I crept from beneath the table and padded softly towards the door. Mouse-But Sometimes-Rat trotted happily behind, flipping the end of her tail back and forth with every step.

“How old are you? You seem old,” she jabbered. I sighed. Was it even worth dealing with this tiny thing?

“I am wiser and more ancient than the land itself,” I answered.

It would be worth it. I could not be away from Raina for longer than a day or two. If my investigation did not bear fruit this evening, then having an extra quartet of paws or three could help me to keep an eye on things in the castle keep. Even if I did find something useful, Mouse and her siblings could keep ears to the ground where I could not…if she proved to have an eye for spy work…which, at this time, I was only half convinced of.

“I think that’s just a fancy way of saying you’re old,” Mouse continued as we padded down the stone hallway towards…

I paused. Where exactly was I going? I’d just kind of picked a direction, intending to figure it out as I went, but that was foolish of me. Why figure out my way around when I could use the expert?

“First of all, Mouse,” I began, turning to her and twitching my whiskers. “Ancient is mysterious, old makes me sound like I’m grumpy.”

She stared at me with one eye. “Okay?”

“Second of all, I require your assistance.”

“Are you lost?”

My fur rippled in indignation, and I closed my eyes. “I am not lost. I simply haven’t been here before to know my way around. Would you kindly direct me to the Lord’s study?”

“The…what?” Mouse tilted her head in confusion. I sighed. Kittens…they have only fluff in their heads…

“The room where the Lord does his paperwork?” She still stared at me. It was as if we were speaking entirely different languages.

But, of course, she didn’t know what a study was. She didn’t know what paperwork was! Normal cats don’t have to deal with such things. Moreover, she was a kitten, quite possibly only a few months old. She probably barely knew up from down.

I sat down, wrapping my tail around my paws in thought. How could I teach a real cat to be a useful spy? Well, the first step might be to know what I was working with…

Inspecting friendly creature: Level 1 cat

A normal cat.

…

That was the first time I’d gotten a generic answer for a creature I knew. I’d been expecting to receive Mouse’s full name and ability list, but there hadn’t been one. Why might that be?

System Activation of Welcome to Atria

Many monsters fit into known categories. Dire wolves, Forest Rats, and other common creatures are all similar enough in appearance and magical aptitude to register as the same variant of creature. Only once a creature is significantly differentiated from others of its species does it receive a new name or classification.

So, at the end of the day, poor Mouse hadn’t pleased Amsiii enough to differentiate herself from a normal cat. It seemed that I would have my work cut out for me if I wanted to make Mouse and her brothers into useful spies.

“Mouse, tell me, have you spent your aptitude point?” I asked.

“My what?”

“At one time, you received strange words in your thoughts from the World Engine, telling you that you’d reached level 1. Did you spend the aptitude point that came with that?”

“Oh! That weird voice that spoke in my head? I didn’t know how to,” she answered. I purred and stood.

“Walk with me, Mouse,” I said. I began walking down the hall once more. She followed, and I draped my tail over her back. “Now, Mouse. I’m about to teach you something that will help you become an excellent larder cat, and possibly even more.”

“Really?!”

I nodded sagely. “I want you to instruct the World Engine to place your aptitude point in the Internal class of magic.”

Why Internal magic? Simple. Mouse was still a kitten. I needed a spy who could be subtle and unseen. Applying her aptitude any other way would result in the disastrous outcome that she might burn down the keep or throw a knife at a human’s head by accident. That would immediately defeat the purpose of a spy, both revealing her secret nature and isolating her as a threat. The Lord might get rid of her, and then I’d have to replace my spy.

“It says I learned Endurance I,” she reported. “That’s good, right?”

That was perfect, actually. Quiet enough that none would notice, but would allow her to more easily escape human pursuers. Cat’s are built for ambush, meaning that short bursts of speed are easy, but keeping up any fast pace for a long time will prove difficult. This spell would round out Mouse’s options.

“It’ll help you chase down your prey and escape from danger, but we’ll work on that in due time,” I promised. “For now, I have a job for you.”

“What is it?”

“I would like you to first lead me to where the Lord takes his meals,” I asked. “It’ll be a large room with a table in the center.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Where the Nice and Fancy man eats with his son, the Not Nice Fancy man?”

“That’s the one!”

“Okay! This way!”

Mouse dashed down the hallway. I raced after her. She was quick for a kitten and surprisingly graceful. When she ran, it was an elegant sprint…or rather it was, until she clipped a corner too short and ran directly into the wall.

“She’ll get there…give it time,” I told myself as I followed at a much slower pace. “She’ll be an excellent spy. She’ll be an excellent spy.”

We came to a shut door, which I opened for us to slip through.

“Whoa! How did you do that?” Mouse asked excitedly.

“That’s my magic,” I explained, holding my head high. “I’m Level 18, you know. I know all manner of different spells.”

“Can I learn them, too!”

I nodded. “In time, yes. Just keep hunting rats, and you’ll have the right aptitudes in no time.”

The next room was the main entry way. No doubt this was where Lord Erik had come in earlier, even though I’d been forced to take another path. Mouse trotted casually to another door, which I opened, which lead down a hall to a final room where a long table filled the room.

“Here’s where they eat,” Mouse explained. “Though, sometimes the Fancy and Nice man will have the less fancy people take his food up to another room that he spends time in, but I’ve never been up there.”

“That’s probably his study,” I said. A servant was cleaning the table and setting out plates and silverware for the evening meal. From the floor, I couldn’t tell how many places were being set, but it seemed like more than two…

Suspicious…

I padded silently around the edge of the room to where a grand fireplace stood regal against the stone walls. It was already crackling with heat, casting shadows for us to hide in. Above the hall were great timber rafters that would provide the perfect place to listen from if I could only reach them.

“Alright, Mouse,” I began. “I said I had another part of the job for you.”

“Yes!” She was entirely too excited for this…but that also seemed like a perpetual state of being for the kitten.

“I want you to go take a look around the upper floors,” I instructed. “You said you’d never been there, and you should be familiar with the layout of your dominion. If you find locations where the Fancy Man’s scent is strong, make note of those, as I’ll want to see them later. Understand?”

She bobbed her head, replicating the gesture I’d performed earlier. Without another word, she rushed off, tiny claws scrabbling against the wood. She’d be fine…of that I was sure.

Meanwhile, I had my own work to do. Lord Erik was planning something nefarious, and I would find out what it was. If it involved Raina in any way, I would make sure he regretted crossing me. If not, then I really didn’t care.

I hopped to the mantle. It provided a better view of the table but was too visible for my liking. However, that was fine. A few feet above, a stone crest was offset from the surrounding stones by a few inches. It would be enough, and from there, I would be able to reach the rafters without issue.

The jump was simple, as I bunched my muscles and threw myself high. I landed with ease…only to find my paws burning. The heat from the fire was being translated through these stones! I raced along the edge of the stone and threw myself at the rafters, trying to extinguish the pain in my poor paws!

Note to self…only use that path when the fireplace was not lit…I’d have to pass the message on to Mouse before asking her to perform more spy work in the area.

I padded silently through the rafters before coming to rest just above the table. I crouched and wrapped my tail around my paws. It was time to wait. As the time passed, I purred quietly to myself. It was not loud enough for the servants below to hear, but the vibrations sent waves of soothing magic into my burned paws.

The table was set for five. Lord Erik no doubt would sit at the head of the table, but the others, I was unsure. Was he really the sort of lord to host a full dinner for Lizzie, Ser Rivan, and his Captain of the Guard just for a meeting about a monster in the woods? If he was, that made him a very generous host.

The door burst open, and the servants took one look at the newcomer before scurrying out as quickly as they could. The dark hair of the younger lord, Kiren I think his name was, passed below me to sit in the chair at the right hand of the head.

He looked around at the other plates at the table, a sneer turning his lips. It seemed he had not been expecting others to be partaking in the meal. He leaned back in his chair before sighing.

“I should have known this would be another of his games,” he muttered. Any normal eavesdropper probably wouldn’t have heard the remark, but I was no normal eavesdropper.

His father entered a moment later, trailed by his attendant. He passed by his son to sit at the head of the table.

“Kiren, thank you for coming,” he said.

“Father, why are there places set for others? You said nothing of meeting with anyone else but me this evening.” Kiren’s words betrayed his irritation. I peered at him with great interest.

Lord Erik sighed, clearly noticing his son’s tone of voice. “The others will come later. I told you different because I didn’t think you’d come otherwise. I mean to discuss the issue of Qelona with them.”

“The corrupted witch wandering the woods? Why on earth would you need me here for that?” Kiren stood from his seat, but his father maintained his calm gaze.

“Sit down,” he ordered. “You are my son, and you will behave in a manner befitting your station.” Kiren grudgingly sat for his father to continue. “As you’re aware, the monster is spreading her influence every day, and there are only so many high-level adventurers in town who may deal with her and gain some form of benefit from the battle. As such, I would like to appoint you to lead the next expedition to defeat her.”

“Is there not one such expedition already underway?” Kiren hissed. “What makes you so sure that they’ll fail?”

“They’re already two days late in returning.”

Kiren crossed his arms. “Why should I? The risk far outweighs the reward, father, you know that more keenly than anyone.”

“Because it’s your responsibility as a noble of Aldar, and, more importantly, it’s the right thing to do to keep our people safe!” Erik hissed. “Don’t you have any interest in seeing our town prosper?”

“Oh, I have an interest, yes,” Kiren sneered. “I have grand plans for the town, ones that dwarf even your wildest dreams. I will launch this town into a golden age and the people will sing my praises. However, unlike you, I don’t need to throw myself at a monster in order to see them realized. Send more adventurers if you must, send the paladins, call in support from Fotel Road, but I will not be stepping foot in that forest.”

The young lord stood from his seat and began strutting towards the door. Erik stood from his seat. When he spoke, his voice boomed across the hall.

“At least attend the meeting, Kiren,” he called. “Then make your decision.”

Kiren snorted. “Why bother? It won’t change anything.” He opened the door. Before fully leaving, he turned. “Oh, and by the way, don’t think I didn’t notice the collection of books you left on my desk. Defense and healing magic? Not so subtle, father. I’ll thank you to have them removed, as I lack the aptitudes to use them.”

The young lordling slammed the door behind him, and I eyed Lord Erik’s reaction closely. He practically collapsed into his chair and rubbed his hairline.

“What will I do with him?” he muttered to himself.

It was an interesting proposal the Lord had made. To be willing to risk his only son that way spoke of great desperation…or overconfidence. I wasn’t quite sure which was the truth under his benevolent mask. Qelona was a monster. Level 29 was nothing to scoff at. If she’d even grown one level since our encounter, she’d be within range for Kiren to gain experience from, but that didn’t mean the fight would be easy. Power alone does not make a great being. Strategy and cunning are equally important and Qelona had the benefit of numbers no matter how you sliced it. It would be quite the difficult fight no matter who went.

I crept out of the rafters and jumped my way to the floor. Anything they discussed at the next meeting would likely be relayed to us by way of Lizzie later. I had heard all I would about Erik from his own lips. It was time to continue the investigation elsewhere.