Near the edge of the Central District, Cal and Sophia were walking together, having just finished their final task of the day: renewing their passports. With the paperwork secured, they were ready to head back, but the atmosphere between them was heavy.
Their pace was noticeably different. Cal walked several steps ahead, his boots clicking sharply against the stone as he purposely increased his speed. Behind him, Sophia struggled to keep up, her small frame swaying with the effort.
"Cal, slow down a bit," Sophia called out, her breathing heavy and ragged.
Cal didn't slow down. Earlier, the moment they had stepped out of the administrative office, he had promptly scolded her for her obvious carelessness.
"I already told you before, didn't I? Do not use your disguise amulet carelessly," Cal spoke, yet he never turned back to look at her.
Upon learning that Sophia had used their disguise amulet while shopping at the merchant guild, Cal's frustration had boiled over. The reason was simple: disguise amulets, which allowed them to alter their appearance, were strictly banned in all nations. Because of the risk, they had to use such an amulet with extreme care and completely play the 'role' associated with it to avoid any hint of suspicion.
"Cal..." Sophia called out weakly, her voice trailing off as she reached her physical limit.
Cal stopped abruptly in front of a quaint cafe, the sudden halt causing Sophia to stumble slightly in surprise. He turned to her then, his sharp gaze observing her condition. From his view, Sophia looked genuinely exhausted; beads of sweat lined her forehead, and her chest heaved as she fought for air. Cal knew the limits of her physique well. Despite the lingering irritation, he knew when to stop.
However, there was actually another reason for his sudden pause. While appearing to look at Sophia, Cal's eyes narrowed slightly as he focused on the space behind her.
'We're being followed.'
Ever since leaving the administrative office, Cal had noticed subtle, 'strange' movements in the periphery of his 'vision'. He had intentionally led Sophia in a random, winding pattern around the Central District to confirm the presence of a stalker. And his suspicions had been proven true. To make matters worse, the observer moved too skillfully to be a common stalker. Cal was certain that whoever it was, they were highly trained, perhaps even on par with an 'imperial investigator.'
Reaching out, Cal took Sophia's hand and led her into the warmth of the cafe. He booked a table and deliberately chose seats near the large glass window facing the street.
Sophia, too exhausted to protest or question his change in mood, followed him quietly. As they sat, she took her seat next to him, placing her Cat Backpack v0.1 on the tabletop. With trembling hands, she reached inside and pulled out the still-napping Seraphix, setting the small creature gently on the wood.
Sophia glanced up at Cal, her eyes searching his face.
"Are you still mad?"
Cal looked at her briefly, his expression softening just a fraction before he exhaled a long sigh.
"I'm not."
"You sure?" Sophia asked, her worry evident even through her fatigue.
"Yes," Cal said. He reached over and placed a hand on her head, his fingers brushing slightly through her hair. Although he still wanted to scold her further, it hadn't been his intention to exhaust her to this point.
"Go get some rest for now," Cal murmured. As he spoke, he subtly conjured a thin wave of mana, guiding it into Sophia's 'unconscious realm' to induce a heavy sleepiness.
Already worn out, Sophia couldn't resist the artificial nudge. Her eyelids fluttered and closed; her body went limp, and she slumped forward, her head coming to rest comfortably on Cal's shoulder.
Before long, a waiter walked over to their table, a notepad in hand.
"May I take your order?"
"Orange juice," Cal said, then glanced down at Sophia. "And black tea."
"Okay, please wait," the waiter replied, scribbling the order before disappearing back toward the counter.
With Sophia safely asleep, Cal turned his full attention to the view outside the window. His gaze locked onto a small child walking across the road, skipping lightly while eating a large piece of candy.
'So, it's a kid now.'
The 'kid,' despite looking completely innocent and blending naturally into the bustling street scene, was actually the stalker. Before that, the stalker had appeared as a middle-aged man in a stiff suit. Before 'that', it had been an elderly grandmother carrying a heavy basket of fruit. And even before 'that', it had been a simple flower blooming on the side of the lush, green road.
The implication was clear. This stalker could 'disguise' themselves as anyone or even anything without any apparent limitations. This was highly problematic; as far as Cal knew, standard disguise amulets could only transform a person into one specific, 'designated' form.
For Cal, there were only two logical possibilities left to consider. Either the stalker was a specialist in high-level disguise spells, or...
'A beast tamer.'
***
I blinked awake atop an unfamiliar wooden tabletop, the grain of the polished surface cool against my fur.
'Are we back yet?' I wondered, stretching my paws as I scanned the surroundings.
The rhythmic clatter of porcelain dishes, the low hum of muffled chatter, and the rich, roasted aroma of brewed drinks filled the air.
'So we were in some sort of cafe.'
Directly in front of me, Sophia was napping comfortably, her head draped heavily over Cal's shoulder. Cal was sipping a drink, his gaze fixed intently on the window.
I watched them for a moment, observing the way they fit together.
'I guess Sophia wasn't lying after all.'
Initially, I had been skeptical when Sophia claimed she was dating him, mostly because Cal was clearly a person of an 'otherworldly' caliber. However, that caliber was exactly what I needed to survive in this world, making him the ideal candidate for a true friend. That was why I had chosen to introduce myself without any honorifics and asked to be his friend immediately.
'I can't afford to let a chance like this slip away.'
To be honest, I was exhausted by the extreme deference shown by Sophia and Valeslina. Especially Valeslina. Considering she was an actual 'outlier,' the mere thought of her viewing me as someone more powerful than herself was enough to make me shudder. That kind of over-evaluation will create unrealistic expectations, the kind of mistake that could easily get Sophia and me killed if I ever slip up.
Cal, on the other hand, seemed pragmatic. My first impression of him couldn't have been better; not only did he not mind me ignoring him earlier, but he had even reassured me after I had soaked his clothes.
'He's definitely a gentleman material.'
Granted, he still saw me as the apex Nine-Stroke Beast. I'd been trying to slowly clear that up by explaining my limitations and subtly hinting that I would need his help in the future.
'I hope that's enough to set the record straight.'
My gaze drifted from Sophia's peaceful, sleeping face back to Cal's profile.
'I wonder what he's looking at so intently outside.'
Suddenly, I noticed something unusual. I looked back at Sophia, then back at Cal, repeating the motion several times as I compared their features.
'Wait...'
"Hey, Cal," I spoke up, my curiosity finally getting the better of me. "Is it just me, or do your disguises make you look related? Like twins?"
Cal barely moved; his eyes remained fixed on the window. "That's right," he answered, using the Word of the World. "We're going to the academy under the guise of being orphaned twins."
'Orphaned twins. So their disguises even have lore.'
Cal finished his drink and set the empty cup down with a soft click. With a quiet sigh, he signaled a waiter for another round.
I seized the opening. "While you're at it, Cal," I chimed in, leaning forward on my paws, "could you grab something for me too?"
Cal glanced down at me, his brow arching slightly. "Sure. Do you want anything specific? They have—"
I cut him off immediately, lifting my right paw in a dismissive gesture. "Surprise me."
I watched as Cal conveyed the order to the passing waiter. I still couldn't understand a single word of the local tongue, but having him act as a 'translator' was a true luxury.
'Maybe I should ask him to teach me the language later.'
The order arrived quickly: a small, steaming mug of warm milk for me, and a glass of bright, almost jarringly pink liquid for Cal.
'Finally, something warm.'
After being tortured by Sophia's preference for cold food—even in the dead of winter—I was reaching my limit. I settled in, carefully lapping at the warm milk like a civilized cat.
"You know, Cal..." I started, casually pivoting to the things I was curious about.
We talked about everything from the local flora and fauna to basic geography. It was the perfect way to fill the knowledge gaps Sophia had left behind, since her expertise was mostly limited to mana and magic tools. However, I decided to keep the topic of 'outliers' a secret for now. Seeing someone like Valeslina had made it clear that those entities had their own agendas. I had no intention of letting my level-one ass get caught up in their business.
'Minding my own business is the best choice after all.'
***
Cal sipped his fresh order, the cool, sweet strawberry milk, while Seraphix sat opposite him, lapping methodically at his own warm milk. Both appeared, at least on the surface, to be at ease.
'Seraphix is definitely different from the rest,' Cal thought quietly as they talked.
Seraphix's effortless ability to subdue someone like Naphael made Cal realize he was dealing with an entity operating on another level entirely. Yet, for some reason, Seraphix consistently highlighted the 'flaws' in his own power, openly acknowledging his limitations. Beyond that, he possessed an earnest curiosity about the world that was atypical for a being of his caliber.
Of all the powerful entities Cal had encountered, most carried themselves with an overriding, suffocating pride; it was a stark contrast to the genuine humility Seraphix displayed.
Cal had also noticed Seraphix's distinct friendliness toward him. From his other 'sources,' he knew that Seraphix was particularly lenient toward those Sophia favored. From this, Cal concluded that her affection was the primary reason for the beast's warmth. There were even moments when Seraphix mentioned how frequently Sophia talked about him, quoting her words of praise and admiration.
'Sophia really speaks highly of me, huh,' Cal thought, a faint flush warming the tips of his ears. In truth, he had been head over heels for Sophia for as long as he could remember. Hearing Seraphix relay her praise made him feel oddly self-conscious.
Cal took another careful, measured sip of his strawberry milk, trying to maintain his composure.
Then, Seraphix suddenly stopped drinking. He tilted his small head, his eyes locking onto Cal's, and asked an entirely unexpected question.
"So, how long have you two been dating?"
Cal choked. The sweet, pink strawberry milk erupted from his lips in a messy spray, splashing directly onto Seraphix's pristine black fur.
"Ah... Ah!!" Panic seized Cal immediately.
He started to reach for the silk handkerchief tucked into his sleeve, but his hand froze mid-air. A cold sweat broke out on his neck; he wasn't sure if he was even allowed 'physical contact' with such a high-ranking being without explicit permission.
Seraphix let out a small, muffled snicker. "Are you still holding a grudge from the fountain?"
"N-no, I would never! I'm very sorry!" Cal blurted out, lowering his head in a sharp bow of apology.
His panic intensified, spiraling into a dark pit of anxiety.
'I've made a grave mistake. Even though he was kind enough to offer his friendship... I blew it all!' He lowered his hand, his face contorting in a look of dreadful defeat.
Seraphix blinked, then suddenly shook his whole body with a vigorous twist, causing the droplets of pink milk to scatter in all directions.
"Relax, Cal. I was joking." He held out a single paw, gesturing toward Cal's. "Handkerchief, please."
Mortified, Cal fumbled with his sleeve, pulled out the cloth, and passed it over with trembling fingers. Seraphix took it and began to meticulously dab at the sticky pink stain on his chest.
As he wiped, the beast casually brought the question up again, as if the mess had never happened. "Seriously, though. How long have you two been dating?"
The question snapped Cal back to reality.
'Right, dating... Dating? Who is dating whom?!' He wasn't dating anyone, certainly not Sophia. In fact, he had been so obvious in his attempts to win her over for years, yet he had been utterly unsuccessful. Sophia had always remained adamant about maintaining their 'platonic' relationship.
For a long time, this lack of progress had been his greatest source of frustration.
But then, a realization struck him.
'Seraphix wouldn't just second-guess a detail like this.'
Throughout their conversation, Cal had noticed Seraphix's meticulous nature when it came to differentiating 'assumption' from 'observation.' The only way a being of his caliber would ever entertain such an assumption was if Sophia herself had mentioned it.
'Sophia told him we were dating?' The thought sent Cal's mind into a whirlwind of confusion and... secret hope.
Seraphix continued his cleaning, his gaze calm and observant. "Hm? You aren't?"
The directness of the inquiry made Cal stammer, his brain struggling to catch up with his heart.
"N-no, we are. I-I just... I forgot exactly how long," Cal managed to say, spinning an obvious lie.
Seraphix seemed satisfied with the confirmation. He leaned back slightly and continued, "So, what is it you like about Sophia?"
Cal went quiet, the question forcing him to look inward at his long history with her. There were countless things he adored, but if he had to choose the most significant quality—the thing that resonated uniquely with his nature—it was something fundamentally rooted in his 'bloodline ability.'
One of his bloodline abilities, the Eyes of Discernment, allowed him to perceive what he considered the 'soul' of a person. It was the truest, most 'unfiltered' form of a being, free from any disguise or deception. Unfortunately, most souls he encountered were repulsive, stagnant blobs.
But Sophia's soul... it was different. "Beautiful," Cal whispered absentmindedly, his gaze drifting to Sophia, where she lay napping on his shoulder.
Seraphix paused his cleaning for a moment. "I guess she's indeed unmatched in that department."
'Seraphix must see it too,' Cal thought, certain that if the beast could see through his disguise amulet, he could likely perceive the soul in a much more 'potent' way than Cal ever could.
"Yes," Cal responded, his voice firm with agreement.
As they continued to speak of her, Cal's internal alarm suddenly blared. His wariness resurfaced instantly. He subtly shifted his posture, his muscles tensing as he prepared to draw mana for a potential threat.
A new customer had entered the cafe, sitting casually at a table near the window, uncomfortably close to their seat. It was the stalker, now disguised as a frail old man. Cal had identified the 'wrongness' of the form instantly through his Eyes of Discernment, though the complexity of the spell was so great he still couldn't see the stalker's true face.
'So he's decided to get close this time,' Cal noted grimly.
In truth, being followed was not unusual for them, given the hostility surrounding their family in the empire. But this stalker was different; he pursued them even while they were under a disguise amulet, implying he knew exactly who was beneath the disguise. Cal knew he couldn't confront him carelessly. He needed to ensure the target didn't escape, so he could capture him for interrogation and discover which 'faction' had compromised their identities.
While lost in his planning, Cal realized he had another resource.
'I could ask Seraphix for help. This involves Sophia's safety, after all.'
From what he heard from Naphael, Seraphix acted decisively whenever Sophia was involved.
But before Cal could pivot the conversation, Seraphix pointed a paw toward the table behind them.
"Cal, do you think we should greet her?"
A quiet, relieved smile touched Cal's lips.
'Indeed, Seraphix must have noticed the stalker too.' But then, the odd phrasing of the beast's words caught his attention.
"Greet 'her'?" The thought slipped out.
Seraphix clarified, his gaze fixed on a point over Cal's shoulder, staring directly at the 'old man's' seat.
"Yes. It's Shira. The Grand Tamer."