"Everyone? What's your opinion on our watchman so far? Go."

"An adorable friendly cat! He's good with fairy tales!"

"A studious and inquisitive cat. I wonder how many questions he has on his head."

"A rumbling bumbling strong cat! He beats bullies like it's nothing!"

"A refined, gentleman cat. He'd make a good tea companion."

"A vigilant cat that can get on your nerves when he wants it. Heh. You've really grown out on us, huh?"

"...I'm way more than a cat, you know?"

- The Ursus Student Self-Government Group, the night before departure from St. Peterheim

EXTRA 1

THE FELINE OF URSUS

He remembered that day all too clearly. One step outside the Velvet Room and the cat can already tell why his master stressed on the importance of watching over this world.

To put it very lightly, Terra is a messed up world beyond compare.

From the entry point of the Velvet Room before it disappeared, the feline known as Morgana stared upon the city before him at the edge of the rooftop of a very large academy, St. Peterheim as he would learn later on. From his vantage point, he can see that the streets are crowded with many white coats moving about as if on patrol. The marks of riots can be seen with the bustling sounds in the distance along with smoke wafting in various areas of the city, signifying the city's descent into chaos. If that isn't bad enough, he was certain he heard sounds coming from below him as well. If the types of sounds he's listening into gives him anything to go by, it's anything short of unsettling.

Just…what the hell is happening in this world, and this city in particular?

"Hmm? A cat, here?"

Morgana barely let out a yelp as he jolted backward, alerted that someone called out to him. He slowly shifted his sight, looking behind to find a beret-wearing girl looking straight at him curiously. The feline was almost tempted to book it and jump off the roof, except unlike Joker, he's no show-off even though he always opted to do things with style in Phantom Thief fashion. Plus, he may be in cat mode now, but there's no way he's jumping off a two-story building that didn't bother to install any railings or a fence on the edges. The girl before him looked at him curiously, and in turn, he did the same. On top of the beret, she was wearing something that is akin to a uniform. A pale colored shirt with a blue tie, a coat with lots of straps underneath, a short skirt, and heeled shoes with long socks. He can see belts wrapped around her torso from the shoulder and another on her right leg. Her bluish pale hair was tied into a ponytail, and she can see…bear ears on her? Master Philemon was right when most of the humans on Terra bore animalistic traits, which means he'd fit right in if it wasn't for the fact that he needs to remain in cat form to avoid suspicion from anyone. Besides, no one would suspect a normal cat, unless they know who he really is!

For now, Morgana's thorough analysis of the bear girl before him is enough to assume she is harmless. For caution's sake, though, he chose not to just dart toward the bear girl looking all eager as if she was someone he practically fawned over (And got deliriously teased over it). He slowly walked towards her with an inquisitive stare. After all, this could be his first contact with a Terran native. The bear girl made hand gestures, as if inviting him over.

"It's alright, I mean you no harm. Come here now."

In response to her invitation, Morgana let out a short meow, getting close to the monocle wearing girl. The girl crouched down as she laid her hands on him and petted his head. And boy, he enjoyed her soft touch, purring and meowing in enjoyment all the while. It's been a while since he was petted like this by a girl, in cat form.

"There, there. Good cat. May I ask why you are here in the first place? Are you lost? It's not safe here."

Not safe? He'd easily inquire further to the bear girl, but it would throw the girl off guard if he did so. Cat-like humans are common, but actual talking cats can throw anyone out of the loop. Which is why he decided to let out a meow of curiosity while tilting his head, hoping she'll get the message.

"…You are lost. I see… I don't really know how you got up here, but you should leave while you still can, even if those detestable grunts are around, they wouldn't mind a cat like you."

The bear girl's words raised more questions than answers, Who's the grunts in question? Judging by her words and line of sight, though, she must be talking about the white coats. He meowed in a curious tone, before pointing his paw at her, then to his yellow collar repeatedly.

"Hmm? A collar? So you have an owner. Morgana? Is that your name?"

The cat in question nodded as he pointed towards the bear girl with a questioning meow.

"Are you… are you asking for my name? My name is Anna. You're a smart cat, aren't you? You must have a good owner. I hope he's safe in this city."

If Anna knew any better, Morgana was smiling smugly before her. Not only was he smart, he was prideful. He was proud to have such a good owner taking care of him, and Morgana would agree. Ren Amamiya would be the best owner any cat can ask for, mainly because of all the various delicacies he can eat, ranging from fresh tuna, sushi assortments, and grilled beef tongue, but also the best friend any guy can ask for. It would be wrong of him to not have pride on his friend, the great Trickster and leader of the Phantom Thieves.

And now it's his task to find him, and in turn, find Rhodes Island. Perhaps Anna here may help him. This also means that he can't mess around anymore.

"… Anna?"

Morgana can see the student's eyes widen when he heard him speak, which has honestly grown normal to him at this point. Thankfully enough, he has the perfect excuse for this capability of his. Anna herself looked all around her, wondering if someone else actually called for him, before turning towards the cat below her, staring.

"Did…did you just speak?"

"Yes."

It was at that point that poor Anna did a double-take on the situation she's in before realizing that worse things have happened. Things she has seen, things she had endured, the very edge of the roof, and she has her doll, Vika stuffed in her coat as a painful reminder. Perhaps this cat had his own share of problems and was just taking refuge here, away from the chaos. Taking a few deep breaths, she spoke once more carefully.

"Alright. Morgana, how is it that you're capable of speaking?" Anna saw Morgana's eyes widen a bit. Maybe he didn't think she'd get used to him speaking so quickly. She took her caution with him though.

"I can't really explain it in detail, but you can say this is but a natural borne ability for me. More importantly, Anna, what do you mean this place is not safe?"

Anna frowned at how he evasively answered her question. Before being imprisoned at this academy, she would often hear of a penguin rapper who was high on the music charts from her fellow students, though it didn't interest her since she's more into the classical. This is her first time seeing an animal speak as if it's his second nature, though, so one can excuse her for her mild surprise. At Morgana's question, she became quiet and frowned, earning the worry of the cat. Morgana himself was uttering silent praises to Philemon for drilling him on the bread-and-butter of Terra's lifestyles and knowledge based on his observations. The fact that talking animals actually exist is not lost on him.

"…I think it's best that you see for yourself. Come with me."

"Alright. Lead the way, Anna."

With that agreement set in stone, Anna and Morgana went inside the school through the metal door, stepping down the stairs. The sounds of ruckus can be heard even clearer as they continued on. Morgana himself grew curious over what is happening in this building. That curiosity grew into concern and worry once he saw blood stains marking the floors, along with the voices getting clearer, bordering on raging cries and screams. As soon as he saw the hallways though, that was when his fears became apparent.

"Morgana, welcome to Saint Peterheim Academy."

- Take Your Time -

The sight before the feline was almost unbearable as the duo walked the hallways, his head tilting sideways at the sickening scenery. Bloodstains marked the floor and walls as the smell of blood was still fresh in the air. The doors leading to the classrooms had gashes and marks on them covered in spray painted graffiti, leading him to believe that weapons were used here. His eyes immediately widened in shock at the sight of a corpse that both he and Anna passed by, of a child no less, probably as old as Anna.

"What… what the hell happened here?!"

Hearing Morgana's exclamation, Anna let out a deep breath as she spoke.

"I… I can't really explain what happened here in precise fashion. All I can say is that we, all the students here, have been locked up by Reunion, and experienced hell in many ways. All these bloodstains, that body we just passed by. It's a testament of the chaos that has claimed the students. I was lucky that I didn't fall into their savage ways, yet…"

Anna's words trailed off, memories resurfacing onto her head, memories that she dearly hoped to forget, yet it clung to her like an adhesive. Morgana frowned as she walked beside her. The way she trailed off had signs that she doesn't want to speak any further on the matter of what occurred here during the imprisonment. Whoever this Reunion is, he's gonna make them pay.

"It's alright, Anna. I understand if you don't want to talk about it further. You have my deepest sympathies."

"… Thank you, Morgana."

The Ursus student's lips curved into a small smile hearing Morgana's attempts at assuaging her pain. The reality that a talking cat of all things is the first to sympathize with her plight almost made her want to laugh. It was honestly hilarious.

Before long, Anna stopped in front of a room, and Morgana slowed his paws, stopping beside her. She looked down towards the cat who stared at her.

"My friends are in this room. Act like a normal cat while I talk with them, alright?"

"As normal as I can ever be."

With the duo nodding to each other, Anna turned the knob and pushed the door open. As Anna took the time to close the door, Morgana walked in to find 4 other girls with bear ears of their own. One of them practically rushed towards him with a squeal.

"Aaaah! Kitty!"

The girl, with the yellow hair and navy blue sailor uniform petted his head with her lithe hands. Morgana purred in delight as he was showered in affection. Delightful indeed, he thought. Anna went over to meet the other girls. One had brown hair with red streaks and wore a white varsity jacket over her dark red uniform with a matching short skirt. Another had a darker shade of brown hair with white streaks, wearing a white low-cut sailor shirt exposing her stomach along with a short skirt hung with straps. The last one had long flowing white hair, wearing a dress uniform with puffy sleeves. The red streak was the first to speak up, standing from the chair.

"You're quite up there for a while, Anna. Though after seeing that cat, I can see why. Where did you find that cat? Why did you bring him here?"

"I just found him up there. You're not expecting me to just abandon him up there, do you?"

"Maybe that cat lives up there. Still, that cat either has guts, or insane if it decided to live in this shithole."

"Sonyaaaaaa~ You're making the kitty angry!"

The girl known as Zima turned to look at the cat, and sure enough, it was glaring at her, as if taking offense at her statement. She had to blink at the fact that a cat is actually understanding her words, and blinked once more. The yellowhead carried it by the belly, wearing a smile before she noticed a collar on it.

"Oh! He has a collar and a name tag!"

"He has a what now?"

The white streak skipped over, standing beside the yellowhead as she looked at the cat she is holding.

"Hey, Lada. You trying to tell us we have someone's cat here? What's the name for the cat?"

"Wait, wait, Rosalind! Lemme look! Mor… Morgana?" Lada read Morgana's name tag, wincing her eyes a bit.

"So, a she cat, huh? And Anna said she found her over at the roof? Morgana's got a lot of guts! She practically climbed all the way up there!"

Rosalind's exclamation earned her the ire of Morgana, as the feline turned his head to glare at her in clear scrutiny. The peppy Ursus was pretty sure a sweat dropped from her head.

"Uhhh… Did I say something wrong? I made Morgana angry again."

Morgana sorely wanted to let Rosalind have it, but the white haired girl beat him to the punch.

"Rosalind. Perhaps he's angry at the fact that you called him a girl. I can't really blame you for that though."

"Natalya. You sure that cat is a he? Morgana's a girl's name, isn't it?" Zima spoke up with a glint, turning to face the white haired noble.

"I'm sure of it. I know a male cat when I see one."

Natalya's confident answer made Rosalind turn towards Morgana. He was no longer glaring, but he still frowned. Lada was practically pouting with a look that demands her apology, making her feel awkward.

"Uhh… Sorry for calling you a girl cat, Morgana. You're not gonna claw my face to bits, are you?"

Morgana solemnly nodded his head, and Rosalind let out a sigh of relief. She's had her fair share of rabid students, but a rabid cat is something she can't handle at all.

"Well, angry cat aside, how long are we just going to sit on our asses? Those Reunion guards don't look so tough when you look at them, and we're just staying here all prim and proper?" Zima spoke up, followed by Rosalind.

"Yeah! I keep telling you guys since yesterday that we should leave right now! With all of us together, they should be a cinch to deal with!"

Lada became silent at their remarks, while Natalya and Anna spoke their own pieces. Morgana stared at the four girls intently.

"Sonya, even if we do escape, where are we even supposed to go? There are still a lot of Reunion thugs outside, and the whole city must be overrun with them. One slip and they'll throw us back in again."

"Anna is right. Even if we are all well-equipped, going out now would be the epitome of brashness. We don't even know where to escape should we get out of Chernobog. Do you have an idea on where to go, Zima?"

"How should I know?! Asking around certainly won't do shit since everyone has been tearing each other up for food ever since the food stores got burned down!"

"And, who is responsible for that, Sonya?"

"It's…I…Urgh!"

"Everyone…"

Zima, or rather Sonya, gritted her teeth as she clenched her hands into knuckles, unable to answer such a question as she glared at the noble. Rosalind, Anna, and Natalya soon frowned upon the reality pushed upon them, unable to do anything other than remain in this damned academy with a bunch of other students that have resorted to wanton violence to survive, the thought of escape never crossing their minds after being trapped for so long. Lada had a sad look on her face as she put Morgana down, sitting down on the floor. The feline himself can feel the despairing atmosphere surrounding the dimly lit classroom with the white board stained in graffiti and markers and the tables all shoved onto the walls. The conversation they had led him to assume that they've been stuck here for who knows how long, and almost every student succumbed to the chaos when their food supply burned down. Morgana had a good idea of who was the cause of it, judging from Sonya's reaction, the girl who is also called Zima. Speaking up about it certainly won't help them though.

If that's the case though, why not kill two birds with one stone? He's out seeking Rhodes Island, and all of them seriously need to get their butts moving if they want to survive, for lack of a better word. If he's in luck, he'll be able to find info on Rhodes Island, even in this decrepit town. If what Philemon told him about this organization is true, they'll gladly aid them in getting out of this city that is supposedly overrun by this Reunion group.

And to convince all of them, he has to break a promise. Note to self. Apologize to Anna later.

"I know a way."

Everyone who heard his voice perked up and looked around, trying to find whoever said it. Anna in particular widened her eyes.

"What? Who the hell said that?"

"Not me!" Lada chirped.

"Nope." Rosalind bluntly replied.

"I spoke nothing." Natalya calmly spoke.

"Down here."

Everyone who heard the voice once more turned to face the source. And their eyes all became wide at the sight of the cat Anna picked up, approaching Sonya with a firm stare. The girl in question had to wipe her eyes for a bit before speaking.

"…No way. No way in hell did this cat just talk anything other than a meow. I think I finally lost my shit."

"OK, wow. Always knew the cat was smart, but not this smart!" Rosalind blurted out.

"Anna seems to be taking this awfully well, better than all of us, wouldn't you say?"

Natalya's suspicion made everyone's eyes turn to Anna, who began to sweat and mentally curse at Morgana for speaking up. The feline in mention quickly spoke in defense.

"Ladies, I won't sit back and let you all pile up on Anna like that. Instead, why don't you all just ask me? I'm the man of the hour here."

The cat surprisingly got a point. Asking Anna about Morgana would be less fruitful when Morgana himself is present, so all eyes turned to face him, the cat wearing a confident smirk and Anna fully relieved.

"Alright, Morgana. Spill it. What even are you? How the hell are you even capable of speaking?" Sonya began the interrogation, already questioning Morgana with a bit of crunch.

"What am I? I'm just a cat. As for how I can speak human, call it a natural skill of mine, one that I've honed through years. I met Anna before I met you girls and she has been doing her best to hide my capability to speak here, even if it's short lived because let's be honest. Who would believe that a talking cat exists?"

"Normal, eh? Morgana's got a point there. No one in the right mind would believe that cats can talk right out of the bat. Then again, Morgana's here." Rosalind scratched her head at the wonder before her.

"Anna, you're the most the knowledgeable out of all of us. Can you tell us anything about Morgana's ability to speak?" Natalya looked at Anna for an inquiry.

"Well, I heard from my former classmates about a penguin who became a rapper. I dismissed their words as mere rumors, but I was just as surprised as you are to hear Morgana speak. Seems I need to pay more stock to rumors in the future." Anna answered, which gave Morgana a bit of stride.

Oh! Can we keep Morgana with us, please! I like him already! He's so adorable!" Lada piped up with cheerful smile.

"Lada, we all know Morgana has an owner. We keep him around and sooner or later we're gonna get our asses kicked for stealing someone's cat! But, why the hell would he be on the school roof then? This makes no damn sense!"

Zima's heated reply made Lada pout. The others soon began to mull their heads over Morgana's mysterious existence. A talking cat who suddenly appeared on St. Peterheim's roof amidst the chaos, and now claiming he knows a way out of the city.

Wait, why did they forget to ask that? And the first one to realize was Rosalind.

"Hey, Morgana. This may sound dumb, but you said you know a way out of Chernobog?"

"Rosalind, you're trusting Morgana a bit too quickly. I'm curious about what he said earlier though." Natalya chimed in, eyes brimming with curiosity while Zima sighed.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Natalya's got a good point. How do I know you're not bullshitting us? I don't take kindly to people who lie."

Morgana didn't miss the fact that Zima was holding a woodcutter's axe the whole time, and she was pointing at him with said weapon. Everyone present was shocked at her action, yet Morgana remained undeterred.

"Why would I lie when involves all of us here? I don't want to imagine what you girls endured in this lame excuse of an academy, and frankly we both could use each other's help. You girls need to get out of here now, and I need help finding a certain group that is supposedly in this place…Chernobog, was it?"

"And what group would that be? It better not be those Reunion assholes, otherwise we're having cat for dinner."

Morgana had to admit that a drop of sweat fell from his forehead at Sonya's threat. He's gotten his fair share of threats, but the possibility of being food for 5 bear girls is entirely new to him. If he remembered correctly, there was a frying pan on one of the tables. Yup, the threat is real, and very concerning still. He knows the food stores has been burned down, but how long has it been for them ever since that event?

"I'm looking for Rhodes Island. Any of you girls know about it?"

"Rhodes Island? Guys, any of you know what this talking cat is talking about?"

Zima's question was met with a multitude of noes and nays of different tones, making her click her tongue. Morgana grew exasperated as he walked in circles, knowing he hit a snag. Going towards a window overlooking the outside, he sighed as he leapt up onto a table.

"Morgana, why are you looking for this Rhodes Island in the first place?"

Morgana turned around to face Natalya, who looked at him with worry. Truth be told, he had been instructed by Philemon to seek out Rhodes Island since Ren has joined forces with them soon after his reincarnation. He has been his partner and friend first and foremost, and he isn't going to ditch him when he's especially ordered to fulfill the role of his companion. Obviously, he can't tell them his exact circumstances in seeking Rhodes Island, so he's going to have to answer this carefully, with a lie.

"You guys talked about my owner, yeah?"

"Yup! Can you tell us about him, or her? We wanna know!" Lada chirped up.

"Lada, don't push him too much." Anna chided the Ursus girl scout, to which Morgana shook his head.

"It's fine, Anna. Time for a bit of story time with Morgana. Can someone get me a chair?"

Rosalind rushed over and pushed a chair towards the table Morgana stood on without so much as a word, and all the students soon crowded around Morgana while maintaining their space, curious about his life with the so-called owner. The feline slinked downward, landing on the chair before sitting down.

"Alright. I think I should start with how I was once a street vagrant. I was a stray that time, wandering the streets as I watched people come and go. I scrounged around trash cans and ate food scraps every day. And I tell you, it was horrible. The cold and slimy textures don't suit my palate at all, but what can I do? I gotta suck it up if I want to survive, which I'm sure you girls are experiencing as well. I don't even have the proper place to clean myself, and you know what society is like these days. What kind of person would want to pick up a dirty stray cat?"

"Really having it rough on the streets, huh? How did you manage to hook up with that owner of yours then?" Zima questioned with a mild frown, much like the others, with differing emotions.

"How I met him was when I was busy eating the usual scraps from a garbage can on a sidewalk. He was an old man, who happened to be a retired war veteran. He didn't care if I was weird, dirty, or was capable of speaking. He took sympathy in me, praised me for my determination to live, and picked me up. He fed me, cleaned me, and would often tell stories of his youth back then as well as teach me about the various regions of the world since he knows how smart I was. I'd be content living my years with him until I die, except…"

The students didn't miss how Morgana trailed off so suddenly, making worried expressions.

"Hey, Morgana. What's wrong? What happened to that old man? Don't tell us he kicked the bucket!"

Rosalind's hasty question was met with a dejected sigh from Morgana.

"Unfortunately, he did, right when Reunion began their invasion. Reunion didn't have anything to do with him, however. Rather, age caught up to him, and he contracted lung disease since he was quite the smoker. When he was on death's bed, he told me I should go and explore the city for a way out and find a group called Rhodes Island. He told me Rhodes Island is a group that takes in everyone in any shape or form, sick in any way or not, human or not. Everyone treats everyone equally there. It hurts to leave him when he's about to pass away, but by then he's fully content with life. I stayed with him for days until he passed away, and then I left my old home, trying to figure out a way out of this place while heading south. That's how I wounded up on St. Peterheim, looking for a better view so I can get out of here. Anna found me as I was looking over the city, and what happened next is something you already know."

By the time Morgana finished his story, the whole student group was staring at him with mixed expressions. Zima and Rosalind were frowning, Anna and Natalya stood there with looks of great sympathy, and Gummy was on the verge of tears. Morgana scratched his head, looking uncomfortable.

"…Dammit. Morgana, look. We-"

"Waaaaaaaaah!"

Any words Zima wanted to say was cut off by Gummy crying her eyes out as she ran over to Morgana and gave him the tightest hug she can possibly give to the poor cat. The cat himself was busy wriggling about in her grip as she cooed him in sympathy, hoping that she won't break his back. Anna dove into silence as she wondered about his story. Indeed, society was cruel to him, and he didn't have the freedom to speak properly since she was sure it would make the situation worse. A story like his touched her, and it didn't take long for her to notice a single tear dropping from her eye, which she quickly wiped.

"…Morgana had led a rough life. I know he's had it better than us when he got picked up. But compared to us, he has struggled to survive on his lonesome out there, doing his hardest to live. His determination to survive and loyalty to his companions is admirable." Natalya spoke, wiping a tear from her own eye.

"No jokes there. He may be a cat, but he really makes it feel like we're both the same, trying to survive on our own here. Hell, I feel like a chump. Hey, maybe he can tell us the situation outside!"

"We can talk to him about that later. Because now we have to worry if Gummy broke his fucking back. Goddammit."

Zima let out a sigh as she watched Gummy squeeze the life out of Morgana while she bawled her eyes out. The cat himself having a blank look in his eyes.

- Take Your Time –

It took a few solid minutes for Morgana to fully come back to the land of the living after the girls pried Gummy off of him and calmed her down. With a wheeze, he blurted out his displeasure.

"…I think my back almost broke. Please don't do it so hard ever again."

"I'm so sorry…" Gummy frowned sadly as Anna patted her shoulder.

"Backbreaker aside, how's the situation outside? Is the coast clear?"

"Rosalind, was it? Nope. Afraid the road is loaded with white coats patrolling the streets. We'd have no chances sneaking out unless they all went poof." Morgana gave his succinct description of the situation outside as he looked at Rosalind.

"Dammit. Anyway, you're sure that this Rhodes Island group will take us in and get us out of this hellhole of a city?"

"I'm certain of it, Sonya. If I'm wrong, then you people can have me for dinner. No questions asked." Morgana responded, much to the worry of everyone except Sonya herself. If he misled them, then he certainly has to atone. But killing a cat, as innocent as he seemed to be, is morally wrong.

Then again, they had to commit numerous atrocities just to survive in this damned school. Their food rations are slowly running out as well. If push comes to shove, so be it, especially since Morgana may become a new member.

"For a cat, you've got spunk, Morgana. Alright then, you're gonna help us get out of town when the time comes then. I don't think you need us to tell us our names, since you're smart enough to tell who is who. Seriously. Just don't. Going all formal like that doesn't go well for me." Zima spoke with a smirk, quickly shifting into uncomfortableness at the thought of doing the intros.

"Agreed. We've known each other long enough for that, at least to the extent of names. So, no more arguments about getting out or no, right?"

"Yes. At first, I was hesitant on leaving since I had thought that it would be pointless, knowing the chaos inside will be no different than the outside. but after knowing you better. I now know it's even more pointless to just sit here and wait for help."

"I am with Anna. I may be a noble, but in the end, I am no different than a commoner. If we are to survive, then we must join hands, and I believe you'll be able to lead us away to freedom, even if we must walk the long road to return to civilization. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Morgana."

Zima and Rosalind watched from the sidelines, hearing Anna and Natalya's determined answers, the former smiling and the latter raising her fist triumphantly. Lada was smiling fondly at the sight as well, happy that she will soon able to leave St. Peterheim with her closest friends and new friend without any form of objections whatsoever. Who would have thought that the one thing capable of making such a dream happen would be an adorable talking cat? Deciding that she's had enough of the show, Zima approached Morgana and spoke up.

"Alright, alright, enough of this mushy show. Since you've pretty much joined our group at this point, that means you're now our new recruit, and that means you have to answer to me, got that?"

"I'm alright with following orders, as long as you don't mess up on leadership. I prefer being a temporary recruit if you don't mind."

"Temporary, huh? Fine by me. Welcome to the Ursus Student Self-Government Group, Morgana. Now, what's going to your first job as a recruit?"

And that was how Morgana, the guide of humanity, became part of the USSG led by General Zima. The rest of the days went by in a blur as far as he remembered. Those days were spent getting used to his new duties, as well as learning about the lifestyle of the student group's members. When he became a recruit, he was tasked with accompanying Sonya and Rosalind in foraging for supplies, as well as watch duty outside their room. When night falls, he would swing back inside the Classroom, and share their experiences on what has happened today. With his inclusion, however, they also took the time to answer the questions Morgana has for the students, mostly courtesy of Anna and Natalya.

Through the students, mostly through Anna, he learned of Oripathy, a disease that is commonly known through Terra, as well as the main cause known as Originium, which is now commonly used in Terran industry. Oripathy is disease that is feared and loathed by the public, with the ones suffering from it, known as the Infected, constantly treated inhumanely with their huntings and deaths apparently celebrated among the Ursus people, commonly used as scapegoats for crimes. Such a thought angered him so much that he left two claw marks on the wooden table that time, and Lada had to calm him down for a solid minute. The anger resurfaced once more on a different day when he asked about who gave the idea to imprison the students in St. Peterheim. A kid with silver hair and an unsettling grin based on Rosalind's account, which made him scoff and wonder what kind of kid would allow this bloodshed. This kid was apparently with the Reunion Movement, and it didn't paint a good picture of the white coats in the slightest. As he thought back on their lifestyles, flashes of conversations he had with the girls buzzed through his mind.

"How's watch duty holding up? Not getting bored, are you?"

"I have no problems. I have a penchant for guarding a group of ladies, Sonya."

"Morgana, cut the whole gentleman crap. Makes me feel like shit."

"As you command, "General"."

Sonya, their leader, was apparently Peterheim's strongest and had her own title, General Zima. Everyone in the academy, especially the so-called bullies held degrees of fear towards her because of it. Despite that, she seemed to be nonchalant, a bit lazy, and caring in her own way in his opinion. She would often nap every so often sometimes, leaving the foraging to Rosalind and himself. When she does go out to forage, she can be especially violent towards anyone that dared to stand in their way, the unfortunate having their lives chopped asunder. It was also how he knew that they were forced to consume the flesh of their fellow students in a pinch, causing him to lose his appetite for the rest of the day whenever he goes foraging with the General, if she decides to pick up human meat for dinner.

"Rosalind, can you please stop bragging on how I fight?"

"Morgana, you gotta show yourself off more! A cat like you pummeling all those bullies should get more credit!"

"No, and no. I don't show off for no reason, you know?"

"Aw, come on!"

Next was Rosalind, the self-proclaimed second strongest student in Peterheim, always upbeat and casual, making light of the situation most of the time. Unlike Zima who gets especially violent against the other punks with her axe, this peppy bear girl is all the more eager for fighting with her fists, but would not go too far into killing. She seemed to be wide eyed that one time after a fight though, but she would go back to her usual demeanor after a few seconds. To be fair, even though he's a passive fighter against them, sometimes toying with some of the students, once he's pissed off, those that earned his wrath and still conscious would end up unconscious in a few strikes. One thing's certain, Morgana heard Rosalind muttering about never messing with him when he's pissed.

"Tell me another story, Morgana!

"Again? But I already told you one today!"

"Pretty please? I really like them!"

"Fine, fine. Can't say no to those puppy eyes."

Lada was the group's chef and medic, due to her experience as a girl scout. A bright and cheery girl that livens up the atmosphere, and apparently the girl who clung to him the most, asking for his fairy tales whenever she wants to sleep early. She would always patch up Sonya and Rosalind's wounds after they returned from the hunt, and cook up meals for the group every time. She would often wake up second among them, the first being Anna, and third being himself if the scout didn't wake Sonya up first. She would shake hands with Anna, and sometimes him when he wakes up first. What is concerning is that whenever she cooks, when she chops ingredients, she would always stop at the second chop, hesitant for a third one. Such is why the dicing and slicing is often left to Anna and Natalya. She would also eat her food quickly, without leaving so much as a scrap. And the most worrying part? She would often go off on random impulse and chew on one of her friends, himself being an unfortunate victim one time. The good news is that as a cat, he's insanely durable. That didn't stop poor Lada from apologizing feverishly though.

"Mind lending me another book, Anna?"

"Which one? I have many genres."

"Anything related to history will do."

"An overlook of Leithania and Yen, then."

Anna is one he already knew fairly well enough alone based on her first encounter. The bookworm of her group, she would often answer his questions at night, teach him more about Terra and the public, and serve as mediators alongside him whenever Sonya, Rosalind, or Natalya get into an argument with one another. She would often immerse herself in her books, ignoring the world around her until someone calls out to her. Under close observation, she also seemed to carry a brown teddy bear inside her coat, and often sleeps with it, small as it may be. When the feline asked Anna about the doll, all she'll ever say is that it was a gift from her friend, and that it was named Vika. When he carefully pressed her for information about her friend, the monocle wearing Ursus remained silent or changed the subject, leading him to assume the worst.

"I'm surprised you are able to drink tea, Morgana."

"All cats can, or maybe I can. It's just that us cats have tongues that hate heat."

"I see. Perhaps we'll be able to have a little tea party when we are finally free. I'll be sure to make yours lukewarm, Morgana."

"Much obliged, Natalya."

The last one is Natalya, the only noble in the Self-Government Group. Through his interactions with Sonya and Rosalind, it became no secret that there was a broiling hatred for the nobles in St. Peterheim. How Natalya managed to end up with Sonya's pack was a mystery in itself, and no one wanted to divulge on the circumstances on Natalya's inclusion, other than Sonya who said she looked "fucking pathetic". What is certain is that Natalya used to lead the nobles in Peterheim before some unknown events happened. The girl herself had an air of refinement around her, and she was easy to talk to. But he knows that even after her oath, she's still getting used to living life as a captive, as a commoner, and she would often get into spats into Sonya whenever talks over nobility turned ugly, leaving Anna and Morgana to defuse the situation.

All in all, everyone has their own set of problems. And once they manage to escape, and hopefully meet Rhodes Island, he'll need to take proper measures to ensure that the girls' issues are taken care of one step at a time. It's a good thing that the girls can at least sleep better at night with him around. He would often alternate between sleeping on top of each girl, and they didn't seem to mind at all.

- Take Your Time –

"Really came by in a blink of an eye, huh?"

"What is it, Morgana?"

"Oh. Nothing."

Morgana turned around to face Natalya, her easygoing nature all clear still as she petted his head, instinctually purring at the feeling. It had been a full week of memories he remembered since he first stepped into Terra from the Velvet Room and met the Ursus Student Self-Government Group. It wasn't really a long time that ensures long lasting relationships, but it was enough to ensure a good friendship between them. Whatever doubts they had about his origins has mostly died down especially after that faux backstory that he still feels uncomfortable about, and all the girls felt comfortable around him, his independent nature being a trait they're all fine with. Morgana himself felt that had become a part of their family, and he had no objections dealing with their antics and favors. The usual jobs still apply, and right now he's still being their watchman, but for a very special occasion.

"I see. Always eager for the petting, like always. Sonya wants you to assume watch duty again, for the last time, she says."

"Sure thing, Natalya."

A day after Rosalind supposedly met the leader of their captors, all Reunion soldiers suddenly left the premises. The student group was ecstatic to finally leave the school at last, but under Morgana's advice and sheer amounts of convincing, the day they left is a day they spent preparing for their departure, gathering as much supplies as possible, then leave the next day. Judging by everyone's reaction that moment, he assumed that was supposedly an achievement, until Natalya told the feline how hard it was for someone to change Sonya's mind once she sets her mind onto something important, a fact Sonya herself quickly denied. Reunion's departure didn't stop the chaos in St. Peterheim, however. Rather, it got increasingly worse, and Morgana, Sonya, and Rosalind decided to forage for supplies together as a single group that day. The presence of Peterheim's strongest students together was enough to drive any bully or noble away from their path, and anyone foolish enough to remain are either killed or served a knockout punch, which he's sure he'll never get used to. Innocent children forced to commit murder to live is something he'll never live down, and will tell Ren all about once he finds him. Later that night, the girls and Morgana huddled together and discussed about their plans, preparations, and escape route, eventually agreeing to head for the southern exit due to it being the nearest exit point. Afterwards, they all slept like anchovies packed in a metal box, and Morgana slept on top of them like a guard cat watching over his food.

Today? He has to keep watch over area while the Self-Government Group makes their last minute preparations for leaving Chernobog. It was really calming and comfortable being with the girls in their Classroom, but outside was practically hell, and like everyone, he'd rather get out as soon as possible, and he's going to do it right. They've nabbed quite a lot of supplies from the nobles and whatever is left in the canteens, and they each carried backpacks with them. The question was how much they'd carry on-

"Hey…a cat!"

Morgana was snapped out of his musings and turned his head to find a kid with bloodstained clothes and a knife. His face looked so desperate, and he heard his stomach growling hard, making him shift his eyebrows in worry.

"Dammit…so hungry… Hey, no one is going to care about a cat for food, right? Here, kitty kitty…"

That monologue was all he needed for the cat to get back on watch duty. He's not going to cater to the insane ramblings of a killer child. The child in question quickly grew furious.

"Dammit! You're gonna be dead meat, cat! And then you'll be in my belly!"

…Yup. This kid has succumbed, and he's going to teach the kid to never mess with the great Morgana. The kid proceeded to go for a running stab, but he was sloppy. A quickstep was all he needed, and he too lashed out, clawing him on leg and leaving a bloody wound. A pained gasp escaped the student's lips as he turned around and looked down, only to find the cat leaping towards him and launched an awfully strong paw uppercut towards his jaw that disoriented him.

"Well, I think it's best that I end this."

From the student's peripheral vision, his blurry sight began to recover as he staggered about, staring at the cat in rage. All anger however subsided and soon became fear when he saw the figure behind him. A masked mustached figure who held a rapier, wearing a large belt, having long slender legs in comparison to his large muscled torso all decked out in an attire that is all fancy. Though, what is certain is that it was staring at him in reprimanding fashion, ready to exact punishment onto him.

"Ahh…Aaaaaaaaaaah!"

Forget eating the cat, the boy was trying to eat a monster for all he cared! With his tail between his legs, he ran for dear life screaming like a little girl, dropping his knife in the process. With a huff, Morgana dismissed the visage behind him as it disappeared. Just in time too, as the Self Government Group stepped out of the door, concern riddling their faces only to find Morgana alone with a bloody paw and an equally bloody knife beside him.

"Morgana, what happened?"

"A student tried having me for dinner. What do you think?" Morgana voiced his displeasure, much to the bewilderment of others, with Rosalind muttering while rubbing her chest.

"Again, never get onto Morgana's bad side."

"You did good work on watch duty. You're gonna be on rear guard duty next with Rosalind, got that Morgana?"

"Got it. Seems to me you all are already prepped. You people know the area way better than me inside, so I'll leave the route to you guys. I'll keep our backs covered. Don't worry."

"Thank you, Morgana. Just don't push yourself too hard."

"Likewise, Natalya."

Morgana nodded briskly at Natalya's concern. All members of the Self Government Group carried backpacks loaded with bare essentials, the supplies they've gathered earlier, as well as 2 bottles of water each. Out of everyone, Natalya is ironically the only one not capable of defending herself. Sonya and Rosalind are no question, Gummy claims to be good at swinging her frying pan, and Anna told him a few days back that he's learned a few offensive Arts in her spare time. He's going to have to pay attention to her condition as they move.

"Guys, let's go. We're not stopping for anyone."

With that command uttered, The USSG began their escape, making no effort in slowing down as they ran in a brisk pace with Zima and Gummy in the front, Natalya and Anna in the middle, and Rosalind and Morgana in the back. At their pace, it won't take long until they reach the second floor of the commoner's dorm, where all the chaos seems to be concentrated. The smell of fresh blood and sounds of screams are getting stronger, now accompanied with the sounds of flesh being rend and cut apart. Feelings of unrest and worry rose from within Natalya, Anna, and Gummy, knowing that the students have become too immersed in their bloodshed in order to survive, blind to the fact that their captors have left. And lo and behold, they bumped onto a group of students all covered in blood and looking malnourished. The moment they noticed who's taking front, they stepped back in hesitation.

"Ah, dammit. It's General Zima! What the hell do you want?!" One of the students yelled out.

"We're just passing through. Move, or else."

The students shifted about in their positions, gauging their chances. They've heard of the Self-Government Group led by the so called General. Over the past few weeks, her numbers dwindled considerably, but anyone with some sense still within would be an idiot would face her fully armed with her pack. The girl who is known as the strongest cub across the schools in Chernobog.

Unfortunately for them, this pack of cubs is not one of the sensible ones.

"You wish! I know there's one of them goddamned nobles in your pack! We thought you hated nobles, but turns out the General is a liar! Traitors must pay, with their lives!"

"You asked for it. Gummy, back me up." Zima motioned to Gummy as the students readied themselves.

"Right!"

Woodcutter axe and frying pan at the ready, the group of cubs charged towards the General and her cook. 2 students in total to deal with, one of them had a knife, and he lunged towards Zima. It was a slow lunge however, paid with the price of one hefty chop on his back, ending his life. Another decided to run over to Gummy to deliver a rushing punch. The punch was blocked by the metal frying pan, sending jolts of pain to the raging student before his head got smashed by said cooking utensil.

End result? One dead student, and another unconscious, and Morgana was witness to it all. A week ago, he would have been surprised and awfully concerned at the scene before him. But now all he can do is lament and pray that their souls can safely return to the Sea even if the connection between it and Terra is but a hazy fog. Sonya turned around to find Morgana looking straight at students, and she lifted an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Nothing, Sonya. Just saying my prayers."

"Riiight. Let's move."

Lada had a sad smile as she heard Morgana's words. As they continued their run, the young scout had a sad look on her face. She never liked to hurt other students like this, even when the situation is in dire straits. The sounds and smell of blood everywhere didn't do any better for her anxiety, and she's sure Morgana is feeling the same even if he's gotten used to it. More and more students barred their way as they made their escape. Some still have grips on reality as they fled the scene or made way for them, while the fully insane ones either died by Zima's axe or unconscious by Lada's pan. Only once they would be ambushed from behind on the first floor, only to get a sound defeat by Rosalind and Morgana. Rosalind would always brag about how powerful Morgana's punches are every night after they forage, much to his chagrin, but only now they see that the peppy Ursus didn't brag for no reason. Morgana may be small, but he hits hard, especially once he headbutts a kid in the stomach.

"See! I told you he's a strong cat! You people never believed me!" Rosalind rambled on after dealing with the ambush.

"…Point proven." Anna spoke as she adjusted her monocle.

"I wonder what he eats and does when he was still living with the veteran. I don't remember any cat being this nimble and strong." Natalya said her own opinion.

"I don't really care what he does or eats. What's certain is that we're wasting time over shit he can tell us later. Let's get ourselves moving!"

Thank god Sonya stepped in to stop the conversation. Morgana was getting awfully uncomfortable whenever his capabilities are brought up, since it relates to what he can actually do. He's not going to reveal it to them willy-nilly, but if the situation calls for it, he'll have no choice but to unveil it. Whether the girls will care for him still will be another issue. The fact remains that he used it in the eyes of a random student, and he's gonna have to hope his words is dubbed as gibberish. Morgana is certain that the girls may have an inkling to what actually happened though. He's certain they heard his screech, and anyone with a bit of perception towards the cognitive would know of the power spike.

Regardless, whether anyone has any withheld opinion of anyone, they kept it within themselves as they pushed on. A few minutes later, they reached the snow covered courtyard without much trouble. Giving courtyard a wide sweep of sight, Morgana can see students getting into conflicts with one another, and corpses buried in the bloodstained snow. Some of the corpses didn't even look like students either, and that made the feline's stomach churn. Something else caught the attention of the Self Government Group, though.

"Everyone, look! The weather!"

Lada's exclamation prompted everyone to look upward. Sure enough, the skies itself looked like it was undergoing some unnatural phases. The clouds are unnaturally dark, and they are gathering about, as if coalescing into a single point. If one can hear properly, they can hear the crackles of thunder crashing onto the ground. With the dark clouds looming over their heads like shadows, along with the turbulent thunders, one cannot blame the student group and their cat to feel uneasy.

"The sky… this is most unnatural."

"Yep. I sense nothing but bad coming from the clouds up there. Almost as if it's preparing itself for something big."

"Oh no…"

"What's up, Anna? You look like you've seen a ghost!" Rosalind turned towards Anna, seeing the panic painted over her face.

"I've read about this before. I don't want to believe it, but those are signs that a Catastrophe is about to happen. All of the signs checks out!" Anna spoke up, inflicting a huge dose of panic on everyone. Even Morgana paled before the mention. Anna taught him about Catastrophes on top of the general overview of Originium, and he did not want to be right in the middle of one.

"No shit?! Good thing we decided to leave early then!" Rosalind let out a breath after that bombshell of a revelation.

"Dammit! We gotta quicken our pace then! Let's get the hell out of here, now!"

Everyone silently nodded under Sonya's command. Ignoring the students submerged in their inane indulgence of chaos, The Ursus Student Self-Government Group hauled their asses and left St. Peterheim at long last. However, they know better than to let their guard down, for they are certain that Reunion still prowled the streets. If anything, Reunion may as well have taken over the entirety of Chernobog at this point, and they'll be damned if they die before they achieved their freedom.

- Take Your Time –

They say that freedom must be fought for, till your dying breath.

Well, the USSG will have to make a show of that saying, for they have encountered a contingent of Reunion forces in the middle of their escape route and there are no alleys in which they can circumvent, Sonya and Morgana gritted their teeth at the enemy before them.

And the worst part? They've been discovered.

"Hey! I see people there!"

"They look like students! Hey, are they from Peterheim?"

"Really? Kinda expected them to flee sooner or later, but there's only 5 of them! What do we do?"

"Yeah. I don't really feel like killing them, or sending them back to the school. They'll just resist!"

"Man, y'all are a bunch of sissies! You know what, anyone who doesn't want to beat up some brats can just go and report to Mephisto! Those who stay will rough them up! Sound good?"

"Fine by me! I may hate non-Infected, but fuck me if I have to kill a bunch of kids! Guys, let's go!"

And so, after a bunch of arguments, a portion of the contingent immediately left the area, a sight not missed from the student group. Lada was the first to speak up.

"Hey, are they leaving?"

"Only some of them. Probably the ones who actually smartened up to not pick a fight with us." Sonya voiced her own take on the situation.

"Or they're the ones who actually have a conscience. No one in the right mind would even think of killing a bunch of children."

"Hey! We may be kids, but we can hold our own much like the adults, you know?!" Rosalind gave a heated comment to Morgana's take.

"That doesn't change the fact that we're still outnumbered. Ruffians they may be, but they are still fully armed. And I doubt we'll be able to break through them with just us 6 alone." Natalya voiced her concerns.

"They're the bad guys that locked us in there, right? but it's either them or us! We have to fight!"

"See? Even Lada agrees. Let's get ourselves in gear!"

Everyone present prepared themselves for battle as the Reunion contingent came charging at them with all hands on deck, intent on beating them up. The student group and Morgana spared no quarter as well as they too charged forward, and a battle ensued, featuring 5 girls and one cat against a whole squad of Reunion. Sonya spared no quarter on letting herself be consumed by her survival instincts and battle experience in the academy, hacking away at multiple Soldiers with her axe. Rosalind, being more of a brawler, made use of her fists and agility to dodge and evade enemy attacks, landing a series of punches as she ducked and shifted around the sword slashes. Lada too is no slouch to battle, having been forced into a few fights as she sought for food when Morgana isn't around, making use of her Ursus strength to block, parry, and smash the heads of Reunion goons with her frying pan, sometimes knocking them out in one blow. Anna opted for a more supportive role, making use of her Originium Arts that slows down the movements of enemies, leaving them easier to pummel and prioritizing the Shielded Soldiers. under full concentration, she can strike faster, but she'll require protection. Such roles are left to Natalya and Morgana, with Morgana speeding off and delivering high speed power punches and head butts to anyone who dared to come close. Natalya herself would pick off any stragglers that Morgana missed with the knife that she picked up, courtesy of the student that had picked a fight with Morgana earlier.

Unfortunately, despite how hard the students fought back the Reunion squad, it was still 5 people and one cat against a whole squad, and eventually they got overrun, a lucky hit wounded Sonya on the leg and disabled her movement while Rosalind got ambushed from behind. Lada herself got knocked on the head by the hilt of a sword while rushing towards the two. Istina, Natalya, and Morgana soon suffered a bum rush from lots of Reunion soldiers, quickly getting overwhelmed. In the end, amidst the corpses of the fallen, all students have been restrained and disarmed by Reunion, Morgana was tossed aside over the pile of armaments that have been forcefully taken away from the Ursus girls, pain hitting his feline body as he slowly got up, only to get stepped under the boot of a Soldier. A loud mewl of pain and agony erupted from his vocal chords, eliciting the fury and despair of the student group. Again, Morgana was grateful that he's very durable for a cat. He really is!

"Morgana!" Shouted Anna.

"Dammit! Let me go, you bastards!" Rosalind wrestled to break free, to no avail.

"Urgh! These shitheads will get what's coming to them for animal cruelty! Get off me, you asshole!" Sonya too struggled without any success. The Reunion Soldier cackled over their vain struggle and spoke.

"Hahahaha! This is why you should think twice before trying to take us down, you brats! I'll have to admit that you got fire in you for taking down this many of us. But really, you must be crazy for even thinking of beating us all down with just you five alone!"

"Hey! What do you think we should do? Why don't we just drag these kids back to the academy and be done with it?" A Shielded Soldier piped up.

"No, no. We gotta make an example to these idiots for trying to escape in the first place. And I think I know just the trick…" His eyes shifted into despicable sadism as he lifted his foot off the poor cat and grabbed Sonya's axe, looking towards the feline much to the horror and rage of the Self-Government Group.

"Morgana, no! Please don't do this!" Lada cried out, tears in her eyes.

"Why you… You wouldn't dare!" Rosalind growled out.

"Woah, woah, woah! I know you're a cruel one, but going so far as killing an innocent cat?! Aren't you going way overboard for this?!" An Airborne Soldier called out, making Natalya shift her eyes towards him. Seems some of the ruffians still have a sense of humanity in them.

"Ah, shut up! If anything, this cat is as guilty as those brats for sticking with them! Makes for the perfect show of why they should just stay in school like proper students, wouldn't you say?!"

The mad soldier's ramblings silenced the cohort, making him sigh as he muttered on how he should bail from Reunion if it's gonna be loaded with crackheads like him and the rest. As he stared at Morgana with a sadistic leer with a strong grip on the bloodied axe, Sonya and Rosalind struggled even harder to break free from the Soldiers' tight grips while Lada cried profusely. Natalya looked downwards in resignation, while Anna for some odd reason looked at Morgana intently, as if she's waiting for something.

"Any last words, cat? Oh wait, how would a dumb cat like you be able to speak? How stupid of me!"

"You should call for a medic."

The mad soldier suddenly went silent, as did the whole contingent as he stared at the cat.

"What?"

"Are you deaf? I said you should call for a medic."

"What the f-"

"But not for me."

The next thing he realized, he was suddenly launched upward through a gust of blistering wind, screaming for life before receiving a blow that sent him flying through the skyscraper across him.

- Take Your Time –

If anyone had the right to be scared now, it would be Reunion, and it would be for a good reason.

As for the Self-Government Group, they had a slew of mixed expressions. Sonya and Rosalind were wide eyed, Lada's crying stopped as she looked at the figure before him in awe, Natalya was at a loss of words, and Anna narrowed her eyes. Anna especially as she laid her inquisitive eyes at the figure that appeared before them in a burst of flames. A tall man boasting slender legs and a large muscled torso, dressed in a historical mix of Columbian outlaw and Siracusan noble's attire if she were to voice her opinions. A sleek long pair of pants with a decadent noble's shirt, joined together with a large belt with the letter Z on the front and finished with a cape flowing on its back. His face is masked by his hat, and he bore a smile below his mustache as he wielded a rapier on his large hand. Anna had her suspicions back at the academy when she heard the scream, knowing that a form of Arts was used due to her own affinity. All suspicions went to Morgana since he was the only one outside at the time, but to think he held this much power…

The bookworm's musings were cut short as a pained groan escaped the lips of a man. Rosalind had taken advantage of the shock to break free by stomping the Reunion soldier's foot, slackening his grip before she wrested free and launched a hook at him. The rest of the girls followed suit as they retreated behind Morgana, though Sonya had to rely on Rosalind on support since her leg was wounded. Any goon that came to their senses and came charging towards them were blown away literally by a strong gust of wind. The students can also feel the winds circulating around the feline and his summoned being, but unlike the violent storms that tore through Reunion, it was like a refreshing breeze that flitted through the air, filling them with a revitalizing sense of ease. Though it didn't quell their curiosity.

"Morgana, what the hell is-"

"I can answer that after we deal with these thugs. Can any of you still fight?"

The General found herself irked that Morgana cut her off so abruptly. Normally she'd brush off anything else that is menial, but what she just saw is too big of a deal to even pass off. Knowing Morgana though, she was left with a frown as she sucked her curiosity up and faced her friends as she sat down among the rubble.

"Rosalind, Anna, go back Morgana up."

"U-uh sure! Sorry, kinda lost myself for a second!"

"Right."

Both brawler and bookworm nodded as they moved to Morgana's side, with a newfound vigor and pep with the former and an eyeing interest towards Morgana and his summon for the latter. Sonya soon grinned, knowing the kind of show that cat is gonna treat him to.

"Morgana?"

"What is it?" Morgana turned to face the girl, Reunion goons all snapped out and ready to kill, ignorant of their bleak fate should they do.

"Blow those assholes away."

"As far away as possible."

Sonya can tell that despite his features, he was grinning like hell like she was. A battle cry was bellowed out, calling for blood as Reunion began to charge against the 3-person group. Rosalind, Anna, and Morgana ran forward to face their enemies, and a battle ensued. While Sonya had her wound tended to by Lada, a wound that somehow eased up slightly when Morgana summoned whatever the hell that thing was, she and Natalya beheld a battle like no other. Though, if it were summarized, the whole battle can be summed up in a few comments.

"Wow… Morgana is so strong!"

"Indeed. The odds are really shaping up against the ruffians, wouldn't you agree, Sonya?"

"Can't believe I'm agreeing with you again, but no shit. Those assholes are getting annihilated. Just what kind of thing that cat actually called?!"

And indeed, Reunion is having their butts handed to them big time. With the revelation of his secret power, Morgana has quickly risen as number one on Reunion's kill priority list, which proved to be a big mistake as the feline packed an even bigger punch than ever before, sending away gusts of wind to blow Soldiers onto debris with the visage throwing out punches that sent them reeling. The even more intriguing part is that the ethereal figure can disappear and reappear at will, allowing for some quick surprise attacks. Rosalind and Anna were no slouches in combat, at least by a long shot, but Morgana is on an entirely different level, knowing when to strike with his summon and use his form to weave past attacks and launch headbutts, paw uppercuts, or gusts of wind. It was almost as if he's used to combat on a far greater scale. If so, there's far more to him than meets the eye. Was his combat capability merely attributed to his survival instincts? Was his summon some form of Arts? How long did he train in order to be so powerful?

Such questions circulated in the head of the students throughout the whole battle, ending with the Soldier being blown away towards Rosalind, and got his back crushed with a hard hook that brought him to the ground, unconscious and damaged. Heaving out a breath, Rosalind cheered as she wrapped her hands around Morgana, the poor cat trying to breathe as she hugged him hard, praising him for being such a good cat. Anna in the meantime tried her hardest to pry her off him, and Sonya can only sigh.

"…Really bringing back a scene back from a week ago, huh? Can't believe I'm being all nostalgic."

"It never hurts to recall fond memories, Sonya. It shows that you cherish his company." Natalya fondly smiled at the sight, while Sonya scoffed at her words.

"Can it, Natalya. At least Morgana didn't pass out. Lada, I'm all good to go, right?"

"Yep! You're all patched up!" Lada gave her leader a thumbs up. A slice that was wrapped up in gauze mildly soaked in distilled water. The wound was bloody, but was already mostly closed up when the scout checked it. Still, can't hurt to be cautious.

"Great. Thanks for the patch, by the way. Let's go say hi to our resident magician cat."

With slight difficulty, Sonya stood up, ignoring the slight sting as she walked towards Morgana with Natalya and Lada. The cat in question was heavily breathing, sharply taking in the air as he frowned at Rosalind, the peppy brawler hiding behind Anna as sweat pooled from her with the bookworm covering her face with a sigh. When the General called for the cat, relief washed over her like a tidal wave as they greeted their leader. There were corpses of Reunion soldiers everywhere, and it didn't take long to find out which ones Morgana dealt with, if the loose hoods and large Z-shaped marks on their bodies were any indication

"Hey, Sonya! You saw that brawl earlier, right?! You can't call me crazy after seeing what the little fella did! He's something else entirely! And I thought he was-eek!"

The ramblings were cut short as the outgoing girl got her bear ears pinched by her bookworm friend, not even bothering to look at Morgana since she instinctually felt his glare coming her way like a pissed off uncle. Sonya saved her once more from his scrutiny, albeit her spirits dropped hearing her words.

"Anna, thanks for shutting Rosalind up. You really showed your claws out, huh, Morgana?"

"You can say that. With all those Reunion thugs trying to kill me after what I did, I doubt I can hold back."

"And you clearly held a lot back. Anyway, we gotta move. Even if we just had a brawl, we still have to haul our asses to the southern exit, otherwise we'll turn into splat. Let's grab our weapons and go."

Nodding one time, the girls grabbed all the equipment that was piled up by Reunion, and continued their march. Minutes after the walk, Sonya decided to address the bulging elephant in the room.

"Morgana, I think you owe us an explanation. What the fuck did you just do?"

"I think those are his Arts, Sonya." Anna spoke up, much to Morgana's relief.

"Arts? You trying to tell me that this little guy can pull off Arts that strong? Are you screwing with me right now, Anna?"

"Anna's right, Sonya. What I just did are Arts, nothing more, nothing less." Morgana interjected with his statement, which made the General roll her eyes.

"Morgana, are you even sure that's the Arts Anna keeps telling me about? You don't even look Infected in the slightest."

"It is, but it's sourced differently. I know there are a lot of Arts, and some of those Arts don't always come from harnessing Originium. Mine actually comes from the soul." Morgana answered, really thanking Philemon and Anna for all the knowledge he's gotten so far.

"The soul? Is that how you were able to summon that ethereal duelist, Morgana? What is he, if I may ask?" It was Natalya's turn with a question.

"Something like that. Through my Arts, I can summon him at will, and I can do all sorts of things with him. You saw how I conjured those strong winds, right? That was my Arts at work. As for who he is, I took to calling him a Persona. A manifestation of the Arts and inner self born from my soul. Though, I can't call him Persona over and over, so I call him Zorro. Good name if I dare say so myself."

"Zorro… how did you get those strong Arts, Morgana? It looked so cool!" Lada's question actually made Morgana choose his words carefully.

"You can say it's another innate ability of mine. I don't really know if there's others like me who can do stuff like me, but what I do know is that it's really special."

"Wow! I wonder if I can get those Personas too! I wanna be so strong, I can beat up all the bad guys easy-peasy! The scout happily exclaimed.

"I don't know, Lada. You're already strong with a frying pan! You get those Arts Morgana has and you can turn those bad guys to mush!"

Rosalind's comment made everyone laugh as they walked. Morgana let out a breath of relief as the girls accepted his explanation without so much as a problem, though knowing Anna and Sonya, they might want to know a bit more regarding his Persona. Such questions are ones he hopes he can put on hold until they escape. But for now, they still have a long way to go before they reach the southern exit, and with the Catastrophe looming over their heads, they have no time to waste.

Unbeknownst to them, however, a single soldier had hidden away from the whole battle. The jetpack soldier, and he witnessed his friends get thrown all over by 2 kids and a cat with some insane Arts. Now he was stalking them in hopes of figuring out where they'll go, and in turn, find a way out of this city. He's been with Reunion long enough to know that the organization he once fought for is long gone and is now overrun by maniacs if the Catastrophe is anything to go by. And they plan to celebrate its coming with all this chaos?

Hell no. At this point, he's done with Reunion. Fuck the org, fuck the vengeful idiots, and fuck their now hazy ideology. Honestly he had a few regrets as he continued to stalk them. He may not be able to say hi to his boss anymore from time to time, and he may not be able to see his friends in the Yeti Squadron anymore. He can only hope that they do not succumb to the madness circulating within the whole movement. At this point, he pretty much defected, and he's sure everyone barring the Avengers and the Yeti Squadron wouldn't care.

"Gotta move fast. Catastrophe ain't gonna wait for me, or these kids.

Squad Loadout (Ordered by Rarity)

1. Morgana (6)

2. Sonya (5)

3. Anna (5)

4. Lada (4)

5. Rosalind (4)

6. Natalya (2)

Personas Used

Zorro

Level: 40

Resists: Wind

Weak: Electricity

Trait: Noble Presence (Increases the healing received by all allies by 20%)

Skills:

- Garula

- Magarula

- Diarama

- Mediarama

- Miracle Punch

- Sukunda

- Western Breeze (Restore's 0.1% of allies' HP every second.)

- Mark of Zorro (Wide ranged Heavy Phys attack that afflicts enemies with Rakunda)

2 weeks! Well, time to answer!

GXY-2013: I'm sorry if that part was unsatisfactory. But with such a large crowd before him and the risk of being overheard, wouldn't be a good idea to expose the power of Persona in this time. Plus, I have my own plans for revealing Ren's powers to Rhodes. I promise you this.

kerrowe: I plan for more than just Morgana, I assure you. And every conclusion requires investigation

Rambukala: Of course I will add moments of reprieve, and the side events as well. This chapter you read now is proof of it! I'll be starting with Kazimierz once the Reunion Arc ends.

JeasonDash: Characters, huh? I'll consider it. Happy you enjoyed it, by the way

bahrithariq: Understandable. You just need to pull a few connections. And I know of Priestess, by the way.

Sulphur99: Ah yes. The Valentine nightmares! And yes. I use snooze as well as snort. Call it long exhalations from the nose.

Missingmoney: And with Shadow on the table, things are about to be far more complicated. That's certain. A man thrust between two old workers, one lynx, and one dead, and they both hate each other. One thing's certain, Kal's say can only be overridden by Amiya, and perhaps Ren can use it to his advantage

Windraider: Those public speaking skills will have to be honed hard for this, as well as self-control and Shadow

RealEWF: Plainly speaking, yes. Shadow is now a Persona. A supporter mainly, with his own combat capabilities.

Bloody hell writing this is HARD.

So, to have a recap, it took me the entirety of the time for Rewinding Breeze to pump the chapter meant for this (And claimed Surtr in the meantime), and I'm STILL not done. With how long this would be, I have to split one into 2 chapters meant for the Children of Ursus extra event, one is the one you're reading now, another will be out for who knows when. And most of the time was spent figuring out the whole timeline of CoU before I wrote this down, and it was still hard as balls. To clarify, the Chernobog invasion presumably happened quite a few weeks before the Catastrophe, perhaps only two, or even 3. And the time the USSG escaped was AFTER the Catastrophe happened, leaving them stuck on Chernobog for a few more weeks trying to survive until the Reunion Arc ended, in which they were saved by Rhodes. There's also the case of Zoya, AKA Absinthe who didn't get captured and get jailed in St. Peterheim. No. She found her dad's corpse left on the snow on the courtyard, and presumably left. It was... Hhhrrh.

Well, I say fuck those 10 days for Zima's pack, because I'm pushing the schedule! I'm pretty sure my intent is clear for how I wrote this chapter, so look forward to that. I've always been advised to keep it realistic, and there's no way Morgana will be trusted by the USSG on the day they met, so I'll have to apologize if the half the whole chapter is a flashback. Gotta keep it consistent, which means I also have to rewrite the previous chapter for a bit. Dammit.

Well, in the end, I hope you enjoy this chapter that I wrote for you after 2 weeks. In the meantime, it's the hour of the derby, and the Kazimierz Major has just begun! I didn't get Blemishine, but I got Platinum, which is the next best thing! With the amount of goodies over at Miezcko's Duty-Free Shop, I'm gonna bleed the entire Chamber of Commerce DRY or see it burn to ashes around me like those drugged Sarkaz Knights! Damn you, Czarny...

By the way, how's your banner hunting for my fellow Doctors? Did you get Surtr and Blemishine?

Remember. Take your time.