The black cat Xiao Xiao had mentioned, the one who had gone off God knew where to fool around, was currently crouched atop a broad tree stump, watching the witches busy with the final stages of constructing the Magic Circle in the distance with a numb expression.
A curled parchment floated before him, faintly glowing golden. Whenever the witches completed a task, an illusory white Quill Pen appeared out of thin air and crossed off the corresponding item on the parchment.
As the Third-Party Supervisor of this parchment contract, each time an item was crossed off, the black cat had to leave his paw print in the appropriate spot.
Like a foreman in charge of stamping approvals.
What a life.
A look of utter despair appeared on the black cat's face. He would rather roll around beneath a Cat Fruit Tree than stare blankly at this parchment and be forced to serve as a feline stamp machine.
A long while passed.
By the time the black cat was nearly asleep on the Tree Stump, the witches finally finished the last of the Magic Circle.
Clear essential oil had been evenly spread over every enchanted brick and every wire. Beneath the combined light of sun and moon, it glimmered faintly, inexplicably stirring a strange appetite in anyone who looked at it. Fragrant powder drifted through the center of the formation, and as light swept over it, it displayed a riot of colors that was intoxicating to behold.
Atop each of the six pillars surrounding the formation burned a Cthulhu Fire, an eternally burning Magic Flame capable of warding off evil and dispelling darkness. Using it in this Magic Circle made things seem rather subtle.
The black cat watched the flickering flames for a few moments before looking away. In the center