Catfolk Kingdom

after heading to the Oni kingdom to meet the king and queen once again, some Oni recognized him as they said cheer as he was now an adult as far as Artemis was concerned now, and offered him some alcohol to drink as he was now a man, while he was young, he did hear of kid's his age getting alcohol, and it's not like it's the first time with Artemis accidentally giving him some, Artemis was a serious goddess, however, she did make some mistake's from time to time such as getting her hair stuck in branches, losing her footing, or mixing her drink's with someone else's, even if the cups are different, so since he was a man with a different name, he took them up on their offer in respect's to the culture of his accent to adulthood, the next day, he would have a handover as he wobbled to a carriage that the men paid for since their joke went a little to far, this was his first time riding in a carriage as he always walked places and found he gets motion sick easily as after about an hour, he threw up for about 10 minutes before he was able to go and slept the rest of the way their, then again, that could have been the hangover's fault as well, though as he did travel to the capital after about a week, he meet with the king and queen of the Oni kingdom capital after visiting them about 9 month's ago, and telling them his story and new name, they were surprisingly open with him for royalty, though, he knew why, they expected him to continue to free slaves like before, seeing him as someone to have on hand if they need him, though he didn't mind.

Kuma:" it's good to see you again, as rumor has it, you're quiet and not doing much"

Raiko:" yeah, not much is said about you nowadays except for when you really look in the down low, why is that, if you plan to become an adventurer like you said, wouldn't it be beneficial to have a reputation like your's to help you"

Alcaeus:" well, Artemis said it's good to keep a low profile as being famous comes with targets on your back, and making enemies before you're ready for them has been the end of some promising people in the past"

Raiko:" still though, even with that risk, if you plan to be an adventurer, shouldn't' you boast about at least some of your less impressive feats instead of keeping quiet about them to help you into a good and strong familia"

Alcaeus:" I'm not sure, I had question's about that to, but Artemis said there's a reason for this, and I'm not going to doubt her intentions as she has only ever helped me and if she says if's for my own good, I trust her"

both of them were thinking about this as it seemed odd, however, they knew it wasn't their place to say anything, and if Artemis said this was necessary, who were they to judge her desition if it's for Alcaeus's own good, especially since they viewed Artemis as his mother in a sense as she raised this kid, so they will drop that subject to another subject.

Kuma:" I assume you're going to the dungeon in Athens, the dungeon in the human territory dungeon to keep a low profile and blend in"

Alcaeus:" since I'm a human, it's a good place, I also hear they have a majority of the more known and powerful familia's as well, so I think I'll do fine there, as well as not stand out"

Raiko:" also have you heard, the million slaves that were freed with the Artemis's familia's help started a slave freeing army, now they go around freeing slaves, and their cause is tilting the tides in kingdoms as well as this army is considered criminal's to them all, of course, they're more than welcome anytime in our kingdom as heroes, slavers and people who own slaves deserve death after all"

Alaues:" well... I plan to help slaves in need of it, however, as I don't want to start trouble everywhere I go since I don't hold any kind of reliable source of power or strength as of yet, I think I'll just buy them, get them proper clothing, equipment, and other thing's they need, then set them free, though I won't help slaves that were enslaved because they committed a serious crime they are indeed guilty of, and I'll mainly take the sick slaves, weak slaves, and an entire family who were turned into slaves, all to help them all"

Kuma:" not buying criminal slaves... that's fine I guess, if it serves as punishment for what they have done to get themselves in that position in the first place, we don't view it as slavery if they are truly at fault, but more of a different kind of imprisonment, and buy and set free slaves... I get what you're going for here, legal and easy, the most practical way to free slaves, but that also sound's very very expensive, do you know how much slaves cost boy"

Alcaeus:" well... I know that price ranges between 25,000 to 50,000 Ecuro per slave for really good ones, and as the standard price for regular slaves with more valuable slaves ranging from even 75,000 to 2,000,000 Ecuro per slave based on the value of the slave itself, though some are dirt cheap for only 10,000 Ecuro if they're sick or young, then there are some that are even bred slaves from birth where they are the most expensive ones since they were made to be slaves, males are usually cheaper as female slaves are much more desired for... reasons, and as for males only really being used for manual labor and such"

Raiko:" it's disgusting that's for sure, and worse yet, many show off their slaves like they're jewel's and such, I'll tell you how many time's I had to hold back my tongue and fist when in a foreign kingdom and have to play nice to that kind of thing"

Alcaeus:" well, sometimes biting our tongue is all we could to for the time being, at least to make sure thing's don't end up worse, but the future is yet to be said"

after some discussing, they did give him a special present, a sum of a few million Ecuro's to get him started, though they intended him to use this to buy and free slaves with, they said he was free to use it however he wished as well as make sure once he became an adventurer to let his feats be boasted for all to hear, so he kept it with that in mind as he left to head to Athens, though he passed by the Catfolk kingdom due to the blizzard in his way and had to cut past the capital as he was in a blizzard by the time Alcaeus got to the capital gate and had to pay for a stay in an inn.

Alcaeus:" it's much more different staying in a room alone, normally all of the Artemis Familia would stay in some room's as a blizzard hit, for a goddess of nature, she sure is weak to the cold, then again, I don't think she dealt with that without her godly power preventing her from being cold... I really miss them"

feeling lonely, he went to sleep as he got out to explore the town, being told the blizzard blocked the only route to the human area kingdom, he decided to stay a while, then seeing to make money, he wanted to save the money he was given to buy and free slaves as he intended, so he opened a temporary medical treatment center for injuries, there, he found that there were many who were injured and needed help, he charged some and some got off without paying, but this caught the attention of the Catfolk knights.

Soldier 1:" HEY, YOU CAN'T HAVE A MEDICAL CENTER HERE, YOU NEED A PERMIT FOR THAT"

Alcaeus then realized his mistake, he forgot there were some placed that didn't allow this since it could cost money for big businesses and they crack down on these thing's to add more money, and inadvertently, add more tax money for them, and without the Artemis familia covering for him, he was in a bad position, so he was in trouble, bagged, and caged in a cell in the prison, it was about half a day before one of the knight's opened his cell and was dragged to the royal capital, there, he was thrown to the king and queen who would look in disbelief for a moment and then said.

king:" are you sure this is him"

knight:" positive sir, he stationed a medical center for next to no price, against the agreement of the other medical centers set for"

queen:' but he is just a boy, it's not like he's that medical kid following the Artemis familia... boy, are you him"

Alcaeus:" I am, though my name's changed signifying my rise to adulthood, I only wanted enough money to get by till the path to the human kingdom was gone"

King:" I see... well then, we give you a choice, you can either spend a year in jail for performing medical supplies and aid without a proper permit or work here for free for a year, what's your choice"

Alcaeus's thoughts:" that's basically saying do you want to work for free or rot in a cage for a year, it's a year anyway, might as well"

Alcaeus:" I'll serve as a medic here for a year"

David:" excellent, I am king David Clymene and this is my wife queen Bella Clymene, and we're your bosses for the next year"

Alcaeus knew he'd be late, but at least he wasn't in jail, in the month he spent there, he was treating and helping their only child, Makeda Lilith Clymene, a very kind and caring, with a very lifeless and almost emotionless expression on her face as she was stuck in the castle for a long time in the beginning when they first meet, though, over time spending with her, Alcaeus slowly peeled away her emotionless excretion with smiles spending time with her and even playing with her at times, while he does feel funny around her, he kept his head on his shoulder's remembering the threatening words or Artemis.

Artemis (flashback):" if you ever hurt any women without a good reason, I'll skin you alive and have you live that entire time growing a new pair of skin, then skinning you again and repeating that hellish cycle until you die of old age, mark my word's"

sending shiver's down his spine, he sullied up and kept his respectful attitude with her, and they eventually became friends, over the next 5 month's, he's halfway done with his work, but the king and queen are strict in making sure Alcaeus does his job, but as thing's seemed to calm down, Alcaeus gets up in the middle of the night to drink some water as he overhears the king and queen talking.

David:" this is terrible, I'm doomed to die 6 months from now, I knew it was a long shot, but that kid said himself there's not much he can do for me, damn it, I hoped he'd pull something out his ass to save my life, then I could rule longer as king so our useless and spineless daughter wouldn't be able to take the crown, that worthless brat, and our daughter is..."

Bella:' worry not dear, I'll take care of the kingdom, if my daughter is a spineless excuse for a princess like she is now, I'll just make her marry a man who can take charge, that's simple enough, right, this kingdom will not fall, I've put to much time on it, and I won't have her destroying it"

normally, Carfolk have strong senses, not as strong as a werewolf, but well enough, however, Alcaeus had on a special necklace he made himself that hides his presence and scent from others, however, he no less heard them talk as the king walked out and three of the generals in their army walked in.

Bella:" I've been waiting, it's been about 5 day's since I've seen any action, so don't disappoint me"

he then looked away and ran as he witnessed the queen have an affair with three of the generals in their army, he heard rumors, but didn't listen to them, the queen slept with men from all over, the general's, the most influential noblemen and their sons, even some foreign nobles were no exception, now he knew they were true, he went to see Makeda and take her outside the kingdom, knowing what to do.

Makeda:' what are we doing"

Alcaeus:" we're heading out, to the capital tonight, and you're going to live for the first time"

Makeda:" but I'm sick, I can't-"

Alcaeus:" and why do you think you're sick, you spent so much time inside, you don't know what the outside is like, come on, we're going to see nature up close"

getting a rope from his treasury, he get's down thank's to it's near endless length due to its special ability to stretch for as long as he needs to hit the ground and then head's to escort Makeda to see nature, and even though she was hesitant, she was brought back by how wonderful it was, and she even looked better as she had her skin look better and healthier as the sun's ray's hit her skin for the first time not through a window, being inside a castle almost all her life made her unable to feel this, and only being let out to become stronger in the dungeon, she was happy and wanted more.

Makeda:" this is the best day of my life, I can't imagine anything better, nature was one of the thing's I've always wanted to see for myself"

Alcaeus:"... it must have been tough on you, that's why I made this"

Makeda:" what is it"

Alcaeus:" I know of your succubus blood from your ancestor Merlin, you're about 1/3rd succubus so you're body secretes an aphrodisiac by nature as your natural scent and pheromone to captivate and send men and most women into a heat of passion uncontrollably, and you have no control over this, though I think strong willed men who restrain themselves will be able to handle it if they know about it"

Makeda:" how would you know"

Alcaeus:" just a hunch, so I made this necklace, it is a special one that should stop you from producing this pheromone and you can walk out like normal"

she was hesitant, but she put on the necklace, she felt a shiver through her body, but she then felt as if she was slightly weaker, not sick, but almost... suppressed, she was wondering if it worked, then by surprise, a party of hunter's came and she jumped behind Alcaeus, the hunter's asked what they were doing as Alcaeus explained through lying they were passing by as the hunter's then left, Makeda was shocked they acted normally, she was then convinced the necklace worked, she then hugged and thanked Alcaeus to the bottom of her heart as now she could be normal, but going back, her parent's were mad as they snuck out.

David:" there is a reason our daughter can't leave the castle, and that is a reason she cannot control"

Alcaeus:" I know, that's why I gave her this necklace, it has the ability to stop her pheromone's and now it won't be a problem"

Bella:" Impossible, no such thing exists"

Alcaeus:" if you don't believe me, see for yourself"

seeing their daughter again, they noticed that she doesn't give off this sweet smell as before, now they knew it stopped and then the mother laughed, she then said his work was done and he can leave, even giving him about 3 million Ecuro, their reason, he solved a problem they wanted to deal with for the longest time and now, they don't have to be so protective of their daughter anymore, though, he was worried about Makeda and stayed around a bit in the capital to see what will happen