41 Goodbye, Steblex

Sera's trauma from being abused suddenly came rushing back, triggered by what had just happened. She felt her strength escape her, and she dropped to the floor, feeling chills all over. Her tears slowly dropped one at a time and she couldn't even make a sound.

'If my foster parents hadn't come on time…' she shook her head not wanting to think about what could have happened if they were too late.

She turned her gaze at the pet-cat, who had turned into a big cat a few moments ago. It was now back to its normal size, and spat out a mouthful of blood. Rhael was still screaming at the man she called 'Brutos'; so Sera slowly moved her way to the wheezing animal. She felt bad knowing that the pet-cat is now dying because of her. Just then, her eyes changed. She was now Aurice.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Rhael shouting, not able to contain it any longer. 'How could this useless bastard try to defile my subject?' She thought.

As soon as Agaven entered the room, he immediately went to the immobile Brutos and gave out a punch. Had it not for the spell, Brutos could've been thrown to the wall. His left cheeks are now sore and his lips bled because of it.

"We still need her for Lerica. Don't you dare lay even a finger on her."

Managing to move his mouth, Brutos answered back, "She's just your experiment subject anyways. Why can't you just let me taste her once." Brutos couldn't give up the thought. Still, her sister's magic was too overwhelming he couldn't do anything at the moment.

The couple squinted their eyes on him and started to add another layer of magic spell, this time it squeezed his body and if it doesn't stop he would be reduced to a slump of meat.

"Awright! Awright! I will stop.", Brutos knew they wouldn't let him off unless he admits he gave up. 'You can't even mess up with these two.' He thought.

It was only then that Rhael released him of the spell. Agaven then pulled him out of the room while he muttered something under his breath.

Rhael and Aurice's eyes locked for a moment. There wasn't even a little hint of sympathy in Rhael's eyes. Rather, it was full of mockery.

"There are clothes inside that cabinet," she pointed at one of the corner of the room. "How could you not even think of changing those ragged clothes? You're the one who brought this to yourself." She sneered and turned her back.

'tick!' the door clicked into lock again. Aurice gave out a smirk with what Rhael had told her. 'this evil woman' she cursed. She flicked her hands and once again the healing ball came out and checked on her body. There isn't any severe wounds just a few bruises from Brutos' chafing.

After making sure her body is okay, she turned to the pet-cat. She mumbled something and the blue ball moved to its new targer. It was small so it didn't take long for the blue ball to heal it. Aurice sighed, 'I hope I made it in time.' She walked closer and carried it as she waits for it to wake up and started to cuddle it.

"Steblex." She mumbled. She didn't know why but when she saw the pet-cat the name 'Steblex' came into her mind. 'Probably something I read somewhere...'. she thought blankly and started to cuddle it closer to her. Just then, she stopped, 'What am I doing? Why am I becoming like Sera, I'm a genius. It's not like this animal is going to get me all emotional...' she continued to think to herself and so she just laid down and let the pet cat lie down on her body as well.

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The pet-cat woke up with half-opened eyes. What welcomed him was bright light and he laid on something soft. 'Am I dead?' the pet-cat thought. It rubbed it's face on the soft thing to see if he still could feel anything.

'mmm, this is soft.', the pet-cat thought and it continued to do so, purring soflty. Suddenly, it felt a cold aura around it, and it started to shiver. It opened its eyes wide, alert and ready to pounce, when it saw two black eyes glaring at him. 'Why is this woman glaring at me like I did something awful. As far as I could remember I tried to save this woman from that Brutos guy and I got killed in the process.' The pet-cat thought.

It stood up to check but then the woman glared at it even more, her nostrils were even flaring. She was very furious. If eyes could kill the pet-cat, it would be dead by now.

"Meow!" the cat tried to ask what the woman's problem is.

Aurice having guessed what the cat was asking looked at where it was standing. The pet-cat followed the woman's gaze and it shuddered. It was standing right on top of Aurice's chest: each paw pressed down on one breast.

"Meow." It's arrogant eyes started to blink fast as if trying to charm someone. Carefully, it tried to move it's legs away from Aurice's body.

Aurice, now really charmed with the pet-cat, chuckled a little. She now sat down from lying and gave out a sigh. She was relieved the pet-cat is fine.

"Steblex." She said again.

"meow?"

"That's your name. Don't worry. They thought you're dead already so I can keep you for myself."

The cat being reminded of what happened immediately checked his body and saw its body was perfectly fine. 'What happened?' 'Didn't Brutos attack me?' More questions popped into its head but there's something he needs to do the soonest rather than answering this questions.

The pet-cat looked at the woman and saw she was also fine. It was also relieved but unhappy at the same time. As much as it wanted to save the woman from this place, it couldn't at the moment.

The pet-cat closed its eyes, not wanting to delay anymore, and soon a warm light started to surround it.

Aurice was awed by what whas happening. 'This is no ordinary pet.' Just then the pet-cat opened it's eyes and looked at her as if saying trying to say something.

A faint voice whispered in her mind with the words, 'I will come back for you.' After that the pet-cat disappeared with the light.

"I thought I could keep you. You could have been a good company for Sera." Aurice murmured before giving out a deep sigh. Slightly scolding herself for getting distracted, Aurice shook her head and set her mind back on what's at hand.

What's done is done so she just moved on. It was good enough for her that the pet-cat didn't die.

She moved on to one corner of the room and murmured a spell. Soon, the working space she created to make the guardian for Sera came out. Aurice sat down, all the more determined to finish the soldier. What happened a while ago is another wake up call for her. She has to finish the soldier now or else it would be too late. The Stedore's were bad enough, but now that Brutos guy had to come into the picture. She can't afford to slack off. If another disaster happens and her work is not done, it may as well be the end.