As I was walking towards the kitchen, with my back turned towards them, I stopped. I rolled my eyes at Iris's deliberate jab at me.
"Well, Iris, I apologize for being unable to set aside time for you specifically. But you are always invited to attend our study sessions. You don't have to feel sad about not seeing me for such a short time. I was going to be with Celeste and Vivienne anyway. Sorry for not being able to give you any special attention like you asked."
I proceeded to walk into the kitchen without turning around. I took a long exhale and peeked out. All the three heads were deep in thought. I literally made a landmine statement. I was scared how the reaction was going to play out. There were no negative expressions in their faces, except Iris being flustered.
And on that note, I excused myself before any of them and left. It was not like I would be able to walk them to their houses when cars and bodyguards would line up if they gave a word.
Returning home, I skipped dinner and went straight to my room. I was simply not feeling hungry.
The sight before me was one of the funniest things I had seen in such a short time. It was a standoff between Penguin and a collared orange cat on my bed. Every half a minute, they were jumping from one end to another. The orange cat trying to catch Penguin and the Penguin escaping by a hair's breadth each time.
I stood there looking at the absurd scene of a mechanical bird and a cat playing around, until Penguin noticed me.
With teary eyes, it started rushing towards me and hid behind me.
"I told you. Now, save me."
"Hey, now, I am just a normal human, how can I fight against such a ferocious monster that a person from the Causality Department couldn't handle?"
"Bastard, you know this isn't time for old misgrievances."
The cat jumped down from the bed and started walking towards us. The Penguin was now completely freaking out. It started scrambling up to my shoulder.
"But how can I? I am just a wea-"
"Please, Host, I beg you. I will do anything you say, just save me from that thing. Ahh, It is coming closer."
I smirked, "Hey, anything, huh? Don't go back on your word later."
I lifted the Penguin from my shoulder and placed it on the table. I bent down and picked up the orange cat. Surprisingly, it was very friendly unlike the cats I have dealt with in the past. Those cats were literal monsters with their rash annoying behavior.
I looked at the collar of the cat. Its owner's name was inscribed on it, along with its own name.
'Diana Mercer'
I didn't recognize it among the neighbors I knew. So, I took it along with me downstairs to the living room. I left Penguin back in the room.
"Ahh, where did you get it from Cole? I thought I said no pets are allowed in this house."
I was fighting back a laugh.
The person who yelped was my mom and she was now standing on top of the sofa, in fear of the cat I had in my hand. I had forgotten for a moment that my mom was always scared of animals in general. Though, she always adored stuffed animal toys. Can't make sense out of it.
"Mom, I didn't bring it in. It was in my room before I came home. Must have come through the open window. Its collar says the name of Diana Mercer, along with its own name, Ginger."
"Did you say 'Diana Mercer'?"
"Yes, do we know her from the neighborhood?"
Even Dad who was working with his laptop, stopped his work and looked over in my direction.
Then, mom stood up and started walking towards me. She had a serious expression on her face.
She picked up the cat from my hand, without an ounce of her normal fear.
She lifted it until both of their eyes were on the same level.
"Diana, it isn't very nice of you to spy on my son, your own nephew. You better bring your ass over here by today's midnight or you will be in for a lot of trouble."
I felt sweat trickle from my own forehead. Mom has always been strict, but this was the first time I have seen her threaten someone. It was really scary.
With a slip of tongue, I blurted out, "What happened to your fear of animals, Mom?"
She turned quickly towards me and her expression relaxed slowly after seeing my face.
"That is not an animal. It is a familiar."
"Like the ones skilled mana users have?"
"Yes. And it belongs to someone whom you possibly wouldn't know. But just know that they are a close acquaintance of your parents."
I nodded in response.
She turned and gestured something to dad. Then, she turned back to me and said, "Now, Cole, I want you to go back to your room and sleep. You have an early morning tomorrow, right?"
It looked like she didn't want me to meet with said person. I understood that she didn't want me to question her about it, so I returned to my room. I did have an early morning tomorrow, as it was a school day.
But as I climbed the stairs, I remembered mom mentioning me being the nephew to this person named Diana. But mom was an only child in her family, while dad only had a younger brother. So, who was Diana Mercer?
It seems mom and dad have also been hiding a few things from me, just like I have. But to hide a skilled mana user, who has contracted with a familiar must mean it is quite a serious situation. I trusted them to handle it after all, they wouldn't be this wary unless it was a real threat."
_________________________________
In a guest mansion near the city tower, a brown-haired woman was smiling nervously, while sweating buckets in fear. It was Diana Mercer, whose familiar was captured by Nora.
It seemed she was caught sooner than she wanted to be.