Jesse walked through town, waving and smiling at its citizens as they continued work on their homes. The Admin- Romeo- had really done a number on the place, destroying and distorting buildings and homes and businesses to his whims. It was a wonder people had already been able to readjust, mostly, to Jesse being, well, Jesse again. The Admin has done awful things in his name, and it had taken a lot of work to get people comfortable around him again. His friends had been easiest to win back- they knew him best, after all.

Lost in thought, the sound of frantic footsteps on cobblestone behind him didn't register until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Jesse, Sir!" Radar's voice shook him from his thinking, and Jesse turned to face his friend.

"Radar! Hey! What's up?"

"Not too much- just a little paperwork. Oh! You've also got a few requests! Someone on the edge of town needs some more dark oak, was wondering if you could help them with that. And I think Nell sent one, asking you to check out her new statue." Radar fidgeted with the clipboard in his hands, flipping paper up to check what was written underneath. "And Lukas sent a letter, too. He was wondering if you could visit him, either sometime today or tomorrow? Wants to talk about something, didn't specify."

"Thanks, Radar." Jesse hummed, making mental note of things to do. He'd been getting requests near nonstop, but that wasn't an issue. So what if he wasn't getting as much sleep? People needed him, that was way more important.

It'd only been a week or two since Romeo had been ousted, there was still a lot left to fix. "I think I'll head over now- no point in waiting around, right? Whatever he wants to talk about is probably important."

Radar gave him a look, something knowing, before shrugging. "Sounds good. I can help out with a few of the requests, like the wood, but others will have to wait for you."

"Thanks again, Radar."

"No problem, Jesse!"

Radar scampered off to do some job, clipboard tucked under his arm and pep in his step. Jesse smiled- he'd been doing a good job as Co-Hero in Residence, even seeming more confident. Jesse guessed a little adventuring could do that. It was good to see him doing so well, and it was even better to see how much his help was doing for the Beacontowners.

With a satisfied huff, Jesse set off towards the gate- headed off to see what exactly Lukas wanted to talk about.

Lukas's home sat just outside of Beacontown, nestled in the forest, marked only by the little trail of torches leading up to it. It was quiet, just the sort of place someone who writes would be expected to live.

Jesse stepped up onto the porch, giving Dewey, Lukas's ocelot, a quick pet before knocking.

"Lukas? You there?"

There was a muffled scraping sound of a chair against the wooden floor, then the door creaked open, revealing a slightly-frazzled looking Lukas.

"Jesse! Hey. Didn't expect you here so soon."

"Well, you know me. Never one to miss out on seeing my friends." Jesse smiled, shrugging. Lukas smiled too, visibly relaxing and softening.

"Yeah." He stepped to the side, gesturing Jesse in and taking his seat again. Manuscripts littered the ink-stained desk, and Lukas moved them aside, into a neat little pile. "So, Jesse, I wanted to talk." There was that tenseness again, Lukas looking nervous, not quite meeting Jesse's eyes. "Jesse, I know the last few weeks have been rough, especially thanks to all that happened with the Admin." He shuddered, and Jesse couldn't help but feel a little more concerned than he had a moment ago. "A lot happened. And then, immediately after, even more happened. Petra left, Ivor went off to who-knows-where, and you were immediately swept up in all the work everyone else needed done. I just," Lukas sighed, finally looking up at him, "I want to make sure you're doing alright. I'm thinking of moving into town- I know you don't need my help but-"

"Lukas, hey." Jesse put a hand on the other's shoulder. "I'd love to have you in Beacontown. And I could always do with an extra set of hands, yeah?" He was purposefully dodging the more emotionally-charged parts of the last weeks Lukas had brought up. He'd been avoiding them for a while now, not wanting to think of friendships that had been drifting apart.

Lukas's mouth tilted into a sad, soft smile. "Jesse, you need to talk about this stuff. You can't just bottle it up and bury it under work."

"I mean I can-"

"You shouldn't, though."

Jesse hummed, breaking the eye contact. "I'm fine. I figured Petra was going to leave at some point, anyways, especially since I'd been so busy here."

"Jesse, why didn't you go with her?"

"Because. Beacontown is my home- being Hero in Residence is my 'thing-' I couldn't just leave after everything that happened. Besides, you and everyone else are here, it wouldn't feel right to leave you guys just to keep in contact with Petra." Jesse crossed his arms, looking down at the desk. "It sucks that she left, sure, but she's happier out there, and honestly? I need a break from adventuring. I'm ready to settle down a bit, take my job seriously."

Lukas watched him with wondering eyes, quiet. Neither said anything for a moment, before Lukas exhaled heavily.

"Well, if it means anything, I'm glad you stayed." There was an unspoken feeling to his words, a silent I'd miss you . Jesse offered a smile.

"I am too." I'd miss you too.

The two chatted a bit more, discussing current events, how Lukas's writing was going, and all sorts of little nonsense. It was nice, especially after Jesse had spent the day solving others' problems, to just breathe and spend some time with a friend.

If only such peace could last.

There was a knock at the door, and both Jesse and Lukas startled to their feet.

"Hello? Jesse? Lukas?" It was Radar, voice pitching up, filled with panic.

Jesse and Lukas swapped a look before stepping outside.

"Radar, what's wrong?" Lukas asked.

Radar swallowed hard. "It's Petra."

"Petra? What?"

"Someone found her just outside of Beacontown- Jesse it's not good." Radar looked like he might throw up. Jesse rested a hand on his arm.

"Radar, tell us what happened on the way there. We've got to go."

Lukas nodded, grabbing his bow and quiver from where they rested by the door and slinging them both over his back. "I'm coming with you."

The three rushed into town, Radar taking the lead in an anxious burst of adrenaline, spouting the story as he went.

"Casey- the person who found Petra- found her collapsed in the woods just a bit always from here. Said she was near unconscious- so he brought her to town as fast as he could. She's in bad shape, Jesse. I don't know what did it, but Casey said it looked a little like she'd been attacked by something called a phantom?"

"A phantom? Those things don't show up during the day-"

"Right? So that was really weird! But what was weirder was the fact that she just kept talking . Couldn't really understand what she was saying, it was mostly gibberish I think, but she just kept going! Didn't pass out, either- close but not out."

"That's... really weird."

"Definitely."

Radar lead them to the New Order Hall, straight to the guest wing that'd been added just recently for a few of Binta's people. They stopped in front of a door.

"They're in here." Radar mumbled. "I think... I'm going to wait out here. I'm not good with blood."

Jesse felt his stomach flip, and Lukas shot him a worried look.

"Okay, don't worry about it Radar."

Taking a deep breath, Jesse pushed the door open, stepping inside the small room. Jack and Nurm were huddled by the bed, on which lay Petra, eyes wide open with fear, rimmed with sleeplessness. The rest of her... well, it wasn't a pretty sight. Most of it had been bandaged, likely by Nurm judging by the roll still in the villager's hand, but the stuff that hadn't been looked deep.

Bite marks, clear by the shape of the punctures, littered her arms, accompanied by long scratches on her face.

Jack was holding her bandana- they must've had to take it off to bandage something- and rubbing it between his thumb and pointer, worrying the fabric, staring ahead with glossy eyes.

There was another in the room, Casey, Jesse guessed. Just some plain looking miner in green leather armor, a rose pinned to his shirt collar. He looked up as the heroes entered, nodding respectfully and offering his hand.

"I'm Casey- sorry about your friend."

"Thanks for making sure she got here." Jesse shook his hand, turning his attention back to Petra and Jack. Casey shook Lukas's hand too, nodding once more before leaving, his worries soothed mostly now that they were here to watch their friend.

"So, how is she?" Jesse asked, Jack only barely seeming to register the question.

"She's going to survive." The adventurer replied, voice quiet. Nurm mumbled something, finishing up wrapping Petra's ankle, and crossed the room to stand next his partner. Jack leaned against him, breathing heavy. Lukas could tell he'd been crying, but chose not to say anything for his honor's sake.

Lukas turned to Nurm. "Anyone know what caused it?"

Nurm hummed, and Jack sighed. "Casey guessed phantoms, but with how recent most of those cuts are, it wouldn't make sense considering it's the middle of the day. Nurmie thinks it might've been wolves, but still, that doesn't make much sense either." Jack clenched the bandana in his hand. "It doesn't matter what, but when we figure it out, I'm going to hunt it down."

Jesse looked to Lukas, who shrugged, crossing his arms right against himself.

"Just when we think we can rebuild, something goes wrong." Lukas shook his head.

"We'll figure this out- Petra will be okay, and we'll deal with the situation like we always do."

"By going on an over-complicated quest?"

" By talking to people who know about stuff like this."

Jesse moved to the door, looking back over his shoulder and casting a worried look to Petra's wide, staring eyes. A shiver passed through him.

"We'll figure it out."

Lukas and Jesse walked the streets of Beacontown, both processing what had just happened and thinking through courses of action. The only person either of them could think of who might know anything about phantoms would be Ivor, who, just their luck, wasn't anywhere nearby.

It was quiet now, being that it was getting a bit late, but neither were tired. They walked in silence for a while, nervous for Petra, but comfortable in one another's presence. As they passed one of the newer builds- a small cafe, someone stood up, recognizing them before they recognized her.

"Jesse, Lukas, hey."

"Oh, hey Binta." Binta had gotten up from her seat, quickly coming to greet them, smiling slightly. "How have your people been settling?"

"Very well, actually. Still adjusting to the light and such, but doing well. Not sure if Stella mentioned, but a small group of them headed over that way. They wanted to help rebuild, maybe move there." She shrugged, smile dropping only when she managed to actually read either of their expressions. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Lukas stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking towards Jesse, then back to Binta. "Petra came back."

"Oh? That's not bad, though. So..?"

"She's not doing well." Jesse mumbled. Lukas shifted closer to him, some attempt at quiet comfort.

"What happened?" Binta's brow had furrowed, concern clear in her grey eyes.

"Not really sure, someone suggested phantoms."

"Phantoms?" That seemed to catch her off guard, and she glanced towards the darkening sky. "Has she not been sleeping?"

Lukas's hand had made its way into Jesse's somehow, as Jesse's nerves seemed to edge closer and closer towards frantic. The contact was helping, though. Grounding.

"I'm not really sure, Binta." Jesse said, looking to the ground.

"We had some issues with phantoms in the Underground." Binta had crossed one of her arms across her chest, tapping her chin with the other. "They picked on a few of us- wool wasn't exactly a common commodity down there, so beds were... difficult to come by." She looked to the sky again. "They're dangerous, and persistent. If your friend has phantoms after her, she'd better keep indoors and get rest."

"That's another issue, though." Lukas cut in. "She's been rambling, and, apparently, unable to pass out, let alone sleep."

Binta frowned, deep in thought. "Phantoms don't usually cause anything like that. That's really strange. Is there anything up here that could cause something like that?"

"Not that we know of." Jesse mumbled.

Binta inhaled deeply, then exhaled. "Well, I'll ask around. Maybe someone who'd been haunted before could answer some questions, I'll let you know if I find anything."

"Thanks, Binta." Lukas replied. "C'mon Jesse, we should get back to the hall."

Jesse blinked at him. "We?"

"I'm not going to just leave you." Lukas offered a sad smile, "Especially not right now."

"Thanks, Lukas."

"Of course."

Jesse showed Lukas to a room in the guest wing before heading off to his own room, a bedroom-turned-office with a bed stuffed in a corner, underneath a pile of paperwork. He was too tired to deal with it now, too stressed to bother sorting through each page to figure out what wants or needs were written on them. Tired arms moved them off the bed and onto the floor, and Jesse collapsed into the cool sheets, still in his clothes from the day.

Jesse, usually one to take forever to doze off, slipped into restless sleep with ease, mind a whirlwind of thoughts and pressing dreams.

Jesse was awoken in the middle of the night by a scream- it jolted him from some nightmare and into another, this one real. He leapt to his feet and ran into the hall, only to be greeted by Lukas, looking as frightened as Jesse, if not more.

"What was that?"

"It sounded like Petra." Jesse didn't pause to talk, rushing off to see what was wrong with his friend, Lukas close behind, bow in hand.

The two burst into Petra's room, ready to fight, only to find her sitting, alone, staring wide-eyed and dead ahead at them, gaze unfocused.

"Petra? Petra, what's wrong?" Jesse asked, approaching slow with an outstretched hand. Lukas kept towards the door, ready to leap into action should something go wrong.

Petra leaned forward, body limp and seemingly unwieldy, squinting at Jesse. "Jesse?"

"It's me, Petra."

"Jesse- the phantoms- don't phantoms burn in the daylight? How did..?"

So it was phantoms. "There's no phantoms, not here. You're okay." Jesse tried to soothe.

Petra hadn't blinked. "But there were out there . Jesse, there were so many."

Lukas approached now, slow as Jesse had. "Petra, how long has it been since you slept?"

"Not sure." She replied, eyes searching the ceiling as if it were open sky. "Probably too long. But-" She inhaled sharply. "I can't sleep. I've been having the worst dreams." Petra sounded so distant, her voice wavering, different entirely from its usual confidence. "I can't sleep."

Jesse and Lukas shared a look, before Jesse turned back to their friend. "Petra, you need to sleep. Phantoms only haunt people who don't sleep."

She shuddered, hugging herself. "But-"

"Petra, please, at least try." Jesse pleaded.

Petra's worried eyes turned to the two, still unclear, still glossy. After a moment, a long, drawn out moment of eye-contact, she nodded.

"Okay. Okay, I'll try."

"Good." Jesse replied, watching as Petra readjusted, laying back, eyes on the ceiling still, until, at last, they slipped closed and her breathing slowed. Hopefully it'd stay so peaceful for her.

The two boys backed out of the room, closing the door behind them, breathing heavy sighs.

"That was-"

"Weird."

"No kidding." Jesse shook his head, shuddering again. "Gosh, I've never seen her like this."

"Me neither. Never seen anyone haunted by a phantom like this, actually." Lukas glanced towards the door. "Jesse, I don't know if we're just dealing with phantoms here."

"I know, I agree. Phantoms don't cause," another shudder, "that."

"I think we should find a way to contact Ivor. He might know something."

"Or maybe see if Binta's found anything."

"Both." Lukas agreed, nodding.

The two stood in silence, breathing and trying to calm the fright.

"Lukas, I don't think I'm going back to bed."

"Me neither." Lukas rubbed his eyes. "Want to see if we can find any info in the hall library or something? Get a head start?"

"May as well."

The hall library was quite an expansive collection, and finding info on phantoms was easy once you knew what kind of book to look for.

Jesse flipped through yet another bestiary, looking over the pages about phantoms for something- anything that might explain Petra's situation. Nothing, yet again. Jesse groaned and slammed it shut, just as Lukas brought over another three.

"No luck yet?" He asked. Jesse rested his forehead against the book's cover.

"Nothing yet. Lukas, this is pointless. Everything says the same thing- phantoms attack those who haven't slept in at least three days, they're classified as 'undead,' they're afraid of cats, they-"

"I get the picture." Lukas leaned against the stack of books, the light from the rising sun beaming through the glass and reflecting off his hair. "So what do we do now?"

"Go talk to everyone else, I guess." Jesse sat up and stretched. "Hopefully they'll give us more than we've got so far."

Binta was pacing in front of the hall, stopping in her tracks as Lukas and Jesse stepped outside.

"Hey! I've got some news!" Her expression told the two it was good news, at least. "Someone I know was able to point me in the direction of someone who's been through something vaguely similar to what Petra's going through. They're over in Champion City, though- left with that group." She was smiling, her enthusiasm and advice even lifting Jesse's spirit a bit.

"Binta, that's awesome!"

"Isn't it? Their name is Nathan, you'll know them by the tattoo on their arm- trust me when I say you'll know them when you see them."

Lukas smiled. "Thanks, Binta, means a lot."

"Of course." She clasped her hands behind her back. "Be sure to tell them all I said 'hi' when you see them- Stella too, if you run into her."

"Will-do. Thanks again, Binta." Jesse waved, already starting off towards Champion City. Lukas caught up, smiling at his friend.

"Hey, maybe we can get this taken care of sooner than we worried." He said, bumping Jesse's shoulder. Jesse chuckled, shaking his head.

"Nah, it's never that easy, but at least we've got a lead."

"Isn't that the truth."

The pair found themselves at the gates, still under reconstruction, but better than off than they had been a few days ago. Stella must've had a big crew on hand- whatever survivors were left all working hard to fix their city. It really was their city now, Jesse thought, looking about at the small, clashing builds that had sprouted up. Seemed Stella was taking a page from Beacontown's book and letting people build more freely. It was nice, if not just a little sad to see the carefully maintained aesthetic go.

"Man, this place is looking better already." Lukas whistled, hands on his hips. "They've been doing a good job putting it all back together."

"I would hope so." A familiar female voice said, and just up ahead was the source- Stella, Luna just behind her. The city's founder was smiling wide, gloved hands folded in front of her. "They've all been working near non-stop to get this all done. They've still got a long way to go though." She tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear. "So, my rival, what brings you over?" Her time was light, not at all serious in the rivalry anymore, the joke sticking around.

"Oh not much, just trying to make sure Beacontown is keeping itself in one piece." Jesse replied, shaking his head and laughing under his breath. Lluna bleated and rushed forward, headbutting his chest. Jesse rubbed her behind the ears, not noticing the fond look Lukas was giving him.

"No, but really, how have thing been Jesse? Any issues?" Stella quirked an eyebrow, resting a hand on her hip.

Jesse sighed, smile slipping. "Well, yeah. We've got an issue- Petra's come back, injured more than anyone I've ever seen, by phantoms supposedly, and we've got the sneaking suspicion it's a bit more than that." Lukas nodded in confirmation.

Stella blinked, concern slipping over her features. "Goodness, that does sound bad. But what brought you here? Do you need me to help?"

Jesse shook his head. "Not much you, or any of us, can do right now. However... Binta said someone who'd moved here with the Fredfolk night know something. Someone named Nathan?"

"Oh, I know them." Stella huffed. "They're a bit weird, Jesse, but if you need to talk to them..."

"What sort of weird?" Lukas asked, and Stella seemed almost startled, like she hadn't noticed he was there until he'd spoken.

Stella shifted, crossing her arms. "Just... weird. They ramble, they keep planting mushrooms, and I have never seen them outside at night."

Lukas and Jesse exchanged a worried look, a silent That's not how Petra will be if this keeps up, right?

"Thanks for the warning, Stella, but we really need to talk to them." Jesse said, voice conveying the urgency.

Stella sighed. "If you're so sure it's important. You can find them on the edge of town- their house is one of those giant mushrooms, they turned it into a little shack." Lluna shook, nuzzling Jesse's hand, before scampering back to her owner's side. "Good luck, Jesse. Don't be afraid to ask your dear rival for help, okay?"

"I won't. Thanks again, Stella."

Nathan's shack was tiny, and absolutely surrounded by mushrooms- the glowing sort they'd found underground. The two hadn't even needed to knock, as they found Nathan standing in their garden, digging up another plot of land for, Jesse guessed, more mushrooms. The tattoo wrapping up and about their arm was a series of detailed, blue lines, among which the shapes of phantoms hid. This was them.

As they got closer, Nathan looked up from their work, hands coated in dirt and grey eyes wide with anxiety. They stood, dusting their hands on their messy shirt, and took a cautious step back.

"Hello?" Their voice was shaky, just what you'd expect from someone who looked like they might make a run for it if either Jesse or Lukas made any sudden movements.

"Hey, you're Nathan, right?" Lukas asked, keeping his voice quiet. "We're from Beacontown- this is Jesse, he helped bring you guys up here?" The writer looked over to the man in question and smiled, "We just wanted to ask a couple questions, if that's okay."

Nathan shifted, eyes moving between the two, before they took a deep breath. "Okay. Okay, what do you want to ask about?"

Jesse stepped forward, brushing his hand against Lukas's to let him know he could take it from here, mostly. "One of our friends is very hurt, and a few people told us it might be phantoms."

Nathan tensed, immediately looking to the clear skies above. "Phantoms? What kind of phantoms? Just regular phantoms? Nothing weird- right? If they burn in the sunlight they're normal phantoms. Maybe get a cat- did you know phantoms are afraid of cats? I-"

"We aren't really sure." Jesse cut them off, and they met his eyes for a moment. "We're pretty sure they're not normal, we were told you would know something about unusual phantoms? Phantoms that don't burn in the sunlight?"

Nathan shook their head, frantic. "No- No not above ground. That means she knows about this place- I can't- not again-" They were hyperventilating, shivering from head to toe. Jesse sent Lukas a worried look.

"Nathan, you're okay. Breathe." Lukas whispered, raising his hands then lowering them, mimicking the action he needed the stranger to copy. Nathan made a strangled sound.

"You don't understand- these- these Waking Phantoms, they don't give up on a target until either they're dead or they're called off." Nathan grabbed Lukas's arm, gripping tight. "You need to keep your friend inside- you need to keep everyone inside and away from windows."

Lukas had to keep his own breathing steady. "Why? Who's that 'she' you mentioned?"

Nathan just shook their head again, releasing Lukas's arm and stepping back, stumbling against their house. "You need to go. Good luck." They threw their door open and slammed it behind them, whimpering and shuddering.

Jesse and Lukas both exhaled breaths they hadn't realized they'd been holding.

"Well."

"That was ominous."

Lukas and Jesse headed back to Beacontown after that, considering possibilities.

"So, the Waking Phantoms, they're definitely not normal phantoms." Lukas scribbled in his journal, looking over to Jesse.

"Definitely not normal." Jesse confirmed. "And what's with that 'she?' Do they have some sort of, I don't know, leader? A person?"

Lukas hummed, jotting that down. "I'd bet person, phantoms are genderless."

"Makes sense. But phantoms are hostile mobs- people shouldn't be able to get close to them without them attacking, right?" Jesse watched a cloud drift across the sky.

"I guess if this is a new breed of phantom, that might be different."

"I guess."

There was a moment of pause.

"Lukas, I think we might have to go underground again. That's where the phantoms came from, if Nathan is any sign of it."

"I'd really rather not after everything you guys told me about that place." Lukas shook his head.

"It's better now, I've heard. Xara and Romeo have been fixing it up, just like we all have with our homes."

"Still, I'm not sure if it's a good idea, Jesse."

"It's our only idea, though."