"What the hell is this?!" The ginger cat from earlier returned with a grim expression. "Just how stupid you are to fail even with this simple task. Why did you let them die?"
"Uh, I don't know?" I was really clueless on what exactly happened. How did they die right away? And on my first day?
I tried recalling what happened. Dria talked to me about protecting Racia and all stuff. Then she sent me to guard the princess while she killed the assassin. Then while on it, I gave her the food that the maid delivered. After preparing the food, I left and Dria arrived immediately.
So how did she die in just a short period of time? What happened while I was outside?
The cat just stared at me with disbelief then using her front paw, she facepalmed. She looked at me as if I were an amoeba pretending to be a human.
"Have you forgotten what you wrote in that part of the novel? You know, the reason why Racia began trusting Dria?" she hinted but I remained clueless.
"Wait, wait, before you begin questioning me, I need first to understand everything. I want to know why I am here, what is my purpose here, and how can I return to my own world? Am I dead in that world?" I demanded while staring directly in her eyes.
"But I asked you first," she stated without breaking our eye contact.
"However, I won't be able to deal with all the problems there, without clarifications of what I am supposed to do. Do I have to dance like crazy in there? Or seduce the crown prince or something?"
A long silence befalls us. That's when I realized what I just stated. The audacity of mine to think that way. What if she really tasked me to dance like crazy or seduce the crown prince?
I'm doomed.
"Do you think the crown prince will spare a glance at you, when had numerous charming women by his side?" she spoked after a while and chuckled, but I didn't care about that. I neither have time to feel conscious about my looks nor care about my pride. What I want is the truth and the reason why I am here.
"Then answer my questions." I demanded. This time, I am serious and I won't stop until I got the answer to this question.
"Well, I don't mind seeing you dance like crazy. Maybe you'll be able to save the destiny of this world through crazy dance?" she said, still chuckling.
"So I have to dance nonstop till the fifth day?"
Another silence engulfed us.
"I really can't believe that I met a human with a brain of bacteria." she facepalmed in disbelief and sighed. "I guess I'll have to squeeze this information in that tiny brain of yours." She sat on and started licking her right paw.
"Zeana Louisiana, a third-rate writer who manages to create five worlds with incomplete destiny. After you died, you were sentenced to rewrite the destiny of these five worlds." she said in a serious manner.
"So I really died?" I interrupted making her frown. I chuckled awkwardly before motioning her that I'll zip my mouth so that she could continue.
"Since you'll be sent randomly, your first world became this novel. The destiny of this world ended when Racia, Dria and Xior encountered each other."
"So all I have to do is to continue this novel, not as an author but as a character?"
Maybe, I have to act like those main characters from the novels I've read. About how they change their fate after they reincarnated in their favorite novel.
"Yes and no. Yes, you have to continue this world but you have to change the written destiny. Through that way, they can weave their own fate without you interfering in the future. The only rule is that you have to ensure that all main characters are alive because once they die, the world will freeze once again."
Then I'll have to treasure them like someone breakable porcelain in order for this world to continue to function? Is that why the world froze instantly the moment Dria was stabbed?
But what if I managed to protect them till they aged 100. What will happen then?
"So if they die out of old age, will the world stop functioning again?"
If it is, then all of my hard work seems to go to waste.
"That is, if you fail to create a path for them to become independent of the writer's written destiny. But if you manage to, though I doubt it, this world will exist even after many generations." she stated and stopped licking her right paws. She's now sitting like a master who is staring at her slave.
"Then what will happen after I finish rewriting the fate of the five worlds that you mentioned?"
She didn't answer but gave me a smile. "That's for you to find out." she shrugged. "Now, let's return to my question. Do you even remember what you put in that unpublished novel of yours?"
"Uh... No. I don't remember that much since it's been five years since I created that novel. That's why I need to know why Racia died."
The cute cat let out an exasperated sigh. Wait, come to think of it, I still haven't asked its name. And I don't know what she really is, and why she is doing these tasks. But if I ask this, would it be crossing the line?
Hmm. I guess I'll ask this after we become a little bit closer? I'm sure today won't be the last day that we will see each other.
"Racia died because of poison—"
"Wait! There's poison on the food that I brought? But didn't an hour or two pass before Dria came to me?"
Did someone came undetected and poisoned Racia? But how? Dria's there so how can it be possible?
"Because it's a slow acting poison. In your novel, Dria discovered it and stopped the princess from eating the food. That's how Racia began to trust Dria."
"What? But the maid looks harmless!" I defended the maid. To be honest, the maid looks beautiful and if she had luck, she'll manage to marry into a nobleman.
"You know that you shouldn't judge a person based on their looks." she said sternly. "Now, look what happened."
"But she looks pretty delicate for me. How can she do that?" I muttered underneath my breath but it looked like the cat had still heard about it.
"The maids in the royal palace are noble's children, that is why that maid looks like delicate porcelain. But that doesn't mean they are harmless. I mean, look at Dria. Her bright green eyes looks so innocent but you know what she can do. She can kill without blinking her eyes." she explained, much to my surprise.
"Ugh, fine. So, what should I do? Should I ingest the poison in Racia's place? Will I survive?" I asked sheepishly.
"Of course you won't. Like duh, girl, do you think you are some sort of a main character or something? If you die, you die. There's no other ending for you. Remember, you aren't a character from a novel, you are the writer."
Her statement caused me fear. But...
"You said, I'm already dead..." I mumbled.
"Yes, you're dead. But you still can return to your own world, right before you trip. After all, reversing time is as easy as breathing for us. But if you died before finishing the five novels, then there's no hope." she explained, making me feel hope.
So I can still see my sister, my friends and continue my dreams after I finish rewriting this novels?
That would be great.
And it would be greater if this maid in front of me won't give me that kind of look. The kind of look that is full of pity and as if I am a puppy.