Chapter 141 – The Knot of Claws.

The chaos in the master bedroom only began to settle when Aurelia-Elysia threw a loose gray cotton tunic over the tiger girl's head.

Mai put on the garment with distaste, grumbling that the fabric scratched her shoulders and tugging at the hem of the tunic to make room for her striped tail, which kept flicking curiously from side to side.

Diana shooed Kael and Zarek downstairs, locked the bedroom door to put on combat trousers and her black leather coat, and marched down the steps with resolute strides.

The emergency council assembled around the dining room table.

Diana sat at the head of the table, propping her elbows on the wood, the Crown of Sovereignty gleaming upon her brow.

To her left, Rhea occupied the chair with the rigid posture of someone poised to draw her Dragon Daggers at the slightest suspicious twitch. Across the table, Mai sat cross-legged atop the wooden bench, barefoot, tugging at the tunic's sleeves with her teeth while eyeing the platters of bread with sparkling amber eyes.

Kael, Aurelia-Elysia, and Seraphina took the remaining seats, watching the scene in tense silence. Zarek remained leaning against the kitchen doorframe, two of his chitin hands holding an apple while his two primary hands crossed over his chest.

Diana rapped her knuckles against the oak table.

“Start talking, Mai,” Diana said, her voice carrying her customary cool authority. “Who are you, why were you roaming the hills in the body of a tiger, and why did you wake up naked in my bed?”

***

Mai released the tunic sleeve, patted the round tiger ears atop her head, and snatched a piece of bread from the basket with her sun-kissed hand, taking a bite before answering around a mouthful:

“I belong to the Amber Fang Clan from the southern ravines of the Third Circle,” Mai said casually, swallowing the bite of bread. “Three months ago, I entered a Level 48 dungeon alone and took a direct hit from a lava colossus to my chest. The monster's mana corrupted my spiritual pathways and I fell into Bestial Regression.”

Seraphina looked up from behind her spectacles, nodding thoughtfully:

“Bestial Regression... It is a neurological condition that affects certain tribes of humanoid beasts when subjected to severe mana trauma. The body adopts a complete animal form to protect vital organs, but the rational mind remains locked beneath feral instinct.”

“Exactly what the book girl said.” Mai pointed at Seraphina with a chunk of cheese. “I spent ninety days wandering the Mushroom Woods with my head stuck in beast mode. I only hunted, ate raw meat, and slept under mushrooms, unable to return to human form.”

Mai turned her face toward Diana, her amber eyes regarding the Commander with unabashed bluntness:

“Then yesterday morning, you walked through the woods. Your jacket was drenched in the concentrated scent of Moon Lotus and Moon-Herb of extreme purity. That aroma cleared the airways in my snout, and the cool mana radiating from that circlet on your head untangled the knot locking my brain.”

Mai rested her chin on her drawn-up knees:

“The scent and your mana cured my mind. I followed you here because my instinct knew that by your side, my body would burn off the remaining corrupted mana. When I slept in that warm bed with you tonight, my flesh shed the tiger form and returned to normal.”

***

Rhea did not swallow the explanation so easily.

The wolf girl slammed her hand onto the table, ears flattened hard against her skull:

“And why did you have to sleep naked clinging to Diana's neck?!”

Mai looked at Rhea, tilting her head as her tiger ears twitched, as though the answer were the most obvious thing in the world:

“Because when we shift from beast form to human form, clothes don't magically spawn on our bodies, jumpy wolf. I returned to my natural flesh while I was asleep. And clan felines sleep curled against the leader who broke their curse to keep their blood flowing warm.”

Mai sniffed the air in Rhea's direction, wrinkling her nose in a brief scowl:

“And why are you glaring daggers at me? You smell like rain and pepper. Looks like you're about to bite me any second.”

“If you touch that bed again, I won't just bite you!” Rhea snarled, her claws scraping across the table's edge. “I'll slice those round ears right off your head!”

“Try your luck, stray!” Mai bared her pointed fangs, her striped tail lashing against the back of the bench. “I have twelve hundred health and I punch with black fire!”

Diana slammed her open palm onto the table with such force that the ceramic plates leaped into the air.

The two obsidian horns on the Commander's head discharged an azure snap of 237 Intelligence.

“BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP RIGHT NOW!” Diana ordered in a harsh bark.

Silence gripped the room in the exact same second. Rhea crossed her arms and turned her face away with a sulking pout, while Mai stuffed the rest of her bread into her mouth, chewing slowly under the leader's stern glare.

***

Diana activated [Command Eye], analyzing Mai's status sheet with surgical calm:

The girl was Level 45, possessed 1,200 hit points, 48 Strength, and an unarmed combat class dealing black fire damage. She was no treacherous mercenary. She was a tribal brawler of rustic honor who observed the traditional blood-debt customs of the Third Circle's clans.

In battle, an unarmed combatant with 1,200 HP would provide mid-range shock support that would lift the brunt off Kael's shoulders and carve out perfect flanking angles for Rhea and Diana.

Diana rested her elbows on the table, fixing Mai directly in the eye:

“Mai.”

“Speak, sweet scent.”

Diana ignored the pet name with a measured sigh.

“You have no money, no gear, and your clan is hundreds of kilometers from here in the southern ravines,” Diana said with logical precision. “The Arcane Greed Faction has a stone manor, abundant food, and pure laboratory potions.”

Diana pointed with her black claw toward the floor:

“If you wish to stay on this property and hunt alongside my team in the Level 50 rifts, the rules are simple: you obey my tactical combat orders without question, you wear decent clothes at all times, and you never step into my room again without knocking. In return, you receive protection, take part in the thirty percent loot division, and gain custom-forged gear.”

Mai looked at Diana, then at the lavish spread of food, at Kael's volcanic shield, and at the solid stone walls of the Bastion.

The tiger girl broke into a broad, wild grin, thumping both clenched fists against her chest:

“Deal made, Commander! Wherever you point me to hit, I'll smash!”

Zarek let out a low chuckle by the kitchen doorway, lightly clapping with four hands: “Another heavy-hitting brawler for the ranks. Our arena bracket is going to be a slaughter.”

Diana straightened her black leather coat, rising from the table.

The vault held an untouched 480 Silver Coins (48 Gold Coins). The squad now counted six elite members alongside Zarek's support.

The domestic turmoil was contained. And the final preparations for conquering the frontier of the Third Circle pressed forward unwaveringly.