Erik grinned widely at the words I’d written for him. Though I believed he was entirely too pleased with himself, the gift had launched him straight to the top of my list of favorite humans. I purred loudly, bestowing my Favor on him, even if he didn’t need it. As my mana washed over him, I butted my head against his hand and rubbed my cheeks against his fingers. My scent was on him now, marking him as one of my hench-humans.

“It’s good to finally meet the real you, Malzy,” he said. I looked at him curiously. Had he already forgotten our last encounter?

What do you mean? We met in the square.

He read the words and smiled sheepishly. “Yes, well, I assume you’re not actually a greater demon. I don’t think Raina would be capable of summoning one.” I growled and flipped my tail in response before scribbling down another few words.

I am Malzifrax. I was a greater demon.

“You’re kidding, right?” but Erik’s concerned look betrayed his inner thoughts. I raised my head and purred in pride. He realized the truth in my words. He should consider himself lucky. Not many can cross spells with a greater demon and live to tell the tale. “Then, that form you took in the square, was that your true form?”

I pressed my chalk to the slate, only to pause halfway through the letter Y. I didn’t actually know for sure. I’d assumed so at the time, but Amsiii had done something in that moment that I’d never seen before. It had done a “system activation” for something other than Welcome to Atria.

Wait, no, that wasn’t quite true. I had seen such a system activation once before. The first time had been in the spider den at Shaleheart Spring. Amsiii had activated an ability called Memory Catalogue. This time, in the square, it had been Physical Catalogue, and it granted me the ability Nine Lives.

Amsiii, what is going on?

System Activation of Welcome to Atria

In rare instances, the AMSIII system may activate abilities when certain triggers are met. These abilities will be announced only to the beings they specifically affect.

Okay, so then what was the trigger of Physical Catalogue?

…

Amsiii?

…

Nothing. It seemed Amsiii didn’t actually want to share what the triggers were. That was mildly irritating. It seemed like a useful thing to know. What if I needed to use that form again? How would I activate it?

System activations may only be performed by the AMSIII system and will be announced by the system interface.

Thanks, Amsiii.

If Amsiii wouldn’t tell me directly what I needed to know, then I had more than one question that might pry open its tightened lips.

Amsiii, what does Nine Lives do?

Ability: Nine Lives

When certain conditions are met upon death, the creature will be returned to life. Any lingering mana in their system will be converted to corruption and influenced by the fiend tag to empower them. This ability is unique to the individual: Malzy.

I…died? I mean, it certainly had felt like dying. I remembered the burning in my blood and the smoke in my lungs, all aspects of the foreign mana that had pervaded the field that day. But, then Amsiii had given me the ability, and everything had cooled down, save for my own mana which had burned brighter than ever before.

That certainly tracked with what Amsiii said the ability would do. And yet, something didn’t add up. Why had I received that ability in that moment? Was it because I’d died and met the conditions for the first time? Or was Amsiii hiding something?

Amsiii, what are the conditions to trigger Nine Lives?

…

A low growl formed in the back of my throat. Amsiii wasn’t going to tell me. What was the point of that?! How could I know when I would die for real and when the ability would trigger? Without knowing, it was a gamble I couldn’t take.

Which…was probably Amsiii’s whole plan. After all, it liked me enough to give me a unique ability. Amsiii kept a close eye on me and answered all my questions. What conclusion could I draw other than that the mysterious being the others so foolishly labeled as the World Engine favored me more than the rest? Not that I blamed it. I would favor me, too, given the chance.

Lord Erik’s question still hung heavy over the room. Was that my true form? Or was I really a cat? Of course that was my true form. I wasn’t born a cat, which meant it must be. I finished writing.

Yes.

“Impressive that Raina was able to summon you, then,” Erik murmured. “I wouldn’t expect that from anyone but the Strategy Class Heroes.” He rubbed his chin. “Then again, I always knew that Elana came from a long line of witches. Maybe it’s a secret technique. I shall have to inquire more with the young lady once she recovers.” Erik smiled fondly at me before pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Now, I do believe we have a rather important discussion to have. I’m still painfully curious as to why you believed I might want Raina dead.”

Where to even start? There was so much I’d learned that the idea of writing it all down felt daunting to say the least. I’d have to start with the most important thing first. He’d ask questions after, but, at least, that would get the most pertinent information out of the way.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I found a note that said she’d be attacked. Then she was. Cut and dried investigation.

“I would disagree on that last statement, but I suspect I don’t have all the details,” he muttered. “Let’s start at the beginning. Where did you find the note?”

Kiren’s secret room.

“Kiren’s secret…what?” The color seemed to leave some of Erik’s cheeks, and he cleared his throat. “Is it here? Can you show me?”

I nodded. Erik picked up my slate while I carried my chalk. I trotted up the stairs, my tail held high. My newest hench-human was one with great power. Surely, he would be able to keep my witch, and thus me, safe!

Kiren’s room was closed and locked. Erik knocked loudly on the door.

“Kiren, are you awake, yet?” he called. Lowering his voice, he spoke only to me. “The answer is likely ‘no.’ That boy doesn’t wake before noon if he doesn’t have to.” When there was no answer, Erik knocked again. “Kiren, wake up! Open the door!”

Three more knocks were required before a shifting of sheets could be heard within. A moment later, the door unlocked and opened to reveal the lord’s son, still in his sleeping clothes.

“Can I help you at this extremely early hour, father?” Kiren grumbled. His dark hair was unkempt and stuck out every which way.

Erik nodded. “Yes, I need to search your room.”

“Search my…father, if this is a joke, it’s far too early in the morning for it to be funny.” Kiren tried to close the door, but my mana surged forth as telekinesis to hold it firmly open. I glared at him, sitting neatly back on my haunches and leaving it to my trusty hench-human Lord Erik.

“Not a joke, an investigation of a terrible crime committed a few days ago.” Erik and Kiren met one another’s eyes for a long moment as the younger man tried to defy his father. In the end, though, the paladin won out and Kiren stepped aside to allow us entry. I stalked in before Erik, holding my head high.

Much as I’d seen it the other evening, Kiren’s room was neat and tidy, with scarcely a thing out of place, save for the bed which was slept in. Erik threw open the windows to shed light for the humans to see while I trotted to the wall with the secret wall sconce lever.

I tugged it with my telekinesis, but it didn’t budge. I tugged again, this time twisting it the other direction. Still, it did not move even a tiny amount.

“Father, why have you let a cat in my room?” Kiren grumbled.

“Quiet,” Erik ordered as he watched me closely. I growled at the sconce that dared to defy me before holding up my chalk. My hench-human provided my slate, and I began to write.

That should turn. Opens a false back in the wardrobe.

Erik stood and tried to turn the fixture. Still, it did not budge. A cold fear settled into my heart. What was going on? I swear I didn’t imagine it all. How could I have? I saw the note, and the attack took place! I got the book and brought it downstairs! How could I have imagined the room beyond the wardrobe?

No. Kiren had done something. After hearing about my fight with Erik, he must have known that the attempt on Raina’s life had been thwarted, and, realizing that she must have been tipped off or rescued in some way, must have assumed that his hidden room was compromised. If he had broken the mechanism that opened the door, it might deter anyone who came investigating.

Well, joke’s on him! He can’t pull one over on this clever cat!

I jumped off the bed and yanked the wardrobe door open with my magic. Kiren yelled in protest, but his father ignored him, continuing to watch me with great interest.

Even if he’d broken the door, there was no way he could hide the entire room, not in only a few days. There was a hollow behind the back. I just needed to bring it to Erik’s attention.

Reaching up, I scratched on the false back with my claws. Erik frowned. He didn’t get it. Though my exceptional ears could hear the sound of my scratches echoed in the room beyond, his could not. I needed to spell it out for him.

Sound. Hollow behind.

After dropping my chalk, I returned to the wardrobe and continued scratching. This time, Erik crawled in the wardrobe with me and put his ear to the back. He smiled and scratched my ears.

“You are a lot cleverer than most give you credit for, I think,” he said before standing up and turning to his son. “How do you get to the room behind?”

“How should I know, it’s your keep,” Kiren countered.

Erik sighed. “You know full well this was my brother’s room when I was young. If he had a hidden room, I knew nothing about it until now!”

“And you’re taking the word of a cat?” Kiren laughed out loud. “Please, do continue, then. Your madness will be perfect fuel to inform the King that you’re no longer fit to rule Aldar.”

Erik rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Pray I do not find what Malzy suspects is behind that wall, Kiren.” Then he stood and exited the room. I sat on the bed to await his return.

All the while, Kiren glared at me with murderous intent. I stared back, a low growl in my throat.

“Curiosity killed the cat, you know,” he growled. “Stay out of my business.”

Your business threatens my witch. That makes it mine.

“Then you should advise your witch to give up her profession and leave.” Kiren leaned in close. “Or don’t and see her returned to hell where the unholy belong.”

I hissed. Nothing would have pleased me more than to rake my claws across his smug face, but common sense held me back. Kiren was level 35 when last I’d checked. I doubted my claws would do anything more than irritate him, and I didn’t want to end up with my tail crushed like Mouse’s brother had.

Erik returned a moment later with a hatchet in hand. Kiren only rolled his eyes as his father stepped into the wardrobe and slammed the head of the tool into the back. Wood splintered. Piece by piece, the lord peeled away the panel to reveal the room behind.

I leapt forward, darting past Erik and jumping through the new hole. I was eager to show Erik the exact note. It was right over…

The room was empty. There was not a scrap of paper to be found neither on the floor nor pinned to the walls.

“Well, color me surprised,” Kiren mused. “I had no idea this was here.”

That LIAR! The rotten, dog-breathed, half-baked, idiot, son of a harpy had moved all the evidence! All the manifests, all the notes, all the letters written in the foreign language, it was all gone!

I…I had nothing. I had no evidence.

I had no evidence, and Raina was still in danger.

“Malzy?” Erik knelt next to me. “Talk to me.” He held out the slate. I took the chalk in my magic and pressed it to the slate…

Only I had no words. I was just a mess of fiery hot rage surrounding a core of cold fear. I’d accused a noble of assassination. I had no proof. It was Kiren’s word against mine, and who would believe a cat over the son of a lord?

And…how would I protect Raina?

I swear it was here. It was all here.

“What was here?”

The note, letters, manifests of sold goods, recipes for discarded potions, lots of things written in a language I don’t know.

“So, the cat broke into my quarters, eh?” Kiren said. “That’s a crime, you know.”

Go bury your head in a manure pile. You’ll smell better.

“Malzy,” Erik warned. He picked me up. His responsible mask was on. “Kiren, you have my apologies.”

“Thank you, father.” Kiren stretched. “Now that I’m up, maybe I’ll get some coffee and do some studying.”

Lord Erik left the room, leaving me to cast one last glance at the empty room. I wished dearly that I’d stolen some of that evidence when I’d had the chance, but that was all in the past, now.

Once we were back in the hall, Erik ran a hand along my spine. He didn’t speak until he’d entered his own study and locked the door behind him.

“For what it’s worth, Malzy,” he began. “I do believe you.” I twisted around to stare at him. Once he set me and the slate on the desk, I frantically scribbled.

You do?

“I have my reasons,” he answered cryptically.

I thought you would know everything in your own home. That’s why I suspected you. You looked at Raina funny, then I found the note.

“I looked at Raina funny?” Erik mused. “I do suppose that I was surprised to see Elana’s daughter in the temple.”

I followed you and met Mo-

That was it! Maybe Mouse had seen something!

Frantically, I wiped away my previous thought with the fluff of my tail and replaced it with:

Wait here.

Then I threw open the door and raced from the room.