Eastern Magic

Beneath the dining table, a tiny cat head poked out from behind a table leg, cautiously looking around. It was hard to tell whether it was shy or simply restless in an unfamiliar place.

The kitten seemed to spot something. It trotted out of its hiding place, passed through the kitchen into the living room, and rushed toward Tom, who was dozing on the sofa. Only the familiar scent seemed capable of giving it a sliver of security.

"Where were you hiding?"

The poor kitten ultimately failed to escape the girl's clutches. Before it could reach Tom, it was scooped up from the carpet.

After a round of utterly futile struggling, it was easily subdued by a comb. Its last traces of resistance and defiance were quickly bought off with dried fish.

Tom opened his eyes and stared at the dried fish Nia was using to tease the kitten. He rose from the sofa and lazily stretched, intending to move closer to Nia and beg for some, only for Albert to scoop him off the sofa and place him in the large hamster wheel in the corner of the dining room, beginning his daily weight-loss exercise.

Nia's hand paused as she stroked the kitten's fur. Her gaze fell on Isabelle beside Albert, and her lips moved almost imperceptibly. Then her eyes lowered again, and she pressed down on the kitten trying to sneak away, continuing to groom its fur.

Beside them, Luke and Herb were discussing what they had seen in the colonies.

In truth, as long as they could afford it, most English people were equally enthusiastic about traveling and taking holidays. Luke and Sansa were naturally no exception; this trip was simply longer and farther away.

Albert pulled Isabelle over to an empty seat on one side of