At three in the morning, Cael awoke.
Since developing his custom breathing technique, the Draven Breathing Method, he no longer needed sleep like ordinary people. His daily rest had condensed into three efficient deep-sleep cycles.
One right after school. Another at five in the morning. And when necessary, a third before dawn.
These cycles fully restored his Spirit Value. While ordinary people had roughly sixteen hours of functional time each day, Cael had twenty-one. Back on Earth, he mused, this kind of optimization would have landed him easily within the top hundred in the provincial entrance exams.
Still, yesterday's extensive deductions had drained him heavily. So tonight, he'd scheduled all three sleeps.
Refreshed, Cael activated the Eye of All-Seeing:
"Deduce the progress of the Blood-Headed Spider incident."
The vision unfurled.
A massive textile factory loomed under the cloak of night. Only the security booth at the entrance showed signs of life, its windows faintly lit.
No surprise—the factory didn't run night shifts. At this hour, it was closed and quiet.
The illusion dissolved.
+1 Proficiency. Now at 39/1000.
Cael frowned. "The Sentinel Corps hasn't moved? If they were acting, the place would be locked down. The attack happens tomorrow… What are they waiting for?"
He shook his head. "I've done what I can. That's enough."
Cael dressed and stepped into the living room.
The black cat lay sprawled across the floor, completely unconscious. Like a furry corpse.
Well, not corpse. Just heavily sedated.
Cael had slipped some powdered Blackding mushrooms into its dinner. Harmless to humans, but to cats? Potent sleeping draught.
He crouched beside it, stroking the velvety head before whispering:
"Deduce a method for taming animals."
The familiar chill spread across his scalp. Spirit Value plummeted.
A faint link materialized between him and the cat. Though unconscious, it twitched slightly in response.
Success.
Then came the voice—not through ears, but directly in his mind:
Meow~
A phantom image emerged from the cat's body. Identical in shape but transparent and shimmering, it leapt through the air and merged into Cael's chest.
Within his spiritual sea, a soft blue orb formed. Surrounded by misty radiance, the core glimmered with filaments of energy.
A new Seal.
+8 Proficiency.
Current: 47/1000. Spirit Value: 4.8/13.4
Cael grinned. Another Remnant Seal—this one simpler in form, but just as real.
He studied it.
Name: Spiritbond Seal
Completeness: 12.42%
Much more complete than the True Flame Seal, though clearly less potent.
"Lower ceiling," Cael murmured. "But practical."
He gently ran his fingers along the cat's back, infusing the Spiritbond Seal with a sliver of power.
The orb pulsed. Magic surged.
Moments later, the cat stirred.
Despite the heavy dose, the Seal suppressed the drug's effects. A miracle, really.
The feline blinked up at Cael, dazed but alert.
Cael gave his first command: "Roll over."
The cat hesitated. Then—rolled.
"Now wag your tail. Three times."
Swish. Swish. Swish.
Perfect obedience.
In the following minutes, Cael reveled in his new power, issuing silly commands, watching the once-wild stray comply with an eerie calm.
Anyone seeing this would assume the cat had undergone months of training.
They wouldn't guess it had been feral just yesterday.
"Look at you," Cael smirked. "First time I saw you, all regal and aloof up on that wall. And now? You're my fluffy little assistant."
The cat's bright eyes flashed with something between protest and resignation.
Cael tapped its nose.
"Time for a name. Something with presence."
He thought of an old cartoon. Something nostalgic.
"Sheriff. Your name is Sheriff."
Meow~ The cat seemed to accept it.
Three hours later, Cael completed his third rest and stepped back into the living room.
Sheriff trotted over and nudged his leg.
Cael scratched his ears. "You can go explore during the day now. But be back before nightfall. Understood?"
Meow! Loud and clear.
Sheriff bounded to the door and raised a paw to tap it.
"Go on then," Cael said, opening it.
With a blur of motion, the cat vanished into the morning.
At 7:40 AM sharp, Cael entered Class 2-B.
Rhea Quinn greeted him with a playful pout.
"I brought you breakfast yesterday, and you skipped school! I had to eat half an extra portion! I almost exploded."
Cael glanced at her and chuckled. "More food is good for you."
She blinked, caught the tease, and flushed.
"Tch. No good words ever come from you."
She handed over a paper bag. "Eat it before it gets cold. Honey cakes. And this—"
She held out a glossy green fruit. "Qinglin Fruit. My mom got a batch. Sweeter than the last ones."
Cael took a steel straw, pierced the rind, and took a sip.
"This is fantastic."
Qinglin Fruit was like a hybrid between coconut and lychee. The juice was bright and tart, reminiscent of a drink from Earth called Nutri-Express.
"I'll bring you a sweeter one tomorrow," Lina promised.
Cael smiled, feeling oddly at peace.