Father Lightwell Mysteries The Riddle of The Cat Lady part 2

Back in Kul Tiras

Father Lightwell had no time to explain to Kyrestia what he had discovered. His only priority now was ensuring Catherine’s safety—and somehow, somehow preventing the Veil from breaking.

As he traveled toward Arom’s Stand, he murmured a series of prayers, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the symbols of the Light. Dash purred softly in his lap, a quiet comfort against the growing unease in his chest.

The air was cold and damp, heavy with the scent of distant snowfall. Once, Arom’s Stand had been a bustling outpost—but after the Corlain refugees were successfully relocated, the settlement had been abandoned. The buildings still stood, silent and forgotten, making it the perfect hideout for Cartel Ta.

They moved stealthily around the camp, keeping to the shadows as they watched the Cartel Ta members go about their business. Laughter and heated arguments mingled in the air, as Brokers and their lackeys hauled box after box of smuggled goods

Suddenly, Dash’s ears perked up.

The feline lifted his nose, sniffing the air with urgency before his tail bristled with excitement.

Without warning, Dash leaped forward, paws barely making a sound on the cold stone.

"Dash—come back!" Lightwell hissed, trying to snatch him back—but it was too late.

The cat bolted straight for a nearby building.

Lightwell clenched his jaw. He had no choice. Taking a deep breath, he hurried after him, slipping into the shadows once more.

For a Kul Tiran, moving stealthily was no easy feat—but  Father Lightwell was lucky.

The snail race was about to begin.

The Cartel Ta members shuffled toward a holographic transmission, their attention fully locked onto the display. Wagers were placed, voices rose in excitement, and for a brief moment, the camp was fully distracted.

Lightwell took a deep breath, lowered his stance, and crept forward, slipping between the stacks of smuggled crates. Somewhere ahead, Dash had already vanished into the shadows.

Operation Cat

"Dash, its you!!" A familiar voice rang into Lightwell's ears, when he stepped into the building, there was Catherine lying down, tied againts the wooden boxes, she was hugging and petting the overly happy Dash and next to her, was a cat with most peculiar look.  

"Dash, it's you!!"

The familiar voice rang in Lightwell’s ears as he stepped into the building. His eyes quickly landed on Catherine, bound against a stack of wooden boxes, and she was hugging

and petting Dash, who purred loudly in delight. But beside them sat another cat—one unlike any Lightwell had ever seen.

The feline’s form shimmered, its fur seemingly infused with glowing anima, accented by striking blue markings along its face, chest, and paws. Its sharp, intelligent eyes gleamed with an almost knowing expression. Draped over its head was a deep red hood—clearly a sign of its connection to the Brokers. The cat’s poised stance radiated confidence, not just as if it belonged here, but as if it was standing guard, protecting Catherine.

Father Lightwell quickly knelt beside Catherine, his hands moving to untie the ropes binding her. “Are you alright, my friend?” he asked, his voice filled with relief.

Catherine nodded happily, stretching her freed arms before reaching out to pet the Broker cat. With a loving smile, she said, “Caligo here has been taking care of me, just like I took care of him when he showed up on my porch last week.”

Father Lightwell blinked, his mind instantly flooding with questions, But before he could ask, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind him.

The door creaked open, and in strode the Cartel boss, flanked by several members, their expressions sharp and unreadable.

The Greed, The Death and Peace

The Cartel Ta boss strode in with an air of smug confidence, their voice smooth yet laced with danger. "Well, well… if it isn’t Father Lightwell, ever so eager to place his nose where it does not belong." They idly adjusted the silver clasps on their sleeves, as if the priest’s presence was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Father Lightwell stood tall, his grip firm on his staff. A soft hum of Light crackled at his fingertips, the glow of a Holy Nova ready to be casted.

Dash and Caligo both stiffened, their fur bristling as they positioned themselves protectively in front of Catherine. Their eyes gleamed with unwavering determination, ready to strike if necessary.

Father Lightwell’s voice was steady, resolute. “Cartel Ta, you have no right to meddle in the Light’s work.” His gaze locked onto the boss, unwavering. “The Veil should never be broken—you know this as well as I do.”

The room fell into a brief, charged silence. The flickering of lanterns cast long shadows as the Cartel Ta members exchanged knowing glances, their smirks faltering ever so slightly.

The Cartel Boss took a step forward, a smug grin spreading across his face. “You still don’t see it, do you, Father? We’re not meddling in the Light’s work—we’re simply expanding our business.” His voice darkened, his golden eyes gleaming under the dim light. “We would have done it already, if not for that foolish woman, turning the cat soft like some common house pet.”

Catherine’s hold on Caligo tightened. She pulled him and Dash closer, shielding them with her arms. Her glare could have burned through steel. “His name is Caligo, and he needed kindness, just like any living being. Even the stray cats I rescued never purred as much as he did when someone was simply good to him.”

he Cartel Boss let out a deep, rumbling laugh, his men following suit like a chorus of mockery. “Love? Kindness? What nonsense.” He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his expression. “You still don’t get it. That thing isn’t a cat. It’s made of numbers and anima. A construct. A tool. Nothing more.”

Father Lightwell listened and understood. Caligo wasn’t just a cat—he was something far more intricate. A living cipher, infused with sacred numbers, formulas, and anima, designed to manipulate the very fabric of existence. If the wrong hands unlocked his secrets, the Veil could shatter like a delicate thread pulled too far.

The boss sneered, shaking his head. "Sentimentality. A foolish investment and I have had enough of it.” His gaze flicked toward his men. “Kill them.”

The room tensed. Shadows stretched as the cartel members shifted forward, hands twitching toward weapons, spells simmering at their fingertips. Father Lightwell exhaled slowly, his grip tightening around his staff. "If you think I will let you take them—then you do not understand the Light."

A golden glow began to pulse around him, and Dash let out a low, warning growl. Caligo’s eyes glowed faintly, something deep and ancient flickering within.

A huge bang echoed through the room.

Father Lightwell’s eyes widened in horror as Catherine staggered back, gasping for air. Her fingers clutched at her chest, warm red blood seeping between them, dark and glistening. As her body crumpled to the floor, Dash let out a desperate meow and rushed to her side, his small body trembling.

Caligo stiffened, his glowing eyes locked onto Catherine, unblinking. For a few fleeting seconds, the air was thick with tension—Father Lightwell gathering every ounce of his holy power, Dash hissing furiously at the Cartel members, and Caligo…

Caligo began to change.

The Cartel members hesitated, their weapons drawn but their hands unsteady. Confusion flickered across their faces, but their boss—snarling, desperate—was having none of it.

"Fire!!!" he roared.

The anima hum had reached a into a shimmering, pulsing storm of raw energy that painted the room in shifting hues of blue and gold. Father Lightwell had to shield his eyes, barely able to see past the blinding radiance as Caligo's form expanded, the air around him crackling with unrestrained power.

The sound of the Cartel’s weapons igniting was swallowed by the overwhelming, electrified surge of anima.

And then—

Nothing.

Silence.

A vast, endless stillness.

The world had gone dark. Peaceful.

Justice

Father Lightwell's head felt dizzy, his body was heavy and peaceful silence had shifted into the peaceful sounds of Bastion. He tried to stand up, his feet barely holding up, he turned to look for Catherine, whose body was laying lifeless on the ground. Next to her were Dash and Caligo, who was back to his normal size. Father Lightwell's heart sunk.. he could not safe her.. all he could do now was to pray.. for the Light to take her. He placed her hand on her and began a prayer "Light eternal, embrace this soul..." Father Lightwell began, his voice steady despite the grief weighing his heart.

A cold press of metal against his forehead halted his words. The unmistakable chill of a gun barrel.

"Now, Padre, if you don’t mind..." the Cartel Boss drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. "You might want to say your prayers too."

Father Lightwell closed his eyes for a brief moment, then turned back to Catherine, his resolve unshaken. He continued his prayer.

"Let them walk in peace upon the golden path, where shadow cannot follow..."

The gun pressed harder against his skin. He could hear the faint, mechanical click of the trigger being pulled back—

And then, a deafening roar cut through the air.

"ENOUGH!"

A voice, commanding and divine, echoed through the room. A voice he knew.

Blinding blue light flooded the space as Kyrestia descended, her radiant form casting towering shadows against the walls. Behind her, an army of Kyrians stood ready, their weapons locked onto the members of Cartel Ta.

With a simple flick of her hand, the room pulsed with energy—Cartel Ta’s members were instantly dazed, their bodies trembling under the weight of her presence. All except for the Boss, who now stood frozen, the gun slipping from his grasp as he raised his hands in surrender.

"You have disgraced the entire Shadowlands, Cartel Ta, and for that, you shall be punished." Kyrestia’s voice was like ice, unwavering and absolute. Her piercing gaze swept over the remaining Cartel members, her expression devoid of mercy.

"Take them."

With swift precision, the Kyrians moved in, seizing the Cartel members, their fates now sealed under the judgment of the Eternals. The boss, once so smug, now stood trembling, knowing that whatever awaited them was far worse than a mere loss of profit.

As the last of the Cartel was led away, Kyrestia turned to Father Lightwell. Her face, once cold, softened at the sight before her—a priest kneeling in mourning, two faithful companions beside him, guarding their fallen friend.

She stepped forward, kneeling beside Catherine, and placed a gentle hand upon her still form.

"Your time is not yet, child. Your kindness is needed by those who cannot speak for themselves."

As her words faded into the air, a radiant golden light engulfed Catherine’s body. Warmth spread through the room, and slowly, her breath returned. Her fingers twitched, her chest rose, and then, finally, her eyes fluttered open.

Father Lightwell gasped, a relieved smile breaking through his sorrow.

"Catherine!" He rushed to her side, Dash leaping into her arms, purring as if his heart would burst. Caligo sat still, his glowing form dimmed but steady, watching intently.

Catherine blinked, then smiled, weak but full of warmth. "Thank you..." Her voice was soft, but filled with gratitude. She looked at Dash, then Caligo, stroking their fur. "To all of you."

But then, her gaze turned to Kyrestia, her expression shifting to quiet concern.

"What will happen to Caligo now?" she asked, holding the anima cat close. "He won’t be punished, will he? He hasn’t done anything wrong."

Kyrestia’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "Rest assured, Caligo will not be punished. He was merely a pawn in Cartel Ta’s schemes. Without him, none of you would be here."

Catherine let out a breath of relief, but then, something in Kyrestia’s words made her pause.

"Almost all of his data?" she echoed.

Kyrestia gave a slow nod. "It seems he kept something." She glanced at Caligo, who blinked up at Catherine with glowing, intelligent eyes. "Your memories. The ones of you and him."

Catherine’s gaze met Father Lightwell’s, a soft, unspoken understanding passing between them.She smiled, cradling Caligo against her chest. 

Back in Elysian Hold, Catherine and Father Lightwell were welcomed with warmth—bathed, fed, and given fresh garments. Though her body felt restored, Catherine’s mind was elsewhere as she stood at the edge of the golden fields of Bastion, watching the ethereal winds dance across the sky.

Father Lightwell walked beside her, sensing the weight in her heart. “Something is troubling you, my friend,” he said gently.

Catherine turned to him, arms wrapped around herself as if trying to hold something close that was slipping away. “Kyrestia said Caligo won’t be able to come back with us… but that he’ll be safe here, loved and cherished.” She exhaled, her voice laced with quiet sorrow. “Yet I can’t help but feel like I’m losing a good friend.”

Father Lightwell placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You will always be his friend. He will never forget you, and one day, you will see him again.” He gave her a knowing smile. “Or maybe even sooner—after all, I might have to come back here for another snail race.”

Catherine let out a surprised laugh, shaking her head. “Of course you would.”

The golden fields shimmered around them, and for now, in this moment, all was well.

Epilogue 😺

The soft glow of the evening sun bathed the porch in hues of gold and amber. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the scent of the sea from the Kul Tiran shores and the sweet smell of lavender. Catherine sat comfortably Dash curled up in her lap, purring contently. Beside her, Father Lightwell sat, his new staff he had gotten from the Kyrian's as a gift for busting Cartel Ta before they could have done damage to Shadowlands.

Catherine chuckled, scratching Dash behind his ears. “You know, after everything that happened, I can’t believe we’re just… here. Sitting on my porch, drinking tea like nothing ever changed.”

Father Lightwell smiled, gazing at the horizon. “Perhaps because some things never do. Home is home. Friends are friends. Even when fate pulls us apart, it has a strange way of bringing us back together.”

Catherine’s gaze softened. “Do you think Caligo is happy?”

Father Lightwell rested his hand on his staff, feeling the faint hum of Kyrian energy within it. “I do. And I'm sure, he’s probably watching over us right now, making sure we don’t get into any more trouble.”

Catherine laughed. “That’s a full-time job.”

The two sat in peaceful silence for a moment, listening to the waves in the distance. The adventure had changed them, left its mark in ways they would always carry. But for now, they were home. And that was enough.

The end.