The sun was high in the sky, its warm rays bathing the capital of Mzia in a golden halo despite the early winter chill. Felix adjusted the strap of his satchel, no longer feeling self-conscious as he walked with his four human pets trailing behind him. 

It had been a week since he brought them home, and somehow, against all odds, they’d managed to establish a semblance of routine. Waking up, eating breakfast, exploring the city during the day, having lunch outside and then returning home to relax and share dinner together had become their daily rhythm. Felix had even started to feel a bit more at ease, even with Virgil’s antics and Thel’s pointed remarks popping up every now and then.

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

(He has a theory that this usually happens when there is a lull or when boredom sets in. Just so they can keep their harried owner, who no longer has a private life now, on his toes.)

Today, the group had planned a special outing to end the week-long “pet bonding week” before Felix had to report for his first day at the Combat Division—Virgil’s suggestion, naturally. They were heading to the Nine Lives Temple, a renowned site in the eastern part of the city.

“It’s where I got that good luck charm for you,” Virgil reminded him cheerfully, practically skipping as he led the way. “You know, the one that’s totally why you haven’t tripped and broken your neck yet.”

Felix shot him a look but said nothing. The good luck charm—a fluffy white cat’s paw (likely the equivalent to a rabbit’s foot in this world)—was now acting as a phone charm. He didn’t believe in superstitions, but it was cute.

The temple was a grand structure with a long history behind it, its design inspired entirely by Regal Ones. Polished statues of cats in various poses flanked the wide stone staircase leading to the main entrance, their brass surfaces gleaming in the sunlight. Intricate carvings of myths involving cat deities adorned the temple’s towering pillars, and an enormous wishing tree stood in the courtyard, its branches heavy with golden bells tied by visitors. The gentle tinkling of the bells filled the air, blending with the murmur of the crowd.

“It’s certainly lively,” Sorath remarked, donning a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. “Too lively. If one person recognizes me…”

“Relax, Mister Mzia,” Virgil teased. “We’re here to enjoy ourselves. Besides, not everyone cares about your pageant days.”

Sorath made to punch him but Virgil skipped gleefully out of the way. Not to be outdone, Sorath bounded after him and they scuffled like frisky pups.

Thel was already examining the temple’s carvings with keen interest. “Did you know this temple dates back nearly three centuries? It was commissioned by the Grand Council, the former incarnation of the Big 3, to honor the mythological origins of Regal Ones. The cat deity in the main hall of the temple is said to represent—”

“Let me guess,” Virgil interrupted. “A giant housecat that will eat you if you ever offend them?”

Thel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Felix, already accustomed to Virgil being flippant just for the sake of being flippant, simply rolled his eyes. “Virgil is actually not wrong for once. From what I’ve seen, the cat deities in old myths are rarely depicted as benevolent.”

“Hey, what do you mean not wrong for once!”

Albrecht, however, seemed to take the temple’s atmosphere more seriously. He scanned the courtyard, muttering to himself about finding the optimal spot to tie their wishing bells. “Placement is crucial,” he declared. “The higher the branch, the better the luck.”

“Albrecht,” Felix said, “I don’t think the temple cats are handing out ladders.”

Inside the courtyard, temple cats—Regal Ones in their various cat forms—weaved nimbly among the crowd, selling golden bells and cat’s paw charms in baskets hanging around their necks to visitors. Felix leaned down and bought a bell for himself as well as for each of his pets, who eagerly began writing their wishes.

Thel’s handwriting was meticulous as he inscribed his wish on the small slip of paper provided with his bell. “For efficiency and success in all endeavors,” he read aloud before tucking it inside the hollow bell and then tying it carefully on a branch.

Sorath, grinned as he scrawled, “For Felix to survive his first week without embarrassing himself too much.” Felix pinched him in vengeance, but Sorath only smirked and blew a kiss at him as he hung his bell alongside Thel’s.

Albrecht, with a serious expression, wrote in fancy script, “For our master to rise to greatness where he belongs.” He tied his bell to a particularly high branch, looking immensely satisfied with himself.

Finally, Virgil also finished scribbling something quickly, a mischievous glint in his eye. “For Felix to come home in one piece—preferably with both ears and tail still attached,” he announced. 

“Haha. Very funny guys.” Felix said with exasperation, “Is everyone done?”

“Not yet.” Virgil tucked his bell into his pocket. “I’m going to find the perfect branch.”

Felix shook his head and moved to tie his own bell. He had only written simply—“For health and happiness.”

As Felix adjusted the ribbon on his bell, a loud, boisterous laugh cut through the tinkling of the wishing bells. He turned reflexively to the source of the sound.

Standing near the wishing tree was a boy with a wild mane of blue and the yellow/amber eyes most common among Regal Ones. He was flanked by three human pets. The girls were identical triplets, their pastel dresses and soft flaxen curls making them look like porcelain dolls.

“Bloodstone!” The boy called out, spotting Felix. He strode over, grinning from ear to ear. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Felix pasted on a polite smile, hiding his confusion and momentary panic at who this guy was to his original self. “Yes?”

The other boy’s pets followed close behind, their synchronized movements graceful, yes, but also definitely eerie to watch. “I’d like you to meet my girls—the Bloom sisters,” he said, gesturing to them proudly. “Annabelle, Arabella, and Ariella. They’re not just beautiful—they’re talented too. Last year, Arabella even won Miss Mzia.”

Sorath, standing nearby, muttered almost to himself. “So that’s where I’ve seen them before.” Unlike Sorath, the middle sister, Arabella seemed quite proud of her Miss Mzia title as she preened at her master’s praise.

The blue haired boy only spared Sorath a brief look before dismissing him to fix his attention on Felix, yellow eyes like the gaze of a cat looking at a mouse. “So,” he began, crossing his arms, “are you ready for the Combat Division? Or are you still clinging to your old school glory?”

Felix’s thoughts raced as he guessed this was one of his yearmates from the Ivory Sanctuary. On the surface, he only raised a cool brow. “I’m ready.”

“Are you?” The blue-haired boy’s smirk widened. “I remember our last spar. A tie, wasn’t it? You’re good, Bloodstone, but real combat training isn’t the same as student spars. You sure you’re ready to have the floor wiped with you?”

Felix bristled, instantly recalling the group chat he peeked in on a week ago. The one he apparently tied with in their end of the year spar was named… Jax Flintcroft? “We’ll see soon enough, won’t we, Flintcroft?”

“Confident. I like that.” Jax’s voice dripped with mockery.

Albrecht drew himself up like an affronted peacock and spoke loudly enough for Jax to hear, “Is that a chip on your shoulder?”

Jax’s grin faltered, and he almost looked like he wanted to retort back but his decorum as a Regal One clearly held him back. “Tell you what,” he said, leaning closer to Felix. “Let’s make this interesting. Whoever scores higher in the trainee program buys the other lunch for a week—and admits they’re second best.”

Felix hesitated. The idea of competing with Jax was more stressful than appealing, but he couldn’t back down now—not with Jax’s pets watching, not with his own pets nearby.

“Fine,” he said, extending his hand.

Jax’s grin widened as they shook on it. “Looking forward to it, Bloodstone.”

As Jax and his pets moved on, Felix let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

“That was not unexpected,” Thel remarked, his tone neutral. Clearly referring to the common cases of big headedness among young Regal Ones just stepping out of their ivory walls. It was why he thought Felix was so different—he lacked that cocksure attitude. 

“Your yearmate is full of himself, alright,” Sorath added. “You didn’t have to agree to his stupid bet.”

Felix shrugged, trying to seem unaffected. “It’s fine. I’ll just have to win.” This was something that he knew he would be facing ever since learning about his original self’s track record as some kind of combat genius.

Virgil reappeared, finally tying his bell to the wishing tree. “What did I miss?” he asked, looking around.

“Nothing important,” Felix said quickly, eager to change the subject.

Albrecht sighed tenderly. “Honestly, my dear, you’re far too noble for your own good.”

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

“…” Felix shook off the goosebumps that rose as a reaction. Though it did have the unintended effect of distracting him from feeling apprehension about the upcoming trainee program. 

As they moved on from the wishing tree, he glanced one last time at the bells swaying gently in the breeze, their golden surfaces catching the sunlight. 

AN: introducing new supporting characters, with more kitties coming soon 😼