Wright Anything Agency

September 7 8:00 a.m.


The office was going pretty swell as it does when there are no cases running about. It's the only time where there is peace from the hectic courthouse and cold sweats. The peace doesn't exactly pay the bills, however, and if the case isn't pro bono either. The office was bright, yet a dormant blue lingered. The reception couch was currently occupied by the medium and yellow lawyer despite the numerous magic props Trucy had laying around. Maya continued to talk with Athena on how Widget operated. The strange lingo was completely foreign to Maya. Yet, she tried her best to understand. It was new and exciting!

"This device was made back in 2020?" Maya asked, holding her face with her cheek.

Athena continued to slide her gloved fingers across the blue screen like frozen water, showing the numerous options of Widget. From Maya's side, the words were backwards, but was clearly visible. Many floating folders with a giant smile of Widget occupied in the background. Many of the cases organized by month and year with several options floating around by icons, indicating if they were contacts or internet and many others. "Sure was." Athena smiled. "This buddy of mine has been with me for years."

"Yay!" The gadget chimed, emitting a flash of green.

Maya's eyes almost bulged when she saw the contraption talk on its own. "It talks too!?"

"Monita does have a big mouth about how I really feel." Athena's shoulders trounced, "...especially at the worst time…"

'If only he had an off switch in court…' Athena slumped.

"You would think, if something advanced as this were made in 2020, there would be more advanced technologies by now." Maya thought out loud, her cheek resting on her palm.

"Even if there were," Athena began, "I would never give up Widget! This little guy is unique and one of a kind! He has helped me so many times." Athena flashed her signature peace sign, throwing her hand through the big blue hologram, almost hitting Maya. The medium luckily flinched fast enough to prevent her nose from flying off, her head retreating to the couch cushions.

"I'm sorry, Maya!" Athena yelped, throwing her hands immediately backwards to her gasping mouth. She suddenly forgotten that her other ungloved hand was still capable of phasing through the screen.

Maya shook it off before clasping her hands together, "it's okay! Just be careful next time. How else am I going to keep this pretty face intact." She slyly responded.

Athena smiled before retreating the blue holographic projection separating them, embarrassed. It was nice to actually converse with the medium, that her boss had mentioned, in person. In fact, Athena was very excited to meet her. 'I mean she was his very first assistant! She knows much more about the boss than I possibly could! In a sense, she has a bit more experience with him in court than I do!'

Athena was very content on knowing the medium, who was also a Master and owner of her very own village! It was new and exciting, almost like meeting a celebrity. 'Now that I think of it… Mr. Wright and Maya are very famous…!' Athena contemplated. Maya was very complex. She had a title of Master, and knowing some stories Mr. Wright scarcely spoke of, the Master was also a very powerful political advocate and figure. Yet, she spoke to anyone like a friend. She wasn't snobby or pompous at all! It made her squint slightly, 'Knowing that I grappled this woman earlier, it was a bit rude of me… and I almost struck her in the face.' She sighed sadly.

Maya took notice of the yellow lawyer's attitude, "what's the matter, Athena?"

Athena shot a deranged look as she heard not only Maya's voice, but Widget's, "I've been a jerk!"

"Widget!" Athena shouted. 'I have to stop thinking at the worst times…!'

"That Widget gives you away more than a Nick does to himself in court," Maya laughed. "At least it would give the boys around a better indicator on how you feel. They can be very oblivious at times."

'That was awkward… Why can't Widget only shout during good times!?' Athena winced, but it wasn't painful. Maya managed to mitigate the embarrassment Athena felt from her response.

"Listen, Maya." Athena stated, grabbing the medium's full attention. "I'm sorry." Athena slumped, grappling her own elbow. She earned a head tilt in response from the medium.

"What I did the other day… well… yesterday, I mean! What I did wasn't right… about the whole channeling thing." Athena turned her head away, obscuring Maya's face. It was hard to look at her now, "I was desperate to see my mother… I barely got to know her. She was so busy…"

Maya could see Athena's expression contort painfully, her eyelids, shaking, preventing tears forming behind them from falling. "For a while I thought she didn't love me. I tried as hard as I can to gain her attention, but she would always go away, back to her work. I questioned if she felt anything for me… If she cared or felt..." Athena swallowed hard, "...sorry for me."

Maya tugged closer, knowing the yellow lawyer faced the other way, she wouldn't notice too much or recoil. She could see Athena's shoulders tremble slightly, but was still visible. "It took so many years later to realize that she really did care. She worked so hard in the background to figure out how to help me and save me..." Maya then looked down at Widget, the blue smile had formed into an anguished purple one. "I just couldn't see it then."

After a while, Athena was surprised she managed to keep the unshed lacrimal essence from falling down her face. She would be proud of herself, but she couldn't jump over the misjudged hurdle to shoved onto her deceased mother. All those years while studying to become a lawyer, studying analytical psychology to save Simon, a heavy burdened lingered her every single day. The unknown of how her mother passed. Foggy memories smeared in black and red. Shadow and blood. Was her death really by Simon? Would he actually kill his own mentor, my mother, for my sake? Was she truly that cruel? His reason of committing the act of murder was because Metis was evil, a scientist who used their own flesh and blood, her own daughter, as an experiment. A thing to use as a play toy for her own personal gain. That day in court scarred her for life. The faces of that courtroom, looking down at her, a little girl crying, shaking and screaming. He didn't kill her! I can hear it in his heart! He didn't kill her! Her desperation and her trembling form could barely remember the visage of those staring in court, guilt already harvested in their mind for Simon, to be sentenced for killing a highly esteemed psychologist. They all stared at her, a crazy child shouting nonsense about hearing a heart? The young protege of Metis did not give a single ounce of defense, rejecting the state appointed court lawyer, accepting his fate: the death penalty. As the day of reckoning was coming forth, the more the memories began to resurface. Was Metis's cruelty so harsh that perhaps the real killer, was her the whole time? For making her suffer all that time?

That was then… And the truth was revealed...

The silence stretched a little too long for the red haired lawyer. She could only imagine the face Maya was giving her. She wanted to check, but she also did not yearn to see. If it were to be a positive or negative outcome, she was too afraid to figure it out. A firm hand grabbed her shoulder, barely nudging her to move back. Viewing said shoulder, the hand was attached to the medium beside her. "It's okay, Athena…"

Puffy blue eyes met with calm brownish transcending to blue ones. It was alleviating, but the tinge in her heart still hurt the lawyer. The Master's face remained unphased and fixated to a smile, like she had done it time and time again. "Sometimes people do things they way they do to not hurt you. They're scared or worried of how the person they're protecting may act." Maya blinked. Athena could hear the sudden emotional change in Maya's heart. It was sad, yet that smile she had stood glued to her face. "Like my mother."

"You talked about your mom," Athena spoke partly watery, "a little earlier. I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway."

"It's completely fine. I wasn't offended at all." Maya continued. "She cared about me. Things happened over a mixup with the police after she tried to help and she was shunned for it. She left…" Maya kept the smile strong on her face, but Athena could hear the medium's heart skip a beat. "People said she shamed the Fey clan for a fraud, but that wasn't true. I thought she didn't love me or my sister anymore."

'Your sister… Mr. Wright's mentor…' Athena figured. 'The Chief as he called her.'

"She left us there with my aunt, to watch over the village in her absence. She was gone for years… My sister left eventually. It didn't make it any better and it was just me, to be future Master. It was all on my own then." Maya spoke stoically. "Later on, I thought to myself, no one cared. No one loves me. Even my sister left. But I know better now. She left to figure out what happened to my mother and became a lawyer. To figure out what happened behind the scenes of that incident so many years back!"

'How can she say it so calmly like that!?' Athena yelled in her own head, staring at the medium smile. 'She lost her mother then her sister… She lost the last two people closest to her! Like how I lost my mom and Simon… when they were actually helping to bring justice!'

"I know that everything she had done, was because she loved me. She even risked her own life to save me from my insane cousin. Not Pearl! No. Another cousin." Maya released Athena's sad shoulder. "Things may look deceiving, but they're not always."

Maya had to inwardly thank her circumstance. Years with taking the role as a parental figure to Pearl managed to console others quite easily.

Athena pursed her lips before swallowing back the tears, "so always keep that smile. I had to teach Nick that!" Maya turned towards Phoenix. He was deep in concentration, stone-like. 'He's stuck in that mind of his again, isn't he? Well that's good in a way. I feel like he'd only make this worse.'

"Thank you, Maya." Athena smiled sadly. 'Wait… you taught, Mr. Wright that? It wasn't the other way around?!'

Trucy and Pearl stood at the corridor leading to the rest of the office area away from Maya, Athena's and Phoenix's view, but well enough to see them.

"Are you feeling better, Pearl?" Trucy asked worriedly, "I'm sorry for not being with you. I had to do a setup in the backstage."

'But it's still not a good excuse for me.' She thought sadly.

Trucy stared at the happy medium, completely fine and no longer green. She was actually more hyped than Trucy was at the moment. "That was my fault, Trucy. I was very excited afterwards and I couldn't help myself to all that cake!" Pearl bit her thumb, "it was good anyway."

"That's good! Next time, I'll keep a medicine cabinet packed somewhere in my panties or practice my observing skills a bit better." Trucy thought out loud. Her arms crossed as she saw Pearl fiddle with a clean smooth white ceramic in her hand. She was messing with it after leaving Maya and Athena alone. She had an extremely wide smile, staring at it with great fondness though it was empty. 'Pearl had that since yesterday… She must've taken it from the party…'

After a while, she put it away. Pearl craned her neck over to see Mr. Wright on his desk, his gaze was fixated and hazy. She craned her neck in the other direction to realize it was towards the other women on the reception couch. Specifically, the direction was on Maya. "Trucy!" Pearl whispered loudly, waving her hand closer towards her direction.

"What is it?" The cyan blue hat tugged softly at the singular ponytail scaling down the mini medium's face. To Pearl, Mr. Wright's expression had a weird dreamy vibe to her perspective.

"Is Mr. Nick looking at Mystic Maya?" Pearl questioned with massive intrigue, blushing.

Trucy inspected her father. He was excellent at remaining calm and keeping a poker face, but she can tell her was in deep thought. Her brows furrowed before recoiling, "I don't know… He seems kind of tense. I think he's thinking."

"You think it's about Mystic Maya?" Pearl asked, awaiting for Trucy to agree.

Trucy stared at her father, then at the two women on the couch. She guessed he was more looking with his mind's eye than his actual two. From an angle, she can guess he was staring at the two, but in his own world. "Maybe…"

As Trucy darted her view, she noticed Athena was much more tense in comparison than her father. Gaining a better view by scooting over the corner, she could see a hand on Athena's shoulder. It was Maya's. She was talking softly. Looking back at Athena, she saw that Athena was shuddering, but as time passed, it gave way. The magician's eyes shot wide in admiration as the Master returned her hand and Athena was gradually coming through that sudden tension. A sad smile crept onto Athena's face. Trucy knew right then and there, they were talking about something personal, and Maya alleviated the yellow lawyer. Her eyes then turned back to Phoenix, fondly.

'Maya would make a great…' as she saw around the room, her peripheral caught the clock on the wall ticking down, 'It's getting late!'

"Pearls…" Trucy let off slowly to the medium beside her. "I have to go…"

Pearl gasped, "why, Trucy?"

"Because I have to go to school…" Trucy confirmed with a tip of her hat. "I've already been out. That's not good for my attendance."

Trucy informed Pearl on the bad news that she had to head to school soon. She just wanted to see if Pearl was okay before she headed out. It was sad to Pearl, "Oh, right." Her face retreating low to her chest,'That's right…'

Pearl already technically graduated the school Feys and other inhabitants of Medium Valley attended in Kurain village. It was different from public school, but with the same foundation of curriculum regular schools had. Math, Science, Literature, History, along with other extra curricular activities. Fun times out included once where they went to the aquarium where Pearl luckily found Mr. Wright one time on a case, where she also met Athena and that freaky sharp-tooth rapper. Unlike Pearl, Trucy was in her senior year. 'I have to make the last year end strong!' She already took the day off; the day of the event. Lucrative and well paid from the birthday boy's mother, yes, but for her credentials in school, it had affected. She didn't want her attendance to ruin her chances of graduating. She was surprised herself that her father let her have one day off early in the year. She would never hear the end of it from Phoenix, then again, she did ask about a week and a half early in advanced, in exchange of making up any missed work from school for the day. He wanted the best for her, and if she wanted to continue her career on magic, that was her choice. Whatever made her happy. He made sure of that, but at least he wanted her to have a formal education and high school diploma, eventually graduating. A preference of college would be nice, but that's up to her.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay before I left." Trucy announced, "but if you want to figure out what's going on with Daddy or what he's thinking about, make sure you tell me when I get back, okay?" She smiled.

Pearl clasped her hands and bowed her head in a nod, "I'll be okay and I will! Thanks, Trucy."

Trucy winked before tipping her hat, "anytime!" They continued to snicker in the corner as Trucy grabbed her bag. While lifting the the blue bag over her shoulder, she stared at her father. Trucy hatched up a really good idea, 'Maybe this might help Pearl out?'

"See you after school, Pearly." Trucy hugged the medium. Pearl had her arms tucked under Trucy's arms before giving her a tight squeeze. After releasing the medium, the blue magician made her way towards her father, homing at his desk.

Phoenix on the other hand, his body remained stiff, one with the still environment, yet his mind was undergoing a typhoon of thought. 'She can't be guilty... I'm jumping way too fast to conclusions. Baseless conjecture!' He yelled at himself. 'My magatama never did that before… I've seen never anything like it or felt for that matter… '

He felt his heart thump in his chest. 'Does she have a magatama? In the detention center, I think she may have had it on her. I wasn't really paying attention to how she was looked there… or what she was wearing. I don't think she had it on at the party either… GAH!'

The jade stone remained firm in Phoenix's intermingled grasp in front of his face, feeling the hard surface of the magatama warm in his palms, 'She doesn't have a magatama? Does she!? I don't remember her having one on… Maybe she didn't have it around her neck. Was it tucked in her shirt or probably in her pocket… Would she have to be holding onto it? For it to work like that?'

None of his senses registered the outer world. Everything was in his mind, hovering, floating, whirling in thought. 'Maya said that a magatama of equal strength or greater power will react with one another, cancelling each other out… Cancel each other out? I still don't know what that means! Cancel each other out how? Could I still see the psyche locks? I didn't see the inversion, but I did feel that awful crushing weight in the detention center. Could that be coincidence? Even if she did have a magatama, wouldn't she need it to be powered with spiritual energy or be powered by some sort of medium. I've only seen Pearl do it to the magatama Maya loaned me.'

His breathing slightly hitched, as the cool breath exited his nose, 'And this sudden change in color. My magatama turned black… not entirely, but a shade in its hue, after I questioned Ms. Fate about the victim of her case, this Powell guy… Specifically when I asked her if she knew him personally. She said not until that very night. It never changed in color either! Whether Ms. Fate is lying or not, I can't tell now. The investigation is still going on, I believe. Should I still butt in? My client was proven not guilty, but we never found the real person. At least not yet...'

Phoenix thought heavily. 'There was only one time the culprit was not found on the same trial, but eventually…'

The only time the culprit was eventually found was the Phantom: one of the most dangerous criminals he had ever face in court. Seeing his own face on a international spy was spine tinglingly wrong. The man represented so much murder, conspiracy and cold heartedness, soulless. It was frightening to stare back at himself, yet he managed to pull through.

Phoenix contemplated, 'Maya said this black magatama is related to a fairy tale. She never told me about this fairy tale… surprising really, from a girl who loves the Steel Samurai!' His lip quivered. 'I should ask Maya or Pearls… they should know something… They've helped me out before, specifically Pearls about the red and black psyche locks and how the magatama works. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask…'

"Bye, Daddy!" Phoenix felt chaste warm lips hit his cheek, along with warm arms around his shoulder. "Don't forget to take your medicine."

His eyes stung slightly as he awoke from his thoughts. He didn't realize how long they were open. As he felt his eyes tear up, the environment became a hazy white yet still visible, sliding outward and enveloping the rest of his vision, before he finally closed his eyelids. The intermingled fingers broken from one another's grasp. A hand rubbed his eyes, still gripping to the jade jewel, another reaching for whomever grabbed him softly. His shoulders had slacken from the weight and sudden tug from his other shoulder. The blue cape finally came into view as his eyes opened, the hazy white retreating back from its source.

"Trucy…?" He let out softly, gripping his daughter's welcoming arm just as tender. She was extremely warm and comforting. It melted down the war of rampaging terrible thoughts to an argument. The rumbling quieted down to a hum and he could feel her heart beat.

"I'm heading off to school!" She let our cheerily. He barely had time to react before she finally released him. It was too quick. She darted off towards Athena and Maya on the reception couch after letting him go. The warm spot she occupied on his shoulder lost its heat and became cold once more. The invisible whiff of warmth evaporated. Maya and Athena saw the blue cape rushing to them, giving each one swift hugs, "see you later, Athena."

Athena's hazy eyes finally closed, as she finally hugged Trucy, feeling the magician pat her back for reassurance, "See you later, Trucy!"

Trucy then glanced at Maya and exchanged the same gesture, more heartily. "Bye Maya."

"Bye, Trucy." Maya squeezed the magician in her grip. A whispered entered Maya's ear, surprising her, "take care of Daddy while I'm out. You can't take him anywhere."

"I know. I will," she whispered back laughing, "he's always getting into trouble. Someone always has to watch him."

With one final wave and motion, Trucy and Maya exchanged wide smiles for a moment. It felt short lived to Trucy, but she knew there would be more by her return. They all saw the blue cape disappear behind the door as it closed. As his mind finished reemerging to their world, he saw his daughter exit the door, it was partly saddening but he knew she would be back from school. The view interchanged with the medium and lawyer still in the office on the couch. Maya was completely fine and cheery. It made him smile. Unlike the person beside her, Athena wasn't exactly as cheery, with glassy eyes still sported on her visage. Phoenix perked up at this. He finally arose from his seat, tucking the stone in his pocket and made his way around the office. Athena bashfully remained staring at the office flooring. Two black shoes came into view. Greeting the two women, he looked at yellow lawyer. "Are you okay, Athena?"

Her blue eyes, tense but relieved, shot up at him, his brow furrowed in worry. "Yes, Mr. Wright!" Her ascent hastened, shooting her best peace sign, "better than ever!"

'Thanks, Maya…!' She thought to herself, 'I needed that!'

'What a turnabout…', he mused mildly confused. "Did I miss something?" He questioned. 'For a moment, it looked like you just finished crying…'

"Nothing you'd find out immediately, Nick." Maya joked.

'The girls are conversing. That's a good thing… I think it's best I'd stay out of it then…' Phoenix thought.

"Maya?" Phoenix started. "You told me earlier about this fairy tale. Can you tell me about it?"

The Master's eyes grew wide with excitement, "About the black magatama?! Oooooh! You're going to love this one! Hold on!" Her arms frantically halted in front of her.

As the last words of the medium left her lips and into Phoenix's ears, his brain already registered by the eagerness of her voice that she was going to do more than just tell a story. His answer was correct. Maya threw herself off the couch, hurriedly ran towards the windows of the office and sheathed the curtains, obscuring light from entering the office.

'What is she doing?' Phoenix thought worriedly.

She hurried to the lightswitch before taking out her phone from her obi. The switch flicked off and darkness soon enveloped the room. It was dark, save for the very few shreds of light that the curtain could not obscure entirely. A second of adjustment, Phoenix could see them all clearly. He could see Athena searching with the glow of Widget's light, and Pearl stood around the corner with Maya just about to flip her phone open.

"Is this all really necessary, Maya?" Phoenix asked through the shadows.

"Shhhhh!" The sound sharp through the air, as she flipped her phone, her face reflecting the light wavered from her phone. "C'mon gather around!" She waved her hands. Athena, Pearl and Phoenix followed the light amidst the darkness and came up to the master, centering near the reception couches. "Now sit down, in a circle!"

Athena sat immediately to the floor of the office along with Pearl sliding right next to her. "Mystic Maya?! You're going to tell Mr. Nick and Athena about the-."

She was cut off. "Wait Pearly! We want Nick to be sitting too. We're waiting on you!"

Phoenix could only see the two mediums and Athena sit on the floor. He really didn't want to get down. "Let's do this, Mr. Wright!" Athena yelled in excitement, her legs crossed already in eagerness.

'Not you too!' Phoenix thought. 'Actually… Why am I not surprised? Someone else is on the Maya hype train...'

He felt Maya tug hard on his blazer, practically dragging him downward. "Ack!"

"There!" She proudly announced. Athena winced on how hard her boss must've landed on the floor with the loud thud besides Maya, landing arm first. Phoenix rolled over, 'Rock Bottom…'

As he continued to roll, he saw Maya's lit face stare down at him fondly. It was strange and ethereal. Her light face highlighted in the dark room. Her hand brushed the air upwards, "c'mon Nick, don't break the circle. Form it!"

As his hands stamped the floor, he lifted himself, the room was even clearer than before. It was strange, he can even see their pupils wide from the absent of light. Maya used the dim illumination of her phone to ominously glow it under her face. Her eyes covered in the shadows of where the light did not touch. Her expression stuck in a death glare.

"Long ago…" She started ominously, Athena heard the serious tone in Maya's voice and quivered slightly. 'I didn't know this was going to be a scary one!'

Maya inwardly smirked when she saw Athena's immediate reaction, bringing her tone even lower and in pace. "In the newborn stages of the spiritual practice of the Kurain tradition, the Master, the very first Master, was able to commune and open a doorway to the realm of Twilight! Spirit channeling allowed communication - to bridge our worlds of both the living and the deceased. However, just like when a medium channels a spirit, the channeler's spirit enters a dormant state to which allows the spirit to enter said medium, but the silver cord that chains and locks our spirit to our body will always return the spirit to its rightful body. This dormant state, is like a void, which keeps us temporarily suspended between the worlds as the medium channels."

Maya paused heavily. She stared at everyone in the room. Pearl and Athena clung tightly to each other already. Maya tried to remain stone faced for the mood, but on the inside, she was reveling in their trepidation. The fear on their faces was enjoyable. As she turned to Phoenix, he seemed unphased. 'Geez, Nick. You're not getting into this, are you?'

"I thought this was about a magatama." Phoenix deadpanned.

"Patience!" Maya shouted. All the occupants flinched. The orbs of the other girls grew wider. Phoenix stood quiet, humoring her a bit longer.

"In this void between the worlds once held a malevolent being. Up to this day, we still don't know what it is. Some called it a DEMON!" Maya roared, her arms flailing towards the girls.

"Eeep!" Athena squeaked through her lips, as she gripped the pink kimono of the medium beside her tighter.

"Some called it a being in between existence and oblivion. It supposedly came from the darkest of existence… Makes you wonder why we have an innate fear of the darkness…" She mischievously informed. "What is certain, is that it is not of unlike a spirit or of living being." Maya leaned towards Athena. She looked genuinely scared along with Pearl, their orbs wide and pupils wider. "Some of the most elite of Masters could hear whispers and murmurs of this being as they channeled their spiritual energy in meditation…"

Maya looked around once more, "When a spirit leaves its host from passing, the messenger, in the form of a monarch, wraps its wings around the soul, basking the spirit in its presence before delivering it to Twilight. Where it will live forever in the afterlife. The being is also in the shape of a butterfly, or is it? This being will fly to the suspended spirit awaiting for its arrival, wrapping its wings around the spirit, promising it the everlasting afterlife. Like a moth to the flame, the passed spirit is mesmerized by its light and flames. It too, basks the spirit in its wings and delivers the soul to a world of a life after. The soul will enter this life after, but it is not the promised land. It will feel like heaven. Beautiful lands, immortal life and times of great peace to rest the soul."

Pearl and Athena slowly released each other from their grips, "but Maya." Athena started, "How would the soul know if the world's are the same? If the after life and life after are almost identical, how would they know?"

Maya's glowing white gaze remained fixated forward, the glow of the phone dimmed from lack of use, perfectly timed, as her brownish blue orbs ever slowly directed themselves towards the two girls and squinted. "It is told that everyone experiences it differently, but…" Maya ultimately focused on them, her expression deadly, "as the beauty becomes apparent, everything you've ever loved appearing to you, everything you most desired will decay… disintegrate… disappear. As more time has passed, the more the being has fed upon your soul without even realizing it. The world will collapse on itself, driving the person to madness! It is the Master of Perception, an illusionist!" Maya flung her arms once more. The pink kimono and yellow blazer clashed arms once more in freight.

'She's really getting into this story-telling thing…' Phoenix mused with a smirk, though he hated it admittedly, he was slightly frightened. 'Still no mentions of what I'm looking for…'

"As soon as your soul realizes it…" Her eyes closed, "it will be too late. The soul is lost, forever. Your being will cease to exist, just to become another morsel for this being…"

Maya retreated back to her crossed legs stance, the two girls veered down along with her like a spring. Phoenix wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry on how seriously Maya was taking this all or how the girls haven't let go of each other ever since Maya started.

"Communication of the spirits were still in its infantile state; however, the Masters of the time were aware of this threatening malevolent being. One of those Masters was our ancestor…" Maya exchanged a glance to Phoenix, catching him off guard. "Ami Fey…"

He flinched slightly and felt his eyes twitch distraughtly. A strange tingle ran up his spine, extremely unpleasant, and spread out throughout his body, especially in his chest where it constricted and removed most of the oxygen from his chest. He couldn't register or interpret it. It was odd and alien, but from what he can describe, this feeling melted down into one word, disgusted. He shook it off as Maya clicked a button on her phone to restore the full illumination of her face, a certain determination gleamed in her colored orbs as she saw Phoenix's color blanche. "Ami Fey and her fellow Masters managed to bring forth this being from its home world of utter darkness." Maya hissed. "With the power of her crystal orb, she saw but a glimmer of what this being appeared to be, but the void made visibility difficult…"

"They chanted an ancient tome along with the a sacred stone!" Maya yelled graciously. Athena felt Pearl perk up slightly as if a cue of action were to occur.

"They all gathered, seven Masters in all, with their spiritual energy combined, they opened a doorway to the void. The darkness gave birth! Shadows came forth! Ripping the portal and fabric of both realities!" She shouted. "This being… found the Masters and looked down upon them as mere toys and playthings. Its power quelled in comparison to the Masters! As it came forth, despite how ready they felt prepared and their strengths in numbers, all believed what they have brought forth was a mistake! Their will and passion to fight had withered and died! The form took shape as it came from its world onto our own, quaking the earth, shifting the winds, and striking fear with its presence. With wings the size of dragons, the ferocity of ungodly power, came forth the being who could destroy both the worlds of the living and the dead: The Deceiver!"

Maya jumped to her feet, Athena and Pearl screamed! "AAAAAHHHH!"

The screeched pierced the walls of the small office. Maya's head remained frozen, facing the ground, the light dimmed once more. "The butterfly moth had come forth and threatened the very existence of humanity and of the spirit world! All feared the presence of The Deceiver! All but one…" Maya's head lifted up, triumphantly. "Ami Fey!"

Phoenix smirked condescendingly, his elbow resting on his crossed knee, as his cheek rested on his knuckle. 'This is getting good…'

The two girls' trembles had dissipated, but had not gone completely.

"She stood strong against the The Deceiver, unphased and unrelenting to a destroyer of worlds! She uproared to her fellow Masters! To follow her! To face this threat head on! It laughed in her face, mocking, daring her, telling her she was nothing! For a moment, the immense power she felt, she believed it. How can she defeat such a being, intangible to the world, yet capable of bequeathing damage upon ours. Her own peers losing their faith… How can she? Ami knew, if she did not defeat it now, the world will cease to be! She pledged to fight for both worlds, no matter what! With her courage, her followers reestablished their faith and fought along with her! With the accumulated powers of her fellow Masters, they all formed the Shichishito! The sword that represents Life, itself!"

The phone had dimmed once more, Maya spoke lowly. "Out of pity, The Deceiver offered a deal to Master Ami Fey."

"A deal? What kind of d-deal?" Athena asked lowly, Widget's purple anguished face shining brightly.

"A deal of epic proportions. Any thing she could ever desire and It would grant it... Temptation taking refuge upon the ancient masters and she was well aware, The Deceiver could grant it!" Maya slammed her fist against her palm.

"Any wish?!" Athena asked wildly. "Did she take it?!"

"Though the branches may appear to be infinite, the choices limitless…" Maya flashed Athena a glare, causing the yellow attorney to recoil, "like our destinies, they all come down to one end… One merciless point. Our choices come down to one end. There, is where you will pay the consequences." Maya looked to Nick, giving him a soft smile. He stilled. "Ami knew, as soon as she would accept Its offer, she would take the bait. The silver cord that binds her to the world and her body would be severed and the Deceiver's illusion would forever keep her in purgatory."

Maya's finger played on her phone, the illumination gaining its intensity once more.

"Only then, Master Ami Fey declined Its offer. The illusion is revealed and the implacability of fate is laid bare... Thus, It sentenced her to pay in blood and spirit! Ami offered her weapon of infinite branches, driving the merciless point to the Deceiver's empty husk of where the heart should be. The new indentation Ami had created leaked of ethereal white as the world inverted. The Deceivers limbs and wings were gripped and skewered in chains and pulled from its world, severing Its full might and power. With her next weapon, the stone she carried, deadly as her weapon, she sealed It within! The Master had won the war, sealing away the Deceiver, never to prey on anyone ever again…" Maya finished. "Thus, the black magatama was lost in time."

"Yeah!" Athena shot her fist in the air. "Woohoo! Go Ami!"

Maya smiled, "In commemoration of her heroism, a statue in her image was erected, displaying her tools of defeating The Deceiver. Since her death, her ashes were to remain inside the Sacred Kurain Urn to hold the power of the Feys and if ever needed once more…."

"So that statue of Ami Fey at Hazakura is the one you were talking about?" Phoenix asked.

"Yep!" Maya clasped her hands together with a swift nod. "But it's but a fairy tale to scare mediums in training from abusing their power. Branches of the fairy tale say that It stalks the children and mediums of the village, especially those of the Master, to an impending doom to destroy the future of Kurain." Maya shrugged nonchalantly, "Other variants say It's the boogeyman and parents used it to scare mediums to listen to curfews and behave. It's funny. Even if the Shichishito actually cut into The Deceiver, it ain't working anymore, it's lost all its luster. It's practically aged in patina." Maya thought aloud.

"I remember I was told that story. Long back when I was smaller." Pearl squeaked.

"It's a good thing it was just a story then, huh." Athena said relieved, the smile returning to her face. A stretch of silence loomed over in the dark office, Maya clasped her phone shut, the room absent of light once. It took a moment for her eyes to see Widget. Athena and Pearl stared at each other from Widget's reflected blue light. "Someone flip on the switch," Athena asked nervously. "Maya can you flip your phone again?"

Athena and Pearl were answered by silence. She was still fired up from the story, the nervousness overshadowed the excited victory from the story. The both got up, too nervous to separate from the only available light.

"Mystic Maya?" Pearl whispered quietly.

"Boss?" Athena mimicked the same anxiety.

It was quiet save for their intermingled breathing. The luminance of Widget's surprised face had gone from blue to yellow. Pearl took notice as well. The light practically mingling with Athena's blazer. Their eyes failing to adjust to the black veil lingering in the office. "I can't see…"

They heard an inaudible footstep to their side, their hair flicking like a whip in response as they turned their heads to the sound. The medium and lawyer stared back at each other, anguished and distraught.

"Okay… Hehe… Good one." Athena announced. She was answered by silence again.

A creak of the floor startled them, the hair rising on their necks. It came from behind them. A chill ran up her spine when she heard a breathy giggle. It was deep, throaty and muffled. It was behind them again, coming closer. They swiveled and swirled once more. They backed up, clinging tighter onto one another, uneager and unwilling to find out what it was. The two girls held each other tightly, shaking on instinct. Widget's surprised yellow had now transformed into a frightened purple. The darkened color made it even more difficult to see, only adding onto their despair. Athena could feel the tightening of her teeth grit one another. Pearl and Athena searched around, seeking to find anything that resembled the Master and senior attorney, but to no avail. Hands suddenly shot out from behind them, wound into a giant grasp.

"GIVE ME YOUR SOUL!"

Athena and Pearl screamed loudly to the top of their lungs, as the hand clasped each other into a hold. They began to run forward, managing to break free from the grasp. As they darted forward, away from the unknown origin, they collided head on into something sturdy. They both fell, to the floor, cushioned by their own blunt falls. As their sight became less foggy, Athena oriented herself before looking up. There was something small in the distance above her. No. Two small things. Very small little lights a few inches apart from one another. They reflected the dim light from Widget, scarcely but noticeable. It was luminous, like moonlight on water. It came closer, lower, the reflection gaining more opacity with each inch. Athena wanted to retreat and crawl away but the medium besides her was scared stiff, bounding herself in a death grip of Athena's arm to the point she couldn't lift herself. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest, the shines coming ever closer. Athena curled and scrunched, unwilling to see whatever came forth, her eyes shut tightly.

'No! I have so much left to live for! I like my soul! What about Pearl!?'

The darkness behind her lids became suddenly lighter and intense, straining her eyes.

"Athena? Pearls? Are you okay?" A voice called out.

"Huh?" As her eyes revealed the now lit room, her boss held out a hand in front of her, his face contorted in worry. An outstretched hand hovered over her, offering his assistance, "the way you fell looks like it hurt."

"Mr. Wright?!" Athena shouted before taking her hand, along with Pearl in the other. "You scared me! Don't do that!"

Mr. Wright could see the anger and fury upon the faces of his cohort and the smaller medium. "That was mean, Mr. Nick! Don't do that!" Her head slumped to shoulder height, "I thought The Deceiver was going to eat me…"

"It wasn't me!" Mr. Wright defended, "Maya was the one who grabbed you."

"Maya!?"

"Mystic Maya!"

They both yelled flabbergasted. It became clear as they heard snickering. They turned to see the Master laughing next to the flipped switch, hunched over holding her stomach. "I'm sorry, girls! Haha! I could only imagine the look on your faces! Hahah!"

As Phoenix saw Maya trying to catch her breath, he smirked. He saw everything perfectly. As soon as Maya flipped her phone over, she snuck around them and could see her mischievous visage in the dark, warping around them stealthily. Widget was guiding her, revealing their location clearly. When the sudden creak of the floor happened, he couldn't help but giggle, knowing her little plan might be ruined, he could tell by her sudden sneaky footsteps as they came to a halt and her face froze over like ice. His lateness on muffling his own tiny outburst worked in Maya's favor, causing the girls to switch onto his direction, giving Maya the perfect advantage. He was able to see the horror on their faces of what was unknown in front of them. A smidgen of empathy came over him, especially the desperate wide unblinking orbs the mini medium had, he walked forward quietly. It wasn't intentional, it was just going with the flow for Maya's sake. As he made his advancement in the dark, to their disadvantage, they backed up right into Maya's ambience, her advantage. A pleasurable curl enveloped in his stomach, an amalgam of deceit and accomplishment, by the look on Maya's face. It was maliciously enjoyable, almost unconsciously thanking him for luring them to her trap, to which he happily and unknowingly obliged. As soon as she grabbed their interlocked stance, she yelled out those threatening words between their heads, scaring even him slightly. It was almost in slow motion. The way their shoulders raised and perked, the way their bodies stiffened, the way how their hair stuck high and their eyes grew wide. Lastly, were the screams with them running at full speed towards him. He had no time to react, like a literal freight train, they plummeted forth and hit him square on to his bulk, ricocheting him slightly, but throwing them to the ground. The way they thudded didn't seem to hurt too much, but he couldn't have them lie there. He wanted to make sure they were okay. That's when he finally offered his hands in help.

"Mystic Maya! That's not funny! I was actually scared." The medium replied sadly.

"Oh come here! I was just playing!" Maya gently held Pearl, "it's been awhile since any told that old one. So getting you both in the moment was an opportunity I did not want to miss."

"I won't lie, that sure was a spooky experience I won't be forgetting anytime soon!" Athena added.

"So, Nick." Phoenix perked at the Master who let go of the smaller medium, "there's your story about the black magatama. No one knows where it is. It was supposedly was sealed away and lost by time."

Phoenix's heightened mood managed to drop a perk. It wasn't the answer he was searching for, it was hardly related to his predicament. He huffed inwardly, "thanks Maya."

"Anytime." She winked. "Athena, I'm sorry. I couldn't help it."

"It's okay, Maya." Athena answered bashfully.