|Chapter 2| The cosplaying rabbit

Since she was healed, it was easier to traverse the inhospitable forest, though climbing a piece of root could still take her half an hour. The wood was slippery and painful to grab onto. As a human, Hadassah found this world really was not meant for her kind. She marvelled at how humans barely had any adaptations to live here. Why were they the only species without any significant traits? They also couldn't transform, so they were seen as extremely weak creatures. The only reason humans became so powerful was because of their ability to tame beastmen.

Notorious, the first human queen, had over 300 husbands and 700 concubines in her court. Her death was understandably gruesome, and her title as the 'Queen of Debauchery' wasn't one her people could stomach.

Hadassah moved through the dark, quiet woods without a location in mind, hoping to find somewhere hidden and barren to call home for a while. Preferably somewhere with a natural water source. She slid down a piece of bark, her feet feeling the wet squelch underneath her. She winced as she stepped on a sharp piece of wood. She desperately needed new shoes, but most beastmen did not wear shoes, so buying a pair was impossible.

Shoes were sometimes worn by the rich as a sign of their wealth, so even if she did find shoes, she wouldn't be able to afford them.

Her stomach rumbled, but she tried to ignore it. Foraging for wild vegetables was her best option, but as long as she was on the move without a disguise, it would be hard to find edible food safely. The moment she could, she would weave a pair of exquisite rabbit ears. Upon close inspection, they would look odd, but from afar, they would seem fine.

Her shadow was directly under her feet by the time she came across signs of life. Small scratch marks along the bark marked the territory of a minor clan.

She sighed in relief. Most beastmen didn't know much about humans to question her, and the chance of finding someone knowledgeable was even less with a minor clan. Judging from the scratch marks, she guessed it was a rabbit tribe. Other than the fox tribe, they were the most populous. The fox tribe did not often associate with other tribes due to their relationship with the Fox Spirit tribe, one of the five great clans along with the Sky Deities, the Celestials of the Sea, the Vermilion Birds, and the Seers.

The five great tribes ruled the beast world. Each tribe had a select few minor tribes under them. The Fox Spirit tribe had the fox tribe and the bloodhounds under their banner. Most minor tribes did not have the privilege of gaining the protection of a major clan.

The rabbit tribe relied on their numbers and their intellect to survive, and so they were the most advanced in terms of skilled kesems. It was a blessing to have one kesem in a tribe, but due to their numbers, they could have up to five.

Soon enough, Hadassah began to hear signs of life. She was getting closer to the rabbit tribe. Her stomach growled again at the thought of the food that would be available to her soon. She needed to get some money, though; her bag was lost when she fell into the sea. All her hard-earned money gone, just like that. She could only sigh and take it as the price for coming out of that ordeal alive.

She came across a main path and finally noticed a carriage coming up the road. She stood to the side, letting it pass, but it stopped in front of her.

A man with a straw hat covering his face, with a pair of pristine white bunny ears popping out of his head, peered at her. She saw the gleam of what looked like a pair of glasses under his hat. He was also wearing shoes—a pair of brown leather boots—indicating he must at least be a merchant.

"Do you need a ride?" he asked.

"No, it's fine. I don't have anything to pay you with," she replied politely. Angering a merchant before she even reached the tribe would be foolish.

"It's no problem," he said reassuringly. "Just hop in the wagon. You can hop out when we pass by your location."

She peered behind him, seeing the open carriage, and felt a bit more reassured. If she could jump out at any time, she was fine with that. She placed her fist in her left palm and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you!"

The man smiled. She couldn't make out his facial features very well, but his smile looked kind. "No problem, hop on."

She nodded and hopped on the back, seating herself between bags of vegetables and hay. Small boxes were also dotted around, emitting the strong scents of herbs and roots. She wondered why he was traveling with an open carriage and no guards. She pushed the thoughts out of her mind and settled down.

As the carriage trundled along the path, Hadassah took in her surroundings. The forest here was slightly less dense, with occasional clearings revealing glimpses of the sky. The rhythmic creaking of the carriage and the occasional chirping of eased her earlier anxieties, she was safe for now.

"Where are you headed?" the merchant asked after a few minutes.

"To the rabbit tribe's village," she replied. "I need to find a place to stay for a while."

The merchant laughed. For a moment Hadassah felt like she asked the wrong thing. "I mean where I the rabbit tribe are you headed? The black-rabbit tribe is quite large, I'm assuming you've never been."

Hadassah flushed in embarrassment, did she come off like such an outsider? "Thank you for the ride. It's very kind of you." She evaded the question; the merchant understood her embarrassment.

He chuckled softly. "No need to thank me. It's always good to help a traveller in need. Besides, the road can be lonely. You seem like a rabbit female, are you from a smaller tribe?"

"Yes, I am new to this part of the continent." She said, despite her lack of ears she looked just like a rabbit female, known for their frailty and intelligence. Since the concept of a human should not exist, she could only be a rabbit.

They rode in companionable silence for a while, the scenery slowly changing as they approached the rabbit tribe's territory. The signs of civilization became more frequent and the large trees all but disappeared—small houses, cultivated fields, and villagers going about their day. Hadassah's stomach growled again, louder this time, she wanted the ground to swallow her whole, why so loud!?

"Sounds like you could use a meal," the merchant said with a grin. "Don't worry, we'll be there soon."

True to his word, they soon arrived at the outskirts of the rabbit tribe's village. It was bustling with activity, merchants selling their wares, children playing with their disproportionately large black ears often tied back out of the way, and villagers tending to their daily chores. The air was filled with the mingled scents of food, spices, and fresh earth.

The merchant pulled the carriage to a stop and turned to Hadassah. "This is the Black Rabbit Tribe. You're welcome to stay with me until you find your bearings."

"No, I have inconvenienced you enough. Thank you very much for the ride!" she said, getting off quickly. Before she ran off, she remembered to ask, "Do you know where I can find the Great Kesmes?"

He pondered for a while. "What business do you have with the Great Kesmes? He is not an easy beast to meet." The Great Kesmes was a title given to the Kesmes with the most seniority in a tribe. In a big tribe like this, he must be quite skilful.

"Well, I am an acolyte. I was hoping to continue my studies under the Kesmes." She was getting quite good at lying. The merchant remained quiet for a second, and she felt a bit scared. Did he figure out she was lying?

"So that's how it is," he finally spoke, making her release her breath. The merchant pointed up at the tree located in the centre of the village. She could vaguely see a building integrated into the large tree. "Just go to that life tree; the Great Kesmes should be there."

She smiled and bowed once more. "Thank you again for your kindness!"

He tipped his hat. "Take care, and good luck."

As he rode away, Hadassah took a deep breath and looked around. The village seemed welcoming, and she easily blended into the crowd without raising suspicion. Her first task was to find some work or a way to earn money. She spotted a market area bustling with activity and decided to start there.

The market was lively, filled with the chatter of vendors and customers. Various stalls offered fruits, vegetables, fabrics, tools, and more. Hadassah's stomach growled again, reminding her of her immediate need for food. She approached a vendor selling an assortment of greens. "Excuse me," she said politely. "Do you know where I might find some work?"

The vendor, a middle-aged rabbit beastman with a kind face, looked at her curiously. "Work, eh? Well, we always need extra hands around here. What kind of work are you looking for?"

"Anything, really," Hadassah replied. "I just need to earn some shells for food."

The vendor nodded, understanding her plight. "I could use some help packing my items this evening. If you're willing to wait for a couple of hours, I'll pay you in shells."

"That would be wonderful. Thank you!" Hadassah said gratefully.

The vendor smiled. "Great. Why don't you look around the market and come back here just before sunset?"

Hadassah nodded and thanked him again before wandering off to explore the bustling market. The village was vibrant and full of life, with stalls selling everything from fresh produce to handcrafted goods. At first, she was excited to look around, taking in the fabrics, the accessories, and the food – gosh the food- she ogled every remotely delicious looking plate in her way. She regrated not smoking some fish before leaving, but the thought of eating tasteless unsalted fish really put her off eating.

Hadassah stared at the food so intently that the chef mistook her for a beggar and chased her away. She was one night away from sleeping on the streets. Determined to avoid that fate, she made up her mind to quickly help the vendor and get something to eat before heading straight for the life tree.

She eventually made her way back to the vendor's stall just as the sun began to set. The vendor greeted her with a smile and handed her a basket filled with various items.

"Here, start by organizing these into the crates over there," he instructed, pointing to a stack of wooden crates.

Hadassah set to work, carefully packing the items into the crates as the vendor directed. She worked diligently, and as the evening progressed, she found herself enjoying the simple task and the sense of accomplishment it brought.

By the time they finished, the sky had darkened, and the market was beginning to quiet down. The vendor handed her a small pouch filled with polished iridescent conch shells.

"Here you go, lass. You've earned these," he said with a warm smile.

"Thank you so much," Hadassah said, accepting the pouch with gratitude. "I really appreciate your help."

The vendor nodded. "You're welcome. If you need more work, feel free to come by tomorrow."

Feeling a mix of relief and hunger, Hadassah rushed to the nearest food stall. She had earned five shells, but two were quickly lost to purchase a simple but hearty meal. As a human she had no satisfaction eating raw vegetables so she splurged a little on the more expensive stuff with lots of meat. She ate her fill, savouring the warm, comforting food. It was the best meal she had had in days, she nearly cried in relief. She planned to spend the rest of the money of new items for her journey later.

With her hunger satisfied, Hadassah turned her attention to the life tree in the centre of the village. She made her way through the now quieter streets, clutching the remaining shells in her pouch. The closer she got to the tree, the more impressive it appeared. Its massive trunk was covered in lush greenery, and its branches stretched high into the sky. The tree was well lit with what looked like translucent balls floating among the leaves. It looked beautiful, and the wooden spiral stairs that ran up the tree were also dotted with the translucent light balls.

'This must be the work of the Kesmes,' she thought to herself as she approached the tree to climb up. Despite hosting arguably, the most important person in the tribe, the tree was unguarded, but she soon figured out why. Midway up the stairs, she felt a sort of pressure pushing against her, stopping her from moving up.

She tried to keep going, confused as to why she couldn't move.

"Who is there?" the voice of a woman came from seemingly nowhere, resounding all around her.

"Um.. I'm an acolyte. I'm here for the Great Kesmes," she explained, seemingly speaking to herself. She was met with a few moments of silence, and just as she was about to speak again, she received a reply.

"Please make your way upstairs."

Relieved, Hadassah continued her ascent, the pressure easing as she moved higher. When she reached the top, she was greeted by a striking young woman, long black hair, and large, expressive eyes. She had tall, elegant, black rabbit ears and wore deep purple robes draped across her body held together with iridescent clips. Her exposed arms showed off her extensive markings and her wrist was adorned with a long-beaded piece of jewellery that had wrapped around her hand multiple times.

The woman smiled warmly. "Welcome. I am Neveah, a junior Kesmes. You must be the a acolyte."

Hadassah bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Neveah. Yes, I am here to continue my studies under the Great Kesmes."

Neveah nodded, her rabbit ears twitching slightly. "The Great Kesmes has been informed of your arrival. Please, follow me."

Hadassah paused. Why would the Great Kesmes look forward to her arrival? She wasn't a real acolyte. She felt this entire situation was getting precarious. Could it be they were actually expecting an acolyte to arrive? If so, she would be in serious trouble if they found out she was lying. Her body went cold, but Neveah had started walking, so she had no choice but to follow.

Hadassah followed Neveah into the grand hall of the tree. The interior was just as awe-inspiring as the exterior, with shelves of ancient tomes, glowing orbs of light, and various magical artifacts. The air was filled with the scent of herbs and old parchment, each inhale leaving a bitter taste in the back of her throat. She felt a strange mix of awe and anxiety, taking in the beauty and mystery of the place while worrying about her deception being discovered.

Neveah led her to a spacious office lined with bookshelves that reached the ceiling, Hadassah wondered how the hell someone would be able to reach those books. "The Great Kesmes will meet with you shortly. Please wait here," Neveah said, leaving Hadassah alone in the room.

Hadassah's eyes wandered around the office, taking in the rows of ancient books and scrolls. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she began to search the book collection for any information on humans. She hoped to find something that could help her blend in better or at least unlock her abilities.

As she perused the shelves, she found several volumes on the history of the beastmen tribes, magical theory, and ancient spells, but very little on humans. Finally, she came across a dusty old tome tucked away in a corner. She pulled it out and began to skim through it, finding a section on human-beastmen interactions.

Hadassah was so engrossed in her reading that she didn't hear the door open. She jumped when a voice spoke behind her.

"Ah, you must be the new acolyte."

Hadassah turned around to see a tall, imposing rabbit beastman with long white hair and piercing eyes. He wore a dark, intricately designed robe that emphasized his stature. His presence was commanding yet somehow familiar.

"Y-yes, Great Kesmes," Hadassah stammered slamming the book shut and placing it behind her, she stood and bowed respectfully. "I am Hadassah, here to continue my studies under your guidance."

The Great Kesmes looked her over, his gaze sharp and discerning. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Hadassah's heart pounded in her chest. Had he seen through her lie already? "I... I am," she replied, her voice wavering.

The Great Kesmes raised an eyebrow, then suddenly burst out laughing. The sound was warm and genuine, not at all what Hadassah had expected. Confused and a little frightened, she watched him, not knowing what to say or do.

As his laughter subsided. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," he said, still chuckling. "You should have seen the look on your face."

In that moment she recognised him – the merchant from earlier!

Hadassah felt a wave of embarrassment and relief wash over her. "You... you're the merchant from earlier," she said, her voice filled with surprise.

He nodded, his expression softening. "Well, I am not a merchant, I was just out collecting some herbs."

Her face turned red with embarrassment. "I... I didn't mean to deceive you," she said quickly. "I just needed a place to stay and learn." No wonder he looked confused when she said she was an acolyte; how silly she must have looked.

The Great Kesmes smiled kindly. "Well, it's not every day I get to meet a human. I was quite curious to see what you wanted from me. Turns out you just want to steal some books," he said, referring to the book hidden behind her.

Hadassah's heart skipped a beat. He knew she was human. She instinctively took a defensive stance. "What do you want from me?" she asked, trying to mask her fear.

The Great Kesmes raised his hands in a placating gesture. "You came to me. I just want to learn more about humans. If I had planned to sell you out, I wouldn't have let you go after giving you a ride."

Hadassah hesitated, considering his words. Slowly, she lowered her guard. "Why should I believe you?"

He chuckled softly. "Well, I don't care if you believe me or not, I won't force you to stay here."

"What gave me away?"

He looked at her as if she were crazy. "Your lack of ears might deceive the illiterate, but I know a thing or two about humans and can recognize one anywhere."

Hadassah paused, her curiosity piqued. "Have you seen any others?" Were there others like her? Wandering this world alone?

The Great Kesmes' expression grew distant. "Many, many years ago."

She studied him, noting his youthful appearance. He couldn't be older than twenty-five. "How many years ago could that possibly be?"

His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Longer than you'd believe." His voice seemed wistful, "Now, follow me. I'll show you to your quarters, you are my new acolyte after all."

Hadassah followed him through the winding corridors of the tree. They eventually reached a cozy room with a simple bed and a small desk. The room was modest but comfortable, a perfect place for her to rest and study.

"Get some rest. Be awake bright and early. I have a lot to teach my new acolyte," the Great Kesmes said, a hint of a smile on his lips.

"Wait!" she said, stopping him from leaving. "Um, where can I wash up?"

The Great Kesmes looked at her for a moment. "Hm, that's a good question." Most beastmen used buckets of water if they wanted to have a wash, but they often just washed in their backyard or went to the nearest stream with other beastmen. Privacy was mostly a human concept, but he understood that.

"You can use my bathroom. I'm sorry, we don't really have a place specifically for that right now."

She smiled. "Thank you." At least she had a place to wash up and a bed to rest her head. Her feet were killing her, and she didn't have the strength to be on her guard all the time. For just tonight, she wanted to forget her troubles—just for tonight.

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