Merlin witnessed something strange that he couldn't believe was real.
"This can't be right," Merlin thought, pinching himself to check if his vision was failing.
But everything was indeed true, leaving Merlin feeling threatened. "An adorable cat is understandable, but a cat transforming into a human? I can't comprehend what kind of creature this is," he pondered.
"I'm a cat-human companion for a clan. It's easy for me to transform," explained Luky, perplexed by Merlin's ignorance of the clan's companion animals.
"You're saying you're here to accompany me? That's hilarious. Stop joking," Merlin said, growing more confused.
"You're utterly clueless. Every clan has companion animals to protect their members. These companions are numerous in this forest, spanning various species. They're not ordinary animals; they possess incredible powers. How do you not know this?" Luky retorted.
"I don't understand what you're talking about," Merlin admitted, looking even more puzzled.
"Have you been living under a rock? Many people risk their lives to obtain a companion animal, yet here you are, acting as though it's insignificant. Talking to you is utterly pointless," Luky said, disappointed.
"Why are you so frustrated? I really don't know. This is my first time in this forest," Merlin explained, trying to gather more information but becoming increasingly lost.
Merlin, who had come here seeking revenge on his stepmother and stepsister, as well as friends who had blinded him, had never left home much. After years of seclusion and barely a year at the academy before being forced to leave due to his blindness, this forest adventure was turning out to be more than he'd anticipated.
Meanwhile, Luky had been searching for a suitable master to accompany. Something about Merlin intrigued him, making him form a bond. This bond was sealed the moment Merlin named him, rendering the cat incapable of leaving Merlin's side. If Merlin were to die, Luky would die too, unless released from the bond.
"Why did I choose to follow this foolish girl pretending to be a boy? I wanted a strong master, but here I am with someone so clueless. Oh, well, the bond is formed," Luky thought, annoyed yet resigned.
As Luky lit a fire to cook the fish, he glanced at Merlin.
"Has the Blue Clan's princess turned into a complete idiot now?" Luky said, causing Merlin to look even more baffled.
"What do you mean? Who?" Merlin asked, unfamiliar with the Blue Clan.
"Don't play dumb. At first, I thought you were a boy from the Blue Clan, but after you fished at the lake, I realized you're a girl," Luky said, frustrated at being deceived.
The Blue Clan, renowned for its prowess and extraordinary strength, was well-known throughout the kingdom. Everyone was aware of their legacy—except Merlin, who genuinely didn't know.
"How do you know?" Merlin asked, trying to keep her disguise intact.
"Your clothes got wet. It was obvious," Luky replied, making Merlin blush with embarrassment.
"You're unbelievable, staring at me like that and making a fool out of me, you shameless cat," Merlin thought angrily.
"I've cooked the fish. Eat up," Luky offered, handing Merlin the grilled fish.
Merlin, too hungry to argue, ate quietly while fuming internally.
"This stupid cat! If only he'd said earlier that he couldn't attack me, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble of catching fish," she grumbled to herself.
After eating and drying her clothes, Merlin decided to leave. She no longer cared about Luky's presence since he couldn't harm her.
"Hey, where are you going?" Luky asked as Merlin walked away.
"None of your business," she snapped.
Using her flying spell, Merlin soared in the opposite direction from where she'd gotten lost earlier. This time, she noticed the forest thinning, with fewer massive trees and more streams, signaling she was nearing the forest's edge.
Luky, observing from the treetops, grumbled, "Why is she asking a stranger for help? Is she really that foolish? I've truly picked the wrong person to follow."
Merlin eventually encountered the leader of the Black Clan, someone she had fought before.
Descending, she boldly asked, "Excuse me, may I ride your horse? I need to get to the academy."
Luky, watching from a distance, was stunned. "Why is she asking an enemy for help? She's truly hopeless. What have I gotten myself into?"
The Black Clan leader, puzzled, replied, "Who are you? I don't recognize you."
Merlin, now with black eyes and a companion animal by her side, looked entirely different from when she fought him at the market. The leader couldn't associate her with the girl from before.
"You don't recognize me?" Merlin asked, surprised.
Knowing the Black Clan couldn't harm her due to their customs, she felt safe asking for assistance. For her, as long as no one attacked her, she was fine in this unfamiliar world.