Kamar-Taj Training Arena
Garfield found the Ancient One in the training arena, calmly correcting a group of apprentices.
The moment she turned, Garfield wrapped himself around her leg and began rubbing his head against her.
"Garfield… what are you doing?" Ancient One sighed with a smile.
"Hugging the thigh," Garfield said honestly. "I heard it increases friendliness."
"…Friendliness +1," She conceded, patting his head.
With no emergencies at hand, Garfield soon grew bored and wandered toward a sunlit balcony. He sprawled out on the warm stone, legs splayed, soaking in sunlight until he was nearly purring.
Meanwhile, Pandora slipped quietly out of his soul and floated toward the Ancient One.
"Pandora," the Ancient One said knowingly.
They exchanged a hushed conversation… one that Garfield, sun-dazed and disinterested, didn't bother listening in on. Whatever secrets they were plotting could wait.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
That evening, Garfield stayed at Kamar-Taj for dinner, ate until he couldn't move, and then without lingering, opened a portal and returned to Carter Manor.
Peggy was delighted to see him.
She scooped up the fat orange cat the moment he stepped onto the carpet, covering him with kisses and hugging him tightly.
"My little Garfield!" She laughed. "Did you miss me?"
Then she bathed him, brushed his fur until it shone, wrapped him in a soft towel, and carried him to bed like a treasured royal pet.
Garfield fell asleep in her arms, warm, content, and smug.
The Next Morning
The Carter Manor chef, rose before dawn to prepare a grand breakfast, freshly baked bread, sausages, eggs, warm milk, and a plate specifically for Garfield.
After eating enough for three humans, Garfield stretched and began his daily patrol of his territory.
Carter Manor was vast and elegant, with wide lawns and old trees. Wandering around, Garfield soon detected something unusual, faint traces of honey-sweet magic and defensive enchantments.
"Hmph," Garfield sniffed. "Dumbledore. Only he leaves magic that smells like honey and old books."
Some of the protective wards had worn thin or cracked with age. Garfield flicked his tail, summoned his magic, and repaired them one by one.
Spells and sigils glowed beneath his paws as he mended the estate's defenses to pristine condition.
Finally, a light orange protective barrier rose into the sky, shimmering with a glowing cat paw emblem.
"Perfect," Garfield said, extremely satisfied.
Garfield hopped onto Carl, who dutifully carried him to the barn. The moment Garfield appeared, the animals bowed in unison.
"His Majesty, King Garfield I has returned!!!"
Garfield raised his head with imperial dignity.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Old James Carter's Study
Still riding Carl, Garfield made his way to the study. Old James was by the window, glasses perched on his nose, reading a classified report with a troubled expression.
Garfield signaled Carl forward, then leaped from the dog's head directly onto the desk.
Old James nearly had a heart attack.
"Wha~?! Garfield?! You scared me half to death!"
Garfield flicked his tail. "Old James, with that mentality, how do you expect to deal with supernatural crises?"
"By using ability, of course," Old James muttered.
Old James rubbed his eyes.
Slowly… very slowly… he pointed at Garfield with a trembling finger.
"Y-Y-You spoke!!"
Garfield rolled his eyes, grabbed the report, and read it casually. "Obviously I can speak. I'm not some low-end magical creature."
He scanned the page. "Hmm… werewolves. And the leader is… Lucian?"
He frowned. Lucian? That Lucian? The one from the Underworld story?
The world, Garfield concluded, was far more complicated than expected.
"You know this Lucian?" James asked quickly.
"Of course. Leader of the European werewolves. His mother was human, bitten by a werewolf and survived, gave birth to him. Very strong kid."
"Long ago, werewolves were enslaved by vampires as daytime guards. Later Lucian fell in love with Viktor's daughter, can't remember her name. Forbidden romance."
"Viktor burned his own daughter alive, Lucian rebelled, and the werewolves broke free. They'll rise again sooner or later."
James hurriedly wrote down every word. "Is there anything else?"
"Yes," Garfield replied, "but I'm not telling you. Knowing too much will only get you killed."
James frowned. "I am not afraid of danger."
"What about Peggy? And your son?"
"…"
Then James exhaled. "As nobles of the British Empire… we should shoulder our responsibilities."
"Successive governments already have secret agreements with these races," Garfield said. "Unless you hold military power and national influence, you're better off doing exactly what you're doing now."
Garfield yawned. "Oh, and humans aren't alone in the universe."
James stiffened. "Wait, Garfield I have something else to ask you."
"What?"
Garfield sat on top of Lucian's file, tail flicking lazily, watching Old James Carter rummage through his bookshelf.
With a thud, the old man slammed a particular shelf click and a hidden door creaked open.
"Ah-ha!" James muttered.
He disappeared inside, sending clouds of dust swirling out like an ancient curse. Garfield wrinkled his nose.
"Ugh. Dust. My mortal enemy."
Moments later, James emerged with a thick, filthy file bag. He smacked it against his sleeve, more dust exploded.
"Haa~CHOO! Old man! Have mercy!" Garfield sneezed violently.
James ignored him, opened the folder, checked the documents to make sure they were the right ones, then handed it to Garfield.
"Look at this. These symbols… what do they mean? Our department searched every historical record and found nothing. We only discovered these markings in pyramids and other major ancient structures across the world."
Garfield glanced down… Aiya… I go… this looks like ghost script.
He tilted the file.
He flipped it.
He squinted at it.
"This looks familiar," Garfield admitted. "But… I don't remember where I've seen it."
Pandora popped out of his soul, tiny form perched on Garfield's head like an irritated queen.
She bonked him with a stick. "Useless Cat!" she scolded. "That's Cybertronian."
Garfield's eyes widened. "Ah?! Panda Godzilla, how do you know, OW!"
Pandora smacked him again. "Call me that again and I'll roast your fur off, smelly cat!"
Garfield rubbed his head. "I was just saying it's impressive you recognized it…"
"Hmph!"
Garfield took a closer look. With Pandora's hint, everything snapped into place.
He tapped one of the symbols, an emblem shaped like a stylized knight.
"This one," Garfield said, "Is a knight insignia from King Arthur's era. Represents rank. A few knights back then were… beyond human."
"And yes, Merlin did summon a dragon to help Arthur win a war. That part is true. But personally, I don't like the story."
Old James blinked. "So… there's more hidden behind the King Arthur legends?"
Garfield nodded solemnly.
"There is only one true King Arthur. The flat-chested, dumb-haired one we all know and love. Also a proud member of our Great Foodie Empire."
James squinted. "What is the Foodie Empire? Is it like Atlantis?"
Garfield sighed. "No. Foodies are people who love eating. 'Empire' is just a metaphor. Big group, shared hobby."
"If you like bars, you belong to the Bar-Drinker Empire. Simple."
Old James finally understood, nodding slowly.
He pulled out more folders unsolved mysteries, supernatural anomalies, ancient puzzles and one by one slid them toward Garfield like a student begging his teacher.
"Nope." Garfield shoved them back.
"But~"
"Knowing too much isn't good for you, Old James. I know you have a strong desire for the truth. So let's make a deal, before I leave this place for good, I'll answer the big question you've always wanted to ask."
James thought for a long moment… then nodded.
"Thank you for the warning. I accept. But Garfield… why did you appear in my home at all?"
Garfield spread his paws wide. "Fate, Old James Carter. Pure fate."
"You must've done something extraordinarily good in your past life to be blessed with my presence."
Old James blinked. "Are you… a king?"
Garfield's expression turned regal. "Yes. Address me properly, King Garfield Pando Godzilla."
"Pand~what?"
But before James could process anything, Garfield hopped off the desk and padded toward the door.
Today had been unexpectedly enlightening.
Werewolves, vampires… and now pillars of ancient cybernetic civilizations woven into Earth's history.
"This world," Garfield murmured, "Is going to get real lively."
Garfield opened a portal, and a sudden surge of meaning rippled through the air as an astonishing new world unfolded before him.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
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