Wind swept the sand from stone steps as No approached the temple. He walked the world once more after ages of slumber. Feeling the ever-present mental nudge of his master pushing him in this direction he inhaled the hot desert air. It was good to feel, to breath, to exist. The world changed while he slept, but the world was always different when he returned to the land of living.

He clutched the amulet around his neck feeling the magic swirling inside of it. That was the only source of magic he had for ages, the only source that allowed him to live in the world devoid of it. When his master saved his life, so many eons ago, he merged his spirit with the essence of the cat, removing the deadly wounds he had but forever making him depend on magic to keep him alive. But magic returned once again, the world Knitted, and the three realms are one again. Reaching the summit of the stairs he peeked into the darkness of silent temple. His cat eyes adjusted to the gloom right away but he saw nothing but an empty hallway.

His whiskers twitched, the smell of humans and Anadori reaching his nostrils. This was the right place. Somewhere in the depths of this crumbling ruin was a maharoon that his master wanted. No wished the current owners of the magical tome would just give it to him. But he knew better as well. Whoever got their hands on maharoon knew it was useless to them. Only humans capable of wielding magic could open the book, but those don't exist anymore. Modern humans couldn't mold the anima anymore. Leaving for so long in the world without a shred of magic changed them somehow. His master was only living human he knows of that is capable of magic.

Taking a deep breath he unclasped the large sword from his back and took it in his large clawed hand. Unsheathing it slowly he dropped the scabbard on the floor and silently moved further into the darkness. Deeper he went stronger the smell of habitation became. He froze when the coppery smell of blood touched his senses. He stifled a growl that came from his throat, fur on his back rising in response. Someone died here and the smells were still fresh. He was late to save whoever that was by a few minutes. Steeling himself and clutching the sword he pushed forward.

Soon the faint light came from around the corner and on silent feet, No reached the entrance of the large chamber. The walls were decorated by engravings and lit torches. In the middle of the space was a stone altar and naked men lay there his throat cut and his lifeblood dripped down the sides into the shallow groove on the floor. Above the dead human stood Anadori female, her naked breasts heaved as she chanted. With both hands in the air, one palm clutching bloody dagger while the other held a heavy book.

No stopped moving to look at the sight, trying to rain in the killer instinct triggered by the smell of blood. His jaw clenched in effort when the draft brought stronger scents. His eyes widened when he realized that Anadori woman was half-breed and that he didn't smell magic on her at all. She was mundane, born in last three centuries, her blood dominated by her human side, preventing her to mold anima. He relaxed slightly, letting his unbreakable sword hit the stone floor.

The woman stopped her chanting and snapped her eyes No's direction.

"Who's there?", she yelped dropping the maharoon and pointing the bloody dagger.

"It didn't work, did it?", No said gently. "You killed him for nothing."

"Shut up!", she said with a shrill voice.

No stepped from the shadows into the light of one of the torches. Half-breeds eyes widened as his white-furred form emerged in front of her.

"You can't cast magic." No, said matter of factly.

"What are you?" She said watching him verily.

"I am a chimera and I came for that book." He answered calmly taking step towards her.

The woman looked at the book she dropped, tears filling her eyes.

"It's useless, it didn't work."

"I know."

"I think I liked him but, but ..." Her voice trailed off into sobs as she dropped to her knees, dagger clattering on the floor. "I just wanted to be like my sisters." She added weakly.

"I am not here to judge or punish you." No said taking the book from the floor. "I just came to retrieve maharoon for my master."

The woman inhaled few times before steeling herself again and getting back on her feet.

"You said you are a chimera. Then you know how it feels to be different."

No blinked at the tone of her voice. It was still shaky but it had the determination to it.

"I am as tall as two grown men and covered in thick fur." He said deadpan. "People don't see me as different, they see me as a beast." He snorted. "Which I am, mind you. Half of my soul is that of a large cat, the breed gone from the food chain ages ago."

No was surprised that he said so much. But when you sleep for thousands of years just to walk among the people for a few years, normal things like talking become luxury.

The half-breed woman looked at him with a critical eye, her composure slowly returning. She killed someone she liked just for a small chance of becoming a magic wielder. There were fire and steel in her.

"But you once were Anadori?" She said hopefully.

No shook his head.

"I was human before the sundering of the realms." He replied as he tucked the maharoon under his coat. The book was large as tomes go but compared to him it was a notebook.

Woman's eyes went wide with surprise.

"But that was, what? Eighty thousand years ago?" She gasped. No stayed silent looking at the murderer and feeling nothing but pity for her. Suddenly her head jerked and the glim appeared in her eyes.

"Could you make me like you?"

No stared at her uncomprehending.

"You know, bite me or something? Infect me with whatever made you into catman?" Her eyes shone with hope.

"It doesn't work that way. And why would you want that?" No asked perplexed.

"I ... I can't go back now. I killed a person hoping his blood would awake maharoon. " She said slowly. "If I come with you, maybe I could find some way to gain immortality." Her hand went to her long and pointy ears leaving a bloody fingerprint there. "My mother was a human, while my father was Anadori."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I don't know. Maybe you can understand!" She said frustrated. "I have four sisters, all of them half-breeds but all of them have awoken Anadori magic. All of them immortal."

"My master wields the ancient human magic." No said which made the woman gasp. "He could turn you into a chimera."

"How is that possible? My father said apeling magic was all used up when they split the world into three realms."

No chuckled.

"You can't use up magic. Humans just changed while living without it, losing the ability to mold the anima."

"But your master can do it?"

"He comes from the same age as me. When humans were used and abused by Morgs and Anadori. When we stole the magic from our oppressors and turned it against them." He was surprised there was no bitterness to his voice. It was thousands of years ago, how long can a man nurture hate?

"But how? Did you somehow went into the realm of Anadori or Morgs when sundering happened?"

"No, my master was ready because he was one of the magi who made sundering happen." No expected half-breed to gasp at the revelation but she just waited for him to continue. "They wanted to buy time for humans to grow and develop without Anadori or Morgs trying to enslave us. So they made the ritual which sundered the world into three realms with each race having their own world for themselves." He stopped and sighed. "It was a good plan. If we can't leave with other so make world split into three for each race to have their own haven."

"I know the history, how did you and your master survive this long?" She said insistently.

"I am getting to it. Because he was an insider of the plan he was ready for a world without magic. He made a bubble of the old world. Just one small cave. And enough magic to sustain us for eons. But we had to conserve it by sleeping for long periods of time." He stopped, again surprised at his own honesty. "I have seen humanity rise to its greatness with just their wits and ingenuity. But I left my humanity willingly long ago." He closed his eyes trying to banish memories he rather wanted to forget. But even after eons passed he couldn't.

"I don't know if I have humanity after what I did," Half-breed said softly. "Or anadority for that matter. "

"What is your name?" No asked suddenly.

"Rowana. I know that is not Anadori name but since I had no magic in me I had no right for all the fancy Anadori titles. Just plain old human name. Damn elves." She said her palm caressing her long pointy ear once again. "Only thing I got is this damn ears and being a mule that can never have children."

"I will take you to my master and you will have to make your case for why you want to become a chimera." No said proferring his large palm to the Rowana. She took it gingerly and they shook.

"I don't promise anything." He added turning his back to her and walking back to the hallway. He turned and saw that Rowana just staring at him, not moving. "Are you coming?"

She shook her head and jogged to his side.

"I wish you came an hour earlier. Maybe Ian would ... maybe I wouldn't ..." She stopped talking and No didn't prod her further.

They walked in silence leaving the dead man on the stone slab. Air temperature skyrocketed when they found themselves outside. The sun was scorching the dunes and No wished he had scales instead of fur. Rowana followed him without a word, her eyes glazed over and looking somewhere inside of herself. No glanced at her wincing at her naked torso being exposed to the deadly rays of the sun.

"You should have taken something to wear." He said unbuttoning his coat. She accepted his coat without a word. It was far too big for her and she struggled a few steps before falling down into sands tripping on the hem, face first.

No let out a deep sigh, and turned around. With a snort, he picked her up like a child sitting her on his shoulders with her legs dangling across his chest. She suffered the indignity in silence as well, clutching at his mane as he sped up. He started sprinting, the land changing around them into a stone flat. By the evening they reached the camp set in the roots of the small mountain where followers of his master waited for him.

"Cat, I wasn't expecting you until midday tomorrow," Caroline said as he gently dropped Rowana to the ground. "And who is this? You didn't just kidnap half naked Anadori, you pervert?"

"Don't be stupid. She wants to meet the master. Give her food, water, and clothing." No said sharply.

"Sure, what about the book? Did you get it."

No snorted patting the pocket.

"I am going to sleep. Wake me up when camp is ready to go."