Just Right

Medivh would decide what to do with the Cat-men. Suixiang and Suixin knew their place and didn't take it upon themselves to unlock the chains binding them.

"Quiet!"

Once the skeletons had finished clearing the battlefield, the Spirit Cat Skeleton Warlock tapped the nearby cage with his Bone Staff, telling the noisy Cat-men to quiet down.

After the Cat-men fell silent, a Heavy Skeleton Warrior grabbed the frame and dragged the cage along like a handcart.

"Suixiang, that skeleton can speak Cat-man!"

As Suixiang and Suixin followed the cage, Queling whispered to Suixiang.

Suixiang and Suixin had been missing for so long, yet they were clearly all right. Queling was no longer as pessimistic about her own and her people's fate.

She watched the skeletons outside the cage with curiosity, especially the Skeleton Warlock who spoke Cat-man.

"Of course. He's one of our tribe's ancestors!"

Suixiang smiled mysteriously.

"Ah, our ancestors became undead? Does that mean God of Light's blessing has failed?"

Queling gasped. When she saw her people and the skeletons looking over, she quickly covered her mouth.

Now that she thought about it, the Skeleton Warlock's attire really did resemble their Riddle.

Some of the skeletons in the group even had frames that looked like Cat-men.

"Do you think I'd make that up? This is the knowledge our ancestors passed down to us!"

Suixiang activated the power of her Spirit Rune, revealing the Inheritance Spirit Rune on her forehead.

She hoped the Cat-man tribe would integrate into Kurd City. By deliberately showing off her Inheritance Spirit Rune, she wanted to lower their resistance.

"Wow, what a complete Inheritance Spirit Rune!"

Queling and Suixiang had received their inheritance at the same time. Compared with the rune on Suixiang's forehead, Queling's looked as if something had gnawed away many of its details.

"Suixin, did you receive an inheritance?"

Suixin's friend asked with concern.

"I didn't receive an Inheritance Spirit Rune. I inherited the technique for drawing Spirit Runes. I was the one who filled in Suixiang's rune!"

"That Cat-man ancestor from earlier is my teacher."

Suixin demonstrated one of her spells.

She thought the same way Suixiang did: Kurd City was the future of the Cat-man tribe.

"Suixin, could you help me complete my rune?"

Queling asked Suixin expectantly. She wanted to become a powerful Spirit Rune Warrior and protect her people.

"Of course! Come find me once you join Kurd City!"

As they talked, Suixin worked in some information about surrendering, so the Cat-men could start preparing themselves for the idea.

On the way back, the Cat-men in Queling's cage chatted with Suixiang and Suixin.

The Cat-men in the other cages stayed quiet. But their upright ears showed that they were listening intently to Queling and Suixiang, taking in the information Suixiang and Suixin were passing along.

"Remember, don't cause trouble or try to escape. You're not alone, so follow instructions!"

When the cages entered the No. 1 Nine-Grid District, the skeletons were ordered to open them and unlock the chains on the Cat-men's hands and feet, allowing them to move around the Residential District.

Before returning to report, Suixiang and Suixin repeatedly reminded their people not to act rashly.

Before leaving, they asked the Spirit Cat Skeleton Warlock and the Spirit Cat Warrior to keep a close eye on the Cat-men and stop them from doing anything foolish.

As the Cat-men slaves entered the city, Medivh watched them from the central High Tower.

There were more than three hundred Cat-men slaves, both men and women.

He came from a noble family and knew that handsome servants from other races were just as popular in noble circles.

The buyers of foreign-race male servants weren't only noblewomen. Some male nobles with unusual tastes and eccentric interests bought them, too.

"Take them to live in District Two. You few will be in charge of managing them."

Medivh didn't have time to tame the Cat-men slaves himself, so he put Suixiang, Suixin, and the other Cat-girls in charge of their people.

The Cat-men who were willing to obey and integrate into Kurd City would be allowed to live in the district.

Those who refused to follow orders and caused trouble would find a place for themselves in the Graveyard District.

"Thank you, Lord Medivh!"

Suixiang and Suixin bowed happily. Medivh had accepted their people.

"Keep quiet, all of you. Follow me!"

Soon, Suixiang returned to the Residential District. She raised a hand to quiet the Cat-men and motioned for them to follow.

Led by her, the Cat-men passed through the North Gate and onto the straight road outside the district. They walked three kilometers east, then entered District Two through its North Gate.

The Cat-men had good night vision. Along the way, they watched the towering walls on both sides of the road and saw rows of Skeleton Soldiers standing guard atop them.

At every intersection where the square districts met, a squad of Skeleton Soldiers stood on watch.

Kurd City's nighttime defenses were airtight. They couldn't think of any way to escape without making a sound.

"For tonight, just find a place to sleep."

Night had fallen deep by now. Suixiang pointed to the Fort Tower in the Residential District and told her people to rest.

"Remember, don't run away or attack the skeletons. Lord Medivh's mercy has its limits."

After getting her people settled, Suixiang again stressed that they shouldn't resist or cause trouble.

She asked Queling's Spirit Cat Warriors and some of the older Cat-men to keep watch, in case anyone got carried away and dragged the others down with them.

Suixiang and the others didn't stay. Once they had settled their people, they returned to the No. 1 High Tower Castle.

It was a restless night. The Cat-girls were so grateful to Medivh for rescuing the Cat-men slaves that they kept him company until dawn.

"Good morning, Suixiang and Suixin!"

The next morning, Suixiang and Suixin came to District Two.

Queling, who was out on patrol, ran over with several Spirit Cat Warriors to greet them.

Suixiang knew those Spirit Cat Warriors well. Like Queling, they had once been members of her squad.

"Suixiang, you've put on weight!"

The friends who'd grown up playing together chatted without a hint of shame.

They hadn't seen one another in over a year, and Suixiang looked much fuller than they remembered.

"Not at all. I'm just right!"

Suixiang's cheeks flushed faintly as she remembered what had happened at dawn.

She hadn't gained weight. Her body had simply adjusted itself, and her figure now suited Medivh perfectly.

"Suixiang, why didn't Suihua come with you?"

As they chatted, Queling asked about Suihua, who had often joined their squad on patrol.

"She's busy! You probably won't see her until this afternoon!"

Suixiang giggled. As she'd left the High Tower Castle, she'd faintly heard bells ringing. Suihua wouldn't be able to get away for a while.

"All right, who wants to go first?"

Before long, Suixin had prepared the Spirit Liquid for inscribing Cat-man Spirit Runes. She smiled and asked Queling and the others.

"Me first!"

Queling and the others eagerly raised their hands. They all wanted to complete their Inheritance Spirit Runes and grow stronger. Only with strength could they protect their people.

"Then Queling goes first."

Suixin called Queling over. Using her Warlock powers, she dipped the Spirit Pen into the Spirit Liquid and carefully drew on Queling's forehead.

Suixin didn't complete the Inheritance Spirit Rune all at once. She only filled in some of the details before stopping.

Having too much of an Inheritance Spirit Rune inscribed at once was unwise. The right way to inherit it was to adapt gradually and complete it step by step.

Inheritance Spirit Runes had always been inscribed in stages. Inscribing too much at once could exceed the body's limit. A Cat-man receiving the inheritance might be left crippled at best—or explode and die at worst.