Revanio knew exactly who Morgana truly was. His mother wasn't just any ordinary woman — she was once the top graduate of the Glorius Academy of Magic, a prodigy who served as a Tower Witch for five full years before abruptly retiring to open a magic-item shop.
Morgana was, without a doubt, a genius. But even knowing that, Revanio did not like her plan. Not even a little.
Because thanks to her 'brilliant idea,' Revanio now had to run on four legs — in the form of a fat orange cat.
Yes. That was the plan. Brilliant.
…Fine. Whatever. As long as the mission succeeded, Revanio would endure it. He only had one objective: find the black-haired girl. And so he dashed across rooftops with an agility no cat his size should logically possess, racing toward the biggest commotion in the city.
His guess was correct. Lizzy was there. Unfortunately, what she was doing left him utterly speechless.
How — just how — was Lizzy sprinting through an entire platoon while knocking out every soldier who tried to catch her?! She fought using nothing but pure strength — strength so overwhelming that each time someone charged, she sent them flying, sometimes using the bodies she had just defeated as shields to block the next wave.
One by one, the Kavaliro Troops and Gardisto Force collapsed across the streets, rolling like bowling pins.
Revanio knew she was strong, but this… this surpassed all expectations.
Especially when Lizzy grabbed a wooden barrel full of cabbages from one of the shops — and threw it like a bowling ball toward a crowd of attacking Kavaliro Troops.
Boom — crash!
A dozen men were knocked out in an instant.
Was Revanio… saving a dangerous creature?
No. He shook his head.
Lizzy wasn't doing any of this because she wanted to hurt people. She was fighting to protect herself — because if she were captured, there was no doubt she would be executed on the spot.
Lizzy then leapt onto a table, then onto a rooftop, sprinting again. Seeing that, Revanio immediately chased after her.
With sharp reflexes, Lizzy deflected a spear aimed at her by a Gardisto soldier, snatched the weapon from his hands, then kicked him so hard he toppled off the roof.
But instead of running — Lizzy grinned, spinning the spear like a toy. That alone made every soldier freeze in alarm.
With only her bare hands, she had already defeated dozens. And now she had a weapon? How in the world was anyone supposed to catch her?
"Hahahaha!! Useless! Catch me if you can!" Lizzy shouted gleefully, darting across the rooftops while swinging the spear like a child with a stick.
Revanio shuddered. Not from fear — but because Lizzy actually looked like she was having fun.
Was this… a game to her?
He searched desperately for an opening while Lizzy mounted a stone horse statue and prepared to charge at three massive Gardisto Force. But she missed — spectacularly — and the spear snapped, shattering the roof beneath her.
Even though Lizzy was skilled in martial arts, she clearly had no idea how to handle a weapon. This had to be her first time ever wielding one.
"O-ow!!" Realizing her attack failed, Lizzy tried to flee again — but before she could take three steps, a bright orange ball flew over her head, splashing liquid onto her face.
She gasped. "Damn Cat! Why did you pee on me?!"
Revanio almost died of embarrassment. He did NOT pee. That was the potion my mother prepared!
Still, he felt a sting of annoyance at being accused. But there was no time to argue — because the moment the liquid touched Lizzy, it turned into smoke and engulfed her completely.
Within seconds, Lizzy vanished inside the cloud.
Revanio — still in cat form — jumped into the smoke as well, leaving the bewildered troops behind.
Inside the cloud of thick, swirling smoke, Lizzy panicked. "What is this?! I can't see anything!" Her voice trembled, echoing inside the fog as she stumbled blindly.
That was exactly the moment Revanio needed. Quick and precise, he lunged forward — still in the shape of a fat orange cat — and shoved a biscuit into her open mouth. A biscuit shaped like a cat's head.
Lizzy choked in surprise.
And within an instant—
Poof.
Her body shrank. Her limbs twisted. Her vision dropped to half its height. In less than a second, Lizzy had turned into a fluffy, ash-and-white striped cat.
Revanio didn't waste time. He bit her scruff and dragged her away through the smoke before the troops could regroup.
The strangest part?
Even as a cat… Lizzy was strong. Too strong. She kicked wildly, flailing her paws, and ended up scratching Revanio's face.
"Mrreow!!" Revanio hissed in pain, feeling his pride crumble. Why was she still that powerful as a cat?!
Lizzy, meanwhile, froze mid-kick — only now realizing she had four legs.
With big, round eyes, she stared down at her tiny paws. "Meow?" — Ehh?! Why am I a cat?!
Before she could fully comprehend anything, a deep, feline growl erupted beside her. "Graooong!" — Idiot! Don't run! They're all distracted because you vanished—this is our chance to escape!
Lizzy blinked in disbelief. She… understood that?
She turned to look at the angry orange cat glaring at her. At first she thought it was Moriga, Morgana's cat.
But the moment he spoke again — with that rude, annoyed tone — she knew immediately. That was Revanio.
The striped Lizzy-cat waddled closer. "Meow?" — Escape to where? And why do we have to be cats?!
Revanio swatted her head lightly with his tail. "Mreow!" — For disguise, obviously! Now hurry!
Startled by his scolding, Lizzy could only nod meekly. The two cats sprinted side by side through the narrow alleys, their tiny paws tapping rhythmically across the stone paths.
They slipped through gaps too small for humans, dove under crates, then squeezed into a drainage tunnel. Cold water splashed beneath them as they ran through pipes and winding metal corridors beneath the city.
After what felt like several minutes of frantic running, they finally arrived before a large, round iron door embedded in the underground wall.
Revanio stopped and turned to her. "Meow!" — Drink this! He pushed a small yellow pill toward her.
Lizzy didn't dare argue — not after being yelled at earlier — so she swallowed it immediately, though her whiskers twitched nervously.
Revanio swallowed one too. And then—
Pooof!
In less than a minute, their bodies expanded, stretched, and snapped back to human form. Lizzy wobbled unsteadily on her legs, staring at Revanio with dumbfounded amazement.
The human Revanio stood exactly where the orange cat had been — and now she realized just how similar he had looked to Moriga.
"Where… are we?" Lizzy asked as Revanio pushed the heavy iron door open. She followed him inside, pulling the door shut behind her as instructed.
Behind the door lay a long stone tunnel illuminated by floating magical lanterns that pulsed with a soft, bluish glow.
Revanio's voice echoed quietly through the corridor. "This is the hidden passage belonging to House Calyx. You'll stay here for a while." He emphasized the word stay, making it clear that Lizzy was not allowed to wander.
Lizzy stiffened instantly, her shoulders rising like a startled cat. She didn't dare say anything.
As they walked deeper into the passage, Revanio suddenly stopped, turning to face her. His expression hardened.
"Ck! I told you to stay put — and you went and caused chaos all over the city?! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?!"
Lizzy shrank under his glare like a scolded kitten.
Revanio ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Listen. My mother and I are already working on a way to send you back. So stop doing whatever you want. Trust us. My mother is a powerful witch. You don't need to panic or run. Just… behave. Understand?"
Lizzy nodded so fast she looked like she was bowing repeatedly. Every time Revanio grumbled or lectured her, she could only nod again and again, up and down like a bobblehead.
Seeing her obedient like this, Revanio was stunned speechless. Where did the wild girl — the one who had joyfully fought entire battalions alone — go?
Eventually, exhausted from scolding her, Revanio simply sighed and continued walking. Lizzy followed behind him with her lips pressed tightly shut, quiet as a mouse.
At least now, she was safe. All they had to do was wait for news from Morgana and Milliane.
⊱⋅ ────◇✦◇──── ⋅⊰
Milliane and Moriga were deeply immersed in their roles — a mother and her young son — blending seamlessly into the stream of citizens heading toward the evacuation site. The refuge was located in the underground chamber beneath Emeraldy Lake, a vast shelter with ten different entry points to prevent overcrowding during emergencies.
As they walked with the crowd, a woman suddenly waved at them, her hand clasping the small fingers of a boy around Milliane's age. "Morgana, hey!"
Milliane froze.
Being called so casually made her look around in panic, instinctively searching for her real mother. Moriga quickly tugged at Milliane's sleeve, a firm reminder that she was Morgana right now.
"Um… uh… h-hello," Milliane replied awkwardly, her tiny voice trembling. She was only six years old. She had absolutely no idea how an adult was supposed to sound or act.
Meanwhile, Moriga — unfamiliar with the etiquette of walking on two legs — kept crouching down, unable to resist old feline habits.
The woman slowed her pace to match theirs, concern shading her eyes. "Is your family all right? Poor Milliane, she looks so pale." Her gaze dropped to Moriga, still crouching in Milliane's body.
Milliane panicked inside. "W-we're fine, don't worry, Moth—uh, I mean… Revanio will handle the chaos," she stammered.
Her face turned even paler from sheer anxiety. Really, what was Morgana thinking assigning the role of an adult woman to a six-year-old?
The woman sighed softly. "Yes, Revanio is reliable… but Morgana, you don't look well at all. You're pale. You both must be terrified." She cupped Milliane's face with gentle hands, examining her closely.
Then, without warning, she bent down and picked up Moriga — still in the form of Milliane — with one arm as though he weighed nothing. "Come on, let's go together to the evacuation hall," she said warmly.
Her other hand still firmly held her son's. "Herald, don't let go of Mother's hand."
Milliane and Moriga exchanged looks of silent suffering. This disguise… was a disaster waiting to happen.
Still, they followed the woman through one of the evacuation entrances along with the other citizens. In her heart, Milliane could only pray — desperately — that her mother or brother would come pick them up soon. If they stayed too long, someone would eventually notice the strangeness.
It seemed Morgana had the same concern. Far from wasting time, she put her former experience as a Tower Witch to use. Being a natural leader, she slipped easily into Revanio's role.
"Team 1, check the Market District. Witnesses reported the creature showed itself there. Team B, take position along the main street. Stay hidden and observe — ambush the creature if it runs past your location. Team C, inspect every residence. Make sure no civilian is still at home."
With commanding authority, Morgana dispatched her forces. "All right. Spread out!"
And just like that, the search began.
Once all the squads left on their missions, Morgana took a moment to survey the quiet street. Then she pulled out the item she had prepared — a 'dummy,' the core of her entire plan.
It was a simple human doll, infused earlier with a temporary life spell. Despite being referred to as a sacrifice, it wasn't alive — merely animated, capable of mimicking human movement for an hour before reverting to an inert object.
Morgana had already implanted instructions in its mind. It would act exactly as she commanded.
After chanting another spell and placing several strands of Lizzy's hair (left on the bed) into its core, the doll transformed — reshaping itself into a teenage girl with long black hair and black eyes.
The resemblance to Lizzy was uncanny. Even its clothing matched hers, though the facial structure was slightly off due to the limited DNA sample.
But that was fine. Morgana already had excuses prepared. Once everything was ready, she took position.
Thud!
Morgana threw herself onto a bench lining the narrow street, letting out a pained cry. Several citizens immediately rushed over. She pointed shakily toward the alleyway behind them — where the doll stood, eerily alive.
"T-that wicked creature is there!" she gasped. "It attacked me!"
The crowd gasped. Some helped Morgana to her feet. The doll — the fake Lizzy — grabbed another bench and hurled it at them. Fortunately, everyone ducked in time.
Then it bolted.
Several Gardisto officers shouted and began chasing it. "Wait, really? People said she was actually kind of pretty…" someone murmured doubtfully.
"I heard she had a unique face," another added.
Morgana bristled.
"Hmph! That monster is manipulating your perception! What you see is not her real form. She defeated a Gardisto Captain with her bare hands! You think a normal human could do that?!"
This was the alibi she had prepared.
Right on cue, the doll — following its embedded commands — struck a lamppost, toppling it across the street, obstructing the pursuers. Then it flashed a mocking grin.
"Captain is right! She's a real monster," someone said, shaken. "She attacked us without mercy!"
Another added, "As our ancestors warned, anything of pure black is a sign of calamity. She must be cursing our land as we speak!"
Morgana inwardly sighed. People were far too easy to sway. Because within seconds, the hunters scattered, chasing the doll down the streets.
A young officer steadied Morgana. "Captain, are you all right?"
Morgana recognized him — Revanio's junior, the same one who delivered the earlier report.
"Farenheit," she recalled his name. "I'm fine. We should join the pursuit," Morgana said.
Farenheit nodded eagerly, and the two ran after the doll controlled by Morgana's magic.
The doll had been programmed from the beginning to create chaos: smashing houses, damaging public facilities, engaging squads head-on, and ultimately destroying the commemorative monument in the central park. Only then would it allow itself to be caught.
Thirty minutes passed. Everything went exactly as Morgana predicted. Right after destroying the monument, the fake Lizzy was cornered and captured by ambush squads. It was brought straight to the city square.
From here, Morgana's task was simple: Maintain the illusion. Solidify the belief.
Everyone must think the Black Gate creature — the bringer of calamity — had been captured and neutralized.
And once that belief took root, the remaining task would fall to Revanio: to uncover the identity of the true Black Gate creature.