chapter 10

Adam sat by the cemetery wall, watching the survivors of the Storm's Vengeance pack tend to their wounded and mourn their dead. Their expressions ranged from exhaustion to an almost frenzied grief, some having shifted into more wolf-like forms as they howled for their fallen kin. The air was thick with sorrow, and the Garou's emotions amplified their supernatural aura, creating an invisible barrier that kept mortals far away.

Stone Horn, a fellow Metis, was having his severed hand stitched back by Ember. Though his regenerative abilities were faster than most, Malakai's blade had done more than ordinary damage, and the healing would take time.

Adam, however, remained alone. His recent victory over Malakai, his encounter with Anubis, and the massive Khophesh-like Klaive now slung over his shoulder made the pack wary of him. The distance they kept wasn't just physical, it was spiritual. But Adam didn't care; he wasn't here for their approval.

Cars began pulling up nearby, carrying kinfolk, some crying, others angry, but all drawn to aid the Earth's Vengeance pack. Amidst the scene, Stone Horn, about to leave, paused to check on Adam, but their attention was drawn to the sight of six black SUVs rolling toward them.

The Garou tensed, preparing for battle, but Adam lifted a hand to calm them. "They're with me."

As the vehicles stopped, revenants, mortal descendants with vampiric powers, poured out, armed with guns that smelled faintly of silver. Adam recognized them as his mother's people. Then, from one of the cars, Faith emerged. Clad in a business suit, her blonde hair tied in a ponytail, she carried a broadsword etched with glowing runes. Her presence commanded attention, and the tense atmosphere shifted.

"Everyone, please calm down," Adam called out. "That's my mom."

Faith's sharp gaze scanned the crowd before settling on her son. "Adam, what's going on? You said you fought a powerful Garou."

"Yeah, he's dead," Adam replied flatly, his exhaustion palpable. "Can we talk about it in the car? I'm really tired."

Faith's eyes flickered to the wary Garou before returning to Adam. "Sure, honey."

Adam gave a nod to Stone Horn. "It was nice meeting you," he said before following Faith toward the waiting car.

Once inside, Faith ensured no silver weapons were present. Adam, though physically healed by Anubis' blessing and his Gnosis restored, was drained. He laid down in the back seat, leaving the heavy Klaive in the front with Faith. As she started the car and pulled away, the tension of the cemetery began to fade behind them.

Faith glanced at the weapon. "What… what is this?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "This feels like it has two spirits in it. Please don't tell me this is a grand Klaive."

"It is," Adam replied, his voice heavy with fatigue.

Faith's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "How did you manage to get this?!"

Adam let out a tired sigh. "I killed the necromancer. Well, technically Anubis killed him. Malakai, he was Silent Strider. Strong. Too strong. He could talk in his war form. He cut off Stone Horn's hands, and he was about to kill me, so I pulled him into the Shadowlands using his own spell."

Faith's eyes flickered with a mix of pride and frustration. "That was reckless. If he was that in control, you shouldn't have fought him. But... good tactic."

A faint smile tugged at Adam's lips. "Thanks."

"Wait, if you fought someone that powerful, and he had this weapon," Faith glanced at the Klaive, "how are you not hurt?"

"That's the interesting part," Adam replied, leaning his head back, exhaustion clear in his voice. "Anubis and Malakai's wraith decided I was worthy of his knowledge. They guided me through a ritual... I, uh, ate Malakai's brain to gain his gifts and knowledge."

Faith's brow furrowed, concern flashing in her eyes. "That is... concerning. Even if they made the ritual safe for you, this leaves you vulnerable. Especially through food, meat... manipulation can come in ways you don't expect."

"Yeah, they warned me," Adam said with a sigh. "I don't feel that different, though. Maybe I can hold more Gnosis, but none of the knowledge or powers are really there yet."

Faith nodded slowly. "I've heard of rituals like this. The Black Spiral Dancers have something similar, but far riskier. The power is in you, Adam. It's not just going to come out on its own, you have to find it. It's like physical training. You have to work to reach your full potential."

Adam frowned, rubbing his temples. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

Faith shrugged lightly. "I have no clue, but meditation would be a good start. Or maybe diving into the spirit world. It's not just about gaining power, it's about aligning with the necromancer's nature and your own."

"Great," Adam muttered, "more work."

Faith smiled, though her tone remained serious. "Nothing's ever easy, honey. And since you did that ritual, you'll have to work even harder to keep your Beast in check."

Adam groaned. "When I agreed to all this, I thought I'd be a badass. But now..."

"You are a badass," Faith interrupted. "But the real power comes with a little bit of work. And speaking of responsibility and work," she eyed the Klaive again, "you shouldn't use this yet. Train with an enchanted sword until you're truly ready."

Adam exhaled, feeling the weight of everything on his shoulders. "They told me I should give it to a stronger Silent Strider... to keep it safe."

Faith raised an eyebrow. "Maybe. But you've made a name for yourself. People might seek you out for it, sure, but they'll also fear you. Keep it with you until you're certain about who to trust."

"Alright," Adam murmured. "I guess."

Drained, Adam closed his eyes, surrendering to the overwhelming fatigue. He fell asleep in the back seat, only waking briefly when they arrived home. He barely remembered stumbling out of the car, making his way to his room, and collapsing into bed.

The next morning, when he woke, the clock read 10 a.m. Adam groaned, realizing he was late for school. After changing and quickly placing a small offering on the altar of Anubis, he left his room and bumped into Faith in the hallway.

"Morning, Adam," Faith said with a smile.

"I'm late for school, I gotta go," Adam said hurriedly.

"Don't worry," Faith replied, her tone soothing. "I called in sick for you. You've got today and tomorrow off, plus the weekend. Rest."

Adam let out a sigh of relief, the weight lifting just a little. "I wouldn't mind more sleep."

Without a second thought, he turned around and went back to his bed, falling into it gratefully.

After a few hours of deep sleep, Adam woke up feeling refreshed, the weight of the Klaive no longer hanging over him after leaving it with Faith to hide. His mind felt clearer, but something still tugged at his thoughts. He stood in front of the mirror, examining his body, his fingers tracing where old scars had once marked his skin. Every scar, every testament to his past battles, was gone.

Werewolves carried their scars like badges of honor, reminders of battles fought and won. Normally, only wounds of great spiritual significance remained. For them to disappear without his intervention—without passing through the spirit world for long periods—meant something deeper had changed within him. His soul, it seemed, no longer deemed those battles as worthy.

Adam sighed and grabbed the crescent moon necklace that usually hid his scars, even though they were no longer there. He still kept it on, not for the scars now, but for the times when he needed to conceal his identity.

Dressing in his usual baggy clothes, Adam made his way downstairs. The house was quiet—Lucy and Jessy were out, and Faith was gone as well. In the kitchen, he found some leftovers: mashed potatoes, chicken, and a note from Faith reminding him to rinse his dishes when he was done.

As he stared at the chicken, he felt an animalistic urge rise within him, the instinct to tear into the meat like a beast. His grip tightened around the plate for a moment before he forced himself to calm down. He started with the mashed potatoes, methodically eating in a more human way, before moving on to the chicken and then washing it down with a glass of orange juice. It was a small but significant reminder to himself: *I'm in control.*

After cleaning up, he grabbed his usual things, phone, wallet, keys, along with five throwing knives, which he tucked under his shirt. He slipped on his shoes and sunglasses, stepping outside for some air.

Today, he didn't care about the Wyrm, vampires, or any other threats. He just needed a walk.

As he strolled through the streets, he found his emotions harder to rein in than usual. Adam had spent years mastering his feelings, but today, everything felt raw. It wasn't rage, he still had that under control, but desires like hunger and lust were surfacing more frequently. His eyes wandered to people, girls and guys alike, as he caught himself staring longer than usual. He even felt drawn to the food some carried, catching whiffs of it as they passed by.

A sense of unease crept in when he realized something else was following him, a cat. It had been trailing him for too long, and at one point, Adam stopped, focusing his senses on the creature. It wasn't a shifter, but there was something off about it. He could feel the presence of a spirit possessing it, but it wasn't like the usual Bane-infested Fomori. This was different, more symbiotic, like the feline was willingly cohabiting with the spirit.

The cat, a grey one with spots on its back, sat a short distance away, watching him with unblinking eyes.

"Hey there, buddy," Adam said softly, crouching down and extending a finger for the cat to sniff.

The cat approached cautiously, sniffing his hand. But Adam could feel it wasn't just a simple sniff—there was something more, something spiritual in the act. The cat's large, innocent eyes looked up at him.

"Got any food?" the cat said in a very human-like voice.

Adam blinked. "What?"

"The cat's hungry," the cat replied, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. "This is what I get for being in the physical world. But Anubis really wanted me to look after you, so here I am. Oh, and don't talk out loud, people can't hear me."

Adam sniffed the air around the cat, subtly assessing the truth of its claim. He could sense that the spirit wasn't connected to the Wyrm, Weaver, or Wild, nor did it feel tied to Gaia. There was a faint connection to the Shadowlands, though, so it could be telling the truth.

"Okay," Adam said simply, standing up and resuming his walk.

"Wait, what the fuck?!" the cat said indignantly, padding after him. "I said I'm a spirit here to follow you around! You can't just ignore me like that."

Adam didn't respond. He walked into a nearby supermarket, grabbed some uncooked chicken, and headed back outside. Once there, he tore open the package and left some of the meat for the cat.

"Oh, thanks," the cat said, quickly devouring the chicken.

"Good cat," Adam murmured before walking away, leaving the rest of the food behind for the spirit-possessed feline. He didn't trust it, not really. The only people he trusted were his family, and this strange spirit didn't make the cut.

As he continued walking, hoping for some peace, Adam soon realized his day wasn't going to be as quiet as he'd wanted. He felt eyes on him, someone was following. He confirmed it when he stopped to admire an attractive woman passing by. Glancing from the corner of his eye, he saw two men and a dog trailing behind him. The dog gave them away; Adam could sense it was using a Garou gift to appear like an ordinary canine.

He kept walking, pretending to be just another guy checking out people on the street. His pace quickened slightly before he suddenly veered off into an alley. With a quick, controlled transformation, his legs and back partially shifted, giving him the strength to leap onto the nearest fire escape. He began climbing up to the roof, shifting back to his human form once he was out of view.

On the rooftop, Adam moved silently, using his Blur of the Milky Eye gift to make himself nearly invisible. As the three entered the alley below, he crouched and watched. The two men were Garou, and the dog, currently in the guise of a German shepherd, was also a Garou in truth. One of the men was young, with spiky black hair and dressed head-to-toe in black, black t-shirt, black cargo pants, a jacket, all of it tattered and worn. The other was taller, with a fit build and short brown hair. His skin-tight grey t-shirt clung to his muscles, and Adam noticed the Bowie knife on his hip, which emanated a faint spiritual energy he hadn't noticed before.

Adam's senses were focused on the men below, but then he caught a scent behind him. It was sweet and for a brief moment, his mind wanted to ignore it. But his instincts kicked in just in time. He spun around, his fist swinging in an arc, connecting with something solid.

There was a woman behind him, her presence having been masked until now. Only the force of his punch and the sharpness of his instincts allowed him to recognize her. The moment he hit her, the subtle glamour that had kept her hidden from his senses faded.

The woman was short but athletic, her fit body emphasized by the sports bra and joggers she wore. Her long brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her wide brown eyes, set in a pretty face, glistened with surprise as Adam punched her in the stomach. He could sense her Garou nature immediately.

"Stay down," Adam warned, his voice cold and steady.

Undeterred, the woman quickly looped her legs around him, using her agility to tackle him to the ground. Adam was surprised by her swiftness but kept his expression neutral. She jumped to her feet again, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Adam moved fluidly, kicking himself back up. The woman tried to land a kick to his face, but Adam was quicker and far stronger. He grabbed her leg with both hands, lifted her with ease, and slammed her back onto the rooftop. The impact left her dazed for a moment, but she had no time to process his sheer strength.

With one swift motion, Adam drew a knife and knelt beside her, gripping her head with one hand while holding the blade to her throat. His voice was calm but threatening as he spoke.

"I could transform and tear you apart," he said, his eyes narrowing. "But I don't feel like ruining my clothes, so chill the fuck out."

The woman only smiled, even as she lay under the blade. "Sure," she replied, her tone teasing. "But you might want to chill out too, or my brother will rip your head off. And I'd hate to see a pretty boy like you lose his head."

Adam stiffened, sensing another presence nearby. He turned to see a man, tall, muscular, and fit, tapping into his Rage as he shifted into Glabro form. His short brown hair grew longer, and his body expanded, tearing through his shirt as claws sprouted from his fingers.

Without hesitation, Adam kicked off his shoes and hurled his knife at the man. The blade found its mark, embedding itself in the man's left eye. As Adam released the woman and began his own transformation into Glabro, the man calmly pulled the knife from his eye, his wound healing almost instantly. Though anger flashed across his face, he kept his composure, assuming an aggressive stance.

Adam felt the surge of Gnosis as the man suddenly threw the knife, and he managed to duck just in time. The blade, empowered by spiritual energy, curved in the air and came back toward him. Adam sidestepped it again, barely avoiding the second strike.

The man wasted no time, charging forward with the force of a battering ram. He slammed into Adam, lifting him off the ground and slamming him down hard onto the rooftop. Pinning Adam down, the man drew a Bowie knife and pressed it against Adam's neck.

"You should chill out, buddy," the man growled, his voice deep and menacing in his Glabro form.

Adam remained silent, completing his transformation to Glabro. He didn't move, knowing full well that the Bowie knife could be just as deadly as Garou claws.

"Calm down, everyone," said the last man as he finally made it to the roof. "We were supposed to follow him, not attack him. Stone Horn's going to kill us if we mess this up."

"Wait, Stone Horn sent you?" Adam asked, his suspicion rising.

"Wha... yeah, he did," the brown-haired guy replied hesitantly.

Adam narrowed his eyes. "You suck at this."

The tension shifted, and Adam felt the knife at his neck loosen. He seized the opportunity, grabbing the man's wrists and jamming his claws into them, forcing him to drop the knife. In one swift motion, Adam threw him off and sprang to his feet.

The three Garou immediately backed off, spreading out in a semi-circle as if preparing to flank Adam. He dusted himself off, remaining in Glabro form, but didn't attack.

"Are we going to fight, or are you ready to talk?" the brown-haired guy asked, his voice more measured now.

"You're the ones who attacked me, so you tell me," Adam replied coolly.

"Bitch, you punched me first," the woman snapped.

"You were stalking me," Adam retorted.

"So... does that mean we're not fighting?" the spiky-haired guy chimed in.

"That depends," Adam said, his tone wary.

As they spoke, Adam sniffed the air subtly, searching for any hint of Wyrm taint. He didn't sense any, but that wasn't proof, they could still be hiding it. His eyes scanned the area for potential escape routes, just in case.

"Look, I get it. You were spooked, and that's our fault," the spiky-haired guy continued. "I'm Sid, by the way. I'm Bone Gnawer, and so are the others. Our pack, the Wet Dogs, got freaked out by a new Garou showing up in the city."

"I don't think he even knows what a Bone Gnawer is," the girl sneered. "He's a stray after all."

"I know enough," Adam shot back, though his mind remained focused on a way out.

"He's planning to escape," a voice growled from behind him in Lupus tongue.

Adam turned in surprise, realizing that the Garou in the form of a German Shepherd had snuck up on him. How had he missed that?

"What'd he say?" the girl asked, confused.

"Like I know," Sid shrugged.

"Calm down," the brown-haired man said. "We're not here to hurt you unless you make it necessary."

Adam's eyes darted to the Lupus-form Garou. "Hey, would you mind standing with your friends? I don't appreciate being surrounded."

"Tell him we feel safer like this," the wolf growled in response.

"Safe from what?" Adam replied, his irritation growing. "You're the ones stalking me. If anything, I'm the one who should feel unsafe around you."

"You... you can understand him?" Sid asked, bewildered.

"He makes a good point," the wolf, now revealed as Bandit, muttered. "Just don't run off. We really do just want to talk."

"Fine," Adam said, reluctantly easing his stance.

"I'm Bandit, by the way," the wolf introduced himself.

"Bandit?" Adam echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Wait, hold on," the girl interrupted, clearly agitated. "You're a stray, right? How the hell do you know the wolf tongue?"

"I read a book," Adam replied dryly, which for some reason infuriated her even more.

The brown-haired man sighed, clearly trying to de-escalate the situation. "I'm Calvin, and this is my sister Cait," he said, shifting back to Homid form. Adam took the gesture as a sign and slowly reverted to his Homid form as well.

"I'm Adam," he finally said, introducing himself.

"Yeah, we know. Stone Horn told our pack," Calvin said, nodding. "Listen, we didn't mean to cause trouble. We just heard rumors, a new pup shows up and kills a Garou Theurge who'd lived for centuries. That kind of thing freaks people out. We just want to know what's going on."

"There's also that wild rumor that Anubis blessed you or something," Bandit added. "We needed to see for ourselves what the deal was."

"Okay, cool," Cait said, crossing her arms. "But can Bandit change into human so we can all understand him?"

"You really want to see his naked, hairy ass?" Sid quipped.

"Ew, no!" Cait grimaced.

"Can we focus here?" Calvin interrupted, cutting through the bickering.

Adam took a breath, trying to keep things calm. "Listen, I don't want any trouble. A powerful spirit told me to kill that Garou, so I did. That's it."

"That spirit being Anubis, right?" Bandit asked, his ears perking up.

"Sure," Adam replied nonchalantly.

"What did he say?" Cait asked, visibly confused.

"You don't need to know," Calvin said, dismissing her question.

Bandit, however, wasn't convinced. "I think you're lying. I might be born Lupus, but I'm not dumb. I know when someone's making up a story to keep themselves safe."

"Who said I'm lying?" Adam challenged, barely containing a smirk. His plan was working; they were playing right into his hands.

Before anyone could respond, a voice echoed from the shadows, startling everyone. "You motherfucker."

They all turned to see a small gray cat with spots on its back marching toward them, clearly furious.

"Wait, is that a spirit?" Sid asked, suddenly on edge.

"Smells like one," Bandit replied, narrowing his eyes.

"Is it a Bane?" Sid asked, shifting his weight as if preparing for a fight.

"Go fuck yourself, kid," the cat hissed at Sid before turning its ire on Adam. "Lord Anubis sends me as your guide, and you trick me?"

"Well, shit," Adam muttered, casting a quick glance at the four Garou, whose expressions ranged from shock to confusion.

"Did... did it just say Anubis?" Sid stammered, his eyes wide.

"Isn't that some ancient god?" Cait asked, clearly lost.

Bandit groaned, finally connecting the dots. "You fucker. You were trying to make me think you were lying, but you were telling the truth this whole time."

"This is going to cause so much trouble," Calvin muttered, rubbing his temples.

"Thanks for that," Adam said sarcastically to the cat.

"Oh, shut up," the cat shot back. "Anyone with even a bit of spirit sight can see Anubis's blessing on you. The ones who can see into the Shadowland? They'll see it too."

"No one was going to check," Adam said, his tone dismissive.

"They always check," the cat retorted, sounding both irritated and smug.

"What is this... cat?" Cait asked, still trying to process the situation.

"Some spirit-possessed thing," Calvin answered. "It says it's from Anubis, but I don't know if I should believe it."

"I heard that, but... I don't know what to do either," Cait admitted, her uncertainty palpable.

"I think we've got enough info for the elders," Sid suggested, though his voice lacked confidence.

Adam turned to the cat. "Why are you even following me? How are you following me?"

The cat yawned lazily, as if bored by the question. "Both answers go back to Lord Anubis. I'm supposed to keep an eye on you and help when needed. I tracked you down through his blessing."

"What blessing?" Adam asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You've been giving offerings, haven't you? He's responding," the cat explained. "I can teleport to the altar you've set up for Anubis if you want me out of your fur."

"No, hold on," Adam said quickly. "We'll go back together after I deal with something here." He turned back to the Garou. "Your elders, do they want me dead or not?"

"No," Sid answered. "We just wanted to know what you are."

"Here's the thing," Adam said, his voice cold. "I might not be able to kill all of you, but if you cause me any more trouble, I promise I'll make life hell for your pack."

"You can try, sweetie," Cait said with a smirk.

"No, Cait," Calvin interjected. "Sorry about her. We don't want any trouble, and if you're really fighting for Gaia, you're welcome as a guest. Our pack lives... well I don't know if I can tell you."

"Well, the elders want to know about him." Sid said. "We were supposed to follow you but since you seem to be friendly, maybe you can meet them."

"Meet the pack? I don't think so." Cait said. "Not offense but I really don't want you to know where my friends live."

"You can go to Griffith park." Calvin said which made Cait glare at him. "There are lesser spirit wolves there. Ask them for our location. They will check you for wyrm taint and if you mean us any harm. They will show you the way to someone that might be able to test you further."

"Sure, lets put the faith of our people in the hand of some weird spirits." Cait said in an annoyed tone.

"Yes we are going to do that." Calvin said. "The spirits haven't let us down yet so why not. Go talk to them."

Adam gave a nod. "Sure. Now, can you guys give me some privacy?"

The four Garou exchanged looks, each reacting differently, but they decided to leave. As they walked away, Adam knew this wouldn't be the last he'd hear from them. Up until now, he'd just been the odd Garou claiming a connection to Anubis after surviving hell. Now, they had confirmation—and that was bound to stir up more trouble than he wanted.

The two guys and the wolf descended the stairs, their footsteps echoing faintly against the concrete, while the girl stuck to the rooftops. Adam glanced up, watching her agile movements as she effortlessly jumped from roof to roof. She was impressively skilled, her athletic form drawing his eyes more than he intended. He quickly refocused on the task at hand.

"Okay, what do you want?" Adam asked, breaking the silence.

"Nothing, just to stick with you," the cat responded, its voice calm and unbothered, trotting alongside him.

"Do you have a name?" Adam asked, his curiosity piqued.

"No," the cat replied bluntly.

Adam frowned slightly. "What are you, anyway?"

The cat's tail flicked as it answered, "I used to be a house cat. Me and my kind were euthanized en masse by a group of corrupt bastards. We were too connected to the Shadowlands, too much of a threat. But thanks to Lord Anubis, I rose as a representation of house cats. I am now a lesser cat spirit."

Adam blinked, surprised but not overly fazed given everything else in his life. "Okay, sounds... cool. Listen, I've got a family, and I need to make sure they're safe. Can you prove you really serve Anubis?"

"As I said, I can teleport to your altar and meet you there," the cat replied confidently.

Adam shrugged. "You know what, sure. Do it."

Without another word, the cat leaped and vanished in midair, leaving Adam alone in the alley. He cleaned the throwing knife in his hand and slipped it back under his shirt. After lacing up his shoes, he started walking home, keeping to the ground this time. For a moment, he wanted to feel normal.

When he arrived home, the familiar murmur of his siblings' voices floated from the kitchen. Ignoring them for now, Adam headed straight to his room. As expected, the cat was already there, sitting comfortably by his altar to Anubis.

"See, I told you so…" the cat began, but was cut off when Adam walked over and scooped it up.

"What are you doing? Put me down!" the cat protested, clearly annoyed.

"I'm going to introduce you to the people who will take care of you better than I can, my siblings," Adam said, holding the cat securely, almost like cradling a small child.

"What does that mean?" the cat asked, sounding slightly alarmed.

"I like cats, but I'm not really good at keeping them," Adam replied, making his way down to the kitchen with the cat in his arms.

As he entered, he found Lucy and Jessy mid-conversation. Lucy, with her auburn hair loose around her shoulders, wore a tight graphic tee that accentuated her athletic build, paired with skinny jeans. Jessy, paler and more disheveled, sported messy black hair, a couple of thin chains around his neck, and a black t-shirt with a skull design, along with ripped jeans.

"Hey, guys," Adam greeted.

"Oh, hey Adam. I heard you…" Lucy started but stopped abruptly when she noticed the cat in his arms. "Oh my god! Where did you get that cutie?"

Jessy furrowed his brow. "I thought mom said most animals avoid you because of your wolf side."

"Yeah, about that…" Adam began, but before he could explain further, the cat interrupted.

"Hey, can you two hear me?" the cat asked, its voice calm but clear.

Both Lucy and Jessy froze, their jaws dropping in unison.

"What the fuck, Adam?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Language," the cat chided, flicking its tail.

Jessy's eyes went wide. "It's a talking cat!"

Adam chuckled. "Oh, so you can hear him. I was worried you two weren't far along enough in your supernatural training to communicate with spirits."

Lucy blinked, still trying to process the situation. "Put him down, Adam. This is… weird."

Adam set the cat down gently. "Sorry about that."

"Wait, wait, where did you get a talking cat?!" Jessy asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

"Anubis," Adam replied nonchalantly.

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Wait, Anubis just gave you a talking cat? Why?"

Adam crossed his arms. "Well, first off, this isn't just a cat. He's a spirit. As for why… no clue. He said he's here to help me and keep an eye on me."

The cat stretched lazily before adding, "Mostly to help. But Lord Anubis also wants to make sure Adam doesn't misuse Malakai's knowledge to tamper with the dead."

Lucy and Jessy exchanged glances, the weight of the cat's words sinking in. Jessy finally spoke up, "So, we've got a talking spirit cat watching over Adam. What else could possibly happen this week?"

Adam sighed, a slight smirk on his face. "Yeah, welcome to my life."