The Archives were emptier than usual. Only Merrs remained, arranging some books on the shelves, as she hummed a relaxing but toneless song. Cats weren’t known as great singers, and catgirls definitely shared that, in Velvet’s humble opinion.

Even so, the melody stopped when she saw Velvet coming in.

Putting the last book down slowly, Merrs turned to face her. “Have you finally come to get the access card?”

Velvet smiled at her. “No.” She said, almost laughing when Merrs bent forwards slightly, like a cat ready to pounce. “I’ve come to see Tristan.”

To tell the truth, as someone with the 27th position at this year's novice mages, Velvet probably had an access card for free if she asked. Not as high tier as the ones who Dianthus and company had, but probably mid-high tier for a novice mage.

That’s how the Mergifari worked, after all, and, as the Mergifari’s Archivist, Merrs simply wanted to fulfill her role and do her job.

But, the thing was…

She didn’t need one right now. And, as long as she could annoy Merrs with that, because, as she had noticed, bothering the catgirls was really funny (they reacted like angry cats, their tails bristling and eyes sharpening), she wasn’t getting one.

If Velvet could get some joy by annoying someone else, why would she give up and ruin her entertainment source?

Imitating Merrs, Velvet also got in a pouncing position, using an instant to eye the spiral stairway.

She would make it, or perish (be forced to make an access card) in the attempt.

Both of them stared at the other in silence, ready to jump at the slightest movement, but not wanting to be the one to start it.

Merrs’ tail swayed slowly, from one side to the other, even when the rest of her didn’t move an inch.

Velvet refrained herself from commenting, since she was sure that even a simple breath would cause Merrs to pounce.

The standstill staredown went on for a full minute, the seconds passing by.

Until a click next to the entrance sounded, a new mage entering the Archives!

Using the instant when Merrs ears moved to the sound, Velvet bolted as fast as she physically could, jumping to the side, running straight for the staircase!

Merrs screamed, a noise similar to the warcry stray cats made when they fought, as she ran after her, with way more agility and speed than Velvet, even when she was using fastening charms.

But, with Velvet holding the initiative now, and the bottom level of the Archives not being big enough for Merrs to recover all the lost length, it was an uphill battle. Even when she did try to change that.

And try she did, sidestepping around the bookcases, the chairs and the tables, not grazing a single object as she crossed the floor chasing Velvet.

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

In less than one second, both of them had moved from the entrance to the stairs at top speed, with Velvet up front.

Velvet entered the stairway, turning her body sideways just in time to evade Merrs crashing against the wall, almost grabbing her with her claws.

Jumping and skipping over the steps, she climbed without looking back, headed towards Tristan’s room, hearing Merrs growls and movements right behind her.

She could already see the door.

With a final jump, Velvet grabbed the handle, opened the door, entered, and shut the door with a bang, before pressing her body, with her full weight against it.

Bang!

Bang!

Ban-ban-ban-ban-bang!

“Just take the loss and move on!” Velvet shouted. “Better luck next time, hahaha!”

“You!” Merrs screeched. “Ahhh! When I get you!” Even so, she stopped slamming the door, replacing it by growling.

Velvet looked at the insides of the room, still pushing the door shut. Tristan returned her look, as Velvet smiled sheepishly back at her, before shaking her head and sighing, returning to her work.

A squeak at her feet made Velvet move her head down. The library mouse had come out, climbing her clothes until getting to her hand.

The mouse seemed to listen to Merrs growls (that was what Velvet guessed, as she didn’t speak mouse), before squeaking in retaliation, probably getting a boost in confidence because of the door separating cat and mouse.

“I will get you too someday.” Merrs said, before stepping aside from the door, and going down the stairs.

Guess their species enmity runs deeper than lab modifications… Velvet laughed, waiting for a bit before moving away from the door, in case Merrs parting was a fluke.

Only when Tristan cleared her throat did she part ways with the door, obediently sitting in front of her.

“Long time no see, Tris!” Velvet cheerfully smiled at her, starting to take out the food she brought, lest the woman tried to overwork her again.

“Don't call me that.” Tristan said, moving the machine she was working with, a rectangle made with glass tubes, with golden levels at each side; eyeing the food.

Velvet bit back her grin, the taste of victory feeling better than the roasted beef she hadn’t tried yet.

…

As they ate, Tristan glared at her in silence several times, before sighing. “So you didn’t get the news.”

With her mouth full, Velvet hummed. “Hm?”

“That guy, the special one, got his ass kidnapped.”

At first, she didn't understand, until her thoughts connected with a sudden click. “You mean Dianthus?”

“Yes, that one.” Tristan didn’t look very interested in the news, which made Velvet think that the mechanic had somewhat misunderstood her relationship with Dianthus as friendship or something, and only wanted to gauge her reaction.

C’mon, since when are you the teasing type? Not planning on giving her any satisfactory reaction, Velvet remained smiling.

“But how? Wasn’t he monitored?” Dianthus had told her that, after all.

“Yes, his caretaker was murdered.”

“And his caretaker was unable to buy enough time for help to arrive…?” When Dianthus spoke of the mages watching his actions, he made it sound like they were powerful.

“It was over in a second. No one had time to react.”

That meant that the perpetrator was an absolute powerhouse. Probably a family’s head or above.

What about other powerhouse- She almost asked. Of course, the really powerful mages probably already knew who was the perpetrator, but…

Why would they help Arhontissian mages? Arhontissian’s maintaining “ownership” over the Chosen One was detrimental for them, and losing him was an immense hit to Arhontissa’s, or, more exactly, to her Queen’s power and authority.

And, if her deduction of the person responsible behind the breaking of Frenese’s seal was right, and they were Arhontissian, it made sense that no mage unaffiliated to them was keen on helping, if not outright planting obstacles.

If Velvet could deduct it, others also could, so that knowledge was hardly a secret.

“Hmm… they must’ve been raising hell.” Since she was away during the time of the incident, she hadn’t had time to find out about it.

“They certainly are trying to, but any mage who can defeat one with two Escas in an instant is a force to be careful with.”

“Isn’t the Director the only one with three?” It was common mage knowledge that only the Mergifari’s Director possessed three fully opened Escas.

“Yes, but the facts are those. Whoever kidnapped your friend was able to crush a Two Esca in an instant.” When Velvet didn’t jump with a ‘We’re not friends!’, Tristan sighed and continued. “Only a true Archmage can do that.”

Now that was a term Velvet had never heard before. “How many Escas does an Archmage possess?”

“Two and half.” So the Director being the odd one out remained. “But all of them are too old and retired, so they usually spend the rest of their days closed inside their pocket dimensions. For one of them to come out right now…”

“It makes your plan easier, no?” Velvet finished her sentence, smiling.

If everyone was watching Arhontissian’s mages movements, and Arhontissian’s mages were watching everyone else's, anyone non Arhontissian who wanted something from non Arhontissian mages had gained a golden opportunity.

Tristan’s lips curled, almost imitating Velvet’s smile.

Almost.