinned in place as she was, he opened his mouth, and--

“Nmph!”

“OH~!?”

His mouth clamped upon Natsume's pussy, his tongue stroking along her slit, before coming up to toy with her clit. The hardened nub throbbed against his tongue and teeth, coaxing him to nibble and nuzzle against her more. Jolts raced up and throughout the feline's body, her body quivering with pleasure as she nearly fell backwards atop Matthias' body. But she kept herself upright – just a tinge – still riding his face, and moaning loud enough for the gods to hear them.

As if that was necessary. It was like the bust of Inari-Isis was watching them. Silently. Immobile. Unbending. And, yet, approving.

Matthias kept licking, kept eating her out. Her taste was so refined, so tangy, so juicy. It flowed into his mouth, drawing moans from within which pushed throughout the rest of her body. That exquisite flavor of hers flowed straight into his awaiting maw, intoxicating him better than any wine could ever hope to do.

And the better taste – the sweeter taste – was starting to flow from her cunt. She was about to cum. He was going to make her cum. A few more licks, a few more pokes and jabs of his tongue, a few more strokes, and finally--

“NYAAAAAHHH~~~!”

SQUUUUUIIIRRRT!

Honeyed juices roared from Natsume's cunt, and flowed into Matthias' awaiting mouth. He groaned against her, gaining the most raw taste of her pussy ever as her climax roared through her body. His eyes closed shut too, drinking it down, moaning around her as that sweet and sour taste coated his tongue.

Heavens. Yeah, that's it. Heavens. For one moment, right here as he tasted Natsume's release, he felt like he was in Heaven.

The feline's body shuddered, her ears hung low, her tail hanging low too. As her pussy continued to convulse from the lingering aftershocks of her orgasm, her body finally fell back completely landing atop Matthias and pinning him beneath her voluptuous form. Not that he minded. He let his head drop to the ground as well, laying amid candles and blankets as he panted to catch his breath.

As they laid there, recoiling from Natsume's climax, his dazed gaze traveled over towards the bust of Inari-Isis. The statue of the winged fox remained still, and yet, Matthias swore he felt it pulse with life. Of course, he did not say anything, but he felt Natsume quickly scrambled atop his body, freeing him.

He leaned up right, just to see the nocturnal glow of his lover's eyes stare back up at him. An uncharacteristic smile sat on Natsume's lips, one that was far different from usual. When she smiled, it was usually sadistic or sarcastic. But this smile? It was mischievous, playful... taunting even. Placing her hands upon his chest, she began dragging her palms down his body, working her fingers into the seams of his robes. She slid them apart by his slash, revealing his body beneath.

So taut. So fit. So firm. She could imagine dragging her hands down his body for hours. The idea of treating him like her own personal scratching post even made her tail spring up! Imagine this body of his marked over by her claws... ooooh... it made her shudder.

But this wasn't her true target. Her true target was further south. It was big, and it was long, and it was thick, and it was throbbing~

Natsume pulled open Matthias' kimono one last time, and, ah, there it was; his cock.

It arched up and stood before her, veins strewn down its sides, and a glistening pearl of precum forming at its tip. Natsume's eyes glowed bright at the sight of his cock, watching it twitch and throb before her. Such a fine and erect pillar. When she placed her fingers upon its side, it throbbed with anticipation, and heat radiated off of its form. A pleasurable groan left the feline's lips, followed by playful giggles and purrs that only showed how out of character she was acting.

Not that Matthias was complaining. He liked this other side of Natsume... even if he was used to her giving blowjobs with this serious expression on her face. Speaking of...

“Nmph~”

“Ah...!”

Natsume's lips wrapped around Matthias' cock, surrounding him in her moist and warm tunnel. Black eyes aglow, she gazed at his face, watching his reaction as she put on a steady pace of gentle sucking. Her head bobbed up and down, her tongue ground against his shaft, and her teeth plucked at the bottom and top of his length. Each touch – no matter how subtle – sent jolts racing down his spine and made him recoil. All the while, he listened to the erotic noises of her passionate fellatio.

“Slurp! Nmm~ Slup! Nmm~ Suck! Mmph~ Slurrk! Nnn~”

Matthias laid his head back, resting it against the blankets beneath him while his hips bucked slightly, pushing more of his cock into her mouth. Not that Natsume minded. If anything, she reached up and placed one hand on his hips to keep him in place. Her other hand meanwhile curled around his length, holding it steady as her head started bobbing up and down at a quicker pace.

“Nmm~! Mm~! Hmm~! Nmm~! Nn~! Mm~! Mph~!”

“Hah! Hah! Ah! Nnghh...!”

Matthias looked down, watching as Natsume's long black hair fluttered up and down during her blowjob. She was so focused on sucking his cock off, drawing off all that sweat and musk that hat formed on his body during their day. All that walking, all those trials, even the fire from the Trial of Wind and Flames had all caused his body to accumulate perspiration. And it was that salty sweat – that heated musk – that Natsume downed like it was a delicious cocktail.

She drew the precum straight through his dick... but... it was clear that's not what she wanted. Flavorful and bitter though it was, she wanted something more, something... purer.

And she would gain that 'purity' once her blowjob intensified.

Natsume's eyes locked squarely upon Matthias' face, watching his every action as she sank deeper down on his dick. The courier groaned, his back arching off the floor as her tongue cradled the bottom of his cock, guiding it along towards her throat. And once his length teased the entrance of her throat...

Glunk!

She sank down full, swallowing his cock whole, and deepthroating him with ease. A sliver of drool oozed down the corner of Matthias' lips as he felt the tightness of Natsume's throat wrap around his length. So hot, so wet, so... greedy! And when he looked down, he saw her nose press up to his pubic hairs, nuzzling him deeply as she remained locked on his gaze, revealing in the look of erotic ecstasy she put him in.

Salt. Sweat. Musk. Heat. It all mixed together within her mouth, and she reveled in it. Moaning. Groaning. Her hands even groped and kneaded at his hips and thighs, while her throat tightened around him. She could hold herself here for as long as need be. She is otherworldly, after all.

“Sluuuuuuuurp! Pop! Aaahh~”

But she didn't hold there any longer than need be.

Slowly – luridly – Natsume pulled herself off of Matthia's cock, being sure to tease him with her tongue, her teeth, and her mouth as a whole. Her slow drag plucked and teased at his length before she finally pulled off of his dick, flinging spit and precum about. At the same time, his cock was layered in drool and precum, which oozed and marred his member from base to tip.

Matthias rested on the floor of the temple, panting desperately as if he'd been forced to run a sprint. Natsume however rose up, resting on her lover's lap as she pulled her kimono open wider. Her elegant robes fell slack on her shoulders, exposing more of her voluptuous body beneath as she began grinding her weeping slit against his cock.

“Almost thereeeeee~” Natsume whispered, “Al. Most. Thereeeeee~”

Matthias looked down. Back and forth, Natsume ground his length against her slit, taunting him with her heated snatch. Heat radiated off of her pussy that was stronger than the heat of the desert, and it made his body shudder. One of Natsume's hands fell upon his chest, palming him gently, while her other hand slid down towards his cock. Gripping it tightly, she angled it up with her pussy, grinding the head of it against her slit.

Back, forth, back, forth; her nectar oozed down his length. And after finally taking aim...

Push! Pat!

“Ah~!”

“Ohh!”

There. There it was. The familiar feeling of her pussy wrapped around his cock. The familiar feeling of his cock penetrating her pussy. Natsume's eyes closed shut, her teeth sank into her bottom lip, and a smile spread out on her cheeks. Pure ecstasy. It was amazing how... full he made her feel.

Likewise for Matthias. Natsume's tightness, her grip, her pressure... aah... it was clear to him that she never wanted to let him go. He was hers, all hers, and she wanted him to know it. Not that he'd ever argue against her.

Eventually, Natsume's hand traveled from his chest, and over towards his hand. Grabbing upon him, her fingers pushed through his fingers, clinching inward to squeeze upon his hand. He squeezed back, his chest tightening as he took a deep, deep breath.

And then came the moving.

Natsume pulled her hips up, drawing her gripping cunt along his cock. Her movement – predatory and possessive – drew a lustful groan from Matthias' lips, whose back arched off the ground momentarily. At the same time, he squeezed upon his lover's hand, increasing the hold of his grasp. She did so as well, nearly puncturing flesh with her nails.

But there was a passion to her grip. A loving, tender hold. She'd never really hurt him. Well... unless he was being annoying, of course. But that wasn't the case, not right now.

Pat!

Natsume dropped down, her voluptuous body landing atop Matthias' hips. A quake was sent racing through her body, causing her breasts to bounce and her ass to clap against his waist. She took in a deep breath, her chest tightening before she let loose a gasp.

For some reason, that thrust felt... better than usual. Like she had felt a piston of pleasure ram into her snatch. Matthias felt it too, his body quivering as Natsume's pussy clinched harder around his member. For a while, it was difficult to tell where one began and the other ended. It was like they had become one.

Huh...

That feeling... that sordid, erotic, passionate feeling... it painted a wicked grin upon Natsume's lips. Spreading from cheek to cheek, the feline flashed her dangerous and sharp teeth as she gazed down upon her lover, causing him to swallow his spit.

She began to move.

Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat!

“Ahu~! Hah! Haah ~~! Nyaaaah-hah-haaaa~~!”

“Nggh...! N-Natty...! Hhoh...!”

“Yes~! Yeeessss~!” Natsume cried out, “Say my name~~~! Say! My! Name~!”

“NATTY!” he shouted out, “NATTYNATTYNATTYNATTYNATTYNATTY!!!”

Yes. Just. Like. That. Music to her ears!

Her body began bouncing up and down at a steady pace, riding Matthias without sparing him an inch, a quarter. Their moans and groans mixed together within the temple, echoing into the silent ears of Inari-Isis as her bust overlooked them. The thin eyes of the fox statue seemed to peer at the two lovers, acting as a voyeur for their passionate lovemaking.

Every erotic curve of Natsume's body quivered from the impacts of their bodies. The flames of their candles highlighted it all, painting the silhouette of her shadow upon the temple walls. The way her body moved – her back arched, her breasts bouncing, her hair fluttering up and down, even how her head tipped up towards the ceiling – was so effortless and erotic. The beautiful and sensual portrait of a woman verging on true release.

Matthias was right there behind her. His cock tightened ten-fold within her pussy as she pushed down around him. Emboldened and incised by her, he began thrusting upwards as well, matching her pace with his own fervent hunger. He shot his cock up into Natsume, pounding into her pussy with the same devious need she used to bounce upon him. If her breasts weren't bouncing before, they certainly were now as he caused her body to rock upwards to the point that her breasts were smacking against her chin.

The witch maiden groaned, her teeth clinched as her red cheeks shined through her black fur. Gazing down upon Matthias, she locked in upon his desperate face, while his hand clinched her hand tighter... and his other hand reached down to grip the curve of her hip. He squeezed her body hard – possessively – as if both marveling and taking charge over the curve of her hip.

To the kami-neteru above, she couldn't remember feeling such incredible pleasure. She's had previous lovers – and she and Matthias have had made love plenty of times in the past – but nothing felt this... right before. Between all the rapid and heated fucking, there was this hunger in her belly, this need. It desired more than sex for sex’s sake, and more than pleasure for pleasure's sake. It needed weight, it needed purpose.

Natsume's fields were fertile and empty. They needed to be sewed with crops so that they may bear a bountiful harvest nine months from now. And Matthias was just the farmer with the seeds needed to do it. He was a farmhand before he was a courier, so he knew a thing or two about plowing fields and planting seeds.

Heh...

His length throbbed within Natsume's pussy, his limit approaching; quicker and quicker. Low groans left his lips, and his heart rate spiked considerably. The same happened for his lover, whose pussy clinched tighter around his cock, refusing to release him. They were a mess of flesh of fur, Natsume riding him on the floor, Matthias thrusting inside of her, their hands groping and kneading at each other's bodies, while never releasing the hold they had with each other's hands.

Those interlocked fingers were like a promise: They would never let go.

The two lovers – completely engrossed in one another – made love in the temple of Inari-Isis, as the setting sun cast orange lights through the aged tabernacle's pillars. All that illuminated them were the candles that circled their bodies, highlighting Natsume's body, and making it impossible for Matthias to gaze anywhere but at her.

As if he could look anywhere but at her.

His cock tightened further, his balls too. Same for her, whose pussy gripped his dick harder than ever before. The two could no longer limit themselves, nor did they want to. They just needed to finally let loose and--

“GUH!”

“NYAAAAAAH-HAAAAAH~~~!”

Matthias came. Matthias came hard. His cock erupted inside of Natsume's pussy, flooding every inch of her cunt with his virile spunk. She felt it rise up and fuel her, pumping seed straight into her womb. It was so deep, so hot, and so voluminous, that it was like her womb was being turned into a sauna.

Natsume's head tilted back, her eyes closed, mouth open, while this high-pitch moan left her lips. She felt it. She felt all of it. And that heat and strength caused her body to--

“NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH~~~!”

SQUIIIIRRRTTTT!!!

Natsume squirted around his cock and waist, showering his pelvis in her glistening fluids. Matthias felt it stain him, and he reveled in it. Its heat, its viscosity, its stickiness; it all felt so good. And as he came down from his sexual high, all he could do was give this goofy smile.

“Aaah...”

Matthias laid against the floor, his body relaxed as their twin releases washed over him. He kept one hand on Natsume's hip, his thumb idly stroking her, while his other hand continued to hold her hand. At the same time, he looked up towards her, gazing into her eyes. She looked back, panting softly, chest heaving, while this smile spread on her sweaty lips.

“Matthias...” she whispered.

“Natty...” he whispered back.

She doubled over, pinning him beneath her voluptuous body, her black eyes locked onto his brown ones. Bringing up her hand, Natsume palmed his cheek, and stroked her thumb along his chin and lips. For several moments they laid there, breathing in the same hot air as one another... before moving in for a kiss.

It was a slow kiss. It was a passionate kiss. It was a kiss filled with so much need and passion. And when the kiss was broken so they could breathe... they almost immediately went back to kissing one another.

And they would keep kissing one another. For minutes that seemed to stretch on like hours, they would kiss in the center of this temple, the sounds of their 'Chus' and 'Smacks' echoing off the temple walls. And after several moments of passionate kissing, it shifted into something more charged, something more energetic. This wasn't going to stop now; it couldn't stop now.

They would keep going, on and on, until their bodies finally gave out.

And they would keep going. All under Inari-Isis' watchful eyes.

…

She tended to have nightmares. Memories, flashes, instances of days gone. If I told you the form you see of her is not her true form, would you believe me? If I told you she had knowledge and wisdom beyond that of even your great-grandmother or great-grandfather, would you believe me? If I said this mysterious woman had a heart somewhere beneath all of the shadows, would you believe me?

Yes. Yes you will.

When Natsume told him about her plans to return to Rahara, his response was natural.

What's Rahara?

But now, after spending several days traveling to and through Rahara, he understood what it was. Rahara was a land of sun and sand, of fields and land, of mystery and history. It was a land of contrasts, where golden sands stretch endlessly, broken by hidden oases and verdant highlands. It was a land that was both heavenly and otherworldly. A land of so much space, yet occupied by so little. A land of mountains, of valleys. A land of where gods of different realms merge to become one.

And – most importantly – it was the land that Natsume hailed from.

Shin-Kemet was a beautiful city. Expansive, with so many buildings, and all overlooked by the Grand Temple of Dual Suns within the heart of it. He could only wish he saw it in its prime; when the streets were filled with people, and everything was lively. Now all he had was a husk of its former self, marred by time and years.

So many years...

There was a question that ran through Matthias' head ever since learning of Rahara's past. The empire that attacked them – Mireval, Natsume called it – ruined this land so thoroughly, that even after all this time, it remained abandoned by its people. All that was left were mounds of sand and dust where people once walked.

The thing is...

Matthias has never heard of the 'Empire of Mireval'.

Now, look, he's not the smartest person around. He doesn't know about a lot of things, but he's not stupid either. He knows the names of the major countries and kingdoms of the world – Ash Kingdom, Brastralle, Tylis, Alektrios, just to name a few – but absolutely nowhere has he ever heard of the name 'Mireval' before. And that's saying something. High Bishop was a land of knowledge, where people from all over the world gather together to learn and live. Of all the people who he knows in High Bishop – and he knows a lot of people – not one of them have ever uttered the name 'Mireval' before.

But it doesn't stop there. The signs around Shin-Kemet – and Rahara as a whole – made it clear to him that this land had been abandoned not just years ago, but decades ago. No. Even the word 'decade' was too small to quantify how long Rahara had been abandoned. It seemed more like it had been abandoned for generations. Perhaps even a few centuries.

And yet, despite all of this, Natsume spoke of the events as if she had firsthand knowledge of it. She did not speak of it as if she had heard it from her mother, or grandmother, or even great-grandmother who could have possibly lived here in the past. She spoke as if she lived here.

All of this brings up a simple question to mind.

Just how old is she?

Matthias has always felt in his heart that Natsume was far older than she appeared to be. If you were to see her on the street, you'd think the jet-black feline was in her mid to late twenties. He now knew that was far, far from the truth.

But how old? Was she in her thirties? Her forties? Her fifties? Was she even older?

“Matthias... why are you making that face...?”

The road beneath their feet was made of stone. In days long since passed, it was traveled over by thousands of feet – both man and beast – as well as the wheels of various carriages. Now all it contained were mounds of sand which covered it... as well as the two pairs of feet belonging to a certain witch maiden... and the courier beside her.

“Huh? What? I'm making a face?” asked Matthias as he looked up at her, eyebrow raised, “Well... what kind of face...?”

“The kind of face that says you want to ask a question,” Natsume replied as she looked at him... before tilting over to the point that her head hung a few inches away from his, “Is there something on your mind?”

Matthias looked at her, a sheepish smile adorning his lips. In that moment, he remembered something his aunt said. About how it was impolite to ask a woman about her weight, and her age. Natsume may be his lover, but he knew how punishing she could be. So...

“Heh... bah... it's nothing,” he replied as he shook his head, “I was just thinking about what to do first when we get back home.”

“Is that so...” Natsume replied, before turning to face the roads before her, “If we are to make port before the boat arrives, we'll be walking for the next few hours. We'll take the same path through Mount Horus-no-Kaze that we took to arrive here.”

“Ugh... that means we'll have to walk up all those steps again, don't we?”

“Is there a problem with that?”

“Eheheheheheh... never...”