Tales from Kaleotype

Software and Pixel

(Written in 2017, this is the first story written in Kaleotype. Kaleotype is a fictional land made solely for this story. Original title, 'Software is not a Paladin and no one will let her Forget it.' It was written for school and inspired my current username. The spells are often written in either french or italian. This is the version of the tale without my many annotations, which include some lore, magic knowledge, and translations. Translations may be off, as I used google translate. Without further ado, here is 'Software and Pixel!)

"The infamously evil Ex-Queen Ella'noir was often referred to as 'the Dark Queen' even when she was still in possession of the throne. She had two daughters, one of which is our dear- current- Queen Pixel. While she was Queen, Ella'noir taught the Dark arts to every kit and cub she could find. It was only the valiant efforts of the then unknown paladin Zodiac who was able to stop Queen Ella'noir and her second daughter,- why do I need to know this?" asked Software, looking up at her mentor, her tail flicking in annoyance.

Software was a small grey she-cat with olive green eyes. She had on a silver collar which was currently popular with the other 13-ish-year-old apprentices,(that, of course, wasn't approved by Zodiac). Software was almost always with her teacher, Zodiac, training to be a paladin, but sometimes she hung out with her friend Lui'el in town. But she couldn't hang out with her friend now, even though Lui'el's magic practice was most certainly over by now.

Zodiac looked down at Software. "You need to know for your Paladin Quest. It could involve anything. My very own Quest included a supposedly dead queen, an undead prophesied one, and a land that shouldn't even exist. By the stars, it was fun though."

Software rolled her eyes but went back to reading.

It was starting to get dark when Zodiac finally let Software go for the day, after all, the expanses of the forest they trained in, Forêt Noire, were dangerous after dark. The trees grew claws that would try to catch unsuspecting travellers and rabbits that eyes gleamed the colour of blood, their favourite snack. She ran down the path that headed towards the city Kaleotype which housed her apprentice home. When she arrived there, the drawbridge was just about to close. The gatekeeper reluctantly let her pass, but only after she gave him her only copper coin as payment. As she trotted down the avenue that led to her and Lui'el's current home, Software stopped as she saw a shadowy figure. She blinked at it, but it was gone. Just a trick of the light, Software thought to herself.

"Hey! Software! Over here!" someone yelled.

It was Lui'el, who was just across the path from her. Her soft tawny fur looked almost black in the lack of light. Her silver collar had a starry dawn-tinted crescent in its centre. Her short tail flicked in excitement at the sight of her friend. Software ran over to the cat, and they started to walk together.

"By the stars, Software! Unit is forcing me to stay overtime! You wouldn't believe the amount of work I have to do! I have tons, and spellcasting is so draining."

"Zodiac might be worse though," Software said in reply, "I finished Ella'noir's chapter but she said I have to read it over again for homework. She said, and I quote, 'You just skimmed it. Read it fully,'"

Lui'el shook her head, her tail flicking in annoyance. "You think that's bad? At least you get to read. I just have to practice bubble spells or whatever over and over again. I mean, who looks to see what colour a bubble is? Why does it matter that the dang thing is pink?"

They kept walking and talking like this for some time, across paved ways and next to buildings with bakeries, but as they reached the corner avenue that led onto the Apprentice's Way- which was where the aptly named Apprentice's Home was housed- something else happened.