Chapter 1072: Orange Cats Known for Madness

Chapter 1072 – Orange Cats Known for Madness

Sira leaned back, arms crossed. "So either unrelated, older, or someone trapped her for reasons that didn’t include feeding on her."

Lux’s gaze darkened. "Exactly."

Gula raised her cookie. "Maybe someone just hated her."

Everyone looked at her.

Gula blinked. "What? Sometimes simple answer is answer."

Lux’s mouth curved faintly. "Unfortunately, she may be right."

Aela looked at the cat again. "There are old stories like that. Powerful humans, sorcerers, boundary-walkers. People who could offend demons and mortals equally."

Sira sighed. "Wonderful. Political archaeology with fur."

Naomi looked around. "Anyway, where’s Ely?"

Lullaby hugged her pillow and yawned. "She’s at work."

Lux frowned. "Still?"

Sira looked at him. "Unlike you, some people actually attend normal schedules."

"I attend many schedules."

"Crisis doesn’t count as calendar discipline."

Lux looked offended but had no argument that would survive professional review.

Naomi looked at the cat. "We should wait for Ely then."

Lux nodded. "Yes. But she needs stabilization before that."

Aela stepped closer. "What do you need?"

Lux looked at her. For a second, his expression changed again. Not teasing, not CFO, not seductive menace. Just focused concern.

"Can you heal her?"

Aela’s eyes widened slightly, as if surprised he asked so directly. "I can try."

"I used Dark Healing earlier," Lux said. "It stabilized the physical injuries and mana shock, but I’m afraid to push more. If I overdo it, I might turn her demonic."

Aela reached both hands toward the cat, palms hovering just above the orange fur. "I can help her."

Lux nodded and carefully lowered the cat into Aela’s hands.

The moment Aela touched her, green-gold light bloomed softly between them. This was older, calmer, rooted in life and first songs, in forests that remembered the first breath of elves, in springs that had once carried the sound of creation through leaves.

The cat’s body relaxed slightly.

Aela closed her eyes. "She is fighting."

Lux’s brows drew together. "Against you?"

"No." Aela’s voice softened. "Against everything. Even sleep. Even help."

Naomi whispered, "Can you reach her?"

"I can soothe the vessel first."

Light spread over the cat’s small body. The dusty fur cleaned itself slowly, orange becoming warmer, brighter. Scratches vanished. The thin chest rose with steadier rhythm. A faint white spark pulsed beneath the healing glow, then recoiled, hissing without sound.

Aela’s expression tightened. "She does not trust."

Lux crossed his arms. "She has reasons."

That tone.

The one Lux used when someone had been caged, drained, owned, reduced into function. The anger under his calm was not loud. But it lived close to his Greed. Protection shaped like possession, possession shaped like revenge.

Naomi moved closer to him.

Lux noticed and, without looking down, his hand found hers.

Sira saw it. Her smirk returned faintly, but she did not tease.

Aela continued healing.

The cat’s breathing became smoother.

Then the orange cat’s eyes opened.

Only halfway, too intelligent, too furious, stared directly at Lux.

The cat’s mouth opened. A tiny, weak sound came out. "Meow."

Lux nodded solemnly. "Yes, I’m sure you have complaints."

The cat’s eyes narrowed. Then she passed out again.

Lullaby blinked. "Scary."

Gula tilted her head. "She’s cute."

The orange cat lay in Aela’s arms like a tiny exhausted tyrant, her fur now cleaner after the healing light passed through it, but her expression somehow still carried the spiritual violence of someone who had been imprisoned for centuries and woke up surrounded by chaos.

Which, to be fair, was accurate.

Lux crossed his arms and stared down at the cat. "How is she?"

Aela held the small body carefully, both hands supporting the cat’s ribs and belly as if she were holding something made of glass and old thunder.

"Stable for now," Aela said. "Her body is not failing anymore."

"That sounds like good news with hidden taxes."

"It is good," Aela said gently. "But we should wait for her to open her eyes. It is better if she wakes naturally."

Lux’s gaze narrowed. "And if she wakes unnaturally?"

"You don’t want to know." Aela looked between them, then down at the cat, as if wondering whether the sorcerer inside could hear this and whether centuries of rage were enough preparation for Lux’s household.

Probably not.

No one was prepared for Lux’s household.

Aela stepped toward Lux and carefully offered the orange cat back to him.

Lux blinked. "Why are you giving her to me?"

Aela’s eyes softened with calm certainty. "You are the one she saw."

Lux deadpanned. "Yeah, but why? So she can take out her anger on me?"

Aela paused. Then smiled. "Not really like that."

Lux’s eyes narrowed.

Aela added, "But also like that."

Naomi’s lips twitched.

Lux looked at the ceiling. "Wonderful. I have become emotional punching bag for ancient tower cat."

Aela placed the cat into his arms. Lux accepted her automatically, his hold careful despite his complaint. His hand adjusted under the cat’s small chest, the other supporting her hind legs, and the moment the orange body settled against him, his expression softened by a fraction.

Naomi noticed.

Lux could pretend all he wanted, but his hands were honest.

Aela continued, "She will need explanation. She needs to know what happened. You can give it to her best."

Lux looked at the unconscious cat.

Then at Naomi.

Aela followed his gaze and asked softly, "Or... do you want Naomi to explain it to the cat?"

Lux’s head snapped up. "No."

Naomi raised a brow.

Lux looked back at the cat and tightened his hold protectively. "I’m going to explain to this cat. She can attack me if she’s mad."

Naomi’s expression softened.

That was such a Lux answer. Protective. Somehow romantic in the worst possible way.

Sira leaned back with her arms crossed, watching him with amusement and something gentler underneath. "Taking responsibility?"

Lux scoffed. "I broke her prison. It is basic post-demolition customer service."

Gula lifted her cookie again. "I heard orange cats are crazier than black cats."

Everyone turned to her.

Gula blinked. "What?"

Lullaby nodded sleepily. "I heard that too."

Aela looked confused. "Are orange cats known for madness?"

Naomi said, "It’s just a joke."

Gula looked at the orange cat in Lux’s arms. "But maybe true. She was a tower. That’s already extra."

Lux glanced down at the cat. The cat’s whiskers twitched. "Let’s see about that."