As Kai was walking back to his room, he noticed a cat rummaging through a pile of trash near the corner of a building.
"Eh… a cat?" he muttered, staring at the still-faced feline. Then, almost to himself, he added,"Wait… the cat… can talk? Am I losing it?"
"What's wrong, Meow? Doesn't your cat usually talk?"
Kai jumped, his voice barely above a whisper."Th-This… the cat can really talk?"He thought to himself, "Man… I might actually need to see a psychiatrist."
Shaking his head, he turned and walked on as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Meow… meow… hey, you… you… you… that one… you… meow."
Kai turned back again, responding in a quiet but slightly firm tone, his brows furrowed, eyes reflecting his effort to understand what he was hearing."What? Annoying… normally cats can't talk. And besides, if someone saw this, they'd probably think I'm crazy for talking to a cat."
Ruby looked confused but spoke up anyway."So… your cat can't talk either, huh? Meow?"
Kai, still walking, turned back to the cat with an exhausted, bewildered expression."Listen, cat… normally, cats shouldn't be able to talk. Got it?"
"Got it, Meow. So… can I follow you home? Meow."
"Uh… sure. Fine, I guess."
Ruby followed Kai, thinking to herself,"Who is this person… he seems so sad, so bored, so gloomy."
Kai walked past some closed shops and finally arrived at his room. He opened the door and said,"This is my room… make yourself at home."
"Wow… it's pretty empty, huh, Meow." Ruby paused for a moment, then continued,"Aren't you surprised? Meow."
"No… maybe it's because I watch too many cartoons and play too many games. But… honestly, I feel glad. Things like this happen and remind me how vast the universe really is. There could be things we've never seen in games or cartoons. I guess it's not so strange… because those stories are often inspired by legends humans once encountered and adapted."
Ruby listened quietly, then spoke seriously."I'm a human from the planet Bevda. There, humans can transform into animals. I can turn into a human, but I'm half-human, half-animal, Meow. And I can also become a cat."
Kai closed the door and stood calmly, speaking in a composed voice."So… it's all real. I want to see it… I want to know… I want to understand what lies beyond human perception. I want to know the truth… I want to see it all."
Ruby looked up at him, calm and steady, and asked,"Do you want to come with us, Meow?"
"Yeah… I'll go with you."
Ruby then asked,"What about your family, Meow? You're just leaving them?"
Kai replied, his expression heavy with sadness, as if abandoned."My father… he passed away. My mother… she remarried. I'm grown, so I can take care of myself. My mother's life is good… comfortable. I'm alone."
Ruby looked at him kindly and said softly,"I see… Meow. Alright then. Follow me. I'll take you away from this world. But I should warn you… our journey has a purpose, Meow."
"A purpose? What is it? And… does that mean there's more than one of you?"
Ruby nodded."Yes… there's someone else. His name is Mas. He's from the planet Titan. He and I are traveling to find the Ruler of the Eastern Continent, Meow."
"The Eastern Continent? Wait… you mean the universe has continents and directions?" Kai asked, puzzled, following Ruby out of the city into a vast field surrounded by forest.
Ruby led the way in her black cat form, blue eyes shining, and explained,"Yes… there are directions. Without them, space travel would be impossible. And the universe you know… is nothing like the one we know. The space continents are vast. I don't know them all… but each continent is ruled by Rulers. And those Rulers… their powers are beyond imagination, Meow."