"Shade definitely won't mind."
Miss Danist had seen Little Mia many times and knew Shade liked having cats around, so she teased him with a peculiar smile.
Shade hesitated before nodding.
"Miss Winslet, as long as you don't mind standing on my shoulder, I have no objection. It would be my honor."
The Witch removed her glasses again, then transformed into a gray-black cat amid grayish-white mist. Like that plump owl, Flora Winslet's feline face was round and rather charmingly beautiful.
Shade crouched and held out his hand to her. The cat, which had seemed rather unconcerned just moments ago, took a few steps toward him. But just before placing its paws in Shade's palm, it looked up at him, then backed away.
"All right, I admit I'm not prepared to make contact with an unfamiliar man."
She returned to human form and adjusted her glasses, signaling that Shade could leave.
"Sage Level Relic Confusion. Its passive trait is that once I put on the glasses, strangers absolutely cannot recognize me unless I am willing to reveal my identity. Its active trait is hypnosis and rewriting cognition. Transforming into a human is a bit troublesome, but I can still maintain it. Let's set off like this."
"All right, then let's first take a look at the old Bennett house."
Shade suggested, while Miss Danist asked:
"Will you be back for lunch?"
"Not certain. If we aren't back before twelve, eat by yourself."
Miss Winslet said as she followed Shade out of the room. The eighteen-year-old Red-haired Sorceress watched them leave with a smile. Once the door shut, rather than picking up her book, she made the little mirror beneath the tea table fly into her hand.
"Eighteen years old."
She sighed at the mirror. For a moment, she felt that