A Blissful Kitty Nap Beneath the Dappled Shade Chapter 4

[xuebingcode]

Chapter 4

Rutile: I’m sure it’ll be fine. Magic may be useful, but it isn’t omnipotent. 

This spell is amazing too, but there must be a way to reverse it. 

Mitile: You…may be right. Still…

Rutile: Come now, don’t look so down. Let’s keep our spirits high, meow! 

Mithra: What was that pose just now? 

Rutile: It’s my “Let’s become cats and do our best!” pose! Standing around worrying isn’t going to make our tails and ears go away. 

So why not bounce back and use our fighting spirit to solve this spell instead of being down in the dumps!

Mithra: So like, it’s your fighting stance? Your tongue sticking out makes you look like a fool though. 

Rutile: Oh Mithra, you just don’t get it. This is the strawberry on the cake.

Mithra: What cake…? You should put your tongue back in. Here, I’ll do it for you.

Rutile: Mrmmbr…ton’t use yer hanz bleaze…

Mithra: What did you say? Ahaha, your cat ears are drooping. Hilarious.

Mitile: He’s saying, “Don’t use your hands please”! Gosh, Mister Mithra…!

Rutile: Mrmmbe…

Watching Rutile and Mithra fuss around made me feel like I was back home in the Magic Manor, and I couldn’t help but smile. 

Akira: (That’s right…it’s as Rutile says. This isn’t a problem we can solve by worrying. If we want to lift this spell, we have to work together.)

Riquet: You’re absolutely right, Rutile. I’m going to do my best, believing there’s a ray of hope. Meooow!

You meow too, Mitile!

Mitile: Err, me? I’m too embarrassed…

Bradley: Yer at that age huh. …So, Curseworker and Shepherd. How’s it going over there.

He turned towards the two who had at some point started to examine near the edge of the manor.

Faust had his hand to his chin, and Lennox shook his head after a moment. Seemingly satisfied with that answer, the former nodded. 

Faust: Thank you for your help, Lennox. …Everyone. To put it shortly, the magic casted on us is incomplete.  

We have no sense of hearing in our cat ears, and our sense of smell and eyesight are the same as before. Normally, we should have become complete cats in mind and body, but we appear to have obstructed that somehow. 

Our transformation goes as far as these tails and ears, as well as new impulses, to an extent.

Shino: Impulses?

Faust: Like when we’re surprised, our tails will stand up, or when we’re irritated we want to pace around in circles. Also, when we’re cautious our ears will droop. 

Bradley: So whatever we’re thinking can be seen plain as day. Isn’t that just great. 

Mithra: Bwuh! Hey, don’t go swinging your tail like that. You hit my face.

Bradley: Then don’t stand behind me.

Faust: Stuff like this will continue to happen. The real problem is the influence on those with weaker magic and humans like our Sage.

In particular, those with magic weaker than Shino–

Mitile: …Pounce!

Rutile: Woah…Mitile?

Just as Faust was speaking, Mitile leaped headfirst at Rutile.

He began to snuggle the shoulder of his brother with his forehead. 

Bradley: What’s up, bud? Suddenly wanted your bro to fawn on you? Widdle baby. 

Mitile: N-No! I just had this urge to pounce at him when I saw him…

Riquet: Do your ears itch, Mitile? Should I scratch them for you?

Mitile: It’s not that either. I just, wanted to do that? Like…I want to pounce at you and Mr. Leno too…

Mithra: You want to pounce at them? Looking for a fight?

Mitile: Absolutely not that! Uhm, actually, what about you guys? Don’t you want to do it too…

Rutile: …Well now that you mention it…

Riquet: I do…

Akira: Me too…and that spot in the sand over there…

Mitile: It looks nice…

Riquet: Indeed…

Shino: What’s up with you guys? Faust, is this the influence on the weaker wizards you were talking about?

Faust: It is. This spell originally should have transformed our way of thought and actions into those of a cat.

Thus our wizards with weaker magic, unable to resist, are being influenced into having the mind of a cat.  

Cats headbutt each other as a sign of love. As for wanting to go where there is sand, it is likely to have a catnap or roll arou…hey, wait.

Ignoring whatever Faust said behind us, we made our way to the greatest patch of sand there ever was. 

Akira: (This is sooo not the time for this, but…)

…Rollllll.

Mithra: Hah? Where do you think you’re sleeping, Master Sage.

Bradley: Like you ever lie down anywhere normal either. 

Riquet: Weeeeee. *snuggle*

Mitile: *snuggy snuggle*  Rub rub~

Rutile: Rub a dub dub~!

Akira: Weeeeee~ Mrrrow…

(Yeahhhh…this is the best….)

Shino: This is bad. 

Faust: It sure is. Just as cats can’t control their own whims, they can’t resist their new urges.

Mithra: …Mm? Then why is Lennox not rolling around?

Lennox: I do want to roll around, but I’m managing to hold it in…I can’t let myself be so unsightly in front of Lord Faust after all.

Shino: Now that’s dedication. Keep at it for your liege. 

Faust: What, no, I wouldn’t find it unsightly at all…Satillquinart Mullcreed.

Hearing Faust recite his spell somewhere, the scent of citrus went up my nose, and I immediately sat up, fully aware. 

Akira: …!! I’m so sorry!!

Mitile: I’m so sorry, everyone! I couldn’t stop myself…

Faust: It’s alright. I’m not sure if you heard me, but this is an effect of the transformation. 

It seems you guys are susceptible to the smell of citrus like cats are known to be. Sniff it whenever you need. 

Rutile & Riquet: Y-Yessir!

Shino: So what’re we to do? It’s a pain in the ass spell that even Northern wizards can’t lift. Should we break the barrier?

Mithra: No. This spell is one they’ve had perfected and put up for hundreds of years. 

While I of course can squash a barrier of this level, something might happen to Rutile and Mitile.

Faust: Let’s enter the house for the time being. Though we’ve landed ourselves into a mess, we were initially invited to be guests. 

Akira: (I nearly forgot about that…)

Lennox: Understood. Alright, let’s head in.

Akira: Hm…?

As I walked after Lennox, I heard something rustle in the grass bed behind me.

Turning back, there was a single cat staring straight at us. It was a tiny cat, with a grey coat and blue eyes. The cheeky expression it had was impressionable, 

and the bell on its silver collar jingled with a cling. 

Akira: (Is that cat a part of this household too? So far it's the only cat I’ve seen with a bell on its collar…)

Rutile: Master Sage?

Akira: Ah, sorry about that! I’m coming.

Grey Cat: …

Akira: (Woah, it’s dark…)

The inside of the manor was dimly lit. From slight openings in the tightly closed curtains came a little bit of light, faintly brightening up the room.

Cats: …!

…

And throughout the room wherever there was catbeds and toys, were plenty of cats and kittens. 

A circular cat sitting down like it were a dome, a scowling cat atop a cat tower, a cat grooming itself at its own pace. 

There were some cats that hid in surprise, but the majority of cats stayed and were either interested in us and looked our way or ignored us. 

Their “I do what I want” attitudes were similar to the cats in cat cafes, used to being loved by humans.

Akira: Cute…! But, might they actually be former humans…?

Mithra: I don’t sense any spells on them, so no. They’re normal cats.

Cream Cat: Waaaow…? Meow. 

Silver White Cat: Purrrrr, mmmm?

Mitile: Waaah…! A lot of cats came up to me!

Riquet: They’re tilting their heads looking up at you. Why don’t you lift them up?

Mitile: Sure, why not. Up we go…

A, Ahahaha! This one’s trying to paw my cheek!

Akira: (I could watch this forever…)

Droopy Ear Cat: *sniff sniff*

Bradley: Hah? Whaddaya want. Don’t sniff my shoes, or I’ll kick ya. 

Lennox: They don't even fear Northern wizards. The amount of magic in Mithra and Bradley should be enough to scare them since they can sense it. 

Faust: It’s probably because they believe that wizards are to find them cute. The master of this house must’ve spoiled them lots. 

Calico Cat: Mwaaaamu…

Faust: …Okay, okay, I get it. Here, I’ll pick you up. 

Giving into the cat that stood up to paw at his thighs, Faust takes the cat into his arms as he speaks.

Cuddling it as it purrs, he examines the room. His tail slowly rustles as he searches for something.

Faust: …As I thought, there’s no presence of a living wizard here.

The flowers of tragedy that bloomed in the southwest of my home really were informing me of a tragedy. 

Riquet: So then…the Cat Wizard truly is gone.

Faust: They are. They must’ve felt their time approaching, and casted a spell on the spotted cat so that I would pay a visit after their death.

So in preparation for that, there should be a message for me somewhere. There may be a clue on how to reverse this spell too. 

Akira: I get it. Then let’s go and find this…hm?

Shino: What is it?

Akira: Look. The cat that’s sleeping spread out on the table, there seems to be paper underneath it.

Rutile: Ah, you’re right! It might be a letter for us…sorry, let me take this. 

Fat Cat: Bunaaa~

The letter Rutile took was warmed up by the cat who grumbled after being disturbed. Neatly written narrow letters were inked on the page. 

Rutile: Here, Faust. I can hold the cat for you.

Faust: That’ll help, thanks. …I’m reading it aloud now.

“To my neighbour of the Valley. If you are reading this letter, it means I have become stone, and you have become a cat.”

“What is currently casted on you is a spell I have worked on for several hundreds of years, a spell I perfected as my entire life’s work.” 

“Though you are a strong wizard who specializes in curses, even you may find yourself unable to reverse it after a day or two.”

“Rest assured, however. If you remove and purify the collars from all the cats in this household, the transformation magic will lift.”

Akira: The collars? I did notice there were quite a lot…

Bradley: Even just a quick estimation counts me a whole bunch. They want us to purify all that? 

Shino: And that’s not all the cats here. There’re some hidden in odd corners or those who’ve ran off outside. 

Mithra: Don’t say things that’ll make me want to give up…

Faust: “I apologize for the trouble, but I have a reason for this. It’s in your hands.”

“Furthermore, I ask that you destroy anything that may be dangerous to cats, and to release this residence from its status as a home. I’m counting on you.”

“As for your reward, I will give you my mana stone. I’m sure it will be used by the cats somewhere as a toy. Take it if you please.”

Mitile: A, A toy? …Ah!

If you look closely between the shelves, there’s a mana stone on the ground! And in that corner too!

Lennox: It was played around with by the cats, and broken up into pieces…

Akira: That’s pretty extreme…but the wizard seemed to accept that would happen though…so…it's okay?

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