An hour later, all preparations were complete.

  Catherine’s hair was now a bright blonde, but she hadn’t lost any of her charm. She had perfect proportions, flawless skin, expressive blue eyes, and full lips. Even a simple layer of makeup couldn’t hide her beauty. She looked like a living Barbie who had stepped out of a palace.

  Beside her stood a smaller version of herself. Grace wore a white dress, her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes sparkled. She was in high spirits, her bright smile back again. Dress-up had always been her favorite game, even back in Lutezia. Today, she felt like a fairy tale heroine.

  Grey clung to his mother’s leg, looking like a scared little animal. Black cat ears sat on his head, and a fluffy tail moved slowly behind him. He really looked like he belonged with the beastfolk.

  Catherine looked at her son with a mix of tenderness, worry, and surprise. The potion had worked even better than she expected.

  His disguise was the most detailed of all. He had to drink a transformation potion, the rarest elixir made by Aunt Albedo. Even if she tried, Catherine couldn’t have made it herself.

  Still, even with these convincing changes, the potion only changed his looks. The ears didn’t hear any better than normal, the tail didn’t help him balance, and his eyes couldn’t see in the dark. It was all just for appearance.

  But that was enough. The boy’s presence had changed so much that no seer could have found him.

  “Brother Alex is so cute!” Grace chirped happily, running around and inspecting her mother’s and brother’s new appearances with genuine admiration.

  “You too, Anna…” Grey whispered faintly, still a little tense.

  Suddenly, the peaceful mood was broken when a well-built man stepped out from behind a tree.

  The children froze, staring at the newcomer. Even the ever-composed Catherine raised her eyebrows in surprise.

  Standing before them was… Cassius.

  Or rather, it was Cassia, fully transformed. Her long hair was now short, and her chest was bound. She wore a simple shirt and khaki pants, looking like a young Don Juan.

  She had sharp, cat-like features and violet eyes with a sly look.In short, she was a dream for any woman—a mysterious wanderer with dangerous charm. If any unmarried ladies were to see him right now, they would hardly be able to resist—their knees would betray them, and their hearts would be caught.

  Catherine pressed a hand to her lips, trying to stifle her giggle.

  “Fufufu… Cassius, have you changed your profession from ‘killer’ to ‘wife-killer’? I admit, if I hadn’t built up immunity to handsome men by watching my little devil grow… even my heart would have melted from your charm.” She couldn’t resist teasing the always-strict maid.

  “M-mistress!” Cassia groaned, covering her face with her hands in horror. At that moment, she wished she could sink through the floor. “You were the one who ordered me to do this! It was your assignment!”

  “Mistress? I don’t know anyone by that name! From now on, you are my dear Cassius! Have you forgotten our vow?” Catherine said with a dramatic sigh, enjoying the moment.

  The children blinked, not sure what to do. At the same time, Cassia’s face turned bright red.

  “C-Casi, is that you?” Grace whispered, staring at the man in astonishment. Her voice carried both wonder and delight.

  A moment later, she let out a sharp squeak as Catherine poked her in the forehead. It was a small gesture to remind her of the rules of their game.

  Grey also stared at the maid with wide eyes but wisely kept his mouth shut.

  “Yes, dear, it’s me. Now you should call me ‘Dad,’” Cassia replied. Though the maid was thoroughly embarrassed, she understood the children had to settle into their roles.

  It was time for a serious talk. Catherine straightened, glanced at the sky, and then shifted her gaze to the two twins.

  “Everyone, it’s time to move out. I hope you’ve rested, because we have a long journey ahead. We’ll be flying for about a week, right up to the borders of the Magical Empire. From there, we’ll dismount and continue on horseback. Clear?”

  She spoke calmly. Catherine didn’t plan to tell the children about all the difficulties ahead. She and Cassia would take care of everything. Still, it was good to warn them a little.

  Catherine knew well that, due to a powerful neighbor, the lands of the Magical Empire were far more densely populated. The borders were heavily patrolled, and the cities guarded with doubled vigilance.

  Luckily, the nobles only cared about their own lands, and there weren’t many strong ties between them.

  Adam had, without a doubt, already submitted a report to the Senate of the Roman Empire. It likely contained everything: her appearance, her abilities, a description of Snowy, with whom she had made a contract.

  She had already predicted their actions. Once the information was verified, the Senate would spread it through government channels, hoping to finally neutralize the threat.

  Would the Magical Empire do anything? There was no way to know, but it was safest to get ready for the worst.

  In this situation, Snowy would be a target. The owl would need to act on its own, serving as bait to draw attention away. The family would take a different path.

  That was the plan. The family continued on, striving to leave the continent of Alaz behind.

  The days riding the magical bird were tiring, but they went by quickly. The children laughed and pointed out animals and birds below. Sometimes, they stopped to rest.

  The landscape slowly changed. Dense trees became fewer, replaced by shrubs and dry grass. One evening, as the sun set in the west, a thin wisp of smoke appeared far away.

  The smoke was gray and thick, like a ball of tangled threads. It rose slowly, climbing higher until it disappeared into the clouds. This wasn’t campfire smoke; it was too steady and heavy. Smoke like this meant chimneys.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Some settlement lay ahead.

  Dismounting, the small family made their way toward the obvious marker. At Catherine’s insistence, they thoroughly smeared their clothes with dust, grass, and wood ash. Now they looked like lost travelers, wandering the forest for days.

  As they got closer, they could see the size of the settlement. It was a tiny hamlet with no more than five families, living in a few wooden houses with straw roofs. Each house had a simple fence, and behind it, gardens were full of green plants. Cabbage, strawberries, and other vegetables grew in neat, cared-for beds.

  A robust woman in coarse rags worked on shaping a simple clay jug. The potter’s wheel squeaked under her feet, driving the mechanism. Such wheels were often used by commoners from the Roman Empire.

  Two boys ran around her with squeals, herding a flock of ducklings across the grass. They tried constantly to catch her attention, showing off little tricks. But the woman merely smiled softly, never taking her eyes off her work.

  Under the shade of an old plum tree, several men argued with lively gestures, waving their hands and pieces of bread, probably left over from lunch.

  There was a feeling of calm and order here. Life moved slowly, with no rush or fuss.

  This small hamlet at the edge of the state showed that happiness and harmony could be found in the simplest things.

  As the travelers got closer, an elderly man came out from behind the fence. He looked about sixty, lean, with a thick gray beard and lively eyes. He moved slowly but with confidence, showing no fear or suspicion.

  Maybe these lands really were peaceful. Or maybe the old man just trusted people more when they traveled with children.

  “Good day, Elder,” Cassius spoke first, bowing politely. “My name is Cassius, and this is my wife, Luvia,” he added, nodding toward Catherine.

  “Pleased to meet you, pleased to meet you. I am Marius. I’ve lived in this hamlet all my life,” the elder replied with a kind smile. He seemed to be the head of the village. “I must admit, noble guests do not visit us often. But you look quite the worse for wear. Did you really come through the Nightmare Forest?”

  “Alas, yes,” Cassius nodded. “We’ve traveled from afar, heading through the Magical Empire to the port of Stormdale. Unfortunately, midway, a pack of man-eating wolves attacked us. We had to abandon our caravan and flee. We are now searching for the nearest border town or village, where we can acquire a pack animal and continue our journey.”

  “No problem, no problem,” the elder replied readily. “For a modest fee, we can lend you our donkey. He’s not fast, but it will make the trip to the town much easier for the children. For now, come in and rest from your journey. I’ll introduce you to the others.”

  “We are deeply grateful, Elder. We only have a few Roman denarii on hand. I hope it’s not a problem that we don’t possess any magical lyres?” Cassia asked anxiously. She was playing the part of a concerned father, ready to spend his last coin to ensure his children’s safety.

  “It’s nothing, nothing, no need to rush. Catch your breath first, we’ll talk later. Come inside, my wife will offer you something to eat,” Marius said, leading the family to a small but well-kept cottage. On the porch, an elderly woman with a warm gaze greeted them.

  “Mom, why does grandpa keep repeating himself?” Grace asked innocently.

  “Darling, don’t be rude,” Catherine gently scolded her. “Important things need to be said twice. Forgive my daughter—she still doesn’t know proper manners.”

  “Ha-ha-ha. It’s quite all right, quite all right,” Marius laughed. “The local rascals often ask the same thing. It’s a habit you develop in old age.”

  He gestured for them to sit and waved to his wife to bring out the food.

  “Rest, eat something, and in the meantime, I’ll ask the boys to prepare a hayloft for you to sleep in. I hope you won’t mind the simplicity.”

  If the old man had known who he was talking to, he probably wouldn’t have said that. But Catherine wasn’t offended. In fact, his simple, genuine hospitality gave her a quiet sense of peace. These people were doing all they could and were ready to help her family. It warmed her heart.

  During the meal, a small conversation unfolded with the village chief’s wife.

  “Tell me, why does your village have so many Roman customs? Even your chief is called Marius—that’s not typical for the Magical Empire,” Catherine asked, hoping to learn something new.

  “Oh, you didn’t know?” the woman said with delight, enjoying the rare chance to chat with someone from outside. “The town’s right on the border. Travelers come through fairly often—though usually in caravans.

  Now, as I remember it… sixty… no, sixty-five years ago, a merchant arrived here. Also named Marius. Polite, generous, and had everything with him. But he turned out to be quite the scoundrel—got my mother’s neighbor pregnant, then left as if he’d never been here.”

  She sighed heavily, continuing with a touch of sadness.

  “The neighbor had a boy and named him after his father. She waited five years, hoping he would return… but he never did. She ended up taking her own life. I was just a little girl then—hardly remember anything.

  My mother, bless her, took pity on the boy and brought him into our family. That’s how we’ve lived ever since—now it’s just the two of us and the grandchildren. And those little rascals! Always rushing off to the city, chasing adventures, just like in those foreign tales.”

  Catherine nodded, hearing a story that felt oddly familiar. But she was curious about something else.

  “And the border guards—don’t they take advantage of you? You know how it is when minor officials harass simple folk without caring about their own livelihoods.”

  “That happened, dear, it did,” the old woman shrugged. “But that was long ago. Ludkin’s son joined the border guard. Simple post—just a watchman. But the boy has a good heart, gets along with everyone. So now, by his word, the soldiers don’t bother us. Sometimes they come by—bring news, buy some bread. They’ve grown polite these days.”

  She suddenly lowered her voice:

  “Just a few days ago, they came by. It’s a shame you didn’t see them; you could have traveled with them. They said a devil has appeared nearby. Children have been disappearing at night. They call him the Harbinger of Night—a terrible monster, they say, meant to destroy all of humanity.

  What can we do against something like that with just pitchforks and shovels? So keep an eye on the little ones. Most likely, he won’t come near here—but still, better safe than sorry.”

  Grey, who had been happily scooping up his porridge, suddenly choked. His eyes went wide with fear, his face drained of color, and tears welled at the corners of his eyes. He sprang up, ran to his mother, and pressed himself against her, burying his face in her chest.

  Catherine pressed her lips together, pain playing across her features. She silently stroked her son’s head, trying to calm the trembling boy.

  “Don’t worry, child, no monster will ever appear in our village. Why would it bother with our little hamlet?” the grandmother tried to soothe him, thinking she had only scared the boy with her tall tales.

  But her words had the opposite effect. Grey clung even tighter to his mother’s clothes, pressing into her as if hoping to disappear from the outside world.

  Catherine gently patted his back, hiding any sign of irritation. Her face stayed calm.

  What did that old woman really know? She just believed what she was told.

  “Don’t mind him,” she said politely, continuing to stroke her son. “He’s very frightened. Our caravan was attacked by a pack of man-eating wolves. Those jackals even injured him. Since then, he barely speaks. But he’ll be fine. Right, little one?”

  For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then Catherine shifted to a more practical tone:

  “By the way, since you have a contact in the border garrison… perhaps you could pass a letter to him? That way you could get in touch, and we’ll remove any unnecessary suspicions. All these bureaucratic procedures are quite a burden for travelers without documents.”

  “Of course, of course,” the old woman nodded eagerly. “I’ll ask Ludka to write. She’s been meaning to send a few lines to her son, but never got around to it. Understandably! The boy is far away, and her grandson is growing up—hardly sees his father…”

  The elderly woman stood up noisily, adding with a hint of awkwardness:

  “And we’ll take care of you, don’t worry. Ludkin’s a good lad. The soldiers won’t harm you. Now go, rest—you’ll find the hayloft ready. I’ll handle everything.”

  Catherine nodded, thanked the woman, and, holding Grey close, headed toward their temporary shelter.

  “Thank you for taking the trouble on our behalf. We’ll go now.”

  “It’s nothing, nothing. Good night to you,” the woman said, seeing the family off to the barn where they would spend the night.

  The barn was spacious and clean.

  The wooden floor was dry and well cared for. In one corner, a closed oil candle gave off a soft glow, lighting up a pile of fresh straw covered with a clean sheet. The place was simple but cozy, just what a family needed after a long, tiring journey.