Dimitri raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "What do you mean, my lord?"
Arlon met his gaze evenly. "We both know the Pry members came here to get me to join their little cult, hoping I'd hand over the Soul Sky Guardian in the process." He paused, picking up another pastry with an air of calm. "I don't trust them, Dimitri. They're not exactly known for their... goodwill."
Dimitri nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowing. "Yes, of course, my lord. They're dangerous."
Arlon leaned in, dropping his voice as if sharing a scandalous secret. "So… I decided to beat them to it," he said with a faint, mischievous smile. "I got the Soul Sky Guardian myself."
"..."
The silence that followed was thick with shock as Dimitri's jaw practically dropped, his composure slipping as the realization struck him. "You… you actually did it. You claimed the Soul Sky Guardian?" His voice wavered between disbelief and awe.
Arlon gave a nonchalant nod, trying to hold back a smirk as he basked in Dimitri's reaction. "It wasn't easy, but yes," he replied, aiming for an air of practiced ease.
"Now," he said, gesturing to Ace, "I have the guardian with me."
"..."
Dimitri blinked several times, trying to absorb the information. His mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out. Finally, he managed, "You truly are your father's son," Dimitri murmured, his voice soft with reverence.
"...?"
"This power… it will draw enemies, my lord. You must be careful."
"That's the plan," Arlon replied, though his faint smirk hinted at his lingering unease
"Let's just say," he said, glancing back at Dimitri, "things are about to get a lot more interesting."
"..."
Arlon couldn't help but grin at Dimitri's stunned expression, his usual calm demeanor temporarily shattered. As Dimitri continued to gape, Arlon decided it was time to address Ace properly—after all, Dimitri hadn't even been formally introduced to the mysterious feline.
"Ah, yes," Arlon said with a teasing glint in his eyes, setting his cup down. "I suppose I should formally introduce you two."
He turned to Ace, who was lazily lounging on the edge of the chair, giving Dimitri an unimpressed glance. "Dimitri," Arlon began with a smirk, "This is Ace, my... well, companion." He hesitated for a moment, enjoying the look of confusion on Dimitri's face. "Though, right now, he's in the form of a cat."
Ace flicked his tail in annoyance at the way Arlon emphasized the "cat" part, his red eyes narrowing. "I'm not just a cat," he muttered, almost defensively.
"I'm an incredibly powerful being who's been forced into this form by circumstances beyond my control." He added, puffing his chest out, "But for now, I suppose I can tolerate this."
Dimitri raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback by Ace's sudden retort.
Arlon chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. "Oh, don't mind him, Dimitri," he said with a wink. "He might act like he's above all this, but he's quite the noble creature... even if he's stuck in a cat's body."
Dimitri, still recovering from the shock of the Soul Sky Guardian news, now turned his attention to the cat with a skeptical look. "A powerful being... in a cat's body?" He repeated, clearly unsure if he'd heard correctly.
Ace, sensing Dimitri's skepticism, gave a dramatic sigh. "Yes, yes. The things I endure. Imagine being stuck in such a small form," he said with exaggerated grief. "I'll have to get used to it, I suppose."
Arlon couldn't resist. "I think you wear it well, Ace. You're almost too cute for your own good." He grinned, clearly teasing his companion.
Ace shot him a narrow-eyed glare but said nothing. Instead, he leapt off the chair and curled up on the armrest, looking rather pleased with himself. "If you say so," he murmured, clearly playing along with the teasing.
Dimitri watched the entire exchange with a mix of disbelief and bewilderment, his mouth slightly agape as he tried to piece together what he'd just learned. "I... I see," he said, his voice shaky with the absurdity of it all. "So, this cat is... Ace"
Arlon nodded, his tone light. "Yes, this cat," he said with a grin. "The same Ace who's been with me for quite some time. Though, I do have to warn you, Dimitri—he can be a little... temperamental."
Ace's ears twitched in annoyance, but he said nothing, preferring to let Arlon have the final word in the conversation.
Dimitri's expression shifted from confusion to a tentative smile. "I see," he said again, though it was clear he was still trying to process everything. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you... Ace."
Ace lazily opened one eye, flicking his tail in acknowledgment. "The pleasure's mine, human," he said with a drawl, as though he had all the time in the world to humor this interaction.
Arlon chuckled at the exchange. "Alright, enough introductions for now," he said, his smile fading slightly as he became more serious. "There are other matters we need to discuss. But first, Dimitri, I think we should go over the details of the next steps.He can't be seen by anyone else. Things are... complicated."
Dimitri nodded, now trying to focus as he came to terms with the strange world he'd stepped into. "Understood, my lord," he said, straightening up. "I'll make sure everything is in order."
As Dimitri left the room to attend to his tasks, Arlon turned his attention back to Ace, who had finally curled up comfortably in his usual spot.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Arlon asked quietly, his eyes narrowing. "I know it's a bit much, being in a cat form and all."
Ace opened one eye lazily. "It's not ideal," he said, stretching his limbs before settling back down. "But I'll endure it. For now."
Arlon chuckled, then returned his focus to the task at hand. The storm was far from over, and he knew this was just the beginning of a much larger conflict ahead.
Arlon tapped the edge of this seat and gazed at the paper on the desk thoughtfully, his thoughts lingering on the cryptic symbols he had been attempting to decipher. With a sigh, he straightened and glanced at Ace, who was perched on the table, tail swaying lazily.
"Let's resume translating tomorrow, I might need your help with it."
Ace tilted his head, his crimson eyes narrowing as if weighing the request. "My help? Are you sure? I'm not exactly fluent in ancient gibberish," he replied, his tone laced with playful sarcasm.
Arlon chuckled softly. "You recognized parts of it earlier. That's more than most could manage. Besides, I think your memory might surprise you."
Ace purred, a sound that was equal parts smug and amused. "Flattery will get you everywhere,noble Arlon. Fine, I'll help—but only if you promise to reward me with extra snacks afterward."
"Deal," Arlon replied with a faint smile. He gathered the papers and carefully tucked them away in a drawer. "For now, though, let's call it a night."
Ace hopped off the table and stretched, his claws briefly scratching against the floor. "Fair enough. You look like you could use some rest anyway. Don't forget—brains work better after sleep."
Shaking his head in mild amusement,Arlon stood up, stretching as he prepared for bed. With a practiced motion, he reached up and removed the mask that had become a part of his daily life. Placing it on the desk nearby, he let out a soft sigh.
As he lay down on the bed, the rustle of sheets broke the quiet. Ace, who had been observing him with his ever-curious red eyes, padded over and leapt up onto the bed. The sleek black cat settled comfortably beside him, tail curling lazily.
"Why do you even wear that mask?" Ace's voice was casual, but his piercing gaze betrayed genuine curiosity.
Arlon turned his head slightly, meeting the cat's eyes. He considered dodging the question, but the bond they shared made it feel pointless. With a deep breath, he answered honestly.
"I'm pretending," he said quietly. "Pretending that I've awakened a cursed gift. That I have the ability to curse someone just by looking at them."
Ace blinked, his tail flicking once. "You're pretending?"
"Yes." Arlon's tone was calm, almost resigned. "People fear what they don't understand. If they think I can't control my supposed 'ability,' they're less likely to challenge me. The mask makes it believable. It's a tool, nothing more."
Ace tilted his head, his ears twitching. "So, you're telling me you've been acting this whole time? Not bad, I must admit." He gave a low purr, then asked, "But don't you get tired of it?"
Arlon chuckled faintly, his gaze drifting to the ceiling. "Of course I do. But it's necessary."
Ace's tail tapped the bed as he processed this, and then, as if unable to resist, he asked another question. "What if someone finds out? What then?"
"I'll deal with it when the time comes," Arlon replied simply, his tone steady.
Satisfied for a moment, Ace lay his head on his paws. But only a moment passed before his voice broke the silence again. "And how do you feel about—"
Arlon groaned softly, turning to face him. "Ace, do you ever stop asking questions?"
The cat's whiskers twitched in amusement. "I'm just trying to understand. You're more interesting than most humans, after all."
Ace continued, firing off question after question—about the mask, Dimitri, the Throndsen family, and the strange choices Arlon had made since they met.
"You ask too many questions for a cat," Arlon said, shaking his head, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I could stop," Ace replied, his crimson eyes narrowing. "But why would I? You're far more complicated than most humans I've met. It's almost fun."
Arlon's smile faltered slightly as he leaned back into the pillows. "If you think I'm complicated now, you'd be even more curious about the real Throndsen heir. That mask? It's nothing compared to what's underneath."
Ace flicked his tail, studying him. "I'll find out eventually," he murmured, his voice quiet but assured.
Arlon sighed and turned to face the ceiling. The moonlight filtered through the window, washing the room in silver. "This is going to be a long night," he muttered, already resigned to the endless stream of questions.
———
The sun had only just begun to rise, casting a gentle glow over the estate as it stirred to life. Dimitri moved with quiet efficiency, orchestrating the morning's preparations. He oversaw the maids arranging breakfast in the grand hall, giving quick nods of approval as they arranged platters and poured fresh tea.
Servants bustled about, tidying up after the previous evening's events, while outside, villagers gathered with hopeful determination, ready to return to their lands and begin rebuilding.
In the midst of this activity, a guard approached, pausing respectfully before Dimitri. With a slight bow, the guard extended a sealed envelope. "Sir, a letter from the Grand Duchy for the Lord," he reported, his voice steady.
Dimitri accepted the letter, inclining his head in thanks. He studied the insignia pressed into the wax seal, a familiar mark of authority. Dimitri's expression remained unreadable, though his grip on the letter tightened ever so slightly, as if he could already sense the weight of its contents.
Meanwhile, Arlon and Ace were enjoying a late breakfast in a quiet room. Arlon was in the middle of explaining the details of the Celestial Clan history and the Pry members to Ace. The conversation was intense, and Ace seemed particularly curious, firing off questions that kept Arlon awake until late the previous night.
As they were talking, the door creaked open, and Alice entered with the gray wolf boy by her side.