Cats and Fish

Paul took Mina back to the place where he was temporarily staying.

Although it looked as if only her ears had changed, Paul knew very well that his daughter was certainly no longer an ordinary little girl.

Mina, now with two snow-white ears, had fallen asleep on the way home. After Thor gave Paul a few instructions on how to care for Mina's body, he vanished from the spot in an instant.

Staring at the chair where Thor had just been sitting, Paul froze for several seconds before coming back to himself.

Then he went over to Mina's bed and crouched beside it. He watched the sleeping Mina and the two little wings atop her head, then raised a hand to stroke her hair as he had always done.

But the wings, which had been perfectly still just a moment ago, suddenly lifted and spread apart. They looked almost like a pale human hand, trying to grasp Paul's outstretched hand.

Paul's arm stiffened in place. In the end, he didn't dare continue.

"My little Mina has become a little monster after all."

There was regret in Paul's voice as he said this, along with relief—but no fear.

"Dad has to work harder, too. At only Level 3 Apprentice, I can't protect Mina."

"It's good that you've realized that." Thor's voice suddenly came from behind him.

Paul's heart tightened. He hurriedly turned around and saw that, at some point, Thor had reappeared in the chair where he had been sitting before.

As if he had never left.

"Lord Thor." Paul bowed respectfully.

It was the sort of courtesy reserved for a superior officer or a mentor.

Thor knew that Paul was pledging himself to him.

At last, this Wizard Apprentice, who had both talent and character, had stopped fleeing the dangers