Monday night.
Ignoring both "Avoid All Other Activities" and "Inauspicious for All Matters" in the old almanac, and ignoring the fact that he had used the Transformation Spell only the night before, the black cat darted out from the balcony of Dormitory 403 once more as night fell.
This time, his destination was Qingqiu Mansion at Number Fifty-Four, West District of Beta Town.
Old Yao's words before Magic Spell Class that morning had seemed like a nail driven into the young publicly funded student's heart. He had been distracted all day, constantly feeling as though an enormous green claw the size of a roof might descend from above and mince him into meat paste.
Coupled with the implications behind Old Yao's words, he could hardly wait to transform and rush toward his destination once darkness had settled in.
The streets were bustling in the first half of the night. The Pedestrian Street was packed with people and deafeningly noisy, but cats and people did not share the same joys and sorrows. The black cat found them nothing but irritating.
Unlike the streets, Qingqiu Mansion was exceptionally quiet at this hour.
The Grass Sprites moved soundlessly through every corner of the little garden, and any insect daring to make a noise had best be prepared to be eaten. The Flower Sprites lounged lazily among petals of every color, occasionally spraying faint yet dazzling arcs of rainbow light into the air. Most of the mansion's maids had also finished their day's work and were quietly enjoying a moment of leisure.
The mistress of the mansion wore a loose azure gown and leaned against the window, a book in hand. A Little Fox lay on her shoulder with her eyes half closed, her tail dangling down over the witch's chest and swaying idly