After calming Elshiona down where she was, Xiwen rushed outside the Entrance Courtyard with Little Cat in his arms and found an unoccupied corner.
Because he often visited Professor Kettleburn, he had a rough understanding of how long it took to get from the castle to the Forbidden Forest. He knew that if he could reach the edge of the Forbidden Forest immediately, he might get there before Professor Lore and stop him outside the forest!
"Little Cat, Professor Kettleburn said that Cat-Leopards and Zouwus are both highly intelligent. I imagine you're no exception. So, can you understand what I'm saying?" Xiwen held Little Cat up before his eyes and spoke to her.
Little Cat tilted her fluffy, round head and stared at him with wide eyes, looking adorably blank.
Unfortunately, Xiwen was in no mood to appreciate how cute she looked. He hurriedly asked, "Can you take me to the entrance of the Forbidden Forest?"
Little Cat blinked in confusion, seeming not to understand what he was talking about.
Just as Xiwen began to feel disappointed, she suddenly moved her short little legs and leaped toward his shoulder.
As Little Cat jumped, Xiwen saw a curtain of light appear out of thin air around them, predominantly deep blue and speckled with glittering gold and crimson, like some strange space-time tunnel.
At the same time, a powerful sensation of weightlessness made him lose his footing, and he crashed heavily onto the ground behind him.
The deep blue curtain of light faded away, and Little Cat landed on Xiwen's shoulder as she had wished, rubbing her little head against his chin.
Xiwen casually gathered the cat into his arms, stood up, and surveyed the surroundings.
This was the very entrance where he had followed Professor Kettleburn into the Forbidden Forest before!