The altar of the sacred ground was solemn and majestic, with a twelve-meter-tall statue of the Cat God standing in its center.
The statue was carved from some kind of white jade, depicting the Cat God seated in a very formal posture.
Its eyes were two enormous yellow gemstones that shimmered with a mysterious luster under the light.
More than twenty Candidate Saintesses had lined up, all dressed in identical white robes with gold trim.
Phyllis stood in the middle row, clearly feeling the tense atmosphere that filled the surroundings.
“Silence.”
The High Priestess presiding over the ceremony was an elderly Catkin woman, her gray-white fur meticulously groomed.
Her blue eyes swept across the Candidate Saintesses.
This was Yishabeila, the High Priestess of the Cat People, one of the three great priestesses of the sacred ground, and a Ragdoll cat.
Holding a staff tipped with a gemstone, she spoke in a resonant voice:
“Today, you will attempt for the first time to establish a mental link with Lord Cat God through meditation. This is not a competition; there are no rankings. Success depends on your devotion, your talent, and the will of Lord Cat God.”
The Candidate Saintesses remained silent.
Yishabeila looked around at everyone.
“Now, step forward in order and sit cross-legged before the statue to meditate. After that, the time is yours. Remember, keep your heart pure and do not force it.”
The first to step forward was Bella.
The chestnut-haired cat girl took a deep breath, sat down on one of the three cushions directly in front of the statue, placed her hands folded on her lap, and closed her eyes.
Time passed minute by minute.
After ten minutes, Bella opened her eyes, looking somewhat disappointed.
She rose, bowed to the statue, and silently stepped aside.
Obviously, succeeding on the first attempt was nearly impossible.
Then came the second, the third… Some persisted for twenty minutes, while others gave up in less than five minutes.
When Mia went up, she was clearly very nervous.
After sticking it out for fifteen minutes, she also opened her eyes, shook her head, and stepped down.
“Phyllis.”
The High Priestess called her name.
Phyllis took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The cushion still retained the warmth of the previous person.
She skillfully adjusted her posture, sat down, and looked up at the statue of the Cat God.
The yellow gemstone eyes seemed truly alive, quietly looking down at her.
“Begin.”
The High Priestess’s voice came.
Phyllis closed her eyes and adjusted her breathing according to the method taught earlier, entering meditation.
‘Respond to me, Lord Cat God!’
Her mind gradually emptied, and the sounds of the outside world faded away…
After an unknown amount of time, Phyllis felt as if she were floating in a warm darkness.
In the distance, there seemed to be a light, very faint, but definitely there.
She “swam” toward the light.
Then she arrived at a space where everything above and below was void.
‘I must have reached some kind of mental space now, right?’
For Phyllis, who had previously experimented through the Master-Servant Contract, this was not unfamiliar.
“Who is it?”
A voice sounded.
“Lord Cat God?”
Phyllis responded.
“I am Phyllis, a Candidate Saintess of the Cat People.”
“Phyllis… I know you…”
The Cat God’s voice carried a hint of interest.
“A soul from another world, very interesting. That’s why I gave you the blessing of contract immunity back then.”
“Huh? Lord Cat God knows me?”
Phyllis was a bit nervous.
“Don’t be nervous. Come, come here…”
Golden energy emerged, surrounding Phyllis.
Then this golden energy carried Phyllis forward at great speed.
After an unknown time, Phyllis arrived before a huge figure.
It was a giant cat radiating a soft golden light, lying curled up lazily in the void.
Every strand of its fur seemed woven from light, and its yellow eyes gazed at Phyllis gently.
An oversized orange tabby cat!
“Let me see…”
The Cat God’s voice echoed directly in Phyllis’s consciousness.
“Hmm… You look very cute in this form. Much better than that previous soul.”
“Eh! Why do you know that?”
Phyllis asked in confusion.
“Because I was the one who helped you reincarnate into the Cat People. Due to some accident, the race you belonged to in this world has already gone extinct, so I could only let you reincarnate as a Cat Person.”
The Cat God waved a paw.
“Don’t worry, this world has also seen reincarnators. There’s no need to be confused about this matter. What’s important is who you are now and who you choose to become.”
A brief silence.
“Then, Phyllis, what do you seek by connecting with me?”
The Cat God asked.
“I wish to seek your guidance, Lord Cat God. Regarding… regarding my relationship with Carola Brujah, the Blood Princess of the Blood Tribe.”
Phyllis asked respectfully.
“Relationship? What relationship? That Master-Servant Contract you signed? Didn’t my blessing help you become immune to her forced commands?”
The Cat God’s eyes showed confusion.
“We… we love each other,” Phyllis said, gathering her courage.
“Although the process was very complicated, it’s real. I want to know, after I become a Saintess, will my union with Carola receive your approval?”
This time the silence was longer.
It lasted so long that Phyllis almost thought she would be expelled from this mental space, when the Cat God’s voice sounded again:
“Interesting.”
“So, Lord Cat God, you agree?”
Phyllis asked.
“Of course. To me it’s just a small matter. The Blood Tribe live long lives, but their emotions are often obsessive. She chose you, so she must have taken a liking to something special in your soul.”
The Cat God’s voice carried a hint of amusement.
‘Something special?’
Phyllis herself didn’t know what was special about her soul besides being from another world.
Oh, and also her blood was magical, with many special effects.
“For example, the contrast between that masculine resilience in your soul and the innocent appearance of your current body?”
The Cat God tilted its head.
“Or perhaps the adorable way you always pretend to be calm even when you’re shy? Who knows.”
Phyllis felt that if the Cat God kept teasing her, her shy consciousness would evaporate right there.
“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you,” the Cat God said, dropping its playful tone.
“Since you’ve come here, I’ll give you a gift — a ‘Revelation’.”
A thin beam of golden light shot from between the Cat God’s brows and entered Phyllis’s forehead.
“When you need to make an important choice, this Revelation may help you see clearly. Remember, Phyllis, your path is yours to decide — whether you want to become a Saintess or choose something else. The Cat People will always be your support. You don’t have to be bound by your identity.”
Phyllis felt a warm current spreading in her consciousness. She bowed her head respectfully.
“Thank you.”
“Go back. I should meet with the other Cat People.”
The Cat God’s voice gradually drifted away.
“Next time we meet, remember to tell me your story…”
The moment her consciousness returned, Phyllis opened her eyes wide.
All around was silence.
All the Candidate Saintesses, including High Priestess Yishabeila, were staring at her.
“Phyllis, you…”
Mia stood not far away, her eyes wide.
Obviously, from the way Phyllis had meditated just now, she had successfully established contact with the Cat God.
“I… I succeeded, meow!”