It took more than a few attempts and a lot of convincing, but eventually, Robert got Jamlick to follow him. They walked in silence, cutting across the back field of the school until they reached his house, — Robert glanced around to be sure no one was home.
Jamlick folded his arms, skeptical. "This better not be some elaborate prank. I'm already regretting skipping lunch for this."
Robert smirked. "Trust me. You won't be hungry after what you're about to see."
He took a breath. The air around him shifted as he focused, summoning the energy inside him. In his mind, he pictured a familiar animal he had see in the streets
"Carnate, cat."
A flicker of blue light burst outward from Robert's palm, swirling briefly before settling into form. There, sitting calmly on the mat, was a cat—sleek, gray, with eyes that shimmered like polished emeralds. It blinked lazily, then started licking its paw.
Jamlick stared.
Robert lowered his hand, the grin on his face fighting to stay restrained.
Jamlick's mouth hung open. "What… how…?"
He stepped forward cautiously, as if the cat might vanish if he moved too fast.
"A dog earlier, now a cat?" he sputtered. "This is—this is—what even is this?!"
He looked between Robert and the creature, trying to reconcile everything he thought he knew about the world. His mind screamed, his logic short-circuited, and for a moment he just stood there, completely unhinged by wonder.
Robert couldn't help it. A short laugh burst from him before he quickly stifled it behind his hand. "Sorry," he said between chuckles. "It's just… where I come from, this is normal. Basic, even."
Jamlick snapped his head toward him. "Normal?! You call changing animals out of thin air normal?!"
The cat meowed in protest as if offended by Jamlick's tone.
Robert crouched beside it, scratching it gently behind the ears. "In my world, we call it 'carnation.' Manifesting things from Gana—energy. It's part of our lives. Everyone learns it at the Academy."
He paused, watching Jamlick closely. "I knew showing you would be the only way you'd believe me."
Jamlick didn't respond. He was still frozen, eyes flicking between the cat, the mat, and Robert like he was witnessing the start of a dream he couldn't quite trust.
Robert looked down at the cat, then whispered in his mind, "I hope you don't hate me, Charles. I had to use your favorite pet to prove a truth we both share."
The wind stirred the trees gently as silence settled again.
Jamlick finally exhaled. "Okay… I believe you."
He ran a hand through his hair, eyes still wide. "But you owe me one explanation for every law of nature you've just broken."
Robert stood, dusting off his hands. "Fair enough. Where do you want me to start?"
Jamlick looked at him, this time not with suspicion, but with something closer to curiosity—tinged with awe.
"Start with the part where you're not crazy."
Robert smiled.