As Merci hurried off in the direction of the shop the man pointed out, she could hear shouts gaining ground behind her. A wave of icy fear shot through her as concern grew heavy. What if they caught up to her? There was three distinct voices that was chasing her. And all three of them were grown men.

All she knew on defense was the magic that was taught to her. But by their reactions, magic was a strange and weird thing. So, she was hesitant to use it again. That left the only other weapon she had, was her fists. However, she wasn't sure how to utilize them in combat.

As her fear and now panic got more and more intense, she decided to take a dip into a side street, that was just off the main street. Once enclosed in the shadows of the nearby buildings Merci let her heartbeat relax as she calmed her breathing. Thankfully, the buildings was close enough to provide coverage in broad daylight.

“What did you do?” The voice in her head spoke. The panic in his voice mimicked what she felt race through her body. Merci could tell that the man in her head was truly concerned for her well being.

“I didn’t mean…” She whispered quickly and softly. As soon as the words left her lips, she began to feel her own fear and panic quicken once more.

Calm. I need to calm down. Merci thought to herself as she steadied her breathing once more. Waiting for the next response from the voice inside her head.

It took a moment for the voice to respond back. Merci figured that he was just trying to calm himself down. “Alright, no more magic. Your plane doesn't understand magic fully as it is not common there. Those who do magic are often punished to the highest degree.”

"My plane?" Merci questioned as she was confused at the refence. She never heard much talk of other planes. So she had no idea what he meant.

"Don't mind that right now. I can explain later. Please just follow what I have to say." The voice was urgent, pleading almost. Merci could tell, it was deeply concerned for her wellbeing.

“What do I do?” Merci whispered as she brought herself to refocus on the situation at hand. She did a quick glance towards the entrance of the side street. She heard three men talking close by. One was giving orders for the other two to find the red headed girl.

“Shift. Shift into a simple cat. I typically would disapprove of this action, but I am afraid if you don’t they will find you and do something more traumatic to you.”

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“But...I have things I want to do." Merci didn't want to spend the afternoon disguised as a cat.

“Shift. Your life is more important than clothes.” His voice was urgent. "Besides, it is only temporary."

“Fine.” She whispered in a grumble.

Merci tried to focus on her ginger cat once more. Soon after focusing on the shifting aspect of her life, she began to hear the subtle noise of bone breaking as her humanoid form shifted into the cat.

Great. Now instead of adventuring in the city as a human I have to do it as a cat. Merci waited a few minutes before she left the side street that was cast in shadow.

Alright here goes nothing. Merci told herself as she began to walk out to the main street. Once she exited the street she found three men scooping out the area. The man that told her the direction of the store. He was still holding onto his wrist that had since been wrapped with a white cloth.

“I swear the bitch went this way!” He shouted at the two men that were helping him search. “Make sure you are checking the side streets, she shouldn’t have gone far!”

Merci watched as the two men darted between side streets. One by one they darted in and out of the streets, with no success. Once they reached the side street she was sitting in front of Merci walked casually away. She tried not to show panic in her cat form as she feared it would lead them to her.

“Stupid cat.” A man with a rough beard huffed as he darted into the side street and back out. “Nothin sir.” He said as he reapproached the man she had injured.

Merci wanted to hiss at the notation of "Stupid cat" however, she resisted. She feared that even though she was disguised well enough, he would be able to figure out who she was.

“Same here.” Another man with a fat belly said.

“She must have gotten away.” The man she attacked said. “Blasted red headed woman anyways.” He shook his head and began to walk away with a slouch. The other two men followed suit.

Merci watched them until they moved out of sight. “Now go back into the side street and shift back.” The voice echoed in her cat's mind.

“Meow.” Merci responded and wandered back into the side street and shifted back into her human form. She sighed in relief once she was back on her own two feet.

“Thanks.” Merci whispered.

“Now no more magic in this town. Got it?” The male voice said in a firm tone.

“Yes.” Merci whispered back.

Merci was thankful for the man in her head. Afterall, if it wasn't for him, who knew what would have happened to her by now. Besides the randomness of his conversations, she no longer thought of herself as crazy. Hell, she even welcome his voice now adays.

“Now go shopping but keep your head low.”

Merci nodded and walked back towards the entrance of the side street. She glanced all around and sighed heavily when she saw no signs of the three men that were chasing her. Once she determined that the coast was clear she began the direction towards the gate once more.