Father Lightwell Mysteries The Riddle of the Cat Lady part 1

Father Lightwell Mysteries The Riddle of the Cat Lady

The day was calm, the scent of the sea drifting lazily through the streets of Boralus. Father Lightwell finished lighting the last of his candles, the golden glow flickering against the stone walls.

Then, he saw them.

A small calico cat, its fur a patchwork of black, orange, and white, crept forward. Behind it, a sleek black cat with piercing yellow eyes moved silently. And last, a gray tabby with a cautious gaze.

The calico stepped forward and gently set something down before him—a small golden necklace with a small ruby, glinting in the candlelight.

Lightwell bent down, carefully picking it up. His eyes narrowed as he traced the engraved letters with his thumb.

"Catherine Morgan."

"Catherine…" he muttered. Then he looked at the cats, a knowing smirk forming on his lips.

"What clever little messengers you are."

The gray tabby let out a loud MEEOOWW!! as if urging him to move faster.

A Disturbance at Catherine’s Home

Lightwell wasted no time. He headed straight to Catherine’s home, a small, well-kept house tucked away in a quieter part of the city.

Or at least, it should have been well-kept.

When he arrived, something was immediately off. The door was slightly open. The inside was a mess—furniture out of place, drawers pulled open, and books scattered on the floor. But what truly sent a chill down his spine was the absence of Catherine.

She would never leave her cats behind.

Not only that, but she was an immaculate person—her home was always in perfect order. For it to look like this meant one thing. Something had gone terribly wrong.

The cats wove between his legs, letting out distressed meows. Lightwell sighed and knelt down. "Don’t worry, little ones. I’ll get to the bottom of this."

As he moved through the room, something caught his eye—a crumpled piece of parchment near the fireplace. The edges were slightly burned, as if someone had tried to destroy it in a hurry.

Carefully, he unfolded it. The ink was smudged, but he could make out enough.

A ledger entry, listing Cartel Ta as the recipient of an unknown shipment. The rest of the details were cryptic—just a series of numbers, a date, and the symbol of a cat’s eye drawn in red ink.

Lightwell frowned. Cartel Ta… the notorious underground trade network. What business did Catherine have with them?

Or rather—what business did they have with her?

He didn’t like where this was going. But first—there was another matter to attend to. He rolled up his sleeves.

With the cats fed, fresh water in their bowls, and their litter box sand cleaned and replaced (Lightwell never thought he'd be scooping cat poop in the middle of an investigation, but here he was), he dusted off his hands.

"Alright, now that that’s settled—" he began, straightening his robe and laughed as the caligo cat jumped on his shoulder. Father lightwell reached out to see his collar that said "Dash". "Okay Dash, lets go get Catherine back."

With a sudden, decisive leap, the calico cat jumped onto his back, perching comfortably on his shoulder.

With one final glance at Catherine’s ransacked home, he tucked the half-burned document into his robes and stepped out into the street.

He had a mystery to solve. And now, it seemed, he also had a feline companion for the journey.

Bastion – A Light in the Darkness

Father Lightwell arrived in Bastion, the golden fields stretching endlessly before him. Despite the realm’s serene beauty, an undeniable weight hung in the air—a tension he hadn’t felt here before.

At the steps of Elysian Hold, Kyrestia the Firstborne stood tall, her ethereal wings casting a gentle glow in the Bastion sunlight. Lightwell could sense her her concern after he finished telling her everything he knew.

"These are troubling news, my friend." Kyrestia said.

Lightwell nodded solemnly. "Cartel Ta is meddling with forces they don’t understand. Their operations are expanding into realms they have no right to touch."

Kyrestia’s lips pressed into a thin line. "This is dangerous. If the brokers have found a way to smuggle things across the veil, it could threaten the very balance of the Shadowlands."

Lightwell folded his arms. "That’s exactly my concern. I need to track them down before they do irreparable damage. Luckily, I know a certain member of Cartel Xy who enjoys running his mouth—as long as there's a bet involved."

Kyrestia arched a brow. "A bet?"

Lightwell’s expression turned almost mischievous. "Snail racing," he admitted with a knowing smile. "Sounds like a very slow paced race but it's very strategic, if you know what to look for. Some of those little fellows have quite the endurance, you know."

Kyrestia gave him a long, silent look, then finally asked, "How... do you know so much about snail racing?"

Lightwell cleared his throat. "Ah, well. You see, there was a time when I found myself in Oribos with a bit of extra anima and… well, a man of the cloth must have hobbies, Kyrestia. Keeps the mind sharp."

She tilted her head. "Hobbies? Or investments?"

He grinned. "What’s faith if not believing in the underdog?"

Kyrestia sighed, covering her face for a brief moment. "So you gamble on snails."

"I prefer to think of it as... divining the swiftest path," Lightwell said, hands clasped as if in deep reflection. "One must trust in the Light, of course.."

Kyrestia exhaled sharply, somewhere between exasperation and amusement. "You are unlike any priest I have met."

Lightwell tapped his nose knowingly. "The Light reveals itself in many ways, Kyrestia. Even in the slow, determined crawl of a well-trained snail."

With that, he extended a hand, and in a graceful leap, Dash landed back on his shoulder. The feline let out a satisfied purr as Lightwell gave him an affectionate scratch behind the ears. "Next stop, Oribos."

Snail Racing and Gossip

Father Lightwell headed straight for Idyllia, the bustling hub where Brokers gathered to wager bets and conduct business with the many denizens of the Shadowlands. The air was thick with the hum of negotiations, the clinking of anima-infused coins, and the occasional enthusiastic argument over a bad bet.

Lightwell absentmindedly stroked Dash’s fur as he scanned the room, his eyes landing on a familiar figure among the crowd. A Cartel Xy member—one he knew well—noticed him almost instantly. With a knowing smirk, the Broker adjusted their robes and strode forward.

"Ah, Father Lightwell," the Broker drawled. "It has been some time since I’ve seen you here. But I assume you’ve returned to collect your winnings? Or..." Their eyes gleamed with amusement. "Perhaps you’re open to a deal—one that benefits me... I mean, us both."

Father Lightwell arched a brow, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Actually, I was hoping for the same."

The Broker tilted their head, a flicker of intrigue shifting across their ever-changing features. As much as one could tell when someone without a real face was surprised, they certainly looked like it.

"Now this is unexpected," the Broker mused, voice smooth with curiosity. "The ever-righteous Father Lightwell, coming to me with a proposition? You truly are full of surprises. Tell me, does this proposal of yours involve divine insight... or perhaps another wager on our most illustrious pastime?"

They clasped their hands together in exaggerated excitement. "Because if it’s the latter, I do hope you’ve learned your lesson about underestimating Fleetflapper the Fourth."

Lightwell chuckled. "Actually, I want some information about Cartel Ta. They've been doing some questionable things outside Shadowlands and somehow they have involved myfriend too and I believe she is innocent and in a great danger."

The Broker let out a sharp, amused laugh, then leaned in slightly. "Ah, so not just here to reminisce about past wagers? No, no, of course not. But your request, dear Father, is something of considerable value—far greater than a tip on a bet."

Father Lightwell expected as much. He smiled, folded his arms, and said, "I've heard there’s a new racer on the scene—a snail named Brulee. A rising star, full of stamina. If it wins, the payout will be... considerable."

The Broker tapped their fingers together. "Ah! Now you have my attention. Brulee, you say? A bold choice indeed. But tell me, Father—do you trust in skill, or is this yet another leap of faith?"

Lightwell placed a hand over his heart, smirking. "A little of both. The Light guides all creatures, my friend... even those with a shell and slime."

The Broker let out a sharp laugh. "Very well, Father." With a subtle gesture, they signaled Lightwell to step away from sprying ears. Once in a quieter corner, Xy took out a thick, well-worn betting ledger, gave it to Father Lightwell with a quill. With a smooth stroke, the priest signed his bet.

When the necessary exchanges were made, Xy lowered their voice. "There’s been rumours.. a project called Operation Cat."

Lightwell frowned. "Operation Cat?"

The Broker nodded. "Only Cartel Ta would be both stupid and bold enough to attempt such a thing. The word is, this 'cat' isn’t just any cat—it carries knowledge, a mathematical code for bending time, space, and the Veil itself. If successful, it would make shipments between the Shadowlands and Azeroth seamless."

They leaned in closer, voice a conspiratorial whisper. "The rest of the Cartels? Terrified of it. None dare touch it.. fearing of the wrath of the Eternal Ones .... I myself too, cannot think what could happen if the Veil would break, Father. This is all I know, and also some mention of Arom's Stand..  "

Lightwell's mind was only half on the Broker's words. Operation Cat. It all made sense now.. it must have been a real cat or a creature of like.. not just a mere name, because that, Catherine would  had wanted to save.

She had always taken care of the cats of Kul Tiras. Once, she actually hijacked a soldier's gryphon, so she could get to the roof of Proudmoore keep, because on top of it,  was a stray cat, desperately meowing and trying to get down. With Catherine's help, the cat was saved and Catherine payed her fine by scrubbing Gryphon stall for a month. 

"Father?" Xy’s voice pulled him back.

Lightwell shook his head, exhaling. He looked down at Dash, who stared up at him with wide, knowing eyes, his owner was in danger.

Lightwell scooped Dash into his arms. "Back to Kul Tiras, my friend. We’ve no time to waste. Catherine’s in trouble… and as for the rest of Azeroth and the Shadowlands?" He tightened his grip. "Best we don’t even think about the horrors that await if we’re too late."

With that, he turned sharply and strode toward the portal.

The Broker watched him go, momentarily silent. Then, with a satisfied hum, they turned back to their betting ledger, fingers gliding over the figures, eyes gleaming at the considerable sum they stood to win.

To be continued…