More precisely, the knocking sound had come at 2:27 in the early hours of Saturday. Shade had not been awakened by the sound downstairs, but by the cat sleeping beside his pillow.
The timid cat was especially alert while sleeping. Startled awake by the knocking sound downstairs, it kept its head lowered and scratched at the pillow with its paws to make noise. Once Shade woke up, Mia immediately burrowed beneath the thin blanket covering him, leaving only her little head exposed as she warily looked outside.
"It's all right, don't be afraid. Oh, who could be looking for me at this hour?"
After taking the revolver from the bedside table, Shade yawned and shuffled downstairs in his slippers. The timid cat crawled out from beneath the blanket and followed at his feet, but when Shade reached the entrance hall, the orange cat stopped at the turn in the stairs and poked its head out to peer downstairs, looking worried.
"Who is it?"
The gas lamp in the entrance hall gave off a faint yellow glow. Standing behind the door, Shade called out to whoever was outside. He had not lost his vigilance just because he had been asleep. While holding the gun in his right hand, silver Moonlight also lit up in his left.
"Shade, it's me."
Recognizing Miss Annette from her voice, he opened the door only a crack. Keeping his body pressed against the door, he peered outside from the side. Only after seeing that it really was the brown-haired diviner did he remove the security chain with a yawn.
"Good evening, Miss Annette."
Even Ring Arcanists needed sleep, and Shade very much wanted to return to bed right now.
"Good evening, Shade."
Miss Annette was clearly full of energy. Her face was alight with excitement, and