Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 241 - 228 Meow

That was a black Ankara cat resting on a rising stone dais, with a stream flowing out from beneath the rocks. The kitty squatted on the stone slab, enjoying the sparse sunlight that illuminated that small patch. Its slender black fur was like a beautiful shawl, adding a touch of nobility to such a cute creature. Its light yellow eyes, like glass beads, stared at the surface of the water while its tail kept time on the stone slab with the song of the stream.

Apart from the flowing stream, it seemed that nothing could disturb the cat. The mere presence of the cat managed to instill a sense of reverence in two little witches, causing Mory to rub her eyes; she felt as if the black cat had become one with the forest.

"That kitty, Mory, is so adorable," Rola whispered into Mory’s ear, her eyes completely filled by the sight of that black cat.

"Let’s take it home with us, Rola."

The very Rola who had been complaining about hunting was now frantically nodding her head; no one could resist such an adorable creature.

So, the two of them stuck out their bottoms, and like cats, they went on all fours, slowly crawling forward.

"Mory, can we really catch the cat like this?"

"Don’t question me! I am a hunter, and cats are timid creatures. If they encounter something bigger approaching, they get suspicious and run away. Crawling forward is necessary; we appear smaller in the eyes of the cat, non-threatening, and maybe, just maybe, our clever disguise will make it mistake us for its own kind."

"Really?"

"Stop talking; it’s looking this way."

All around the stream were flat stones and mossy ground, no barriers, and the two girls were completely visible in the cat’s line of sight.

The black Ankara cat licked its fur, focusing attention on the two crawling girls; it propped its upper body up with its front limbs, looking down at the two girls who gazed up at it as if it were a queen surveying her subjects.

The silly subjects finally reached the base of their monarch’s throne.

"Mory, it seems to be working. What’s the next step?"

"When it’s not looking, pounce and grab it."

"No, that would scare her."

"We’re going to scare her sooner or later, the difference is whether she’ll be in our arms or not."

"Mory, give me a chance. I want to do it peacefully," Rola quietly pleaded with her companion, but from the way she clutched her own wrist, it was clear that if Mory didn’t agree, she would definitely hinder the cat catching.

"Just one chance!"

Slowly, Rola stood up. She extended her hand towards the cat above her, her naked knuckles smooth against the palm of her hand.

"Kitty, don’t be afraid, come to Rola’s arms. Rola will protect you well; you must be good, ok?"

Mory watched the cat, still as a statue, its black fur blurring its expression. But, in just an instant, Mory thought she saw the cat humanely roll its eyes.

It moved, flicking its front paws, ignoring Rola’s outstretched palm, and with a gentle leap, gracefully settled down on Rola’s head, squatting in her straw-colored hair.

The slight impact and the unexpected joy in her heart made Rola a bit unsteady. She staggered like a drunk for a few steps, her arms tightly cradling the tuft of fur on top of her head.

"I caught it, Mory." The two girls excitedly hugged and screamed together. They kept the cat in their embrace, returning to the camp like conjoined twins connected by a cat.

The two returned to camp and hid behind a large tent, Witches didn’t need tents, but they would erect such symbolic targets to show respect for visitors. Here, no one would disturb them, and the tent’s soundproofing magic wouldn’t reveal their presence.

The two girls hid in a secret hideout made of hay stacks, resting the cat on a folded blanket Mory had begged from an older sister. Sitting on the hay, they stroked the cat’s fine, smooth fur, their laughter sweet enough to soften the sunlight.

"You’ve broken the rules, Mory, Rola, you left the camp." Vergeni, doll-like, stood in front of them, blocking the only light in the area.

"Go away, annoying Fergenie, go back and play with your dolls, go tattle to Miss Wenli, you pest."

Fergenie didn’t leave; she grabbed a handful of straw and squatted down, the three forming a circle around the cat. The cloth doll on Fergenie’s shoulder slid down to the side of the large cat, curiously poking the cat’s tail, which caused the cat to let out an annoyed meow, and the doll hurried back to its owner’s shoulder, fearfully eyeing the big creature with cotton sticking out.

"I didn’t tattle..."

"Liar, you’re definitely jealous I went to visit the scholar, sir. That’s why you went whining to Miss Wenli, and then my task was cancelled!"

Fergenie turned her head calmly, "That was your own fault. If Miss Wenli had asked me to persuade the scholar, he would certainly be joining us at the witches’ gathering by now."

"I was about to succeed, just a little bit more!"

Fergenie didn’t care for Mory’s excuses, no success meant failure. Her gaze shifted to the Ankara cat, her chilly fingers stroking its fur, skilled motions causing the cat to purr contentedly.

"You’ve picked up a cat."

"We plan to keep it, it’s so cute."

"Let it go, you can’t keep a cat. We don’t have the food for cats, nor the environment to keep it alive, are you planning on letting Andrey’s Liches dismember it?"

"We can keep it in the Witches’ district, let the sisters of the Elemental Witch take care of it."

Fergenie shook her head again, "The floating castles of the Witches’ district are more dangerous than Andrey, and as for the Elemental Witches, in my view, they’re just the Magic Research Society that knows how to explode." Fergenie’s eyes held longing as she stroked the cat’s soft body, "If you truly like it, then you should let it live in its own world."

After a brief pause, the warm-hearted girls made their own decision.

"Fergenie, can you teach us how to pet a cat better?"

"Of course, Rola, just like this, stroke in this direction, more gently."

Watching the cat purr in her hands, Rola smiled.

Seeing her best friend happily clapping under Fergenie’s demonstration, Mory felt upset, it was the feeling of having a best friend stolen away, and this vexing sensation prompted her to take action.

"Rola, I know how to talk to cats!"

"Really? Mory, that’s amazing!" Rola’s eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at Mory.

"Hmph, just mimic the cat’s meow, and in your mind silently recite what you want to say, with feeling, and you can let the cat know our thoughts!"

"Like this..."

"Meow~~"