I dropped Tom on the bed closer to the door and took the window one. I looked out, we had a room on the square side. The main room was about five by five meters, there was a little corridor with a door to the bathroom on it's right. The beds were nice and clean, with white sheets. Between them were two bright wooden cupboards with mana lamps on them. The walls were light grey, the floor out of long, wooden panels. If not for the lack of TV and the mana lamps, you'd think it was a modern hotel from Earth.

I looked into the bathroom and it gave the same impression. I poked around and found all devices requiring plumbing had plaques; certifying them as approved by "Draconic Pesky-Science Prevention Department". They worked on mana, rather than whatever it was plumbing required.

I took a shower and used all the cleaning products on the shelves. There was even toothpaste in an aluminium tube and a non-plastic toothbrush. If they could make aluminium, why was plastic an issue? I drew a drooling dragon-head on the mirror.

It felt.. weird, laying on a soft bed. I threw the covers on the ground since it was too hot and after counting a couple drooling dragon-heads, I slept.

I woke up to the sound of the cat showering. He kept yelling out "that fudging brush" or "How did that get there?" or various pained sounds.

I put on a white summer dress, a straw hat and plaited sandals. I recalled women on the internet often claimed swords were the most feminine accessory. Thus through creative use of two belts, I got my new sword on my back. It dragged on the floor, making me bow, so I raised it a bit with mana.

From the door, I called out, "Tom!! I'm going down, once you are dressed, we are going out to eat something made by a proper chef!"

"Yes, mom!!" came the cats reply. I was the snarky one.. or was he still groggy?

Downstairs the priest was sleeping on the bar counter. It was a nice place, moody. Everything was made out of polished, high-quality dark wood. In the corner, opposite the reception, the only marble in this place was a piano. I hopped up to it and decided to see if my better mana control made me a better pianist. I played and sang "Sinnerman". I'd say I was half decent. Pretty damn good on the singing part.

"You still need some work, little devil." Came in English from the priest. "A glass of water for me and a glass of milk for the little lady and her companion." Tom was sitting next to him.

The cat wore a slightly too small, blue t-shirt and equally too short jeans. For feet, he wore the dungeon boots. I guess whatever causal shoes he brought were too small too.

The barman set the drinks on the counter. I raised an eyebrow at that and shrugged. The priests were common here, right?

I jumped up onto the counter and patted the priest then turned to Tom. "So, you memorised any restaurants here?"

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"Ah.. no... I know the shops selling gear and clothes, but I thought I'd just eat out in the wild." Did the kitten look ashamed?

"No problem, searching is half the fun." I stood up, downed the milk and jumped to the floor, with a puff to avoid spraining anything. I had enough of those. I looked at the glass in my hand and floated it back up.

"Have a nice day mister priest!" I waved to the clergyman and led Tom out. The priest waved back and shook his head. As I was getting out the door, I saw the barman offer the man some sort of flyer.

I was feeling good and I sang about it. There was also no need to look for restaurants. This was the town square. I boosted a few times over to one, two doorways away from the hotel. Some old couple waved angrily at me and I waved back with a smile.

The place had a tree in front of it, shading the entire outside eating area nicely. As I was wondering how to deal with the high tables and the adult-sized chairs, a waiter came out with a tall sit for children. "Thank you, and I'd like to order whatever you recommend unless Tom wants something specific?"

The kid waved his head and the waiter was gone after a nod. How well were these jobs paying? I wouldn't be surprised if all the workers we met here, could offer Cate a challenge.

"So... what is a kid like you, doing in a place like this?" I asked Tom.

"You are a kid yourself." I opened my mouth to reply, but Tom continued, "I know you are reborn. I read people like you, are still part the person you were before, but also the child you were born into."

That's now what I wanted to clarify, but good to know. Turns out I wasn't lying to the kid... kind of.

"Eh... my parents wanted me to just be like most other kids. You know... school, university and job." The cat said and tapped his fingers on the table. A nice, round wooden thing. "But I learned to read fast, then I just got crazy about reading books and before I knew it, I had nineteen in mind." He shifted a little in his seat.

"You know.. in cities, the nobles just fly around in the sky. They have all those mythical beasts and flying cars and stuff.. and us peasants, just can't figure out if we'd rather be office rats in the city or farming serfs in the countryside." This sounded like a prepared speech. He was way too damn stiff.

I gave him the look. Maybe... you know, dads and moms do it. Dunno how it worked out on my face. "That's bullshit. Leave that for your entrance ceremony speech or whatever. To me, you are going to give the real reason."

Tom lowered his head. "I want to be a hero... but I do want to help mom and dad!! I will give them a castle and lots of servants!!"

This honesty brought a smile to my face. "Good answer."

"Then what about you?" He asked and leaned over the table.

"I hadn't thought about it honestly. One guy found me on the ground, then said I should go to the Academy." I leaned back and looked to the sky. "I guess... being a devil and all... I'd like to become the Devil Lord or something? Go to cool places, fight some dragons, maybe space monsters if there are any."

I slumped over the table and scratched my head. "Having a huge fucking palace, made out of some black crystal and floating over the planet would be super cool!!" I exclaimed while straightening up my posture.

"Then.. rather than a hero.. what do you say, I become one of your Four Generals?" The kitten leaned further over the table and extended his right hand towards me. "And we will build a house for my parents on your floating island."

I returned his handshake. "It's a plan," I said and grinned.

The food arrived, a platter of extremely sweet pancakes with fruits, honey, chocolate and whipped cream for me. For Tom, a serving of sausages and fried veggies. We both got apple-orange juice. I promised myself to learn what it was called.

We spent the breakfast planning what the castle was going to look like and where we'd fly it, as well as what sorts of people would be the other generals. Tom liked dragons... a lot.