7th Winter Moon, 907

"Foresters! Stand at attention!"

The group of Foresters standing before their Weald Ranger superiors straightened their postures. Enora paced back and forth as she evaluated their nervous demeanors with critical, harsh eyes. One look from her could freeze over the most cowardly of them.

With the Greenwoods and their charges having left yesterday, and the internal affair groups sectioned off throughout the fort, that left the remaining newbies for her and her fellow Weald Rangers' delight. No leaders, no Nature Spirit Scouts, no Greenwoods; just the muscle of Fort Lucus to whip promising defenders into shape.

Wyatt tried to contain his shivering while Avel sat comfortably in his brother's lily pad with a vacant, narrowed stare. Leon stood up front with the shorter Pokémon and retained his serious demeanor.

Enora stamped her paw down and faced the recruits. "Listen up! For the next few weeks, you will be put through some of the most grueling training your little bodies have yet to experience. This isn't the little leagues anymore; this is where boys and girls become the monsters. You think the hell Jet put you through was rough? Just wait until you see what we have in store for you! I don't want to hear any whimpering and I certainly don't want to hear any complaining! You got something to say? Say it to my face! You got it?!"

"Y-Yes, ma'am!" the Woodlands squeaked. Murmurs of scared rookie Forester sounded quietly for their ears only.

"Dude, wasn't she acting super sweet with Fabrice the other day?"

"She scares me."

"She might bite our heads off."

"I'm strangely aroused…"

Ursula approached Enora and scratched behind her ear. "Uh, perhaps we should explain what they'll have to look forward to before we proceed?"

Enora blinked twice, then shook her head. "Ah yes, of course!" she said with a cheery grin. "You all stoked to become the defenders of Fort Lucus?"

What the hell is with that mood shift?! they internally shouted.

Ursula shook her head and stepped forward with arms crossed behind her waist. "As you all know, the Weald Rangers are responsible for the upkeep of Fort Lucus' defenses and secrecy. We work tirelessly to not only misdirect search parties hunting down our base, but also act as the first wave of defense in the event the enemy sees past the illusion. The Foresters, when on raids, are told to retreat at the first sign of imminent danger. That's why we train you in agility and speed. We're thieves, not warriors.

"The Weald Rangers, however, focus all their efforts to force back invading enemies. Though it rarely happens, we've had incidences where bandits or other sorts of Freaks will try to snuff us out by means of wildfire or warfare. When that happens, we're expected to crush anyone who poses a threat onto us. The time for mercy is over. No more tricks, no more retreating. As a Weald Ranger, you will destroy anyone who endangers your brethren's lives."

Enora nodded. "For your trial period with us, you'll be shown the day-to-day routine we undergo, as well as the nifty little toys and tricks we use to ward off search parties. You will also be expected to wear these." She turned and gestured for another Weald Ranger to wheel out some boxes.

Ursula opened a box and presented an autumn-colored uniform matching the ones they were wearing. However, they could hear clanking sounds within the uniform. It was noticeably bulkier and had armored padding on the front, shoulders, and elbows.

"The Foresters typically wear light armor under their uniforms to not impede on their agility. Not the best for stopping gunfire, but enough to take some attacks and sponge up any bladed attacks. The Weald Rangers, however, are provided with thicker armor vastly superior to our standard. It's heavier and affects movement a lot, but we have the trees to fall back on for emergencies. Not quite as helpful in open settings like towns. They were designed by our blacksmith and lead inventor. They can take gunfire for a while and make blades practically worthless. They provide extra protection against Pokémon attacks, too."

Enora continued, "You'll be required to wear these during our time together to get a feel for them. For the next few days, we'll be leading you through routine patrol to get accustomed to the armor. After that, we'll be taking you through our trade secrets for keeping this place safe."

"Is all that clear?" Ursula asked.

The rookies saluted. "Yes, ma'am!"

"Excellent. Please line up and our fellow rangers will provide you with the appropriately sized uniform. We'll begin the training in a half hour."

The rookies lined up in front of the boxes for a uniform. Ursula and Enora stepped aside, along with Marianne, and watched the rookies as they gleefully accepted their new attire.

Ursula smiled. "Always nice to see promising new recruits. I can't wait until we get to the physical stuff, though."

Enora shook her head. "I'm pretty sure someone already spoiled the surprise test. I've been hearing rumors all over."

"That so? Well, not a total loss."

Marianne smiled. "Guess we'll just have to ramp it up this time around. We can't afford to go easy on them, right?"

Enora smirked up at the Luxray. "Let's not get carried away. That's for testing purposes, not a final exam. We can ramp it up when we get official answers to sign up. Speaking of, I heard Lucient stayed behind."

Marianne nodded. "Yeah, it was strange. He told me before that he wanted to become a Greenwood someday. He took me by surprise when he signed up for Pandora's course. Never really told me why, either."

Enora shrugged. "Maybe your boyfriend has an inventor side to him."

"Oh, I doubt it. Lucient's wonderful, but he always finds himself up in the clouds when he overthinks. He wouldn't be able to get started on invention, much less stick to a single idea for long enough." Marianne tapped her cheek. "I wonder if he needs Pandora for something else."

"Um, excuse us!" The girls turned their heads and saw Wyatt and Avel approaching them. Wyatt had his uniform hanging from his arms.

"Ah, hello, you two," Ursula greeted. "Do you have any questions about the trial period?"

Avel rolled his eyes in thought. "Well, several, but not for now."

"Seconds thoughts, then?"

Wyatt shook his head. "Oh no, of course not. We're looking forward to learning under the Weald Rangers to protect our new home. It's an honor, in fact."

Enora smiled. "Well, how sweet, but what's the problem?"

Wyatt laughed sheepishly and tapped his claws together. "Well, Avel and I feel we would have a much more enrichening experience under one of you three. I mean, who can deny the capabilities of your strength and leadership? Ursula, super strong and brave. Enora, fierce leadership and amazing synergy with her peers. Marianne…I've never actually seen you fight, but you must be awesome, too!"

Ursula crossed her arms and raised her brow. "What do you two want?"

Avel sighed. "Could we perhaps request transfer to one of your groups?"

"Transfer?" Marianne repeated. "Why do you want to be transferred?"

"Well, as my brother established, we feel we would benefit more under your tutelage. Working tirelessly to ensure our safety must mean each of you have the knowledge needed to defend us amidst a crisis. Wyatt and I would appreciate learning from Fort Lucus' finest."

Ursula smirked. "You boys certainly are laying on the flattery thick. Unfortunately, we're already at max capacity with our groups. We can't fit two more recruits in."

"Oh, that won't be a problem!" Wyatt assured. "Avel and I basically count as one person. He's the brains, I'm the fighter."

Enora giggled. "You two already have a group leader. You're in Altair's group, yes?"

The brothers grimaced and looked away. "Well yeah, but…we just think that one of you ladies could—"

"You two just don't want to be stuck with Altair, right?" Ursula guessed. She smirked as the brothers froze up. "Thought so. Every time we host field weeks, everyone scrambles to avoid being stuck with Altair."

Enora lightly bonked the two on their heads. "That's very rude of you, boys. Altair has feelings, too. Trying to ditch him like that when you haven't even started."

"I doubt he would notice," Avel grumbled, earning him a second whack to the shell.

Ursula shook her head. "Altair is a valued member of the Weald Rangers. One of our best. Dismissing him like that doesn't reflect well off you two."

Wyatt frowned. "I know, but…" He gestured to his right. "Come on!"

They turned and spotted Altair staring vacantly at the autumn leaves. One fell and floated down onto his face, covering his eyes. He didn't react. He could have been confused for a statue if his chest movements didn't indicate breathing.

Ursula sighed. "Look, no one jumps at the opportunity to be in Altair's group, so we would appreciate it if you tried to work with him."

Enora smiled. "You boys might actually learn something from him. He's not quite as efficient like Ursula here, but he's definitely our strongest Weald Ranger. And our most dedicated. He serves the most hours out of anyone here, keeping constant surveillance far longer than he should."

"He spent five whole days on duty once," Marianne added before frowning. "Seriously, he didn't move for days. It was kind of freaky."

Avel rolled his eyes. "So, he sleeps on the job?"

Marianne sighed. "Just stay in Altair's group, please."

Enora smirked. "Trust us, boys, you won't regret it."

Wyatt and Avel groaned, but bowed their heads in defeat. "Fine." They turned and trudged over to Altair.

Ursula frowned a bit. "You sure we shouldn't reconsider? Altair's style of guarding might not be for those two. They seem more hotblooded."

Enora laughed. "If anything, a little temperament might be good for those two. After all, that's what our little Nebulous Torrent is all about."

Wyatt and Avel approached Altair's side, with Wyatt rocking awkwardly on his heels. Altair continued to stare off into space with the leaf covering his eyes. Wyatt poked Altair in the cheek a couple times. Still no reaction.

"Freaky," Avel murmured. "When was the last time he blinked?"

"I'm not sure," Wyatt said, still poking into the Cramorant. "I'm not one to say Ursula and the others were lying, but is it possible Altair got this position by accident?"

"Seems unlikely. He has to have some skill. There's no way he could've become a Forester if he didn't." Avel glared. "We'll have to make an effort. Lucient did say he saw Altair on the battlefield during the invasion, so maybe there's something we're missing."

"I guess, but this is going to be super boring if all he's going to do is—"

"AAHHH!"

Wyatt and Avel jumped back and screamed as Altair flailed in a panic, screaming like a madman. His armored uniform clattered with his wild movements. The leaf slid off his face and floated to the ground. Once it did, Altair froze and ceased screaming. He blinked twice, and rather slowly, then looked around with his beak wide open.

"Huh?" He scanned his surroundings, then turned to the startled brothers. "Hello."

"…Hi," they greeted.

"Who are you two again?"

The brothers traded confused glances, then Avel said, "Uh…I'm Avel. This is Wyatt. We're…your students for the next few weeks."

"Huh." Altair blinked, then looked down at the leaf that fell on his face. "A leaf." He blinked again, then stepped on the leaf. "Bad leaf."

Wyatt inhaled, then said, "Well, uh, nice to meet you, Altair. We're looking forward to learning from you. I'm sure you have plenty to teach us."

"Huh." Altair faced them. "Teach you what?"

Avel's eye twitched. "To be Weald Rangers?"

"Weald Rangers?" Altair looked up and hummed out loud. "Oh yeah, that's today, isn't it?" He faced them. "Wait…who are you two again?"

Avel, after a moment of pause, closed his shell and muffled his frustrated shouts. Wyatt tugged awkwardly on his hood and grinned. "Wyatt and Avel, sir."

"Ah, yes, yes." Altair turned and gestured to the forest. "I shall teach you all I know about guarding the forest. You're very lucky, you know. You will be my only students. You'll benefit nicely from my guidance."

Avel opened his shell and huffed. "Lucky, he says?"

"Avel, the girls told us to be nice," Wyatt whispered.

Avel sighed. "I know." He took a deep breath, then looked down at Altair. "Sir, we would be honored if you take us under your wing."

"Fantastic!" Altair exclaimed. "We have so much to cover."

Wyatt rubbed his hands together. "So, are we learning the patrol routes first, or are you giving us a sneak peek of the Weald Rangers' tricks?"

"We will go to the deepest part of the forest…and stare!"

A moment of silence passed by as the brother stared at their group leader. They tilted their heads. "And…?"

"Stare…and wait!"

Avel blinked. "Wait for what?"

"We wait!"

"Wait?"

"Wait!"

"Just waiting?"

"Waiting!"

Avel inhaled sharply and whispered to Wyatt, "Do you suppose we should try begging this time?"

Wyatt whimpered. "This is going to be a long few weeks."

"Mwuahahahahahaha!" the familiar cackle echoed throughout the underground lab. Woodlands sat on the ground, understandably nervous, as Pandora hovered over them from a shoddily built throne that wobbled from her exaggerated posing. "Welcome, my loyal minions, to Pandora's Evil Invention Development Course! May your time here be well spent as you enlighten yourselves to the ways of evil! Mwuahahahahaha!"

One Forester leaned over to his left and whispered, "This chick's crazy."

"I heard that!" A water balloon shot him in the face and knocked him flat on his back. Pandora put her crossbow away and grinned. "Anymore snide remarks?" A chorus of no's sounded off. "That's what I thought. Anywho, shall we begin?

"During your time under your new evil overlord, you will learn many new skills regarding the development of new devices specifically designed to better our Forester brethren on the battlefield or during their missions. However, simply screwing metal together will not make you an inventor. Sadly for you, there's a lot more to it. You will not partake in any inventing until you've officially decided to join my course. Until then, we will be working to enrich your minds with knowledge."

A Forester raised her hand. "And how will we be doing that?"

"Fantastic question!" Pandora flashed her evil grin. "We have a fun project for these next few weeks. You will be designing new weapons to test your knowledge on the subject. In order to get a checkmark, you must understand the mechanics of what you're designing and how each part functionally benefits the device. Everything must be labeled, mapped out, and explained. You'll be expected to write a fifteen-page paper minimum to thoroughly explain your device."

"Fifteen pages?!" the Foresters gasped.

"Why minimum?" the one Forester asked.

Pandora threw her head back and cackled. "Because I'm evil! Mwuahahahahaha! Oh, but it doesn't stop there!"

"There's more?!" they gasped.

"In order to make sure I know what I'm working with, you will all be required to take a test at the end of the week to see how familiar you are with mathematics, physics, engineering, historical weaponry and technology, the history of torture devices, and much more. In addition, for bonus credit, you will be required to write a one-page essay on why I, Pandora Day, am the most amazing creature alive and why I am worthy of conquering the world!"

She grinned at their shocked faces. "Yes, yes, I am well aware how difficult it'll be to maintain my numerous feats and credentials down to a single page of praise, but you must understand I will be doing a lot of reading once you finish your projects. I am willing to make that sacrifice for you."

The Woodlands gawked at her as she jumped down from her throne and approached a stack of boxes. "In each of these boxes, you'll find an assortment of books to help you study for the test. Should any of you fail, there will be consequences." She snickered. "Best not to find out what those consequences are, so get to reading."

The Woodlands raced towards the boxes and started unpacking the books. Pandora rubbed her paw against her chest proudly and marched back to her throne. She stopped as someone pulled on her hood.

"Hey, watch it!" She snagged her hood away, then raised her brow. "Oh, Lucient."

The Espeon bowed his head. "Hello, Ms. Day."

"That's Supreme Overlord Day to you, mister."

"How about Professor Day?"

"…I can work with that." Pandora smirked. "I'm surprised at you, Lucient. I never expected you to sign up for my course. Do I sense the budding talent of an evil inventor in that refine stride of yours?"

Lucient chuckled and fidgeted with his spectacles. "Not quite. Though the subject does sound rewarding, I'm not the inventor type. I prefer to stick to my books and pass my knowledge along to those in need. I have my heart set on becoming a Greenwood in the future."

Pandora squinted. "Then why didn't you sign up for one of those groups? I'm pretty sure there were some spots left in Fabrice and Shingo's groups."

"While I did ponder signing up, I felt you could teach me something about complex design. I admit, when I first met you, you seemed quite deranged and unstable—no offense."

"You're lucky I don't have my water balloons."

"However, I've come to admire your background in development. Melissa raved on about your goal to perfect flight travel for grounded Pokémon. It seems unheard of that a Pokémon not born with wings or the natural Levitate could achieve such heights, yet you continue to break new grounds."

Pandora crossed her forelegs and nodded. "Yes, yes, I'm amazing."

"I figured with your knowledge in mechanical engineering, you could help me with something I want to improve."

"Hmm…go on."

Lucient sat on his haunches and removed his spectacles. "My fight with Wicked Winds Ainsley had left me some time to reflect on my abilities. I've spent years perfecting my hard light technique, allowing me a wide range of offensive and defensive opportunities. I seek to constantly improve my psychic abilities. I am still currently learning how to properly utilize telepathy to rival those naturally born with the ability. However, I don't consider myself a fighter in comparison to my peers, such as Ragger or the brothers. I prefer the supportive role whenever I can.

"My fight with Ainsley, however, showed there are times where I need to step up my offensive power when the time calls for it. There is a lot I can accomplish with my hard light, though not without its shortcomings. I can produce a myriad of simple shapes, such as knives or shields, with no trouble. Anything requiring complex mechanisms, however, is where I reach my limit."

Pandora glared. "Wait. You're saying you're only taking this class because you want my help to turn your hard light into something more complex?"

"In a matter of speaking, yes. I do like learning new things, so another trick to my hard light would be fascinating and useful."

"If that's all, you could've just asked to borrow some books of mine. Though I learned from hands-on experience, the books offer a lot of help. Plus, don't you have a near-perfect memory or something?"

"Yes, but that is where I require your help. Though I can recall any information off the top of my head, simply knowing doesn't tell me how to perform certain tasks. I may know the name of a certain tool or bolt, but that doesn't mean I know what it looks like if I've never seen one. At the same time, even if I had a step-by-step visual aid to construct the weapon I need, I have a rather embarrassing habit of dazing off into my own thoughts. It's rather inconvenient. And constructing complex machinery like that requires me to know where every piece goes and when to put them in. I can see it come together in my mind, but assembling it on the fly without putting much thought into it would be a tad difficult."

"I see," Pandora mused. "You don't have experience working with your paws, then?"

"I do a fair bit of tinkering. I can reassemble an old clock just fine. In battle, however? I am simply not fast enough to create something like that without leaving myself open to attack. Well, not a clock specifically, but you get my point."

Pandora nodded. "I think I get it. In the event you need heavier firepower, you want to be able to assemble something like a cannon or catapult without being overwhelmed by the details."

"Exactly! You, who have studied in machinery her whole life, would be able to do it as naturally as breathing. I need more than just facts and information to rely on. I sadly do not cope well with unexpected events, so it helps to have a backup plan should pure wit not serve my needs."

Pandora stroked her chin. "A perplexing request, I must admit. You only signed up for my course knowing you would have my undivided attention." She grinned. "Very evil of you. I admire that."

"I wouldn't say evil, but—"

"Say no more!" She hooked her foreleg around him. "I will teach you everything I know about complex mechanisms and the like. With enough practice and that fancy memory of yours, you should have it down in no time."

Lucient smiled. "Thank you very much, Professor Day."

"That's what evil professors are for. Though, don't expect an easy ride through this course. You still have to do my test and work on the project."

Lucient chuckled and adjusted his spectacles. "A simple matter, though I do hope I can capture your feats in my essay of you. Besides, I did take this course out of genuine interest, too."

Pandora smirked. "Then I'll make sure to put that brainpower of yours to the test, smart guy."

"I'm looking forward to helping out with Fort Lucus' upkeep, Mr. Leafwind," Lillia said as she followed Blitz, carrying a bag of scrolls at her side. "I feel my talents are best suited to serving the needs of our fellow thieves here."

Blitz nodded. "We're happy to have you aboard, Lillia. I figured Weald and mission leader Greenwood wasn't your preferred style."

Lillia shook her head. "I do not condone violence, even though I understand it is necessary. Still, if I am called upon, I will assist when needed."

"I warn you, managing the internal affairs of Fort Lucus isn't the most glamorous job. Since the Foresters have several connections throughout Virdis, the main purpose of our crimes is to not only help the less fortunate, but to also payoff our contacts for favors. We often outsource for specific fields to provide for Fort Lucus, such as material, food, ore, etc. We even had to hire bounty hunters to assist us in missions during the early stages of our career."

Lillia nodded. "I'm not an expert in finances, but I'm sure I can learn on the go. I was only interested in this position to see if I can help everyone."

"I've noticed. Despite being a rookie, you have been making your presence known around here."

"I understand some Foresters struggle with their day-to-day lives and often need someone to vent to or a shoulder to cry on. Though I do not look fondly back at my own upbringing, I have learned that kindness is everything. I love to go up to my fellow thieves and listen to their problems and offer them advice. It brings a smile to my face."

Blitz smiled. "Perhaps we could give you an official position as Fort Lucus' counselor. Closest we have is Jason, and…well, you've met him, so…"

Lillia giggled. "Thank you for the offer, though I have my hands full volunteering at the kitchen with Lambert."

"Oh yes, you're on cooking duty with him, right?"

"After our impromptu mission a few months back, I often helped out with Lambert until he offered me a position. I love cooking, so it seemed perfect for me."

"Well, try to overwhelm yourself if you stick to dealing with internal affairs."

"I'd be more worried about Lambert than me. Does he ever take a break?"

Blitz shrugged. "Lambert really likes cooking. If anything, he gets stressed when he's not cooking."

"I see." Lillia smiled up at Blitz. "What about you? Out of all our higher ups, you seem the most composed and, forgive me for saying this, emotionally stable."

Blitz laughed. "It's fine. I prefer to take it easy. The busy work helps, but I go at my own pace. You and I have a lot of common, actually. I'm not too keen on violence either. Kind of sucks when I can't see much, yet I can hear the screams of battle. It's a frightening experience, and sad when I started getting used to it."

Lillia shivered. "I suppose that's why they call you the Compassionate Sniper, huh?"

"Heh, sure, something like that." Blitz held his hand out and traced his claws against the railing. "Okay, this is the building you'll be working in with your fellow Woodlands. Go inside, get to know everyone, and we'll begin shortly. Tell them I need to take care of something first and I'll be back in a half hour."

Lillia nodded. "Of course. See you soon, Mr. Leafwind." She walked into the hut.

"See you." Blitz waved her off and continued ahead.

Blitz reached the upper level of the fort and entered Jason's hut. He heard the tapping of quill to parchment and made out the yellow blob sitting among the dark colors. "Hard at work, I hear?"

Jason looked up for a moment, then went back to scribbling on the parchment. "Shouldn't you be hosting your course right now?"

"I've got time. Besides, I figured I'd give the newbies time to relax before we start working." Blitz approached the desk and leaned forward on it. "Seems two of our newest rookies are trying for Greenwood positions."

"Kenny and Melissa," Jason stated. "I've already set up free time for next year's tests. Kenny will be doing his heist in the Wick Kingdom, and Melissa will be having her heist in the Echo Bell Kingdom. Hopefully Shingo and Fabrice approve their plans before they get back."

"Though I am interested in Kenny's performance, I am much more intrigued by what our favorite princess has to offer." Blitz smiled. "You don't suppose she'll attempt anything dangerous, right?"

Jason rolled his eyes. "Given her track record, I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to kidnap one of the royals. Seems befitting and ironic for her, though not exactly a proper heist."

Blitz leaned down and rested his head in his arms. "I'm curious, Jason. Do you hold any animosity towards Melissa?"

Jason stopped drawing, then exhaled loudly. "She infuriates me with her insubordination and reckless actions, though I say that as a leader and not as someone who despises her. No, my anger isn't driven against a bloodline, or at least anymore. My fury still targets her father."

Blitz frowned. "I don't need vision to know what you're feeling. You want to kill him, don't you?"

Jason leaned back in his chair and gripped his wrist. Blitz could sense the tense shaking in his fist. "When I made the Sacred Laws for the Foresters, they were mostly to keep me in check. I can't deny a certain…desire to end King Penworth's life, but doing so would breed more trouble than it's worth. Besides, with Melissa a part of our group now, I'd just repeat the cycle. I don't want to inflict Melissa with the same misfortune. Though she speaks ill of her father, she doesn't wish for his death." Jason sighed. "She's a better person than me."

"Don't say that about yourself. You're a good person, Jason," Blitz assured. "You may act tough, but I know you're a gentle and kind soul. A lot of us just wished you could find something to bring that side of you out. Seems so foreign to most of us, and Eadwulf's personal accounts are the only thing we have to believe you weren't grouchy your whole life."

"Perhaps," Jason grumbled.

Blitz smirked. "What you need is a girlfriend."

Jason groaned. "Good grief."

"I'm just saying, you almost exclusively talk business. Outside of Eadwulf, you don't act like we're friends. I think you're my friend. But it might be nice if you found someone you could relate to, or just share in your personal interests." He pointed in the vague direction of Jason's bookshelves. "Like that silly book series of yours."

"First of all, it's not silly," Jason growled. "Journey of the Storm Breaker is an amazing epic filled with amazing characters, drama, and high-octane adventure. To call it some silly series is just—" Realizing he was getting heated, and seeing the sly grin Blitz wore, Jason breathed out through his nose and turned away. "Second, I'm pretty sure you're only bringing this up because you miss Sadie."

Blitz shrugged. "I can't help it. That's one of the reasons we're doing the raid at the end of the year. I haven't seen her in forever. And I miss her cute, endless ramblings."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He stood up and walked over to his bookshelf. "The sooner we get her back, the better. Ever since Melissa escaped, they increased security around the walls. A raid is just what we need to seamlessly extract her."

Blitz frowned. "I suppose, though…that is the reason we're getting her back, right?"

Jason remained silent, tracing his finger over the book spines.

Blitz glared and straightened up. "Is there another reason you're doing this raid?"

Jason shrugged. "What's different about this one? We're just stealing from the nobles."

"Ever since we met, you've been gunning towards taking down King Penworth and collapsing his rulership. What exactly are you after?"

Jason glared. He pulled the first volume of Journey of the Storm Breaker from the shelf, then tucked it under his arm. "I just…need to confirm something. I sent Sadie undercover because I needed information that continues to elude me. Roscoe Fletcher, now King Penworth, is the man that fuels my ire. And yet, there's so much I don't know about him. I'm hoping Sadie has information on him."

"Jason…" Blitz approached him and touched his shoulder. "I get you have a rough history with the Penworth family, and we all want to help those in need, but you shouldn't hold on to this much anger. It's not healthy for you. You put yourself under so much stress just to help our thieves reach their best. It wouldn't hurt to take a break and enjoy yourself for once."

Jason bared his teeth. "But I—"

"No one's forcing you to be our strong leader twenty-four seven. Everyone already looks up to you, and they're working hard because they believe in the Foresters' cause. They might appreciate knowing you share their sentiments."

Jason eased the tension in his shoulder and slumped forward. "I guess…"

"Plus, if you opened up a little more, you could start that book club Melissa teased you about."

Jason's eyes widened. "Who told you about that?!"

"You're not that hard to read. Also, Basil was eavesdropping." Blitz waltzed away from the fuming Pikachu. "Anyway, I got a class to run. Try not to burn yourself out."

Jason turned away and covered his reddened face. "I swear, you all drive me insane." He looked at his book, checking over his shoulder briefly, then started up to his bedroom. "Wouldn't hurt to take a small break and reread the first few chapters, though. Tch, starting a book club? Who would even…?"

He paused and thought back to Melissa, who did take a mild interest in the book when she was snooping through his shelves. He considered for a moment, but shook his head.

"Nah."