'Have I gone insane? Or is my mind actively deceiving my eyes?'
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4O7bxZNhC
Valor stared at the feline on the windowsill, his thoughts racing. 'Yes, I have definitely gone mad!'
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HPEsg594i
The cat turned its back to him once more, its emerald green eyes flashing with a brilliance that seemed to outshine the most precious of gems. "Would you rather stay here and wait for the Queen’s Guards to bust down your door?"
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2wERkqkrM
Those words were instantly accompanied by the heavy thud of boots echoing on the creaking floorboards downstairs.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxexo6fnQeV
Valor’s internal panic vanished, replaced by cold understanding.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi25VcqoD1S
"Do you have everything needed with you?" the cat pressed.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7MJOGCA4l
Valor nodded quickly. "Yes!"
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6C28Ix3ML
"Then let’s go," it said, leaping fearlessly out of the window.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLAMvtWOQ8
The footsteps downstairs multiplied, growing louder by the second. Hearing the sound getting closer, Valor knew his only option was the drop below.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbVmYODvvl
He glanced back at the desk one last time; seeing nothing else worth taking, he rushed to the sill and took a blind leap into the open air—just as the guards burst into the room behind him.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB73tcS7J53
There was a common saying that cats always land on their feet, Valor hadn't known that the same rule applied to certain humans.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMhFwRpb26
Given the height of the jump, he had braced himself for a severe sprain, if not a shattered bone.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9z7tj3yJw
Yet, the fall entirely defied gravity. He hit the ground squarely, his feet absorbing the impact perfectly without a single scratch.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtyuSswC6y
Before he could even process the landing, he was violently yanked out of the line of sight of the window above.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvByVY5Iro
"Don't you know when to hide from the observing eyes of the guards?" a boy's voice asked.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mCxdmiLoE
Valor peeked from the edge of the alley, looking up just in time to see a guard in a uniform cap peer out of his window. The man scanned the alleyways, shook his head in frustration, and pulled himself back inside.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31WXujqnoF
"You are being incredibly careless," the boy remarked, shoving his hands casually into his pockets.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmGO3IBESw
From the sharp tone of that voice and the familiar emerald-green color of his eyes, there was absolutely no doubt. This boy was the cat.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJsShgaYMc
A shapeshifter.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONVl92Iu0u
Valor studied the boy's dark hair, noting the practical overalls that perfectly matched the color of his sturdy boots.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPp9OsS1q8
"Why are you staring at me?" the boy asked.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFu4ipu3prC
By digging into his host's memories, Valor finally pulled up a name: Sinclair.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNhPPh6FnF
"No, nothing actually," Valor replied, clearing his throat. "I’m just wondering whether those men will find anything useful there..."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2s0WnDccv
Sinclair offered a dismissive shrug. "The moment they step across your threshold, they won't find anything but piles of empty boxes."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62ydbSItNh
Valor nodded, masking his relief.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM16eUDNtV
Although the host's body instinctively recognized the people he was interacting with, the deep, foundational details of this world remained incredibly blurry.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZVWSp5g9W
Accordingly, Sinclair was a prominent member of the Bureau of Watchers.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyAIn9YcaS
He was a shapeshifter bound primarily to a single alternate form—a black cat.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQXxYH4Wlk
Because of this signature ability, he held a distinct title within the ranks: 'The Shifter.'
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2zHd7Slev
Valor forced a small, diplomatic smile. "Sinclair, thank you for saving me from—"
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUock63LyIC
Sinclair reached up, coolly adjusting his monocle. "Keep your gratitude for later. First, tell me what you were doing there in the first place."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0LLpEtEA8
"You mean at my own house?"
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTB3W9QHav
"Yes! Every available Watcher was supposed to assemble at the Headquarters today after the Night. What were you trying to achieve? Actively disobeying direct orders?" Sinclair pointed an accusing finger at him. "You know the Queen is furious about our recent operations. She would love nothing more than to capture a lone Watcher and force him to spill everything we're up to."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFXwOLLQ1c
Valor adjusted the lapels of his coat. "That was my bad there—"
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gmcj7sjDz
"I had to go looking for you during the assembly," Sinclair interrupted, cutting him off as he pulled out a peculiar key from his pocket. "You know how those meetings can be, and exactly how vital they are to our survival."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpnPryD9bN
Valor nodded blindly. "Definitely."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQmJ5F9k8w
There was no visible door in sight, but a key was apparently all that was required.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkbJi6XTAL
Sinclair stepped toward the blank alley wall and turned the key into an invisible keyhole.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtfx8dTplE
To a genius—or anyone paying attention—it was obvious that a hidden threshold had just been unlocked.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dKSw6mBYI
The moment Sinclair pushed the unseen barrier open and they stepped through, Valor felt a bizarre sensation, as if his essence were traveling through multiple dimensional realms simultaneously.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EZKZX14WS
His physical form felt entirely weightless, and he realized he was crossing over into an entirely new, abstract plane of existence.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzBd4hxjbd
When they finally materialized on the other side, the very first detail were the massive bookshelves packed with ancient texts lined every single wall of the expansive room.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjzrzCDjs2
Another object that arrested Valor's attention was a monstrous, towering clock dominating the front of the hall.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzHMVEZ8vc
"12:30 PM?" He muttered, reading the clock face.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrzRPqCnDO
"Someone finally decided to show up, even if they are remarkably late," a voice called out.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJWWPCQTfd
Valor turned to see another man approaching, dressed in clothes identical to his own.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyxpJC2cir
The man offered a mocking, theatrical bow. "I presume you were busy dining with the Queen?"
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RlsUM8JEq
This newcomer was significantly older than Sinclair. His thick beard and messy hair seemed to be in more greys than blacks.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FIpOBvYmE
George, another member of the Watchers. His official title was 'The Arrow,' a name tied to a unique ability that granted him a flawless, bullseye shot.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7GNBLiq0K
He never missed his mark, though his power was limited —he delivered fewer shots than necessary, dealing minimal, calculated damage.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcOD80Iahm
"It’s a fine day, isn't it, George?" Valor offered, choosing a polite greeting to test the waters.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6zj1wAlNS
"Oh, please leave the pleasantries behind!" George shot back with an annoyed click of his tongue.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk7qIICA0S
'Okay, he doesn't like greetings' Valor thought as the man continued,
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylxHihZqFh
"You arrived late and missed the entire briefing."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLqZU5g8Pj
Sinclair turned away, his expression tight. "I tried to talk some sense into him the moment I found him lingering at his hideout of a bakery."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zjKEiupN9
Noticing the heavy shake of George's head, Valor realized he needed to dig for actual information rather than just weathering their disappointment, so he asked,
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXswbREDa4C
"Where is everyone else?"
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyBE47pSuS
George pulled a small silver stopwatch from his vest, checking the dials. "The meeting concluded a while ago, so they've already dispersed. However, we have a hunt to conduct, and several teams are already out there assisting with the tracking."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KfG9Sur86
Valor remained quiet, absorbing the words. If George was speaking this directly, it meant there was a deep level of professional trust and understanding between them.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Ik6NDzmS
Sinclair spoke up. "One of the high-ranking members of the Azmerald Family..."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xx915gqxt
Valor’s internal focus instantly sharpened. 'The Azmerald Family! Another crucial name from the notebook.'
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtu3VTUquA
"...was recently spotted near the Graveyard sector," Sinclair finished. He added, "And I highly doubt there's a more effective way to commune with restless souls than harvesting them from an old burial ground."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeEKUCUb9h
George clicked his stopwatch shut and slipped it back into his pocket. "We have less than enough minutes before 1pm..."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZcQMSVhaU
Sinclair brought out his mysterious key once more, stepping toward the door that led out of the unexplored headquarters. "Then we need to hurry and support the vanguard. If the minutes we've got passes and we lose his trail, we might never get our hands—or our eyes—on him again."
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLPNt2pNIO
Valor quietly followed them toward the exit, his thoughts were subsequently working towards what to be done:
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy9tyZFLGQ
'They are heading out for a hunt, and they explicitly mentioned a member of the Azmerald Family. If I play my cards right, I might be able to extract some real answers from this target. I just need to make sure I can get him to talk.'9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC9Blj0dv8
and then Add to home screen.