After an hour, all the preparations were finally complete.
Katerina, now sporting bright blond hair, looked like a living Barbie doll.Her flawless proportions and impeccable beauty were accentuated by striking blue eyes and full lips — impossible to hide even under layers of makeup.
Next to her stood her miniature copy.Little Grace, dressed in a simple white dress, beamed with excitement.She had always loved playing dress-up back in Lutece, the capital of the Province of Light.Now, after a proper rest, a healthy blush had returned to her chubby cheeks, and an infectious smile lit up her face.
Gray clung to his mother's leg and refused to move an inch away.Though he had relaxed a little in the presence of his mother and sister, he remained extremely sensitive.Black cat ears poked from his dark hair, and a small fluffy tail swayed nervously behind him, making him resemble a lost kitten.
"Brother Alex is so cute!" chirped Grace, skipping around them, admiring their new appearances.
"You're cute too, Anna," whispered Gray shyly, studying his sister's new look.
The sweet atmosphere was broken by the sudden appearance of a tall male figure emerging from behind a tree.The children stared in shock — even the usually composed Katerina widened her eyes in surprise.
Cassia — or rather, Cassius now — had cut off her long hair, replacing it with a classic masculine haircut.She wore a simple white shirt tucked into khaki trousers, looking every bit like an ordinary young man.Yet her sharp feline features lent her an exotic allure.Her determined violet eyes emphasized her dangerous yet mesmerizing charisma.If any unmarried women had seen Cassius in this form, their knees would have buckled instantly, yearning to fall into the arms of this handsome youth.
"Fufufu, Cassius, have you traded your assassin's career for that of a heartbreaker?" Katerina teased melodically."I must admit, if I hadn't developed an immunity to handsome men watching my little devil grow up, even my heart might have skipped a beat at your sight. Fufufu."
"Lady, you're so cruel! This was your order!!!" Cassia wailed, wishing she could sink into the earth from embarrassment.
"Fufufu, I'm not your lady anymore — I'm your beloved wife, remember? Have you already forgotten our sacred vow? Fufufu," Katerina teased mercilessly, lost in her own world of mischief.
The children gaped at Cassius, mouths open wide, while "Cassius" blushed so hard she resembled a ripe tomato.
"Cassi, is that you?" Grace gasped — earning her the first and final warning from her mother.In her shock, the girl had forgotten about the "game" they were playing.
Gray, too, stared wide-eyed but wisely chose to remain silent.
"Yes, dear, it's me.From now on, you must call me Father," Cassius said, masking her discomfort with firm kindness.She understood the importance of getting the children used to their new roles before they entered any crowded place.
Sensing it was time for serious talk, Katerina gathered the children and explained:
"Kids, it's time for us to move.We'll fly for about a week until we reach the borders of the Magic Empire.After that, we'll have to dismount and continue on horseback."
She didn't burden them with the full scope of the dangers ahead — that was a burden she would share only with Cassius.The lands of the Magic Empire were more densely populated and heavily guarded.Remaining unnoticed would require them to travel a significant distance on foot.
Katerina was certain Adam had already sent detailed reports to the Senate of the Roman Empire — including descriptions of her snowy owl.The Senate, in turn, would have distributed this information through diplomatic channels, hoping to snare the "threat" early.In such circumstances, Snowy would no longer be able to travel with them openly.She planned to send her trusted bird off alone to create a diversion while maintaining a magical link to guide her back.
Thus, their journey continued, driven by their desperate hope to leave the continent of Alaz behind.Despite the hardships, the days spent riding the magical owl passed swiftly.Together, they marveled at the beauty of nature, observed the colorful wildlife, and each evening camped carefully to avoid exhausting the children.
The towering trees thinned gradually, giving way to shrubs and grasses.Soon, the border of the Magic Empire would be within reach.
One early evening, just as the sun began its slow descent, the travelers spotted a thin column of smoke in the distance, lazily curling upward into the sky — a clear sign of a settlement.
Descending from their snowy owl, the family of four headed toward the smoke.They muddied their clothes to appear as weary travelers who had spent long days lost in the wilderness.
Approaching the village, they found a humble hamlet of no more than five families.Simple wooden houses with thatched roofs clustered together, surrounded by tidy vegetable gardens.Children chased ducks across the green fields, and a few men stood talking nearby.
The peacefulness was almost tangible.
An elderly man, fit and spry despite his years, approached them without a trace of suspicion.Either bandits were unheard of here — or the sight of small children had earned them some immediate trust.
"Good day, elder. My name is Cassius, and this is my wife, Luvia," Cassius introduced, gesturing to Katerina.
"Pleasure, pleasure," the old man beamed warmly."I'm Marius.Not often we get noble guests out here.You look worn out.Did you lose your way in the Nightmare Forest?"
"We come from far away," Cassius said gravely,"hoping to cross the Magic Empire to reach Stormdale Port.Unfortunately, a pack of man-eating wolves attacked us en route.We had to abandon our caravan to save our lives.We seek directions to the nearest border town or village — and perhaps an animal we could purchase for the children."
"No problem, no problem," Marius chuckled."We can spare you a donkey — not fast, but sturdy.For now, come in and rest.I'll introduce you to everyone."
"Thank you kindly, Elder.We only have a few Roman dinars left — I hope that's acceptable?"Cassius feigned the role of a desperate father, willing to spend his last coins for his family's safety.
"No worries, no worries.Business can wait.Come, come — my wife will get you something to eat," Marius said, leading them to a small cottage.
At the door sat an elderly woman, carefully shaping clay on a simple foot-powered potter's wheel.
"Mama, why does the old man repeat everything?" Grace whispered innocently.
"Darling, don't be rude.Important things are worth repeating," Katerina said hastily,bowing apologetically.
"Ahahaha, it's fine, it's fine.Even the little rascals here ask me that!" Marius laughed heartily.
They sat down for a humble meal, and conversation with the old woman soon revealed more.
It turned out that Marius's father had once been a Roman merchant who had fathered a child with a village girl — then vanished.Marius had been raised by a kind neighbor and now lived peacefully, raising grandchildren who dreamed of becoming heroes.
When Katerina carefully inquired about local border patrols, the old woman assured her they were well protected — a local youth, a relative, served among the soldiers and ensured their safety.
"Only three days ago, soldiers came by," the old woman added."They said there's a devil roaming the land — stealing children at night.They call it the Herald of Darkness.They say it's destined to destroy humanity.Terrifying stuff — but surely he wouldn't bother with a humble village like ours."
Gray, who had been eating porridge quietly, choked.Tears sprang to his eyes as fear twisted his little face.He ran to his mother and buried himself in her side.
"Don't worry, child.Such monsters wouldn't come here," the old woman said kindly, unaware of the storm she had stirred.
Katerina soothed her son silently, stroking his hair.Her heart burned with anger — but she masked it behind a polite smile.
"He's been very scared ever since the wolf attack," Katerina explained calmly."But he'll recover with time."
She then shrewdly suggested:
"Since you have a relative in the border town, perhaps you could write him a letter?It would help us pass the checkpoint without too much suspicion."
"Of course, of course!" the old woman agreed eagerly."Ludka will write to him.And we'll ask him to look after you, too."
After heartfelt thanks, Katerina led her little family to the barn where they would spend the night.
The barn was clean and dry, with fresh straw spread across the floor.A covered lantern cast a warm, gentle light over a simple mattress of hay and cloth — a peaceful place where the weary travelers could finally rest.