Nox was reclining in one of the armchairs in the main hall of the Pyrell Household.

His arms felt heavy, his back ached, and he had gained a newfound appreciation for people who cleaned houses.

"You definitely don’t look like someone who’s used to doing household chores."

Tessa commented from the sofa.

Nox let out a sigh.

"I’m not."

The Inquisitor raised an eyebrow.

"You’ve never cleaned before?"

"I think that was the first time in my life I’ve ever held a broom."

Audrey turned around from the kitchen.

"Are you serious?"

"Completely."

Nox stared at the ceiling.

’I miss the woman who used to clean my father’s mansion.’

He tried to remember her name, but couldn’t.

’I can’t even remember what she was called.’

The only thing he remembered was his father talking about her.

’He used to say she had a nice ass.’

Nox grimaced.

’And I also remember she spent way too much time alone with him in his office.’

He decided not to think too deeply about that.

Audrey emerged from the kitchen, drying her hands.

"The food is almost ready."

She glanced toward the front door.

"I hope Misty and Catherine get back soon."

"I assume they will."

Nox replied.

"It’d be a shame if everything got cold."

Tessa turned a page in her book.

"My mother still hasn’t come out of the bath."

"Maybe she fell asleep."

Audrey said.

"She looked pretty exhausted."

Nox nodded.

That made sense.

After all, the woman had been cooking, shopping for food, and taking care of the house almost entirely by herself.

But just as he was about to respond...

A loud bang shook the front door.

Everyone lifted their heads.

The pounding continued.

Desperate.

Tessa immediately stood up.

"I’m coming."

She frowned.

"Who knocks on a door like that nowadays?"

Nox stood as well.

Something felt wrong.

Something was off.

Then they heard a voice from outside.

"Please, open up! Quickly!"

It was Misty.

◇◆◇

Tessa yanked the door open.

And everyone froze.

Misty stood there, covered in dust, several bruises visible across her body, carrying Catherine in her arms.

The cat girl barely seemed conscious.

Her clothes were torn.

Her face was covered in tears.

And there was blood everywhere.

"Shit."

Nox muttered.

Misty looked up.

"Use your powers!"

She shouted.

"Tessa! Nox! Heal Catherine!"

The Inquisitor reacted immediately.

"My mother can’t see this."

She turned toward the demon.

"Help me get them upstairs!"

Nox nodded.

Without wasting a second, he grabbed one of Misty’s arms while Tessa helped support Catherine.

The four of them hurried upstairs, trying not to make any noise.

A few minutes later, they entered Nox’s room.

Closing the door behind them.

◇◆◇

Once inside, Nox scanned the room.

Something was missing.

And it only took him a few seconds to realize what.

"Where’s Felix?"

He asked.

Catherine started crying even harder.

Slowly, she opened her coat.

What lay underneath made everyone go pale.

The small yellow cat was there.

Motionless.

Covered in blood.

A large portion of his side was simply gone.

His bones and flesh were visible.

He barely seemed to be breathing.

"Catherine..."

Audrey whispered.

The cat girl pulled the animal tighter against her chest.

"I’m sorry..."

Tears streamed down her face.

"I’m so sorry..."

Nox felt a knot form in his stomach.

"What happened?"

Misty clenched her teeth.

"A bunch of bastards."

She answered.

"They followed us after we left Ellen’s place."

The dancer lowered her gaze.

"They tried to rob us. And when Catherine tried to protect Felix..."

Misty’s voice grew colder.

"...they attacked her, and the cat jumped in to protect her."

Catherine broke down completely.

"It’s my fault..."

She hugged the little feline even tighter.

"I tried to trick them... I tried to keep part of the money..."

She confessed.

"But Misty caught me..."

She looked directly at Nox through tear-filled eyes.

"And while I was trying to explain myself, those men showed up..."

The tears kept falling.

"If she hadn’t been there..."

She looked at Misty.

"...I wouldn’t have made it back either."

Tessa knelt beside Felix.

Golden flames began appearing around her hands.

Trying to heal him.

But only a few seconds later, her expression changed.

And Nox understood the answer before hearing it.

"No..."

Tessa murmured.

She tried again.

Nothing.

The flames vanished.

The room fell silent.

Catherine looked at her desperately.

"Is he going to be okay?"

She asked.

Tessa closed her eyes.

"No. I’m sorry."

Catherine froze.

"Tessa..."

"I can’t feel any life left inside him."

The cat girl slowly lowered her gaze toward the small body and began trembling.

She didn’t scream.

She didn’t make a sound.

She simply started crying.

As if something inside her had broken.

Nox stepped forward.

The flames of Phoenix Regeneration appeared around Catherine.

Her wounds began closing.

The blood disappeared.

The cuts healed.

But the girl didn’t react.

"Don’t heal me, please."

She murmured.

Nox continued.

"I don’t deserve this."

The flames kept working.

"Just let me die."

Nox looked up.

Catherine was hugging Felix’s corpse as if she could still protect him.

"He was all I had left."

She said.

"My brother."

A tear fell onto the blood-soaked fur.

"And now he’s dead because of me."

Nox felt a strange weight settle in his chest.

He didn’t know what to say.

He had never been good at comforting people.

Especially not in situations like this.

Then it happened.

A blue window appeared before him.

[Compatibility Detected.]

[Fallen Genesis conditions fulfilled.]

[Compatible Individual: Catherine]

[Would you like to grant a Fallen Form?]

[Please assign a new Title.]

Nox froze for several seconds.

"Nox?"

Misty’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"What’s wrong?"

The dancer was holding her injured side.

"Why did you stop moving?"

Nox looked at the window again.

Then at Catherine.

Then at Felix.

"I have an option."

He murmured.

Everyone looked at him.

"What kind of option?"

Audrey asked.

Nox swallowed.

"I can give her a Title."

Tessa’s eyes widened.

Misty blinked.

And Catherine didn’t react at all.

Nox looked at the cat girl once more.

"I don’t know if I should do it."

He admitted.

"Why?"

Misty asked.

"Because I don’t know if I can trust her."

The cat girl had tried to deceive them.

She had wanted to keep some of the money.

And she’d only been with them for a few days.

Nox clenched his teeth.

"But I don’t want to watch her die either."

Tessa lowered her gaze.

She understood that doubt.

After all, she herself had been an enemy when she received a Title.

Misty was the first to answer.

"Trust her."

Nox looked at her.

"You’re that sure?"

The dancer nodded.

"Catherine isn’t a bad person."

She looked at the cat girl.

"She’s just had a horrible life."

Tessa sighed.

"I don’t think she’ll betray us again either."

Nox looked back at Catherine.

The girl was still holding Felix’s lifeless body.

Still crying.

And the blue window continued floating before him.

Waiting for an answer.

Waiting for a decision.

A decision that could change Catherine’s life forever.

And perhaps the fate of their entire group as well.

[Would you like to grant a Fallen Form?]