The rooftop was teeming with activity. Officials from the Pet Bureau and Combat Division strode toward Felix, their crisp uniforms catching the sunlight. Among them was a stern, unsmiling Regal One with intelligent green eyes that seemed to take in everything at once as she quickly surveyed the scene. Virgil’s parents followed closely, their faces flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

Virgil, for his part, didn’t seem remotely perturbed by the attention. Instead, he leaned bonelessly against the railing, hands in the pockets of his trousers, as though he hadn’t just caused a public disturbance and been saved in the most dramatic way possible.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Virgil St. Lilith!” The female of the angry couple snapped, her shrill voice cutting through the commotion like a whip. She was a slender woman with striking features, her auburn hair swept into an elegant updo. Her soft brown eyes were practically blazing, flecks of amber being highlighted as they caught the sunlight. It was clear where Virgil got his looks from.

“What on B3-52 were you thinking?!” she continued, her heels clicking against the rooftop as she approached him. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused?!”

She raised her hand only to cut off the motion mid-way as if she was about to slap him only to recall at the last minute that they were in public.

Virgil smiled disarmingly, barely batting an eye. “Trouble? Me? Surely you’re exaggerating.”

“Exaggerating?” The man next to her interjected, his furious voice rising an octave and the flush on his face deepening. He was a tall, thin man with silver streaks in his otherwise dark hair, silver spectacles perched on his nose and his tailored suit was immaculate despite the apparent rush to get here. 

He might have looked like a distinguished academician if not for his rather apoplectic state. “Do you think this is a joke, Virgil? People thought you were trying to kill yourself! When will you stop being a shame to the family?!”

Felix’s mouth dropped open in involuntary shock. Was that how parents should be acting towards their suicidal (?) child?

In contrast, Virgil only shrugged, his expression unrepentant and completely unperturbed. “I knew my owner would save me. Call it a test of compatibility.”

His mother looked like she was about to truly hand out corporal punishment in public and to hell with airing the dirty laundry. Luckily, the stern-looking Regal One stepped forward, her hand raised sharply in an authoritative gesture. “Mr. and Mrs. St. Lilith, please calm down. The situation is under control.” 

She turned to Felix, her gaze softening into something less exasperated when not having to deal with hysterical humans. “And you must be Mr. Bloodstone, a new graduate from the Ivory Sanctuary. Your quick thinking and decisive action today were truly remarkable.”

Felix, caught off guard by the sudden praise, cleared his throat awkwardly. “Oh, thanks. I just… did what anyone would’ve done.”

“Nonsense,” the woman said firmly, reaching out and shaking his hand briskly, nearly crushing Felix’s own limp grip. “Your ability to execute a divine transformation so efficiently, especially in an urban environment, is nothing short of exemplary. The Combat Division could do with more young ones as prudent as you.”

“Damn right,” another Combat Division officer chimed in, this one wearing the insignia of the Combat Division clearly emblazoned on his shoulder. He was a tall, grizzled man with a scar running across his jaw and intimidating golden eyes. Those piercing eyes of his assessed Felix with the air of someone sizing up a new recruit. “We’ll be keeping an eye on your progress, kit. A Regal One with your potential is a rare asset.”

Felix felt his stomach twist. He wanted to correct them, to tell them he wasn’t some prodigy but a regular guy from another world who had no idea how he’d managed that transformation. But under the weight of their expectant gazes, all he could manage was a stoic nod. “I’ll… do my best.” He admirably did not show any sign that he was internally screaming shitshitshit on a loop.

Did he mention that he didn’t do well with expectations? Because, uh, the queasiness he had been feeling since yesterday was about to bubble over. It would be a fabulous impression to make if he ended up losing his breakfast of tuna and milk in front of everyone.

“See? My dear is amazing,” Albrecht exclaimed brightly, stepping forward with a dazzling smile. “You should’ve seen it—his divine form was utterly breathtaking—what was that line again? ‘Great but terrible’…?”

“A great and terrible beauty,” Virgil corrected offhandedly as if he couldn’t help himself.

Albrecht waved his hand in an uncaring manner and continued talking as if to convey that the question had been rhetorical. The movement caused the sleeve of his blazer to slip and reveal the diamond face of his gold watch that glinted in the sunlight. “—It’s only natural that someone as exceptional as the Great Me would choose an equally exceptional owner.”

The officers blinked, momentarily taken aback by Albrecht’s unabashed self-praise. The officials from the Pet Bureau also subtly pursed their lips. It seemed the lack of humility was unattractive in prospective pets. 

“Ah, yes, the airship,” one of them said, narrowing his eyes. “That brings us to you, Mr. Fitzgerald. Do you have the proper authorization to operate that craft within city limits?”

Albrecht’s smile faltered for the briefest of moments before he recovered, adjusting his cravat with exaggerated nonchalance. “Authorization? Of course. I’m sure the paperwork is… somewhere.”

The officer’s gaze hardened. “We’ll need to see that documentation immediately. Unauthorized use of an airship in a populated area is a serious violation.”

Virgil snickered behind his hand. “Looks like some very colorful feathers are getting plucked.”

Albrecht steepled his fingers on top of the lion head of his walking stick, his polished demeanor slipping just enough to reveal a hint of irritation.

Felix sighed wearily, stepping forward despite his desire to sink into the floor. He turned to the officials, raising his hands in a placating gesture. “Look, I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again. As first-time offenders there should be some lenience, right?”

The grizzly officer chuckled, clapping Felix on the shoulder with a force that nearly made him stumble. “You’ve got your hands full with this lot, kit. But I like your spirit. Keep it up.”

As the authorities began wrapping up their reprimands and filing their reports, Virgil’s parents pulled him aside for a more private scolding, none too gently either. 

Felix stood a short distance away, pretending like he wasn’t staring and eavesdropping.

“The St. Lilith’s… quite the character aren’t they?” Albrecht said, sidling up beside him.

Felix gave him a sidelong glance. “That’s one way to put it.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Albrecht said with a disdainful curl to his lips. “After all, you”ll find that there are WASPs everywhere outside of your ivory towers.”

Felix raised an eyebrow. He likely knew what the “ivory towers” referred to but—

“What are WASPs?” 

Albrecht couldn’t possibly be referring to a certain Earth slang acronym, could he?

As expected, Albrecht explained helpfully, “Well-groomed And Show-Purrfect. The most dominant, privileged and influential humans in Mzia society. Characterized by an obsession with appearances.”

Felix wasn’t sure whether to laugh or groan. “I’ll take your word for it.” With parents like those, he could almost forgive Virgil for that weird personality of his. Hard not to mutate growing up in such an environment.

He couldn’t help casting a doubtful gaze at the blonde man standing next to him as well. Compared to Virgil, this one looked more like he belonged under that class umbrella, obvious disdain towards it notwithstanding. 

Before Albrecht could respond, the officials finally wrapped up their discussions and began to disperse, herding them all, along with Virgil’s still-fuming parents, toward the stairwell. 

Felix almost forgot that there was still the choosing ceremony to undergo with all the chaos happening.

The walk to the Ceremony Hall, the largest room—basically spanning an entire floor—in the Pet Bureau building, felt like a reprieve, though Felix wasn’t sure how long it would last. 

Virgil, showing no signs of chagrin for his behavior despite the dressing-down he must have received from his parents, hummed an off-key tune as he skipped along the marble-tiled corridor. And generally making a nuisance of himself with the Pet Bureau officials escorting them. 

Albrecht, on the other hand, strode in the manner of someone who was much larger around the waist and taking up more space than he should, his polished crocodile-skin shoes clicking in perfect rhythm. Occasionally, he would toss out a smug comment over anything from the interior decor to the real estate. The only thing he was missing was an illegally imported cigar.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

As for Felix, he trailed a few steps behind, stoically refusing to make eye contact after receiving more raised eyebrows and pitying looks than he thought was fair. 

Admittedly, at this point, he had more things to worry about than being embarrassed.

AN: Catching up with the chapter progress on AO3! Please continue to let me know what you think! I enjoy hearing speculations, ideas, even wishes on what readers might want to see more of!