The Villainess Wants To Go Home

Chapter 56 - Kautegris

\~Spades P.O. V\~

The cloak figure placed his palm on the hard rocky surface feeling the coldness seep through his glove

and to his skin. The motion of the ground felt uneven to the touch then it was on the left side of him.

"What do you feel Master? Does their presence still linger beneath the earth?" another cloak figure

spoke from behind his white plain mask where the black eye sockets were the only features carved on.

The man rose up as his cloak met the ground beneath him. He scanned the surrounding of the cliff

side, the tall trees that reached to the level of the cliff as their green leaves that only grew in the

springtime of the years gently flowed with the rhythm of the wind and the small, shaped triangles of the

mountains were seen in the far distance.

The man walked towards the edge of the cliff feeling the breeze light against his skin and the fragrance

of the fresh green forest lightened his lungs at each inhale of the clean air he breathed in yet there was

something faint and murky lingering within the scent of the forest and it trailed north.

It didn't sit right with him.

"Master?" another cloaked man called out to the superior who stood still, eyeing the far horizon in deep

thought.

A huge gust of wind blew towards them pushing their hoods off their heads to reveal their hair.

The master whose brown oak coloured hair that danced in the wind smirked beneath his mask "It

seems like our runaway noble is heading to Ventus"

\~Artemis POV\~

I trailed through the forest ground without making a single noise as I stepped with the sleeping fox

tucked tightly within my arms. Stepping over moss covered stones making sure I wouldn't, I followed

the sound of the distance stream.

Demarcus followed beside me. I could hear his soft breathing in my ear and the light stomps he took. I

stole a side glance over to him and I realised how beautiful Demarcus was under the sun. He had

dangerous looking horns growing out from the side of his head, there was spiky spines that grew out on

the back of his head, but they were like hair slicked back and two little horns grew from the end of his

chin.

He was a magnificent shade of gold that glowed whenever he went under the sun but what attracted

me the most was those deadly emerald reptilian-like eyes of his that was focused on what was in front

of us when he suddenly gave me a side glance. I wasn't ashamed of staring at him creepily that I didn't

bother to turn my gaze away.

"Is there something matter, Artemis?" he spoke in a soft tone, his emerald eyes now glancing my way.

"You look very handsome Demarcus" I wanted to stretch my hand out and pat him but couldn't because

of Homura in my arms.

I could tell by his softened eyes he was thankful for the compliment. "Thank you Artemis and you are

one of the most beautiful human girls I have laid eyes on" Demarcus sounded genuine, but I already

knew that Demarcus would never lie. Dragons don't lie, it's not in their nature to.

"I appreciate the compliment but this isn't my body so I can't take it as my own." This is Diana's body

that I took over; she has the right to hear how beautiful she is not me. I felt my gut twist from guilt that I

was hearing these sincere words from a dragon and not the fake words of her maids.

However, I wonder if Demarcus would have said the same thing if I was in my original body. Would he

think I'm beautiful as well?

A sudden huff of warm air blew down at me startling me out of my thoughts. "I wasn't talking about

Diana; I was talking about you"

I looked at him puzzled 'What is he saying?'.

We stopped walking and gazed down at me, stretching his hand out and placing the point of his claw to

my chest. "The soul that resides is the most beautiful"

"Dragons greatest ability is not breathing out fire or the defence of our scales but the ability to see

through someone's soul. That's how we choose our riders" he lowered his hand and started to walk

again, and my eyes followed behind him.

'A beautiful soul, huh. I have nothing of that sort, my soul is nothing, but an empty shell filled with a

dark fog'

"Artemis why aren't coming?" I looked over to Demarcus who waited for me to come. "Oh right, I'm

coming"

I dipped my drink bottle in the flowing stream of sparkling water where the sun rays played on the water Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

making it appear to dance. The sound of the water crashing against the and rushing water was the

melody of the forest.

Demarcus and Homura lowered their heads to a take a drink of the blue and green tinted water when

suddenly Homura's ears perked up and his eyes darted around the forest ground, Demarcus lifted his

head up like a submarine snorkel and scanned out surrounding.

By the sudden of action of the two I realised there is another presence nearby. I slowly slid out my

Kunai while feeling the earth beneath me. There was regular feel of the creatures of the forest when I

suddenly felt a heavy presence not far from where we stood. It was heavy to the earth and by that I

indicated that it must be a 3 to 4 metre creature however I wasn't able to figure out what it was.

"As I thought" Homura grumbled silently and went back to drinking the water. Demarcus lowered his

guard down and continued as well.

I looked to where they were looking and saw nothing, but giant stones covered in vegetation across the

riverbanks. I titled my head in wonder. 'What did they see?'

Since Demarcus and Homura aren't minding it, that means there isn't any danger. I slid my Kunai back

in my pouch and proceeded doing what I was doing before when something moved from the corner of

my eye. I hurriedly span my head around to see what it was, but I still couldn't see anything except for

the rocks.

'Is it hiding behind the rocks? Or is-"

"Don't pay too much attention to it" Homura said interrupting my thoughts. I looked down at him

confused.

"It's a Kautegris" Demarcus stated. "A Kautegris?" I titled my head in wonder.

"A shy creature of the forest of Viridis" Homura started as he eyed one particular stone that was behind

a very thin tree.

I squinted my eyes for a better look, the shape of the stone was like a figure hiding behind a tree.

Examining the stone more thoroughly I could see two black holes on the round head of the stone and

oddly I felt as if it was staring right back at me as if it was alive.

"That Artemis, is a Kautegris" Demarcus lowered his head to my shoulder level. I glanced back at the

stone figure and my jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

'That stone thing is alive!'

"Kautegris are timid stone beings. Creatures that look like stones from afar but actually giant moving

rocks" He explained. "Do they attack?" I asked.

"No. It's not in their nature to attack. They are harmless beings of the earth with an innocent heart.

Their hands seem like it will crush anything, but they are actually very gentle with the creatures.

However, with their innocuous nature they are easy target for humans"

The Kautegris was hiding behind the thin tree that was obviously exposing it.

"If I encounter it, would it runaway?" I asked Demarcus. I really wanted to go and check out the

Kautegris from a closer view.

"They are slow runners, so they mostly huddle themselves into a rock to hide" Homura answered for

me which made Demarcus nod his head in agreement.

"Well since I'm all rested shall we leave" Demarcus said spanned his wings open. My attention was still

on the shy Kautegris that had his stony fingers around the tree.

"I'll be back" I told them as I turned my heel and quietly made my way to the hiding creature, stepping

over the rocks as I did. "Where are you going now Artemis?" Homura grunted. "I just wanna see the

Kautegris a bit closer"

"What's so special about a Kautegris anyway. They are stupid and naïve beings no wonder there aren't

many of them left" Homura curled himself into a ball to wait for Artemis to come back so they could

leave the forest and continue on their journey to the human lands again.

Demarcus paid no mind to the fox below and watched Artemis slowly approach the timid creature.

The Kautegris was hiding behind the same tree on the other side of the stream. As I got closer his

figure became more visible to me.

It's figure was somewhat similar to a human. It had a giant boulder body with a hunchback, small but

thick legs, think arms and chubby looking fingers that gripped the tree tightly. It's face was round and

the only features he had was two black blobs for eyes, giant eyebrows that hanged just above its eyes

and a hollow mouth. All in all, he was a 3-metre giant Gollum that looked like as if someone had pieced

it together like Frankenstein then it left for the vegetation to grow on.

I stood on the other side of the small stream, bent down so it would know I'm no threat to it. It's fully

black orbs stared at me, and I did to. It was peaceful fella, with no sign of aggressiveness in its eyes.

I couldn't help but smile a little which terrified it and made it hide its face behind the tree.

'I wonder what Itami would have said if he was here to witness this mythical creature I had never heard

of before in my world. Could this be the authors wild imagination of creating creatures in his or hers

novel?'

It slowly peeped it's head out revealing those black orbs again, it opened its mouth and a low medallic

rumble tuned out.

"Wow" I mouthed. 'Maybe I can get to touch it if I show it that I'm just a friend?'

I search my surroundings for a flower to give it to it. I had thought I would have to get up and search for

one but saw one beside me. I plucked it out and I heard the same sound from earlier yet this one

sounded a bit more upsetting.

The stretched my hand out pinching the stem of the purple flower towards it. The Kautegris was

hesitant to take the flower from my hand and only kept staring at it.

"It's for you" I slowly spoke so it would get startled. "it's alright I won't hurt you" I cooed it.

It looked more frightened and quickly huddled itself, turning into a giant boulder. 'Shit I scared it' I

slumped my hand down already mad at myself.

"How do I get it to trust me?" I mumbled to myself.

"Artemis" Homura called out making me turn my attention to him. "Try singing to it"

I looked back at the boulder that was once a creature a few minutes ago. 'Singing? Maybe but is Diana

even a good singer? I don't want to suddenly sing a bunch of croaky notes that would scare'

I really do want to explore the wildlife in this world before I get home maybe make a few friends like

Demarcus.

I took a deep breath and started to hum softly. The melody was a lullaby mother used to sing me before

she was killed.

My gentle humming must have worked because it slowly peeked it's head out and stared deeply into

my eyes. I kept on humming without stopping and the Kautegris slowly rose up from its little curled up

ball,

The singing had calmed the Kautegris down since it echoed a few of the notes. I stretched my hand out

with the flower pinched between my fingers for it to keep as a gift yet to my surprise it reached its hand

out to accept the flower. It's fingertips were an inch away, so I leaned a little closer but big mistake.

I accidentally leaned too far and slipped down to the stream with a yelp. I face palmed the water with a

loud splash, soaking my kimono and cloak as well.

I could hear the cackles of the fox and silent chuckles of Demarcus. "****" I sat up drenched and

annoyed at myself.

'The Kautegris is probably back to being a boulder again due to the shock.'

Unexpectedly I saw my silver locks of hair that was soaked in water and covering my face suddenly

rose up. The black orbs of the Kautegris stared back at me in curiosity as it titled its head and let out

the same medallic sound.

I stared in dumbfound yet in awe. The stone Gollum had the same purple flower that I tried to give to it

in the other hand and it opened it mouth, humming the same lullaby.

I was speechless nevertheless overjoy that I had made the Kautegris trust me. It moved the hair away

from my face before stepping back a bit shyly, the flower still clutched in its hand gently so it wouldn't

wrinkle it.

I subconsciously reached my hand out as if I was going to touch him however the Kautegris did the

same slowly, his small chubby fingers reaching to touch my long fingers.

It was hesitant but it's fingertips touched mines lightly. It was rough and cold but something about it was

gentle and kind. He hummed the same tune again.

I wish I could understand it but sadly I think I can only understand animals.

'What a beautiful creature you are'