'Have I gone insane? Or is my mind actively deceiving my eyes?'
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDwTBMQBEc
Valor stared at the feline on the windowsill, his thoughts racing. 'Yes, I have definitely gone mad!'
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Tm0JxZqdy
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?"
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqT7MtmPCG
Those words were instantly accompanied by the heavy thud of boots echoing on the creaking floorboards downstairs.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiVowP8v0k
Valor’s internal panic vanished, replaced by cold understanding.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6Y75DUuf6
"Do you have everything needed with you?" the cat pressed.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SHa2VMrOv
Valor nodded quickly. "Yes!"
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8Ssw6pjlJ
"Then let’s go," it said, leaping fearlessly out of the window.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlZkOvfRHl
The footsteps downstairs multiplied, growing louder by the second. Hearing the sound getting closer, Valor knew his only option was the drop below.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd2Tit4191
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.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTP9ZOcKox
There was a common saying that cats always land on their feet, Valor hadn't known that the same rule applied to certain humans.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCqyOz0zt8
Given the height of the jump, he had braced himself for a severe sprain, if not a shattered bone.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHtRaMh5fk
Yet, the fall entirely defied gravity. He hit the ground squarely, his feet absorbing the impact perfectly without a single scratch.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOHymErkTS
Before he could even process the landing, he was violently yanked out of the line of sight of the window above.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwGsJNgHdu
"Don't you know when to hide from the observing eyes of the guards?" a boy's voice asked.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreDyAvFsR6
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.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKTCaNMpwR
"You are being incredibly careless," the boy remarked, shoving his hands casually into his pockets.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo78rs9kIS0
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.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjYmth1uQD
A shapeshifter.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pSznG5P9N
Valor studied the boy's dark hair, noting the practical overalls that perfectly matched the color of his sturdy boots.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTTkf028rn
"Why are you staring at me?" the boy asked.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT2RCbKMTH
By digging into his host's memories, Valor finally pulled up a name: Sinclair.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQObGYva1bL
"No, nothing actually," Valor replied, clearing his throat. "I’m just wondering whether those men will find anything useful there..."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2sKhdjcAy
Sinclair offered a dismissive shrug. "The moment they step across your threshold, they won't find anything but piles of empty boxes."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6k5NypPd0
Valor nodded, masking his relief.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbINkYjXuV
Although the host's body instinctively recognized the people he was interacting with, the deep, foundational details of this world remained incredibly blurry.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EEnls7JVh
Accordingly, Sinclair was a prominent member of the Bureau of Watchers.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwh4fbVQIi
He was a shapeshifter bound primarily to a single alternate form—a black cat.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczjcOqZzBT
Because of this signature ability, he held a distinct title within the ranks: 'The Shifter.'
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYICjSokpk
Valor forced a small, diplomatic smile. "Sinclair, thank you for saving me from—"
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RSLSHShmp
Sinclair reached up, coolly adjusting his monocle. "Keep your gratitude for later. First, tell me what you were doing there in the first place."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx0zySnG3t
"You mean at my own house?"
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sIUH8rRhC
"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."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjamfIEhCFm
Valor adjusted the lapels of his coat. "That was my bad there—"
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJt8C3ERMI
"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."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9esn7pv1Xw
Valor nodded blindly. "Definitely."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj06rG99kdo
There was no visible door in sight, but a key was apparently all that was required.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM9aCn6s7O
Sinclair stepped toward the blank alley wall and turned the key into an invisible keyhole.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcQjSOwjFw
To a genius—or anyone paying attention—it was obvious that a hidden threshold had just been unlocked.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A3Ao7c04X
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.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu3Y1Pbtr9
His physical form felt entirely weightless, and he realized he was crossing over into an entirely new, abstract plane of existence.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLmvoN1qc7
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.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQP6R0Hvvy
Another object that arrested Valor's attention was a monstrous, towering clock dominating the front of the hall.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb8iXJhf3x
"12:30 PM?" He muttered, reading the clock face.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISPNVKcKwB
"Someone finally decided to show up, even if they are remarkably late," a voice called out.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYUTFKo7MD
Valor turned to see another man approaching, dressed in clothes identical to his own.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAVZ0wx60N
The man offered a mocking, theatrical bow. "I presume you were busy dining with the Queen?"
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDgDyJ7XEc
This newcomer was significantly older than Sinclair. His thick beard and messy hair seemed to be in more greys than blacks.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCRqfrylQM
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.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gbpngnp92
He never missed his mark, though his power was limited —he delivered fewer shots than necessary, dealing minimal, calculated damage.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTaRAjcyr4
"It’s a fine day, isn't it, George?" Valor offered, choosing a polite greeting to test the waters.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtESyw8zCp
"Oh, please leave the pleasantries behind!" George shot back with an annoyed click of his tongue.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Dzy83jMcO
'Okay, he doesn't like greetings' Valor thought as the man continued,
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuVNxJQvnf
"You arrived late and missed the entire briefing."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76eKAs0B8U
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."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64UTmLutOo
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,
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhUPY4FBfH
"Where is everyone else?"
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRiLQECLEm
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."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQc2Mn7V4I
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.
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYrAgoYt2I
Sinclair spoke up. "One of the high-ranking members of the Azmerald Family..."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwjsDgUt0t
Valor’s internal focus instantly sharpened. 'The Azmerald Family! Another crucial name from the notebook.'
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcerNoAl4AH
"...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."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkonZ1wIVeC
George clicked his stopwatch shut and slipped it back into his pocket. "We have less than enough minutes before 1pm..."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBXOoOfziQ
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."
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XBp4H2iaR
Valor quietly followed them toward the exit, his thoughts were subsequently working towards what to be done:
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAS27PJG2lN
'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.'20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BEqmrVEBp
and then Add to home screen.