So Close Yet So Far

Aventurine's sharp gaze sweeps the area, searching for someone responsible for the cat. The hall is eerily empty, adding to the unusual situation. He lifts an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the oddity. "Oh, an unattended cat?" he muses, his tone a blend of curiosity and mild amusement. The blond man unceremoniously picks up the cat, who meows in discomfort at the rough handling—one hand awkwardly supporting its lower half while the other grips its nape. Aventurine's clumsy approach to handling animals is precisely why the critters run away from him when he wants cuddles.

After completing their mission on Penacony, Ratio and Aventurine part ways without another word. Feeling defeated, Veritas Ratio returns to the Guild to resume teaching, only to find himself transformed into a cat on his first day back. To make matters worse, he's soon picked up by Aventurine and taken to his house. Now trapped in a new form and unable to communicate, Ratio faces a new challenge—how to navigate this strange predicament and find a way back to himself.