The cat refused to leave.
Lucien discovered this approximately three minutes after leaving the clearing.
At first, he placed the creature back on the ground.
The cat immediately climbed back into his arms.
The second time, Lucien put it on a tree branch.
The cat somehow returned before he even took three steps.
The third time, he handed it to Kael'Thar.
The creature stared at the demon lord for exactly one second.
Then it bit him.
Hard.
Kael'Thar dropped it immediately.
The cat returned to Lucien.
Lucien looked down.
The cat looked up.
Its golden eyes blinked lazily.
Then it yawned.
As if none of this was unusual.
"This one is broken," Kael'Thar muttered.
The cat made an offended noise.
Lucien wasn't entirely sure how a cat could sound offended, but somehow it managed.
The journey back to Valdren was one of the strangest Lucien could remember.
The cat slept.
Woke up.
Ate leaves.
Tried to eat a stone.
Succeeded.
Went back to sleep.
Meanwhile, Kael'Thar remained unusually quiet.
Several times, Lucien caught him looking at the creature.
Each time, the demon lord seemed more confused.
Which only made Lucien more curious.
"You know what it is."
Kael'Thar glanced at him.
"Perhaps."
"Then tell me."
"No."
Lucien sighed.
The cat yawned.
Then stole a button from Kael'Thar's robe.
Nobody noticed until later.
By the time they reached Valdren, the sun had already disappeared beyond the horizon.
The city glowed beneath lantern light.
The streets remained busy despite the late hour.
Several people noticed Lucien carrying the cat.
Most smiled.
One elderly woman approached.
"What a cute kitten."
The cat immediately tried to eat her necklace.
The woman screamed.
Lucien apologized.
The cat looked disappointed.
Kael'Thar looked tired.
For perhaps the first time in centuries.
Back at the house, the situation became significantly worse.
Because the cat was hungry.
Always.
Constantly.
Relentlessly.
It ate meat.
It ate vegetables.
It ate fruit.
It ate bread.
It attempted to eat a spoon.
Lucien stopped it.
It attempted to eat a plate.
Kael'Thar stopped it.
The cat looked annoyed.
As if they were being unreasonable.
"You can't eat everything," Lucien said.
The cat stared at him.
Then immediately bit the table.
Crunch.
A small piece vanished.
Lucien blinked.
Kael'Thar slowly rubbed his temples.
"I've changed my mind."
"About what?"
"The species should have remained extinct."
The cat somehow looked offended again.
That night, Lucien couldn't sleep.
Not because of the crimson light.
Not because of the seal.
Not because of Eldryn.
The cat was snoring.
Loudly.
Despite being smaller than a loaf of bread.
The sound somehow echoed through the room.
Lucien eventually sat up.
The cat opened one eye.
Then climbed onto his shoulder.
Lucien stared through the window.
The distant silhouette of Eldryn remained visible beneath the moonlight.
The forest looked peaceful.
Ancient.
Unchanging.
Yet now he knew better.
Something was happening there.
Something hidden.
Something dangerous.
The cat followed his gaze.
For a brief moment, its playful demeanor vanished.
Its golden eyes narrowed.
Far away, deep within the forest, a faint crimson light flickered once.
The cat's fur stood up.
Just for an instant.
Then it disappeared.
The moment passed.
The cat returned to normal.
Lucien frowned.
Had he imagined it?
Before he could think further, the creature jumped from his shoulder and landed on the floor.
It walked toward a bookshelf.
Paused.
Then bit one of the books.
Crunch.
Lucien rushed over.
"No!"
The cat fled immediately.
Book still in its mouth.
The chase lasted nearly ten minutes.
Kael'Thar found them shortly afterward.
Lucien was exhausted.
The cat had somehow stolen three books, a candle, and half a loaf of bread.
Nobody knew how.
The next morning, training resumed.
This time, however, Kael'Thar carried something.
A black box.
Old.
Ancient.
Covered in faded runes.
Lucien noticed immediately.
The cat noticed too.
Unfortunately.
Its eyes widened.
Its tail stood upright.
It looked at the box the way starving people looked at food.
"Oh no."
Kael'Thar immediately stepped back.
The cat lunged.
What followed could hardly be described as dignified.
A legendary demon lord.
A five-year-old genius.
And a tiny black cat.
Running through a forest.
Because the cat was attempting to eat an ancient artifact.
Eventually, Kael'Thar trapped the creature inside a barrier of crimson mana.
The cat bounced harmlessly against it.
Then sat down.
As if nothing had happened.
Lucien tried not to laugh.
Failed.
For the first time in several days, Kael'Thar actually smiled.
A very small smile.
But a real one.
Then his expression became serious once more.
He opened the box.
Inside rested a fragment of black stone.
Lucien's smile vanished.
He recognized it immediately.
The same material.
The same color.
The same feeling.
The same stone found near the corrupted wolf.
The cat stopped moving.
Its playful expression disappeared completely.
Golden eyes fixed themselves upon the fragment.
The forest grew quiet.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Kael'Thar stared at the stone.
Then toward the northern region of Eldryn.
His gaze hardened.
"Something has begun."
Lucien looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
The demon lord remained silent for several seconds.
Long enough for Lucien to realize the answer would matter.
Very much.
Finally, Kael'Thar spoke.
"The corruption is spreading."
Far away.
Beyond the trees.
Beyond the roots.
Beyond the ancient seal.
A man stood alone inside forgotten ruins.
Candles illuminated dozens of stone walls covered in ancient symbols.
His appearance was ordinary.
His robes simple.
His face calm.
Only his eyes betrayed him.
Eyes filled with obsession.
Before him floated another fragment of black stone.
Larger this time.
Far larger.
Crimson energy pulsed from within.
The man smiled.
Not like a madman.
Not like a monster.
Like a scholar who had finally found the answer to a question that had haunted him his entire life.
"Just a little longer," he whispered.
The stone pulsed.
The ruins trembled.
And deep beneath Eldryn...
Something answered.
End of Chapter 6.