Ian walked very slowly, each step light and silent, his tail relaxed in a gentle arc behind him, though the tip swayed just a little, intentionally or not.
After taking about three or four steps, he stopped and turned his head.
Ian merely turned his face slightly, those cat eyes shimmering with a platinum sheen quietly gazing at Shirleyviel, who still lingered where she stood.
He called out softly:
“Meow~”
This time, the cry was a little longer, as if to ask, “Aren’t you coming?”
Shirleyviel looked at the black cat watching her just a few steps away, her red eyes filled with a mix of struggle and longing.
Should she follow this cat out of this “safe” corner and go back?
The thought made her instinctively afraid, and the internal “noise” that had only just quieted began to stir once more.
But… the cat was leaving.
The warmth and peace she had just felt now pulled at her like a magnet.
The black cat seemed to wait for her for a few seconds, and when she didn’t move, he turned his head as if to continue forward.
“Ah… ah…”
A sound, faint as a mosquito, hoarse and dry, barely human, squeezed with difficulty from Shirleyviel’s throat.
She hadn’t taken the initiative to speak for so long that she had forgotten how.
The black cat immediately stopped, looked back at her again, his gaze still calm, patiently waiting.
Shirleyviel took a deep breath. Even such a simple action seemed to take great effort.
In the end, she chose an awkward half-crouched, half-crawling position and, with much difficulty, followed.
Ian matched her pace. Whenever she moved a little, he would also saunter forward a small step, then stop and look back at her, occasionally uttering a soft, short “Mii” or “Meow”.
This short distance felt as long as a trek for the two of them.
Beads of cold sweat formed on Shirleyviel’s forehead. Her breath grew rapid, and the magic within her body, shaken by emotion and fatigue, rippled in uncomfortable waves.
But she bit her pale lower lip, forcing herself onward, her eyes locked onto the black cat ahead, unwilling to look away.
Finally, guided by another gentle “Meow~” from the black cat, the two reached the exit of the Tranquil Realm.
***
The exit of the Tranquil Realm was still the room where Shirleyviel had been all along.
The familiar yet strange air outside made her body tense, a strong urge to retreat flashing in her eyes.
Ian walked slowly out the exit, turned, and glanced at the trembling white-haired girl behind him, like a newborn beast.
“Meow～”
A crisp cat’s meow swept away the fear lingering around Shirleyviel.
The breeze drifted in, and Shirleyviel’s empty red eyes widened.
Outside… it didn’t seem so noisy anymore…
Through the exit, the sounds reaching her ears—the night wind brushing the treetops, the low hum of insects, and the occasional crackle from the logs in the fireplace.
These sounds… were different now.
They still existed, but no longer carried that sharp malice that once threatened to tear her eardrums and stab through her mind.
They sounded… quiet.
Like the sound of the black cat licking his fur—audible, distinct, but no longer overwhelming.
Shirleyviel instinctively tilted her ear to listen, focusing even more to distinguish each sound that drifted in.
Yes… it was as if the world suddenly accepted her, no longer howling in her ears.
Shirleyviel closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and with all her strength, crawled out toward the exit, hands and feet working together.
The moment her whole body left the Tranquil Realm, the sensory onslaught she’d expected did not come.
The air in the room was cool, with the scent of lavender from the Soothing Incense Sachet her mother had arranged.
The sounds were there, but not violent.
The floor was smooth and cool, the sensation clear but no longer sending sharp pain through her skin.
She had succeeded.
She was back “outside”.
But the exhaustion of body and spirit peaked in that instant.
After crawling just a few steps, a wave of dizziness and weakness struck her, making her let out a faint moan and nearly collapse to the floor.
At that moment, a strong arm caught her.
“Good night, Miss Shirleyveil.”
Cat… or person…?
That was Shirleyviel’s final thought before she completely blacked out.
***
In the east, the sky was just beginning to split with the first faint light of dawn.
Ian carefully adjusted his posture, lifting the unconscious Shirleyviel into his arms.
The girl was so light, it was frightening—like a feather.
He carried her to the edge of the soft, large bed, and with utmost gentleness, laid her down, pulling the blanket that smelled of sunshine and lavender over her.
Shirleyviel’s beautiful brows were still furrowed tightly, her thin body trembling under the quilt.
Only when Ian took her slender hand in his, channeling gentle streams of white magic to seal her delicate ears,
Did Shirleyviel’s furrowed brow finally relax, her body stop trembling, and her breathing become slow and even.
This Soothing Method was something Ian learned from a Fifth Rank Chief Magician who treated Otillia when he was still in the Filimon Family.
During that time, Ian was the only one able to approach the maddened Otillia, so when necessary, he would use the magic stored in a Magic Crystal to calm her.
Of course, this Soothing Method was only effective when Shirleyviel was asleep and unconscious.
Because only when unconscious would she stop noticing the external noise; the Soothing Method merely helped her sleep more peacefully and calmly.
Once Shirleyviel was fully asleep, the door to the room quietly opened.
***
An armored figure walked in, heavy armor clanking, yet his steps were silent as a shadow.
He first glanced at the sleeping Shirleyviel, making a small gesture of relief.
Then the armored man raised a wooden board, upon which words written in black magic read:
‘Thank you, Mr. Cat. Please come with me.’
Ian was silent for a moment, then gently released Shirleyviel’s hand, confirmed her breathing was steady, and stood up to face the armored man, giving a small nod.
The armored man merely turned sideways, making a “please” gesture.
After the two left Shirleyviel’s room one after the other, the armored man placed a Magic Suppression Array on her room before turning his gaze back to Ian.
Only then did the armored man reach up, removing his heavy helmet to reveal the weathered yet sharply defined face of a middle-aged man. An old scar on his left cheek lent him an even sterner appearance.
His gaze was as sharp and wary as a wolf’s.
“Good evening, Mr. Cat. I am Raymond Iron Anvil, Commander of the White Maple Wolf Knights.”
Raymond’s voice matched his appearance, steady and commanding.
“First, I must thank you for bringing the young lady back, and letting her sleep… This is very important to Lord Connalt and to the Connalt family.”
His thanks were formal, concise, then he changed the subject:
“But, I’m sorry, Mr. Cat, I must confirm your purpose and identity.”