Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it, nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.

In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.

LAST TIME, on Fairy Adventure, Jaxton and Tesla might have come to a consensus, but Gary has his hands full with Uki and Skade. Let's hope he's a dictator who doesn't back down. Nashi finally saw a picture of Carlisle, but it looks like his good looks affected her and Cael deeper than she thought while Luna learns about the betrayal and punishment of Báihǔ and learns an even more important fact—she misses Igneel. Tesla and Weiwei's shopping terms into a bit of a…gray area. And what's worse, they'll be returning to a home where a powerhouse of a woman lives and none who have faced her lived on to tell the tale.

"Alas, how unfair it is… This ordeal we call 'life'."

I don't even want to know where you get the fangs of a wolf pup. And Justin… I'm not so sure Dante will let you get to have that four-way…or a three-way…

Chibi-Nashi appears. "Hi, guys! Ready for some more Fairy Adventure! Author-san wanted to refresh your memory about time zones, so here you are!"

Abbreviations – Time Zone Name • — • — •— • — Location • — Offset

MCDT • — • — Melandian Central Daylight Time – Melandia • — • UTC +7

SST • — • — • – Sīchóu Standard Time • — • — • — Zhōnguá • — • – UTC +3

CIT • — • — • – Central Ishgaran Time • — • — • — Bellum • — • – UTC +2

CMT • — • — • – Charring Mean Time • — • — • — Minstrel • — • – UTC +1

FST • — • – Fiore Standard Time • — • — • — • Fiore • — • — • – UTC - 0:00

ACT • — • — Arcticados Central Time • — • — • – Arcticados • — • — UTC - 1

ADT • — • — • – Alvarez Daylight Time • — • — • – Alvarez • — • — UTC - 2

AT • — • — • – Amazone Time • — • — • — • — • — Valchestria • — UTC - 4

EST • — • — • – Eastern Standard Time • — • — • – Meidiland • — • UTC - 6

"Make sure when you're reading on the screen, you have on some low lighting to protect your eyes!" Chibi-Nashi waves. "See you at the end of the episode!"

The bedroom was stately, and no one could say otherwise. Rather than a traditional take on Zhōnguánese design, it had been upgraded to a contemporary aesthetic with red walls with brushed burnt gold designs and dark cherry wood furniture, everything from the dresser to the alcove king-sized bed to the chest and accent chairs. The flooring, however, retained the tiles, but they had been vigorously cleaned to make sure they looked as good as they had been when they were first pressed into the ground.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Te Gōng

Hǔde Mountain

Sīchóu Province, Zhōnguá

7:44 PM SST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jaxton frowned as he fixed his cuffs. His red Zhongshan suit had embroidered Báihǔ onto the front with a golden collar, and he wore the customary emerald-blue pin as his honor to western Zhōnguá, but the dislike to such traditions sullied his mood about this entire affair. His hair had been barely tamed into a part and tussled (though, Tesla would argue he looked like a J-artist). "Are you ready?"

"If I say, 'no', does that mean I can stay in here?"

Jaxton chuckled. "No. You'd still have to come with me."

"Alive?"

"Preferably."

"Damn."

Jaxton fixed his collar as heels click against the tile.

"Do I look decent?"

Jaxton had only caught her figure in the mirror for a moment before he turned around to see her in full. The red lace qipao with white-gold flowers bunching up her side and right shoulder hugged all the right places in a tease. Eyes that fell on her would think she looked dignified and demure, but others would catch the slit crafted and might wonder her true self. Twists gathered up into a half updo with hair sticks Jaxton had picked from her of a blood-red with blue gemstones encrusted.

His eyes darkened.

Tesla shot him a wary look. "Don't look at me like that. I just finished getting clean, and I am not about to get messy again." She simpered when Jaxton looked a little put-out and came over to examine herself in the mirror, humming when Jaxton hugged her from behind.

"I'm very much out of my depth," she breathed. "If my mom saw me, she'd be taking a million pictures." She tugged at the lace. "Is all this pomp and circumstance really necessary? I'm all for honoring your traditions, I promise, but this seems a little…"

"I know." Jaxton kissed her neck. "It's a necessary evil."

"'Evil' is the right word. I look like an evil queen," Tesla muttered. She lifted her hand to scratch Jaxton's jaw, nails a blood red (courtesy of Weiwei). "Do you think we'll be back in time to catch Nashi's interview? I really want to support her for the live stream and the fundraiser."

"Normally, for Zhōnguánese New Year, it's a small dinner, dessert, our ceremony, and then we go our separate ways," Jaxton recalled. "We might miss the first five or ten minutes, but we should be able to watch the live stream."

Tesla hummed. "I'm so excited for it. And the burlesque show since it's raising money for the arts." Her smile broadened when Jaxton pressed against her. "Aht-aht. Down. Your parents' house is enormous, which means I have to walk to get from A to B. I don't want to meet your family with you hauling me into your dining room." Though, she tilted her head to give him more access to her neck.

"My father would understand," Jaxton murmured before teething her skin.

Tesla snorted and patted his cheek. "If your dad is as horny as you and he's…however old he may be, I don't think I'm going to survive this relationship," she dryly muttered. "If your mom doesn't decide I'm not worthy of her son, I should ask her pointers on how to handle you." Her hand came down lighting quick to slap his wandering hand away from toying with her dress' slit. "What did I just say?"

"Five minutes?"

"No."

"One minute?"

"Ha. No." Tesla wriggled free from Jaxton's arms to give him a look with her hand on a cocked hip. "We need to get walking, so I can make a nice impression. And this is a very nice dress on a very nervous person."

"Then, we can go make our grand entrance," Jaxton supposed, reluctant.

Tesla laughed at her crestfallen boyfriend and took his hand. "The quicker this dinner is over, the quicker we can be alone," she reminded him. "I'm going to need you to pamper me from all the stress I'm about to endure considering I'm meeting a woman who sounds like she's the villain version of Mulan—and way, way worse." She put her hand on Jaxton's shoulder to make sure the straps on her heels would hold.

Jaxton looked thoughtful. "She does have the Hua Mulan medal and sword and the title of the Magnolia Warrior of the West. It's one of the highest medals of honor a warrior could have earned back in imperial times."

Tesla gawked. Carefully, her eyes went to the window—

"But you're right." Jaxton locked on an arm around her waist. "We should start walking. It'll take us a while to get to the dining room." He murmured in her ear, "But if you want to run, I'll be happy to chase you."

Tesla huffed. "You sick freak. I'm giving myself hot flashes, and your old ass perverted mind is on skirt-cashing. Really?" She smacked his chest when he grinned. "God, the Hell do I see in you? You give me anxiety or make me horny. There's no in-between with you." Out of spite to Jaxton's larger grin, she muttered, "I wish I had my own Gary."

Jaxton scowled as he opened the door. "I taught that pissant everything he knows," he argued. "Anything he can do, I can do better."

"Oh, I don't doubt that." Tesla patted his cheek endearingly as she passed him. "But it got your mind off lifting up my skirt, now, didn't it?" Jaxton still looked disgruntled, so she awarded him a chaste kiss on the lips. "We do have a long walk to get to your dining room. There's plenty of time for you to get your touches in."

Jaxton fell into step with her and tucked her into his side. "You tease me too much." He kissed her temple and rubbed her side. "Thank you for coming home with me. All of this seems easier with you."

"Thanks for inviting me." Tesla took a sweep of the hall they walked down.

The ceilings were vaulted with exalted red pillars and jinzhuan (gold-clay brick) flooring that had been kept shiny for all those who trotted on it. Displays of wealth were commonplace, and it looked like they stepped through a museum. Collections had been gathered over the centuries, and race played no part in the interest. A medicine mask from Andüsa had its own glass case and marble pedestal while an early Encan portrait of the gods of war and knowledge hung in a gold-painted frame that still persevered against time. A Cipanguese scroll that held an ancestral proverb was concealed behind glass, but it was obvious Magic had been embedded in the scroll.

"Did all these come from the western emperor?" Tesla asked as she admired a statue of a naked woman as she breastfed her angelic baby.

"No. These are all my mother's. When she officially took over the palace, she destroyed every single piece of artwork," Jaxton explained. "She left the armories intact, though."

"The more I hear about your mom, the more I'm hoping I suddenly get sick, so I don't have to meet her," Tesla muttered as she eyed a suit of armor from olden Minstrish times that was encased in glass.

Jaxton chuckled. "She likes to display her spoils from war, I guess. But everything displayed in the palace are things she doesn't care about. Anything she truly cares for is hidden in a place only she knows."

Tesla scooted closer to Jaxton as they passed by a scythe that glinted as though hungry for a body to slice. "I-Is that so?" She shivered. "I don't know how you two are related, then. You never wanted to decorate your apartment, and even your house was barren."

"I don't have the need to decorate," Jaxton guessed. "And I don't have a need for collecting weapons and armor. I don't think I've touched my personal armory—"

"You have a personal armory?" Tesla gaped. "Why am I still getting shocked at this point?"

Jaxton nuzzled the side of her face with his nose. "My grandmother trained my mother in almost every weapon under the sun, and my mother expected the same from Weiwei and me. As gifts to us when we were younger, she set aside weapons so we each have our personal armory. I've never liked weapons. Weiwei did, but once she was banished from the Te Sect, she lost access to her weapons."

"You people talk like you're friggen gods," Tesla gawked. "Who just gives their child weapons?"

Jaxton looked bothered, but it was not by her question. "It was a different time."

Tesla took a deep breath and let her eyes roam the halls once again. "I'm so thankful you adapted to modern times. If you ever gift me a gun out of love, I will shoot you with it, you hear me?" When Jaxton did not respond, she caught irritation etched into his face. "Jang-ta?" she called worriedly. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." Jaxton held her tighter as his eyes narrowed down the hall. I heard voices, but… Those aren't the voices of servants. He murmured to Tesla, "Whatever happens, don't leave my side for a second."

"I don't plan to," Tesla whispered. "What's going on?"

"A game has been set up." Jaxton's jaw clenched as he picked up insincere laughter and the words of snakes. "And my mother already rolled the dice." He caught Tesla's quickened breath as she chewed on her bottom lip. "I can't leave, but you can if you aren't comfortable. Just stay in the room—"

"No." Tesla swiftly shook her head. "I'm not the best back-up, but it feels like you're going into battle, and you'll need back-up. I'm your backup and support. I'm your Mercy." She shot him a shaky yet determined smile. "I've got your back in this. I didn't come all this way just to hide, right?"

Jaxton slowed them to a stop to hold Tesla's cheeks in his hands. Darkness searched steely-grays. "I'm not sure what sort of game she's set up," he murmured, "and I know that's not assuring, but I want to be honest with you. She's not the type to be outright with her intentions. You'll need to be on guard the entire night. The less you talk and react, the less she'll have over you."

"I'm a little terrified going downstairs," Tesla whispered. "But I know a thing or two about sitting quiet and looking pretty." She nodded at him. "I'll be okay. Just be careful."

"I will." Jaxton kissed her forehead, then her nose, then a slow kiss on her lips. "Are you ready?"

"No, but I doubt I'd ever be completely ready," Tesla breathed. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, though."

Jaxton nodded as he dropped his hand, only to let one hand slip into hers. "Just remember: talk less."

"And smile more?"

Jaxton's eyes danced in amusement. "Yes. Smile more." He guided her back into a stroll down the hall.

It took Tesla five minutes down the hall for her to hear the wisps of voices and another minute for those wisps to turn into murmurs and laughter treated like sudden jarring bullets. She wiped her hand down her dress several times and felt Jaxton give her fingers an assuring squeeze. The more conversations that floated upwards and the closer they got to the stairwell, the more her heart felt like its beating was right in her ears and her lungs were constricting. The voices were a mesh of posh chuckles and respectful language, but it was clear to her that where they were headed, a crowd was waiting.

The workers had restored the bifurcated staircase with its carvings rarities and the oriental red, emerald-blue, and gold rugs looked like the colors had been restored. Jaxton let go of her hand, but before her panic made her lunge for it back, he linked their arms to make a show of their escorting. She gulped when she caught sight of awaiting guards dressed in the imperial emerald-blue and red, but their eyes respectfully never rested on her. But as they stepped down onto the platform that led to the sweeping staircase that flooded to the main floor—

CLACK. CLACK.

Tesla did not mean to jump, but it was then she noticed a man dressed in a traditional hanfu with the hat of a court official and a scroll in his hands as though he had stepped out from ancient times and into modern times. What the—?

"Presenting the Western Master of the guzheng who has returned from his studies abroad," the man cried for all below to hear in Szuchounese, "I give you Young Master Yang of Sīchóu…!"

Tesla's eyes rounded the moment she saw a plethora of people waiting at the steps dressed in their regal reds and loyal emerald-blues as they sipped their champagne and their eyes watched for any sign of weakness. She gripped her dress tightly as she tried to keep steady breaths. Oh my…

The announcer continued regally: "And presenting a venerated emissary from the southwest continent of Ishgar and the treasured Chosen of Young Master Young… I give you…Young Lady Hylia of Fiore…!"

Tesla might not have understood everything, but her ear caught onto one word, and her stomach knotted. No…

Jaxton's eyes darkened in fury and growled, Mother…

And as bows were done and applause broke out with eager-to-please smiles, a champagne glass lifted to a pair of luscious blood-red lips pulled into a chillingly amused smirk. Welcome home, my son.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Itsu datte kimi no sono-te wa

Itsu demo sekai o kae reru yo

Tsudzukete ku koto yamecha dame datte

Kon'na mon janaidaro? Susume!

•

Mukuwarenai sono doryoku wa `kabe' o `tobira' ni kaerukara

Kowagarazu ni sa~a nokku shite

It will be OK

Let's go sonosakihe!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The entire hall was made for standing socialization with high-rise tables and only a few accent chairs and sofas, but most kept on their feet as this was no time to ostracize yourself. Golden marble blew feet while emerald-blues painted the walls with scarlet and gold pillars. Bouts of wealth could be seen as the walls were decorated in glass-encased scrolls of calligraphy, silk robes from times of old, and porcelain sculptures and vases. The decorations had been tailored to the Year of the Rabbit with gemstone bowls set out to appease Báihǔ during his coveted year.

The small orchestra compromised of Zhōnguánese instrumentalists and broader instruments like the piano and violin. The two dizi (Zhōnguánese bamboo flutes) players had taken the lead in this tale woven about the beauty of autumn and winter. People dressed in their reds and golds and emerald-blues conversed to make connections, pass along jokes, or speak about opportunities and business deals while the servants dressed in their traditional hanfu and offered champagne and finger foods.

Tesla and Jaxton kept out of the limelight with Tesla's nerves on the fritz while Jaxton looked agitated. He had quickly hidden them into a servant's hallway, though none of the servants had bothered them, as though they knew to actively avoid the hall and found a different route.

"Ja-Jang-ta," Tesla breathed with her hands wringing each other. "D-Did they…? D-Did he just…?"

"Yes." Jaxton hated he had to give confirmation. "I expected my mother to pursue you after seeing you, but as always, she's on step ahead." But she only knew that Tesla has Anti-Ether. She never knew Tesla's old name. Which means one of the others is on her payroll or she used darker connections. He turned his attention back onto a hyperventilating Tesla and held her cheeks in his hands. "Look at me, baby girl, breathe. Breathe with me."

Tesla shook her head as she tried to choke out the words. "Y-You didn't tell me sh-sh-she knew—"

"I didn't know she knew who you were before," Jaxton promised her. "I was naïve to think she still wouldn't know. I'm so sorry. But I need you to breathe with me, baby girl. Are you ready?"

Tesla shook her head and closed her eyes—

"Inhale for me, baby girl, please. For me."

A sob came out, but Tesla gave a halting inhale.

"That's it. And exhale slowly."

Tesla tried hard, but she sputtered and coughed as she shook her head. "I-I-I c-c-can't—"

"Shhh… It's okay." Jaxton hugged her into his chest and he could feel her violent shaking. His hand drifted up and down from her neck to the small of her back and repeated the motion. "You are right here with me, baby girl," he murmured, low and calm. "I won't let you go." He felt Tesla's hands tighten on him and heard her take a deep breath. Anger towards his mother made him want to tense, but he kept his touch gentle for Tesla's sake.

She started the night making sure Tesla was knocked off balance like this, which means she's going to try to do more to get her to react, Jaxton growled. I can't leave Tesla alone. Even if Mother doesn't approach her directly, I'm sure she'll collect information from anyone who speaks to her. No one in there is a Wizard, but that doesn't mean Mother doesn't have something on them. For her to invite this many people means I'm not here as her son. And if she can't publicly call me her son…

Jaxton kissed Tesla's forehead while the blacks of his eyes stormed. …then what the Hell is she trying to accomplish with this sort of ambush? He withdrew from his thoughts when Tesla pulled back a little to sniff and dab under her eyes. "Do you want to leave?"

Tesla shook her head and confided, "I feel better. I'm okay. We shouldn't leave."

"If you're not comfortable, we can leave," Jaxton promised her.

Tesla sniffled and wiped away a tear. "But your mom—"

"None of that matters to me. You matter." Jaxton meant every word. "She disrespected you by using that name. She's trying to coerce either of us into playing her game with this ambush tonight. I can celebrate the Lunar New Year anywhere but celebrating means nothing if you're not okay." He took her hand and kissed her palm. "Let's leave. Okay?"

Watery steely-grays connected with soft darkness.

"Jang-ta," Tesla whispered, "I—"

"Young Master Yang."

Jaxton tensed, and Tesla froze in quiet fear. Jaxton hid Tesla as he looked over his shoulder to see a bowing servant had blocked off the exit of the servant hallway. He snarled in Szuchounese, "What is it?"

"Immortal Yang requests Young Master Yang's presence in the grand hall," the servant replied, still bowing. "She would like to extend her sincerest apologies for disturbing Young Master Yang's Chosen and hopes to reclaim her favor as she is an esteemed envoy of the southwest."

Jaxton lifted his chin. "You're aware of who I am and who she is."

"Yes, this lowly servant recognizes Young Master Yang." The servant bowed lower. "Immortal Yang has instructed all who serve the palace that Young Master Yang is to be acknowledged as Young Master Yang, but we are to stay silent if inquiries arise about Young Master Yang's blood relationships."

"Remain silent?" Jaxton narrowed his eyes. "Why can't you refute if they make assumptions?"

"A thousand apologies, Young Master Yang, but Immortal Yang has asked we not disclose that information to Young Master Yang."

And their loyalty to her is stronger than iron, Jaxton growled. They fear her as much as they respect her and admire her. "We'll present ourselves to Immortal Yang soon enough," he said. "You may go."

But the servant would not leave. "A thousand apologies, Young Master Yang, but this lowly servant must insist Young Master Yang comes with this lowly servant post haste."

Ah, so that's it, Jaxton realized. She's making sure I can't call Huang Chun. He looked down at Tesla and softened to murmur in Sinnish, "He's telling us my mother is waiting for us in the hall. She wants to apologize to you, but it's for show and to gauge how you've reacted."

"I'm sure she saw my mini freak-out before you swept us both in here." Tesla wiped her cheeks. "Your mother is a piece of work."

"She is," Jaxton agreed in Sinnish. "And for her to do this means she's willing to overstep any boundaries to get the answer she wants. But this is my fight with her. I don't want you to—"

"No." Resolution burned in Tesla's eyes, but it did not ebb away her fear and distress. "This is my fight now too, if she wants to bring up my past like that. I can hang on."

"Princess—"

Tesla shook her head. "Talk less. Smile more."

Jaxton sighed and thumbed her cheek. "I love you. Let me know if this becomes too much." At Tesla's agreeing nod, he offered his arm for her to slip hers through. His unreadable mask came back on as he addressed the servant in Szuchounese, "Take us to the hall."

"Of course, Young Master Yang." The servant rose and provided pass for Jaxton and Tesla to exit the servants' hallway.

Jaxton kept Tesla steady as they strode down the majestic hallway. The music and flow of conversation were grating to him and nerve-wracking to her, but she tried for the same closed-off face Jaxton always wore and desperately tamped down her racing heart. Glorious doors of glittering gold waited for them with four guards to keep any enemies at bay. They honored Jaxton with bows and murmured greetings before they returned to their post, eyes front and ears open. The servant had the pleasure to open the door that would take the couple into a hellish evening of fake smiles and listening to the unspoken words of every sentence.

Tesla offered Jaxton a squeeze on his bicep as she tried to control her fear and dread, grateful when he kissed her temple.

You can do this, she told herself. Keep calm. Don't panic. Just breathe.

Jaxton guided her into a slow walk into the grand hall, and she had to squint for a moment to adjust to the brightness of all the baubles and lights. Her vision blurred as her nerves heightened, but she recentered herself to get clearer visuals on these officials dressed in their imperialistic regalia to honor their Guardian Spirit of the West and welcome the Year of the Rabbit, and the servants who said little, offered vague smiles, and kept their eyes low and submissive.

Jaxton kept him and Tesla away from the majority of the crowd and tried to blend in with the walls at the back of the hall and furthest from the doors. Dark eyes scanned with his ears pricked, but he knew the truth. He just needed confirmation.

Neither of my parents are here. Weiwei and Elijah aren't either. I'm sure Mother made sure Weiwei and Elijah were barred. Which makes it all the clearer she's targeting me. And something tells me it isn't just about me inheriting the Te Sect. But what else could it be?

His nostrils flared, and he glanced down at Tesla as she pressed back into the wall and her eyes darted everywhere, caged and wary. I should've never brought her home, he regretted. I should've known that Father couldn't control even Immortal Yang. He told me before I was born, she listened to him. She bended. He clenched his free hand into a fist. Not anymore. He dropped his arm to wrap it around Tesla's waist.

She wriggled. "Jang-ta—"

"Te necesito cerca de mí." He sighed in relief when Tesla pressed into him without question. She's brave for following me here. She's frightened, but she still wants to stay by my side. I need to get her out of here. If I can call upon Huang Chun, he can take her back to the house. She'll be safe there, away from this fight. No. My mother doesn't play in fights. She massacres. He dipped his head to inhale Tesla's scent deeply. But she won't win this time. She'll start a war with me if she thinks she can touch Tesla or Weiwei.

GAAN…

Jaxton kept a firm grip on a jumpy Tesla when a gong rang its symbolic three beats. Attention turned back to those grandiose doors. The herald from before had made himself known as he announced in Szuchounese, "Honor has been given to you tonight. Please bow in reverence and welcome Her Excellency, the honorable Magnolia Warrior of West, the head of the Yang family…"

The doors broke open.

"…the great Immortal Yang, the Venerable One, and her treasured Chosen, Master Yang, the Untamed One."

STEP… STEP…

GAAN…

Without hesitation, everyone who resided in the hall gave their first deep bow.

Blood-red silk swept across the marble.

GAAN…

Everyone bowed a second time, following the gong.

A powerful hand smoothened in olive-brown with golden undertones served as an escort to a paler hand with blood-red nails and two were guarded gold armor claw guards.

GAAN…

The third bow had everyone still, and none dared to look up. But Jaxton had kept Tesla standing tall, even when she tugged at his suit, flighty. He refused to bow and kept his chin lifted and his eyes giving away nothing. He would not bend.

Blood-red lips pulled into a smile with no teeth when the pair had stopped walking and had stolen the front of the hall for themselves with guards at attention. Her words flowed out like a river that might look calm, but it had a powerful current only the strongest could resist. "You may rise and lay your eyes on this Venerable One."

Everyone in the hall rose like obedient dogs.

"Tonight, you have been summoned from all over the western Zhōnguá to come to Te Gōng and join this Venerable One and the Untamed One in the second to final night of our celebration of the Lunar Year as we follow the rabbit and receive our blessing and good fortune from the great Guardian of the West, Báihǔ," she continued in Szuchounese with every word she spoke more meaningful than the last. "This Venerable One is grateful you have all attended to show your loyalty to the Yang bloodline and as a testament to your loyalty and honor, this Venerable One has prepared a banquet fit for Báihǔ and have brought performers from all over the west to entertain you, the esteemed guests."

Appreciative applause warmed the room.

Tesla's eyes flashed down.

Jaxton locked his jaw.

The incline of her chin brought absolute silence. "And tonight will be even more of an auspicious event for tonight, friends, the Immortal Yang will open the Te Gong Sacred Temple holding the ancient altar of Báihǔ in our western tower to one guest here to allow them midnight seclusion and the opportunity to speak to the great White Tiger of the West in place of herself."

Surprise and excitement vibrated through the entire hall at this announcement. Such an auspicious event indeed!

"This Venerable One asks you to eat, drink, and be merry as we pay our respects to Báihǔ over conversation and strengthen our bonds together." Her teeth were shown in her smile. "We of the West have the most virtue and honor as our Guardian does. Perhaps if we show our Guardian our absolute virtue, we may be blessed with his presence tonight. Perhaps the one chosen for midnight seclusion will be able to hear his great roar. It is this Immortal Yang's greatest desire we appease the Guardian of the West."

Jaxton kept back his growl. I see. That's why Weiwei isn't here… And why she's targeting me…

"This Chosen and this Venerable One shall oversee every need is met to your satisfaction. We cannot thank you enough for the joy of hosting you at Te Gōng." She was a vision of scarlet-infected silk with a white-furred collared cape, as though she was the contradictory messenger of an emperor and an assassin. Skin with a healthy tint, unlike empresses of olden times, she let all see her blood-red lips without a meddlesome veil and the obsidian of her heavy-lidded eyes and her hair was built into an impressive top knot and drenched in ceremonial ornaments and her honorary magnolia flower comb as an homage to her Hua Mulan title.

⌜TE GŌNG

Name: Yang Ping Mei

Age: 1000+

Ability: Cultivation

Occupation: Head of the Yang Family; Master of the Te Sect

Likes: N/A Dislikes: N/A

Special Note: Ping Mei has earned multiple titles for her longevity and martial contributions, but there is not much known about her personal interests.⌟

She peeked up to her Chosen. "Isn't that right, beloved?"

Her beloved hulked over her, but he was no threat—to her, at least. Unlike the men here, he had forgone a modern Zhongshan suit to appear in traditional dress as his wife, and it somehow made him look all the more feral. It was considered unlucky and even forbidden to dress in black lest you want to invite death and despair to your new year, but his imperial hanfu was cloaked in the shadows with accents of gold and black fur rimmed his cape. Cutting yellow-amber stood in his eyes with a feral glint to them that made no one want to stare at him in fear he would descend upon him. He strayed further from tradition with his dark-brown hair (the same hair Weiwei had) left in a partial top knot with his hairpin and the rest cascaded down his shoulders.

⌜TE GŌNG

Name: Yang Kuen She

Age: 1000+

Occupation: Master of Te Gōng

Likes: N/A Dislikes: N/A

Special Note: Kuen She is even more mysterious than his powerful wise. Did anyone notice his eyes?⌟

Ping Mei let her obsidians sweep the entirety of the room. "The Untamed One is of little words," she told with a light laugh that let everyone else breathe a chuckle. "Nevertheless, this Venerable One and her Chosen welcome all to Te Gōng and will ensure this night to be one you all remember. Please enjoy your stay."

Obsidian clashed with darkness.

Those blood-red lips widened their smile.

"For this Venerable One is certain…"—obsidians drank in the downcast Tesla—"that this night will be one even Báihǔ remembers."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • —

Fairy Adventure 093

•

Rules and Reservations

•

人生は秘密とルールでいっぱいです！秘密が解き放たれるにつれて、音楽はどんどん増えていきます！

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The entire town looked like it came from out of one of those emotional, captivating, and yet, low-budget movies you saw on the LV on the time, especially during the holiday season. Snow banked on lawns, though a few neighbors still had yet to take down their Christmas lights. Spring half-term holidays exempted students from attending classes, but the cross-country and track and field clubs continued to meet for conditioning. The local community activity center was hosting a scavenger hunt for anyone ages ten and up while a group of high schoolers gathered at one of the gyms for a pickup volleyball game. Someone had the pleasure of a frozen-over pond, and he was determined to take his little girl out on the ice for her first skate.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Jonquille Town, a suburbia well known for its communal stray black cat Ringo. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

One of the developments had a wider birth between homes with excessive yards. It was one of those developments you visited during Hallow's Eve since it always had the good candy. One of the houses had a driveway full of cars as one of the high schoolers had invited over her friends for an all-day all-night hangout. A local knitting circle had rented out one of the main rooms to the development community center.

One house in specific lived on an open cul-de-sac with one pair of neighbors a nosy stay-at-home husband and his engineer husband and another was a successful astrophysicist devoted to her cats. Dante could see his breath as he rolled the last of the Christmas lights onto its wheel before he headed inside.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Princeton-O'Neill Household

Jonquille Town

Fiore, Ishgar

5:17 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The inside of the house was minimalistic with calming greens on the wall. Regardless of the interior design, the homeowners were determined to have pictures of their only son accomplishing even the smallest of things from when he was born to his graduation—much to how displeased, shocked, or awkward their son looked in almost every single photo taken of him.

"I got the last of the lights," Dante called as he toed off his boots. "I thought Uncle Lanh was coming to help take this off?"

"You know Lanh," came a hearty laugh. "You tell him this weekend and he'll come next month."

Dante made sure to hang up his coat before he retreated further into the house. The family room still had the Christmas tree put up, but he stopped to watch in amusement and affection as he watched Carlisle be careful with a homemade ornament he took down. "You don't have to treat them like glass, y'know."

"Shouldn't I?" Carlisle made sure to wrap the ornament in a paper towel. "It's a precious memory. It should be taken care of properly." Sea-greens flocked with violet specks danced over all the packed ornaments tucked away in their boxes. "Your traditions are precious. Maman and I never really celebrated…anything until she married my mom."

"Oh, yeah?"

Carlisle hummed when he felt a hand cup his cheek, and his eyes fluttered shut when Dante pressed a feverish kiss onto his lips. A little bashful, Carlisle was the one to pull away first and hissed, "Prince, we are at your parents' house." He blushed when Dante dragged his bottom lip with his teeth only to shove him away. "I must be spoiling you too much if you think you can just do whatever you want with me," he grumbled. "Evil Prince."

Dante chuckled low. "I'm always evil in your eyes, Lips."

Before Carlisle could rebuttal, a warning came out. "Dante Vân Si, I didn't name you 'Si' for you to turn into some deprived young man. If you have time to make out, you have time to get the Christmas lights."

"I know, Mẹ," Dante sighed as he reluctantly pulled away from a bright red Carlisle. He presented the wheel of Christmas lights. "And I finished getting the lights. You should've told me Uncle Lanh didn't come. I would've helped."

"You were away in Zvonvratia." A beautiful woman with bouncing dark brunette hair came into the family room with a fresh box for more ornaments to be stored. Her jean button-up was styled fashionably with paint splatters, and her red pants were blinding, but she loved them. "And I'm sure Carlisle wouldn't have appreciated it if we kept you here so you couldn't propose."

⌜JONQUILLE TOWN

Name: Minh Princeton-O'Neill

Age: 40

Occupation: Astronomy Club Board Member

Likes: gummy bears Dislikes: card tricks

Special Note: Minh was a stay-at-home mom when Dante was young, but once he moved out, she pursued her hobbies and now has a degree in astronomy!⌟

Carlisle looked even redder while Dante sighed as he took the box from his mother. "I didn't propose," he reminded her, exasperated. "I don't want to think about marriage until I'm finished with my degree."

Minh looked so disappointed. "I proposed to your father—"

"When you were seventeen," Dante recited as he slipped the boxes among the others. "I know. I remember the story. But that was a different time. I'm not proposing or thinking of marriage until I graduate."

Minh surprised Carlisle when she smooshed his cheeks and cooed, "Look at this face, Dante. If you string him along too much, he'll slip away from you and get taken by someone else. Isn't that right, Carlisle? And he has a wider variety of options than you and other men for the marriage pool. Anyone can be a threat to you, you know."

Dante pinched the bridge of his nose while Carlisle looked like he could pass out.

Minh stole Carlisle's hand to admire the ring. "Carlisle, you should ask for a much bigger ring for an engagement."

"Don't scare away my boyfriend, Mẹ," Dante sighed as he looked at the remaining ornaments left.

Minh dismissed her son with a wave and whispered loudly to Carlisle, "Ignore whatever he tells you. I know he used to dream about getting married one day with his own dream board… I might still have it—"

Dante flushed. "Mẹ…"

Carlisle laughed. "I'd love to see it, Miss Minh. You tell me so much more about his childhood than he does."

Yes, Dante certainly felt that barb.

Minh clapped her hands with a beam. "I have so much to show you now that you're part of the family! We can start with Dante's pre-school photos. Oh, I just have all his participation awards too and all his crafts and they're the cutest things—!"

"I told you to throw away all of that," Dante reminded, exasperated, though his ears tinged red. "You can't just keep all that junk."

Carlisle and Minh gasped.

"That is not junk! Those are precious memories!" Minh defended. "How could I just throw them out?"

"I'm pretty sure you can throw away my participation awards," Dante said dryly.

"And forget those memories?" Minh vehemently shook her head. "I'm not about to give all those up and you can't make me! How could you deprive Carlisle of learning about how cute you looked when you participated in that sack race with your first crush back in kindergarten?"

A tick mark thumped Dante's temple while Carlisle looked highly intrigued. "A first crush?" He eagerly bounced up and down. "Tell me more, tell me more!"

"Oh, David was this darling little boy in Dante's kindergarten class," Minh explained while Dante begrudgingly set to get the rest of the ornaments off the tree and Carlisle listened with all his heart. "They were the best of friends back then and they did everything together! Oh, and it was so adorable when they would hold hands when we'd walk them to the bus stop—"

"I can leave at any time now," Dante threatened.

Minh shooed him. "Go on and leave. Carlisle can stay here in your old room." She grinned when Dante looked disturbed. "And don't worry. We made sure to set up your old room just how it was before you left."

"You set up my old room?"

Minh frowned. "Of course we did!" She smiled sweetly at Carlisle and patted his cheek. "We got to meet Carlisle for dinner at the Stellian restaurant, but I thought he might like to see where you grew up." She remembered, "Oh, but when I was hanging up your old clothes, I did find some of your ex's things. You treasured them so much, so I made sure to put them on your bed."

You could hear a glass cracking as Carlisle's smile sharpened while Dante shot his mother a why-do-you-hate-me look.

"Miss Minh," Carlisle started, tempering his voice to such saccharinity, "did Dante save anything else from his exes?"

Before his mother could say anything else, Dante abruptly got up. "Mẹ, why don't you get my birthday photo albums out and I'll personally show Carlisle my old room, okay?"

Minh was sparkling with excitement. "Oh, that sounds wonderful! I just reorganized all your birthday photos the other day and did some more scrapbooking!" She squeezed Carlisle's shoulder. "You're in for a treat when you see the cake-smashing photos!" Giddy, she fled the family room like she was on a witch hunt.

Dante could breathe a little easier. I don't understand why she hoards everything I've ever done. I could've sworn I threw away any ex stuff I had before I moved out.

"Oh, Prince…" Carlisle aimed his tight smile at Dante like it could stab him. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Dante came over to take Carlisle's hand. "Come on. I'll show you my old room."

"Oh, I don't think so if all I'm doing is looking at all your trophies from your exes," Carlisle sniffed. He tried to steal back his hand only to squeak when Dante yanked him to his feet, and he stumbled keeping up with Dante's strides. "Evil Prince. I should have known there had to be something off with you. You're too good to be true."

"Insulting me and then complimenting me just cancels everything out," Dante murmured.

Carlisle huffed as Dante forced them up the steps to the second floor. "Well, how would you like it if you saw my room, and I had thongs and jockstraps from my exes, huh?"

"I wouldn't care."

Carlisle pouted at that. Rude. "Why not?"

"You didn't know me during that time, so I don't care. And besides"—he looked over his shoulder to send Carlisle a dirty smirk—"you're wearing my collar and my ring. It doesn't matter who had you before. They never saw this side of you. I'm winning. Lucky me."

A pretty red spread across Carlisle's face so much so that he could not look at Dante. "Shameless Prince." He took a look around as they emerged onto the second floor. Pictures of Dante were framed everywhere. He smiled a little when they passed by a photo of Dante and Tesla clearly in middle school during sport's day. Tesla had jumped on Dante's back with her gold medal, and Dante looked like he was both tired and soft-hearted for his best friend.

It's easy to tell his parents love him so much. Even if the pictures weren't here, the emotion flowing out of his parents whenever they talk about Dante is astounding. His eyes glazed over the cute family photo of Minh, a littler Dante, and tan-skinned man that definitely showed where Dante got his physique and height from and his blinding smile. Tesla had joined them as they stood before the gates of MagiaLand with their own Nicky-nyan and Nina-nyan ears, and Dante could spare a toothy grin.

It would be nice…to have pictures from when Papa was alive. Carlisle looked at the ground. Not just have him in my memories.

Dante took Carlisle to a surprising set of double doors. He hesitated. "Give me a second." He slipped into the bedroom and closed the door.

Carlisle simpered, amused, before he looked around. Sea-greens with violet caught onto another picture. This looked to be a family portrait with all of Dante's extended family of dozens of cousins and a full line of aunts and uncles. Minh and her sisters had gathered with a picture of the late matriarch of the family, but no one looked upset. Everyone was grinning as though they were rejoicing life rather than crying over death. His fingers came up to touch Past Child Dante who looked uncomfortable being around so many people.

A family…

"We're family on my mother's side, yes, even if distant. However"—honest turquoise—"we're family on my father's side too."

Carlisle slowly retracted his hand and looked at the mermaid ring on his finger. He could be telling the truth, but…

"We're the same—you and me, kitten." Open tangerines. "It's okay. I understand you."

Carlisle swallowed thickly and took a step back from the framed photo. I can't just trust someone again. I can't risk Maman and let Lucy's protection go to waste. But… He remembered how hopeful Kyler had looked. I couldn't sense any deceit. But then again, I couldn't sense any deceit with…

Seductive tangerines.

Carlisle shivered. I can't go through that again.

Dante came out of his bedroom with words on the tip of his tongue, but he stopped when he saw Carlisle's downcast eyes and the way he hunched in on himself. Ever since we came back to Zvonvratia, he's been having nightmares and going quiet. I thought he regretted what happened in Zvonvratia, but he said it wasn't that, and I know he was telling the truth. But even so, he isn't happy, and it… He touched his chest. It…hurts.

Carlisle vaguely heard Dante approach him and looked when Dante lifted his hand to kiss his knuckles and then his ring. "Kissing my ring like a prince to a blue-blooded royal now?" he lightly jested. "I've been upgraded to queen?"

Dante hummed. "Come on. See where I grew up." He held open the door for Carlisle to enter first.

"Wow…" Carlisle had to gawk a little at the magnitude of the room. "You lived in a room like this since you were little?"

The room looked like it was a master bedroom with its own private bath and balcony, and it had most definitely been tailored to a high school boy yet looked very much cleaned by a meddlesome mother. Trophies and medals and toys had been lined in tall wooden cubbies like they were regarded as fine prizes. More pictures had flocked the room, but it looked like Dante had a say in these pictures since most of them were not just of him. Magia was all over the walls with posters and vinyls and old-school tapes of movies. Even his bedroom set had been inspired by The Lady and the Tramp.

"My parents' master suite is downstairs," Dante explained. "Upstairs has a second master suite, the guest bedroom, and then the game room, and the basement has my mom's craft station."

"Woah…" Carlisle pounced on the first thing he saw, which was a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal. "Aw, and you liked stuffed animals too?"

Dante sighed, but he did smile. "I did. Not that much in high school, but I liked them enough when I was little. And Tesla always liked to bury herself in them, so I always had them out when she came over."

Carlisle took note that Tesla was in a lot of the framed photos, and he smiled fondly when he saw one of him and Tesla and Julia attending a convention in their cosplay. "It's nice you've had her as a best friend." He shot Dante a sly look. "Did she like your exes?"

"She hated them," Dante chuckled as he nudged Carlisle to the bed. "I never had a girlfriend, and thankfully, my parents never pushed that idea on me, so I always have been with guys. I started 'dating' at twelve, I think?"

"Wow, Prince, you really liked them young, didn't you?"

Dante snorted as they sat on the bed. "Like dating meant much back then."

"Why didn't Tesla like your exes?" Carlisle asked, curious.

"She started hating my exes more towards the end of middle school and all of high school." Dante rubbed his neck. "But they were all assholes," he remembered, tone blunt. "It's not like athletes can't be good boyfriends, but they were all cocky dicks."

Carlisle snickered.

"You have the maturity of a five-year-old," Dante said dryly.

Carlisle batted his eyelashes to feign innocence. "Sorry. I'll be more mature, Prince, please continue." He choked when Dante swung an arm around his neck and flailed when Dante dragged them both down to lie on the bed, Carlisle's head on his chest. "You could have just asked, you brute," he rasped.

Dante chuckled and let his hand rub Carlisle's back.

Carlisle, then, decided to ask, "If they were all jerks, why did you date them?"

"I thought I was in love," Dante answered, honest. "I was so obsessed with them that I didn't see they were horrible people. Tesla made it clear she hated them, and they were using me for sex—"

Carlisle gasped. "Wait, so you bottomed for them, but bottoming for me is off the table?"

"In my defense, I was still figuring out things," Dante reminded. "I never liked bottoming, but I did it because I thought they'd love me more if I was what they wanted me to be." He caught Carlisle's upset frown and added gently, "But I realized I couldn't just let people shape me."

"It still makes me angry they made you feel like that," Carlisle murmured. "But I know that exact feeling. You just keep changing so that way people don't leave you. And you don't even know where your personality ends and their expectations begin."

"Exactly." Dante dropped a kiss on his forehead. "Tesla and I don't really fight, so whenever she'd get upset about my exes, I never really fought her. I just told her I knew what I was doing. I could tell she wasn't being mean just to be mean. She just cared. And she was there with me through all my break-ups. Still though." Darkness softened. "I hate that I wasted my time like that. I try to be as productive as possible, and I lost so much time on guys who never thought I was enough."

Carlisle rubbed Dante's chest. "When you're young…it always feels like the world is ending when something small goes wrong," he murmured, quiet. "And you'll look back later after you've gone through so much to realize the small stuff that seemed apocalyptic was truly small stuff. But I learned going through the small stuff wasn't a waste of time. It was part of the experience to help me grow from my mistakes and help me differentiate between the small stuff and things that actually needed my attention."

"Wise words, Princess," Dante complimented.

Carlisle sighed, a sadness in his eyes. "I just wish I knew that a long time ago."

Silence.

Carlisle let his eyes close and let out a breath. I truly wish I knew that a long time ago…before I met him…

"It hurts, Lips."

Carlisle's eyes opened in confusion. "What?"

"It hurts." Dante's brow furrowed as he covered Carlisle's hand over his chest with his own hand. "I can feel you being in pain, and it hurts."

Carlisle was slow to rise, wary and fearful. "What do you mean you can feel me?" No… He shouldn't feel anything from me. He watched Dante like a hawk when he sat up.

"I need to show you something." Dante got off the bed and pulled Carlisle up. "I've been meaning to show you it, but…" He sighed and looked away. "Just…don't think that I'm crazy…or that my family is crazy."

"I wouldn't think that," Carlisle promised. "What is it?"

Dante led Carlisle to the door to his walk-in closet. He swung it open and took a beat before he turned on the light.

It took Carlisle a moment to understand.

The walk-in closet had pressed cloths and its own mirror inside and dark wood dressers. But the dresser that had been pushed to the back of the closet was home to a simple small shrine of an altar cabinet stained in a near-black. But a charming statue of a beautiful goddess had been placed inside the altar cabinet with her body a rustic metallic, her eyes closed, and she had been draped in the finest silks and jewelry. An oceanic blue coating glazed her as she posed on her rocks barefoot and a delicate sapphire jewel had been placed in her braided updo.

"I told you about my family…about the goddess?" Dante brought Carlisle closer, and both knelt before the small shrine. "This is the goddess I spoke about—Giat Hai."

"She's beautiful," Carlisle whispered. There is energy from a blessing on it. It's faint, but… "What sort of goddess is she? What's her legend?"

Dante looked a little surprised, but then relief was in his eyes as he turned back to the shrine of Giat Hai. "She is the goddess of the ocean," he told. "She made the ocean because she cried about how lonely she was. She truly thought she was the only one who existed, and it frightened her. But one day, the god of the sky and the earth Khong Lo finally came down, and he saw Giat Hai and instantly fell in love with her."

"Love at first sight. Romantic," Carlisle said, amused.

Dante nodded. "To us, it might be, but Giat Hai wasn't convinced he actually loved her. She put him through a lot of trials to earn the right to marry her and defeated him every single time. In our legend, she also did this to make Khong Lo take his job seriously as God of Sky and Earth Land and shape the world to actually be livable for the mortals they watched over. Once he did that, they got married." He snorted. "But my aunt told me Giat Hai and Khong Lo were having sex anyway, but Khong Lo was still chasing after her to marry her."

Carlisle laughed. "Wow. This story is becoming very relatable to us, Prince."

"Quiet, you," Dante grumbled good-naturedly. "Khong Lo might not have been the smartest god, but I always found it romantic, their love story." His eyes befell the altar statue of Giat Hai. "I understood Giat Hai a lot when I was younger." Words hushed, reminiscent. "My parents loved me—my family loved me—but I could never talk. I could say things in my head, but I couldn't speak at school, not really. I didn't mind being alone, but… It would have been nice to talk to someone. And maybe I should've approached them, but I just…couldn't."

Dante's eyes darkened. "Before I met Tesla, there was another person who tried to get me to talk. They would talk a lot and I would listen, but I just couldn't say anything back. And when I finally thought I might, they got angry at me and said I wasn't worth being a dare. I learned their friends had dared them to make me speak. If they could, they'd get some rare trading card."

Anger shot through Carlisle. "That's messed up. What is wrong with them?"

"We were kids. Kids can be the cruelest people I've ever met," Dante chuckled with no humor. "Tesla never spoke, to be honest. She was always alone. I could tell when people were close, she looked like she wanted to run. She'd hide a lot and never really ate. Once the whole shiny title of 'new kid' fell off and people could tell she didn't like anyone, no one spoke to her. At least with me, if a teacher asked them to work with me, they'd do it. Everyone avoided her."

He shook his head. "I didn't know what to do, but I hated she was being treated like some disease. I sat with her at lunch, but I still didn't have the courage to say anything. But I still wanted to try to make her feel better, even if I was a coward. But then she left lunch, and I felt pretty awful I could not tell t say anything. But I saw she left behind this squishy thing. It was her stress ball."

"Did you follow her?" Carlisle softly asked.

Dante nodded. "I went to give it back to her. It took me a while to find her, but I eventually found her in the library," he went on. "She was looking at this Magia picture book." He smiled a little. "She was so focused on it that she didn't hear me. I scared her a little, and I felt so bad when she looked at me like I was doing to do something to her. I tried to give back her stress ball, but she wouldn't take it. I could tell she wanted to run away, but I really wanted to make her comfortable. So, I sat down, and I finally spoke."

"What did you say?"

"I asked if she liked Cinderella," Dante recalled. "I said I liked Cinderella too. You should have seen her, Carlisle. That was the first time I saw her look happy. But then she said, 'Cenicienta'. She pulled out the Cinderella book with words and handed it to me. I didn't understand what she was doing, but she looked so focused, and she asked, 'Read me please'?"

It hit Carlisle. "She didn't understand Minstrish."

Dante shook his head. "Yeah. From what Miss Adrienne told me, when Tesla was adopted, she never spoke, and they had no record what language she knew, but she responded well enough to Sinnish, so they assumed that was her native language. She learned a lot of Minstrish from watching Magia, but since she was always quiet, she never practiced speaking it and she was getting the hang of reading it.

"So, I read to her Cinderella, and she looked so happy. After that, lunch ended, and she looked so sad, so I promised her I could teach her how to read Minstrish, so she could read her books on her own." Dante's eyes brightened. "I'll never forget that she hugged me and tried so hard to thank me in Minstrish. And after that, it was history. And now she speaks all these languages, and she got second place in the Fioren Linguistics Olympiad. I participated with her, but I didn't place. It was fun, though."

Carlisle smiled. "I'm happy you both found each other."

"She took away my loneliness," Dante said. "After praying so much to Giat Hai, she sent me Tesla. And I didn't feel lonely anymore. I was still pretty shy in school, but Tesla needed me to speak to help her sound out words and explain things to her. I didn't mind talking to her."

"I'm sure it helped you both liked Magia," Carlisle teased.

Dante snorted. "It did," he agreed. He shifted and rubbed his hands on his pants. "In my family's beliefs, Giat Hai has been responsible for making us feel fulfilled. My mother told me for generations, Giat Hai has been responsible for sending us the perfect match. She watched over us to make sure our matches were worthy of us, just like she did with Khong Lo. She made sure we would never feel lonely again."

It registered within Carlisle a dark thought, and he moved back. "And Tesla is…?"

"No!" Dante grabbed Carlisle's hands, shaking his head. "No, she isn't," he assured a pained Carlisle. "I admit. I was worried when I didn't feel lonely anymore because of her that she could be, but I never liked women in that way, and I always thought of her as my sister. But my mom told me there were different types of loneliness that Giat Hai helped fill. Sometimes, our loneliness just needed a good friend. And other times"—he threaded his fingers with Carlisle's—"our loneliness needed someone special."

Carlisle blinked. "Dante…"

Dante swallowed. "Ever since I became friends with Tesla, I could always tell when things upset her," he explained. "It's easy to read emotions on people. I did that a lot when I was younger just because I observed people. But this felt different. I could just…feel it when something was wrong." He caught Carlisle's eyes. "You think I'm crazy."

Carlisle shook his head. "Keep going."

Dante haltingly did so. "My mom told me she felt the same with her best friend. It's something that goes on with my mom's side of the family, pretty much. It's crazy, but it's true. It could be their childhood friend that they still see today or maybe they met them in their thirties, but it's this weird connection with have. My grandmother told me it was because Giat Hai wanted to make sure we didn't feel that sort of loneliness again."

He watched Carlisle.

Carlisle encouraged, "Go on."

"Well…" Dante tightened his hold on Carlisle. "The same thing happens when we meet our own Khong Lo. It's strange, and I'm probably not making any sense, but all my family swears by it. It's how they all met their spouses and partners." He shook his head. "I never believed it," he admitted. "I thought it was stupid. I mean, I had seen them date people and marry other people before they met their current partners, so I thought they were making up."

"And now?" Carlisle gently prompted.

Dante cleared his throat. "Maybe…" Darkness connected with sea-greens flocked with violet. "Maybe they had a point. I can feel you…"—he brought Carlisle's hand over his heart—"here."

"When?"

"What?"

"When did you start feeling me?"

"The first time we met," Dante confessed. "It was just a little. It was your eyes that got to me. But you left so suddenly, I couldn't figure out why I was already so into it. The second time we met, I felt it more. And then I just…started feeling more the more we spent time together. And then…"

Carlisle prompted again, "And then…" He saw Dante's hesitation. "What is it?"

Dante took a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. "When we were in Zvonvratia, I could feel everything…just like my mom told me how she feels with my dad." When Carlisle went quiet, Dante closed his eyes. I knew he'd think I was crazy. I shouldn't have shown him this.

"I-I can…feel you too."

"What?" Dante's eyes opened to focus on a pink-cheeked Carlisle. "You can?"

Carlisle looked both nervous and abashed as he chewed on his bottom lip. "It sounds crazy—"

"It's not crazy," Dante refuted. "You can feel it too?" Carlisle ducked his head, but Dante would not let his drop so easily and grab his chin. "Lips?"

Carlisle gulped and nodded, but he did not trust his voice.

Dante softened. He hated to ask this, but… "Did you feel this with Hunter?" The second he saw Carlisle's stricken expression, he soothed, "It's okay. I'm not asking this to compare or anything like that, and I won't go ask for details. I just know since Zvonvratia, you've been a little off. I'm not sure if…"

Carlisle shook his head. "No, it isn't because of this," he promised in hushed tones. "But…yeah, I felt this with Hunter." He tried to pull his hands away, but Dante held him firm. "It wasn't beautiful like this," he whispered. "And at first, I couldn't feel anything. I didn't know what I was supposed to feel, b-but…" His eye stung. "He…made me feel everything." He shook his head when his bottom lip quivered. "I shouldn't be talking about this—"

"Why?" Dante leaned closer to Carlisle to catch his first tear with a thumb. "Lips, it's okay if you're not ready or if you never want to talk about it. But I don't mind if you tell me about him. I promise you that."

"I know." Carlisle heavily exhaled. "I just… I don't want to make Lucy mad at me. I promised him I wouldn't talk about it."

Dante did not understand, and it showed on his face. "Why wouldn't he want you to talk about it? It's healthy to talk about it—" He stopped when he saw Carlisle shrink back. "I won't press," he promised. "I don't want to come between you and your cousin, Princess, and I won't make you. But when you want to talk about it regardless, I'll listen to every word."

Carlisle knuckled away another tear. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Dante let go of Carlisle's other hand to hug him close. "I can tell whatever you went through with him as difficult for you and for your family. I can't promise I'll get everything right or that I'll be perfect. But I'll make sure to listen to you when you're ready." He pulled back to touch his forehead to Carlisle's. "The fight I had with my parents was over our beliefs," he revealed. "The break-up I had back then was pretty brutal. The guy was a nutcase."

His jaw clenched. "We got into a fistfight after he tried to choke me out."

Carlisle tensed and placed gentle fingers on Dante's cheek.

"Back then, I was a little bit of a mess. Tesla was the reason I got into martial arts when I was younger, but I strayed from traditional and did a lot of fighting at the Purgatory. Jaxton found me there, and that's how I got to know him better."

Dante sighed. "I came home pretty fucked up with a black eye. My parents had been worried about me, but I was pretty numb. My ex was questioning himself back then, I think. I never met his parents, but Tesla warned me his family wasn't all there. I never listened. That night, he tried to beat me and blamed me for making him like guys so much, he couldn't even cheat on me with the girls he had been fucking."

Carlisle locked his jaw, but he stayed quiet.

"I did some things that I regret—things I had promised Tesla I wouldn't touch," Dante admitted. "Jaxton found me and took me home. He told me if I was going to keep doing this to myself, he'd make sure Tesla wouldn't be around to see me destroy myself. I told him to fuck off, and I accused him of using Tesla the same way my ex used me. I'm not proud of that," he added as though he could sense Carlisle's disappointment. "He got quiet and told me to go home, shower, and we'd talk in the morning."

He licked his lips. "But the moment I walked through the door, my parents were worrying over me. I was just so fed up. I got angry at my mom for putting ideas in my head that Giat Hai was real. I asked her if such a magical goddess existed, then why did she make her mission to make me this unhappy? I couldn't handle falling in love over and over, and I was the only one falling."

"That's when you left," Carlisle filled him.

Dante hummed in confirmation. "I told you the argument was stupid."

"That's not stupid." Carlisle drew away to search Dante's eyes with a tampered smile. "I had the same argument with Maman."

That surprised Dante. "You did?"

Carlisle nodded as his eyes cast aside. "Yes, but it wasn't about a goddess." His shoulders dropped. "Prior to Maman meeting my mom and after Père died, we moved around often. And like I told you, I changed for people to love me. I was just…so lonely. I had Maman and Lucy, but it wasn't the same. I'd never been able to be me. But I wanted what Maman had with Père—what I saw everyone else had. I was so convinced I'd be happy and less lonely if I had it."

He shook his head. "Maman was more worried about me than anything, but we never fought. The only time we fought was…"

"Hunter," Dante finished.

"Yeah." Carlisle nodded. "Hunter."

"And that's when you left."

Carlisle nodded again.

Five beats of thoughtful silence.

"Giat Hai sent you for a reason."

That confused Carlisle as he looked up at Dante. "What do you mean?"

"My mom swears Giat Hai sent her my dad because they have such a deep understanding of each other," Dante said. "I never really gave dating any thought after my last ex. I was busy finishing up my apprenticeship to be an Enchanter, busted my ass for the entrance exams into my college, and I focused a lot more on just being me. And then this pretty boy with gorgeous eyes and a temper shows up, teases me, and runs away."

Carlisle puffed out a cheek.

Dante smiled. "When we were fucking and spending time together, I liked it. Loved it, actually. My exes weren't one to spend a lot of time with me. They never really wanted to put in the effort, so when they did the bare minimum, I was happy." He cocked his head. "You became like some clingy pet I couldn't get rid of even if I wanted to."

Somewhere, a mirror shattered.

A tick mark bounced on Carlisle's temple as he huffed, "Well if I'm just so clingy, I should just leave you—"

"Relax," Dante calmed as he toppled Carlisle over and pinned him beneath him. "You're a cute pet."

"How is that romantic!"

As Carlisle fumed, Dante chuckled and continued: "But it felt good having someone around who wanted to be around and not just for sex." He narrowed his eyes at Carlisle. "Honestly, it made me feel like I was assaulting you the way you'd shy away from me, considering your reputation."

"Well then!" Carlisle huffed. "Excuse me for trying to be a gentleman and take things slow!"

"More like a high-strung princess with his jockstrap too far up his ass." Dante snickered over Carlisle's loathsome look. "Chill, chill, I'm just fucking with you. Your temper is sexy."

"You haven't seen my temper, you brute," Carlisle muttered. "But I expect you to be singing praises about me after all this offensive language."

Dante laughed and smooched Carlisle's forehead (much to Carlisle's annoyance and his refusal to melt). "It felt good to have you with me," he surmised. "You asked me questions about my work, and you'd want to cuddle. You didn't mind I didn't like going out. And you were more than willing to meet my friends." His eyes softened. "My exes never even wanted to be seen with me with their friends and, if they did, it was just some weird possessive thing."

Carlisle's brow slowly furrowed. "Wait… But didn't you do that with me at Nine Dollar?"

"I did. But that was different."

"Rude! How is that any different!"

"My exes did it as some weird head game to make me think they cared," Dante compared. "I did it because I wanted people to know your ass is mine and you were teasing me in fishnets."

"That you ripped." Carlisle blushed at the memory. "But I see your point. Go on."

Dante snorted and shook his head. "You liked being involved with my life, is what I'm saying," he clarified. "But I was scared when we never talked about what we were doing. We kept seeing each other after New Year's, sure, but I kept being afraid you'd be like my exes." Darkness pierced sea-greens with violet. "And I know you might've been a little afraid of it too."

Carlisle looked away. "I know you're not him."

"And I know you're not my exes," Dante murmured. "I was wrong to shit all over my family's beliefs. I was being angry and impatient. As an only child, even though my parents were more supportive than any parent should be, it felt lonely being in this big house. Tesla gave me a sister in her. Giat Hai sent me someone who needed someone who understood not being able to speak. She gave me a friend perfect for me. But there was a part of me that wanted a different type of love."

He thumbed Carlisle's cheek. "It sucked dating those guys who never gave a shit about me. But…if I hadn't learned what I actually wanted from someone, I might still be loving someone who would never love me back. Instead, Giat Hai sent you. Someone who knows what it's like to fall in love with the wrong person and be what they want when they want it. And someone who wouldn't make anyone go through that sort of torment again."

Carlisle sniffled.

"I'm sorry I got to you too late," Dante murmured. "Giat Hai takes a little while. My grandmother didn't meet my grandfather until she was in her forties."

Carlisle laughed. "Did she wait for him?"

"No. My great aunts told me my grandma was pretty wild and lived her life by the rule 'use him, abuse him, and lose him'." Dante grinned when Carlisle kept laughing. "She resisted my grandpa for a while. She thought she could ignore him, but she told me when Giat Hai makes you meet your match, you can't say, 'no'. But my grandma put my grandpa through a lot. Made him build her a house before she agreed to marry him. And all the while"—his grin broadened—"she gave birth to my mom's twin older sisters."

Carlisle snort-laughed. "The irony."

"Tell me about it. Grandpa was definitely her Khong Lo."

"Well, just for the record, I don't do building houses," Carlisle said, high and mighty. He ticked off a finger as he lifted, "I don't do manual labor, which includes anything with hammers, screwdrivers, saws, axes, nail guns, or lawnmowers unless it's the one you drive." He shivered. "I cut firewood with Christophe only once in my life. Never again. That was horrible, and my hands weren't made for axes."

Dante shook his head. "What am I supposed to do with you?" He poked Carlisle's bicep. "You have all this muscle from dancing and skating, but you can't even cut firewood."

"I'm fit, but I'm not a lumberjack," Carlisle sniffed. "That's your thing, not mine."

Dante sighed. "You're lucky I cut firewood for my parents to begin with, and I don't own a fireplace," he supposed. "But you can't keep avoiding going to the Purgatory with me to learn how to defend yourself."

Carlisle groaned. "Why do I need to? And isn't Ace some personal trainer? Why can't I go to him?"

"Because I have an odd feeling he wants to see you sweaty in a different way," Dante said darkly. "You'll train with me, and I'm not going to go easy on you, Princess. You're still struggling to keep up with me in bed."

"What sort of monster has your stamina!" Carlisle cried. "It should be illegal! I always out-lasted my exes, but you're just not normal!" He gaped when his eyes dropped. "Like right now!"

"You get them just as often as me, Lips."

Carlisle shot him a dirty look. "I know the difference between getting a random one because my pants are tight and getting one because I'm thinking impure thoughts," he retorted. "We're at your parents' house in front of a shrine, you horny prince. Stop thinking about things like that!"

"It's considered good luck to have Giat Hai present when you consummate a relationship," Dante teased. "She rewards the happy couple with the best sex of their life, and they normally conceive."

"I am not a woman, and your definition of best sex leaves me without a soul in my body," Carlisle stated, voice flat.

Dante chuckled as he leaned down to nuzzle Carlisle's throat—

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

"Carlisle…!" Minh trilled. "Okay, dear, I brought out all the birthday albums from when Dante was six months old all the way up to his sixteenth birthday! Dante, I expect you to be a gentleman and escort Carlisle downstairs with enough room between you two for Giat Ha!"

Dante groaned, but he hollered back, "Yes, Mẹ…"

"Wonderful!" And Minh padded away.

"I really love your mom," Carlisle cheered as Dante got off him. "Finally, I get to see baby Prince!" He held out his hand expectantly.

Dante rolled his eyes, but he grinned and yanked Carlisle to his feet so fast that he yelped and stumbled into him. His mouth opened, but Dante slanted his lips on top for a controlling kiss and Carlisle shivered when Dante grabbed his ass. Dante pulled back to watch the flush creep on Carlisle's neck and his part-dazed part-love drunk and half-embarrassed expression imprint on his face.

"What was that for?" Carlisle whispered.

"Nothing." Dante tweaked Carlisle's nose. "But I'll get you back for this. I need to ask your Maman to show me your embarrassing photos."

"Ah-ha…" Carlisle strained a smile. "Right…"

"Come on." Dante grabbed Carlisle's hand and murmured, "If we're lucky, my mom might have dug up some embarrassing shots of Tesla from my parties."

"Sure!" Carlisle blinked himself out of his daze. "Sounds great!" He happily let Dante guide him—

Trust him. An echo of feminine whispers and the coolness of the ocean. Tell him.

Carlisle jerked to a stop and whipped his head back.

Dante was forced to stop too and frowned when he caught Carlisle looking at the altar. "Lips? You okay?"

"Yeah, uh…" Carlisle shook his head. "It's nothing, um…" He pointed at the altar. "Are you bringing that back to your townhouse?"

Dante thought about it. "I think I will," he decided. "I'll make sure to put it in my closet. I'd like to get back into praying to Giat Hai again." Maybe she has some answers for me about Cane's fortune. He turned off the light. "Come on."

Carlisle trailed after him, but he could not help but ask. "Who gave you the statue of her again?"

"My grandmother. It was hers, but in her will, she left it to me." Dante closed his closet door. "It's tradition on my mom's side of the family that we make a pilgrimage back to Văn Lang every time someone is expecting. Normally, we passed down the statues after we visited our ancestral shrine and ask our ancestors and Giat Hai for their blessing to the new baby to find their Khong Lo, but since my grandmother had a lot of children, she had to have each statue made before they were blessed. I guess she kept hers and gave it to me. I'm not sure if my great-grandmother gave her hers or not, though."

Carlisle hummed as they abandoned Dante's childhood bedroom. "I see." I've been inside churches, temples, synagogues… But I confirmed it that the gods here pulled away. Their Custodians should only have any objects left with remaining energy. I would've felt if Dante was a Custodian or if it was in his bloodline. Maybe his family was blessed? But I would've sensed that too, wouldn't I? Should I ask Lucy?"

"And I'll give it to my kid, just like tradition."

Carlisle absently nodded. "That's nice." He took a beat before he gaped at Dante. "Wait, what!"

"What?"

"But you just said—!"

"I did."

"But I'm not—!"

"I know."

"And…you weren't—?"

"No. I never was."

"B-B-But then—!"

Dante tilted his head in amusement swept up in mischief and murmured for only Carlisle's ear, "There's more than one way to make a family, Princess. You'd think you'd know that." He nipped at Carlisle's ear before he pulled away.

Carlisle covered his mouth with his face an alarming shade of red. I don't think I'm going to survive this relationship until he graduates.

The dining hall was traditional in every way it could be. Ping Mei and Kuen She presided over the entire affair from their platform, but it was curious as Ping Mei smiled and fed Kuen She while Kuen She looked unmoving the entire time as he fed his wife. The lengthy low-floor table had been part of history for several dynasties and kept in such good care, only used for occasions such as this. It was a race to see which official had the honor of sitting close to Immortal Yang and her Chosen to appease her and hope she would back them in their stances and perhaps needle out information about her on their own.

Carp and catfish had been served with the heads severed and placed west, where Immortal Yang and her Chosen sat. Though no one had eaten before Immortal Yang had taken a bit of her fish as a sign of goodwill and respect. Jiǎozi (dumplings) were bountiful, and claps were passed around when some had gotten white thread and others a copper coin to signify longevity and wealth respectively. Niángāo (glutinous rice cakes), spring rolls, braised shiitake mushroom, and the fortune fruit of tangerines, oranges, and pomelos were merrily passed around over with chicken and rice and glasses of traditional Zhōnguánese wine. It truly was a delight for those to dine in the presence of Immortal Yang and bask in her wealth.

Tesla and Jaxton begged to differ.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Te Gōng

Hǔde Mountain

Sīchóu Province, Zhōnguá

8:45 PM SST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Both had traded their wine for water instead, and neither had been hungry. Neither had offered the conventional lucky sayings once Immortal Yang had sampled one of everything with her Chosen, and Jaxton was aware of the disgruntled looks he and Tesla received for not honoring her. But he did not care.

I hope Weiwei is okay. She better be. Jaxton picked up his chopstick to get chicken and rice and offered it to Tesla, who took a sullen bite. He whispered in Sinnish, "What is it?"

"Just nerves," Tesla whispered back in Sinnish. "I don't feel good. I'm sorry. This probably doesn't look good on you—"

"No, you're right not to feel comfortable here," Jaxton told her. "I don't care what it looks like. I'm sure everyone's questioning why she would invite a simple guzheng player and his girlfriend to such a big event. Let them question. Don't give anyone the satisfaction of an answer."

Tesla nodded.

Before Jaxton could say more, someone called to him in Szuchounese, "Shuài gē, are you truly titled western master of the guzheng?"

Jaxton looked up to see a woman had asked him about this who seated diagonally from him. He nodded and smoothly said, "This humble Yang wouldn't call himself a master. This humble Yang learned guzheng in honor of his grandfather to appease his grandmother."

"Will you be playing it for us tonight?" another official asked, curious. "If the Venerable One claims you're the master of guzheng, then it would be a delight to hear you."

Jaxton shook his head. "This humble Yang didn't bring his guzheng with him for a performance worthy of the Venerable One and the Untamed One."

"Yet you speak with such respectful dialect just the Venerable One does," an older gentleman commented loftily, which made Jaxton tense. "How old are you?"

"Nineteen."

The older gentleman nodded alongside the other officials, impressed. "And you studied abroad? Where are you currently? Where have you journeyed?"

"Yes." Jaxton felt Tesla squeeze his hand and tried not to tense. "I live in Fiore with my Chosen, but I attend Saint Tupelo's Institute of Art for an engineering degree," he explained. The jarring disappearance of his polite speech took officials aback. "I've traveled to every continent for my studies, and I've had the pleasure of experiencing multiple cultures and learning different languages. Especially the language my Chosen loves."

Tesla pieced together she was being spoken about and smiled up at Jaxton.

Attention slammed Tesla, and the lady official asked her in Szuchounese, "And what made the Venerable One honor you tonight as the emissary of the southwest, měi nǚ? What do you do?"

Tesla whispered, "¿Me hago la tonta o debo responder?"

"No hagas nada. Fingiremos que no hablas zonguanés, así que tengo que quedarme contigo para traducir," Jaxton whispered back. When he received her nod, he told the officials in Szuchounese, "You'll have to excuse my Chosen. She does not speak our language. But she is an accomplished musician herself. That's how we found each other." He looked down at Tesla. "And I have fallen more and more for her every day."

"¿Qué acabas de decir?" Tesla asked him as though she were murmuring sweet nothings.

Jaxton rumbled, "Que eres un músico talentoso, y me has hecho enamorarme locamente de ti."

"Maldita sea lo soy y maldita sea lo hice," Tesla muttered.

One of the officials cleared their throat while others glanced away as they all were a little dismayed at such blatant affection in public, and one of the lady officials whipped out her fan. She told Jaxton, "You're very young to have such a…foreign…Chosen who is unfamiliar with our customs—"

"I'm well-traveled, ā'yí, so it's natural I would want my Chosen well-traveled too," Jaxton cut in steadily and held her eyes. "And my father taught me that if I find treasure, no matter what or who it is"—he made a show of bringing Tesla into his side—"I am to forgo any propriety to make sure I keep my treasure close to me." He added before the flustered official could speak, "And because I'm so well-traveled, I don't follow one culture. I've created my own with my Chosen. Isn't that how cultures are created? Built off of other ideals and customs?"

The lady official merely fanned herself and decided to eat her food while the older gentleman chuckled and told Jaxton, "You are quite sharp, young man. I understand your invitation to this table. Most young people here would rather stay quiet in the presence of their elders."

"I normally am," Jaxton supposed. "But I've learned the difference between being silent or silenced."

A servant pitched forward to jostle everyone's attention, but he only came to Tesla, much to Jaxton's irritation. He rumbled at the servant, "My Chosen does not speak our language. What do you need from her?"

The servant bowed low. "A thousand apologies, Young Master Young. This lowly servant has come to collect the envoy of the southwest for a personal meeting with the Venerable One and the Untamed One."

"No." Jaxton shut that down. "She declines."

The servant bowed lower. "A thousand apologies, Young Master Yang, but the Venerable One would like to express her sincerest apologies for disrespecting the envoy of the southwest. A refusal would bring dishonor amongst the Yang Family and the entire west."

Jaxton growled. "And how does the Venerable One expect to communicate with my Chosen? She goes not speak the dialect here and requires me to serve as translator."

"The Venerable One is aware of the envoy of the southwest's inability to speak our language and has made arrangements," the servant assured. "However, the Venerable One requests only the presence of the envoy, Young Master Yang."

Tesla murmured, "¿Qué está diciendo? Cogí algunas palabras, pero..."

"Mi madre quiere una audiencia contigo a solas. Mis padres sí, pero mi madre es la que hace que parezca que su honor está en juego." Jaxton looked upon the platform to observe his mother speaking with an overzealous lady official. His father looked like he could not care less, but those yellow-ambers cut to darkness.

Jaxton stared him down, but his jaw clenched. He looked away.

Tesla looked uncertain as her eyes flickered from the servant to the platform then back to Jaxton. In Sinnish, she told him, "I'll go."

"Tesla—"

"I'll go." Tesla put strength in her words and let her hand rest on Jaxton's cheek. "It's okay," she soothed, as though sensing he was becoming incensed. "I don't know if I can handle her, but I've survived much worse." Her hand trembled. "My sperm donor taught me how to take it and be silent."

Jaxton looked aggrieved at that. "You can ignore her," he promised. When Tesla shook her head, he insisted, "I never want you in that sort of position again, princess, please, don't do this. We don't know what she'll say to you, and I don't want her to trigger you—"

"And if I stay or keep her waiting any longer, things will be worse for you, and she might make a scene to get my attention," Tesla said as she went through the motions of getting up. Jaxton stopped her, but she put a hand on his chest and leaned to give him a respectful kiss. "Tell him I'll go with him."

"I'm not happy about this," Jaxton warned. Darkness narrowed on Immortal Yang, and he sensed when he watched her speak with an official, but those obsidians glanced to him.

Blood-red lips curled upward.

Jaxton growled, but he yanked his gaze to the servant and said in Szuchounese, "My Chosen accepts the Venerable One's request and will allow you to escort her."

"This lowly servant extends his gratitude." He lifted his head to Tesla and opened his mouth, but he thought the better of it and gestured.

Tesla gave Jaxton's shoulder, but Jaxton surprised her when he rose and helped her to her feet. She softened when he pressed a kiss onto her knuckles and cradled her hand until she parted for him to follow the servant. He was slow to sit down, but he watched her like a hawk with his eyes flicking to his parents. I might not be strong enough to challenge either of them. However…

SKRRRRT…

Under the table, his nails had dragged to create subtle claw marks.

…I'll do it if they hurt her in any way possible.

°•°•°•°

Tesla tried to keep her chin high, but all she wanted to do was crumble when weighty stares. Jaxton had made her feel desired in this dress, but she wanted to shirk it off and retreat when she caught the more interested eyes observing her. Szuchounese was still unfamiliar to her in all its nuances, but she knew they were speaking about her. Young. Foreign. Exotic. Her gut told her those were the words they were using, and they crowded around her mind.

"Come here, little girl."

Tesla secretly bit her bottom lip. Be like Elsa. Conceal it. Don't feel it. Don't let it show. You're okay. Don't embarrass Jang-ta. Just stay quiet. You know how to stay quiet. Her eyes shifted—

Steely-grays clashed with yellow-ambers.

Tesla stutter-stepped, but she regained her footing enough and shot her eyes downwards. She could feel Kuen She staring at her. Those eyes… Just like Jang-ta's eyes from the other night. What does it—? No. Jang-ta will tell me when he's ready.

The servant stopped Tesla, and she assumed he was making the necessary apologies and introductions. But her skin tingled the more Kuen She blatantly stared at her. She tried to keep her hands clasped in front of her and remembered how to look small and submissive, but she restrained herself from seeking Jaxton for comfort. I don't like how he's looking at me.

Blood-red lips smiled. "Por favor disculpe a mi Elegido."

Steely-grays widened. Oh, no…

"Tiene afinidad por los tesoros exóticos. De tal palo tal astilla. ¿No estás de acuerdo…"—mischievous obsidians stared back into steely-grays as Ping Mei widened her smile—"…Hylia?"

Tesla's stomach dropped.

Kuen She turned those blazing yellow-ambers onto his wife.

Ping Mei chuckled lightly behind a hand and told Tesla in Sinnish, "My apologies. You go by 'Tesla'. It is disrespectful of me to use your previous name, and I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to you and, by extension, my son for my disregard to your well-being and autonomy." She caught the worry in Tesla's eyes. "Don't worry. No one in this hall speaks Sinnish, and none of them have anything to record with. We can speak freely. Here. Come." She snapped her hands.

A female servant quickly brought a plush silk pillow and seated it beside Ping Mei.

"Sit at my side, Tesla. Let us talk, so I may get to know my son's Chosen." You could tell her words were a command without them being a command. "I'm sure my own Chosen would like the chance to sniff our son's Chosen as well." Obsidians flashed over to Kuen She. "Isn't that right, beloved?"

Kuen She offered Tesla a quick glance before dismissing her from his sight.

Tesla found another servant escorting her to the platform and helping her up the steps, even acting as leverage for her to sit down. The stares increased with her being front and center, and her eyes sought Jaxton. She could see how close he was to getting up, and she tried to relax her shoulders and give him a smile.

Please calm down, she thought. I'll be okay. To make it clear to Jaxton she could do this, she bowed her head to Ping Me and murmured in Sinnish, "It's an honor to meet you, Misses Yang and Mister Yang. You have both raised a wonderful son."

Ping Me's light laughter came again. "Thank you, but neither of us can take all the credit for how well-rounded he's become." She beckoned a servant for more wine. "As you know, our son is well-traveled. Against my wishes, he grew interested in other cultures, languages, politics, and religions. As much as he was an obedient son, he disobeyed in his decision to explore the world and left his family behind and his responsibilities."

She sighed as she lifted her red fan up and she took a sip of her wine. "I might have been too harsh on his decision. I now see him exploring the world was for the best. He understands priority and duty."

Tesla swallowed. When wine was offered, she offered a shaky smile and shook her head.

Ping Mei noticed. "You don't drink? Amusing." She took another healthy sip of her drink. "I was certain you would enjoy the wine considering you enjoyed drinking in that dear little Magnolia Town."

Tesla's eyes widened. Nausea rolled up, but she was thankful all she had was water, and she could keep that down. It's hazy, but… Those people who came up to me… She's been… Her nails shored up part of her dress. She's been watching me?

She found the wisps of her voice and tried to excuse, "I apologize if I offend you for my not drinking. I'm sure I'm making a horrible first impression and am embarrassing Jang-ta—"

"On the contrary, Tesla Greer, you are making a wonderful impression." Ping Mei offered Tesla a look at those blood-red lips pulled into a smile with teeth. "My son has never taken a Chosen. I was…hasty in my attempts to force him to. When the opportunity came for him to leave, he understandably took it. I was pleased he had selected a Chosen, but I was admittedly rash in my displeasure you two refuse to bring more heirs to the bloodline. With Weiwei barren, my son was the only hope of a future. And you have robbed me of that."

Tesla ducked her head, but she refused to give the satisfaction of an apology.

Ping Mei looked amused at Tesla's silence. "Lift your head, Tesla Greer. I cannot control my son and if he does or does not produce an heir to our family. You are not at fault for his Choices."

Her eyes pierced a servant, who quickly brought a bowl of red jujubes to her. Those claw-guarded fingers picked up on jujube. "I have offended you far too much. Here my son comes home with his exotic Chosen, and I repeatedly insult her. It's disrespectful of me and it's dishonorable of the Yang household for my show of disgrace to such a prestigious guest with such unique prowess."

"Oh, it's okay—"

"That is why I will keep you by my side tonight." Ping Mei rolled the jujube with her claw nail-guards. "I must thoroughly get to know my son's Chosen for my own eyes and ears. For tonight is a night where we will forge new bonds and friendships. After all, it is the will of Báihǔ for us to live in virtue and peace. And after tonight"—the nails tightened on the jujube—"we will all understand Báihǔ."

And Tesla watched as the jujube was crushed into two.

To be honest, Gale was surprised that he was lying on a couch while Doctor Orr sat in a grandfather's chair. They stayed in a traditional psychologist's office with a silent clock, a bookshelf of psychology books, and even an inspirational poster.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Breksta Psychotherapy, LLC

Fiore, Ishgar

6:00 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"We're not going through a trip into my mind today?" Gale mused gruffly. "We always trip during my sessions."

Doctor Orr tilted his head with a small smile. "My office serves as a gateway to your subconscious—with your permission. Of course, I'll step in if you become too consumed, but it would seem your subconscious wanted us in a normal office space for this."

Gale snorted. "I guess." He covered his eyes with his arm. "Is my session almost over? It has to be, right?"

Doctor Orr did not check the time. "You're my last session today, so it's up to you if you like to go over or if you feel like today was enough."

Gale sighed. "I didn't even say anything."

"Saying nothing can be therapeutic."

Gale snorted again with a humorless smirk. "Sure thing, Doc."

"I'm serious," Doctor Orr assured. "Silence is not as much of a negative connotation as people believe. Silence can mean you're careful contemplating and processing a situation or event that happened or is happening or has happened. Silence facilitates reflection and empathy. And silence helps us listen to the words we might not hear."

"Yeah." Gale turned his back on Doctor Orr to face the back of the wall. "Silence sounds fucking great when you put it like that. But it's still a coward thing to do."

"I disagree."

"The Hell would you know?" Gale snapped as his hackles rose in agitation. The Wild whipped its tail and kneaded its claws. "It's fucking stupid to be silent. Being silent about shit isn't 'reflection' and 'empathy'. It just means you're fine and dandy with everything happening, and you're too much of a pussy to stand up for yourself."

Doctor Orr crossed his legs and pushed up his glasses. "Silence…can be acceptance," he supposed. "But that doesn't mean it is consensual acceptance or agreement with that situation you are in or are thinking about." He heard Gale suck in a harsh breath, but there was no snappish retort. "In our last session, we spoke a little about your childhood with Emma and how your parents adored her. That she deserved their adoration…but you didn't."

Gale said nothing.

"Is your silence in agreement with my summary?" Doctor Orr gently pressed.

Gale blew out a breath. "I know I'm not a complete fuck-up," he murmured. "But I'm not…talented like they had been." He turned back onto his back. "Emma had this…way, I guess. She was crazy smart. She had all our dad's instincts and strengths and my mom's brains. She could find the answers with the bare minimum given to her." Rubies saddened. "And I know she was close to finding the one thing I have."

Sycaña made her presence known as she made the amulet visible, and it winked at Doctor Orr.

"Ah, yes. A Dragon's Heart of Hearts," Doctor Orr named. "That's what she and him were chasing after."

"Yeah," Gale whispered.

"But you didn't have the Dragon's Heart of Hearts when she and he were both alive and at home," Doctor Orr said.

Gale clutched his amulet. "I didn't," he agreed. "From what I remember, everyone knew that a Dragon Slayer couldn't exist without being taught its Magic or absorbing a Dragon's Heart of Hearts—which came from the Dragon Lacrima. Dragon Eaters weren't true Dragon Slayers. And they wanted to become one so badly…" He rubbed his cheek with the butt of his palm. "I didn't mean to be born like this." Words small and contrite. "I didn't even think things like this were possible until it was explained to me. For some fucked up reason, the last of Metalicana's Spirit…chose me. Just like Igneel's granddad chose him. But we didn't mean to be born like this."

"If you had the choice, would you choose to be born a different way?"

"Yes," Gale rasped.

"And may I ask why?"

"Because!" Gale threw up an arm to punctuate the point of which he had yet to make. "I wouldn't have had to have gone through all of that! Do you have any idea how much easier things had been if I had just been born normal? My family would be whole! Emma wouldn't have hated me, and she would have treated me like her brother, and I wouldn't have had to hide from my own parents—!"

"Gale," Doctor Orr cut in, "you're giving me reasons that affect everyone else around you. But I'm asking about you."

Gale twisted to shoot Doctor Orr a half-annoyed and half-confused look. "What?"

"Let me phrase my question," Doctor Orr decided. "Take in all that has happened to you. Only you. Think selfishly. This power that you have… Would you have been better off without it?"

Gale opened his mouth to give his exasperated agreement, but he could not force it out. His eyes rolled to the ceiling as he thought about it all. Would I have been better off? he asked himself. It's not like it's been long since I've had Sycaña, but… No, it's been since the day Metalicana's crest showed up. It's never been easy to accept I'm not like the others in my family. Emma, Leo, and Olivia got Dad's Iron. He got Mom's Solid Script. And I just had Earth Magic, but…

Hard rubies.

Gale remembered how his father would pull him aside with Natsu and Igneel deep in the forest. It's not every day someone gets to train with Uncle Natsu. And Dad… He always knew I was different. He trained me differently. Without this crest, I might've never learned so much about him and granddad… Without being born like this, maybe Igneel would've been nicer to me, but I doubt it. He might've been a mean fucker, but… We trained side-by-side with our dads. And because of that, I grew stronger than I ever thought I could be.

You have always been strong, Sycaña promised him. Metalicanna chose you to inherit a Dragon Spirit because he knew you were strong. And so do I. It is your strength with these gifts that have allowed you to fly higher than your companions. And it is your strength that has allowed you to grow in ways many cannot.

You're just saying that because you're my Dragon Mom, Gale teased. But you could hear how those words affected him.

I may be your mother by through heart and Spirit, Sycaña supposed, but I also speak this as the mightiest Earth Dragoness to have walked this land and flown your skies. You are not just my drake. You are not just the grand-drake of Metalicanna. You are more. Your grandsire and I find you are worthy of bearing the name 'Earth Dragon'.

Gale stilled when he felt the coolness of metal prick his skin, and a grating growl filled his mind. Rubies clouded.

Doctor Orr's voice softly lulled him back to the present. "Have you come up with an answer?"

"I…" Gale swallowed. "Maybe. I think so."

Doctor Orr sat back. "But…you still have certain uncertainties due to Emma's influence."

Gale opened his mouth, hesitated, then he closed it.

"Emma has inflicted damage to your self-worth and self-love," Doctor Orr stated, "but that damage is not irreparable. You have been through an ordeal that was unfair to you, and you never let yourself process it. Your process has no time limit and does not always require words or silence."

"Then, why is it when I want to be quiet, I say all the wrong things, and when I'm talking, I just want to be quiet?"

"Because you're still learning how to put your feelings into words."

Gale looked incredulous at that, but it did make sense to him after a moment. He swung his legs to plant his feet on the ground and ran his hand through his hair to comb it back. His bandana headband had his bangs over it, but it did not bother him as much. "Then…" He dragged his upper teeth over his bottom lip before he looked up at Doctor Orr. "How do I do that?" An honest question without his normal annoyance. "I thought that's what I was doing, y'know? Being honest."

"You were letting anger and pain speak its truth, but it came from a dark place," Doctor Orr told him.

"But I told Blondie I loved her from my heart—"

"But you and I both know that when your romantic honesty has a different time and place than traumatic honesty," Doctor Orr reminded. "Once you learn how to word your traumatic honesty, learning how to tell other honesties will be simpler." He saw Gale scrub his face with a hand. "This isn't an easy road you're taking. I don't envy you."

Gale offered Doctor Orr a sour look. "Aren't you supposed to be praising me and telling me that it gets better?"

"It gets better when you want it to get better," Doctor Orr replied with a slight smile. "I could certainly give you encouragement, but you don't want that sort of talk. You want raw honesty from me, and that's what you'll get. I don't envy your position, but I don't pity you for it. I sympathize.

"You've been living with your trauma and memories of someone you looked up to wrongly abusing you and taking advantage of you. You've had to block off your grief. And your silence in that trauma and grief has led you down some disastrous paths and less-than-ideal choices. You've compartmentalized to survive. And it hasn't been working well for you, considering you lost the girl you love and were sent to me."

"Well, tell me how you really feel," Gale drawled with biting sarcasm.

"I am." Doctor Orr lifted his chin. "Tell me how you really feel."

"Angry now," Gael muttered darkly. "Pretty fucking annoyed at what you said."

Doctor Orr nodded. "What else?"

"I don't know." Gale needed to get up. He needed to pace or do something. "Just…angry."

"Why are you angry?"

Gale snarled. "I don't fucking know."

"You do know, Gale," Doctor Orr affirmed. "Why are you angry?"

Gale bared his teeth as his eyes gleamed in War. "Because you're pressing me about this, okay? How about that? Is that enough reason to get angry?"

"What am I pressing you about?"

"This!" Gale cried. "All of this! About how I fucked up with Blondie and how I should have waited to tell her how I felt and not tried to attack her just because I saw something that never happened! About how I'm just so angry because I had to fucking sit there and take it that that was my fault because, for a moment, I didn't see Blondie! I saw her! I saw how Emma would hit me and punch me and she chained me to the basement when Mom and Dad were out with Leo and Livy, and I had to watch how sad Mom was when Emma moved out and how I blamed myself for even existing! Because ever since he died and I showed this fucking crest, she made it her life's mission to make me miserable and break me and left me there to lie for her because I owed her for living a life she didn't think even deserved, but I fucking do deserve this life! I deserve it! I deserve it! I deserve…!"

Gale panted as his anger ebbed away for that slow realization of all his words. "I…deserve it… I…deserve it…?"

Pride shone in Doctor Orr's eyes.

Gale plopped down on the couch in dazed disbelief. "What…? What just happened?"

"You told me your anger's honesty from the heart," Doctor Orr said.

Gale blinked, taking this all in. "And now…what?" He looked towards Doctor Orr for guidance with that dazed disbelief merging with a child's confusion. "What do I do now?"

"Now." Doctor Orr smiled as he leaned forward. "You keep talking."

The candies and sweets were well-received by the entire company. All had waited for the Immortal Yang to take a bite of each and feed her Chosen and their approval before they had helped themselves to the dessert and sweet wine. Ties had loosened and so had tongues as blushes spread across faces and laughter was throughout.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Te Gōng

Hǔde Mountain

Sīchóu Province, Zhōnguá

10:00 PM SST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jaxton felt homicidal as he watched Tesla stay close to his mother with his ears pricked to listen. I should've known she would prevent me from listening, he thought darkly. One of her Mages must have done this. His father's eyes cut to his, and his gaze instinctively averted, much to his frustration. And even if I went for her, I can't match Father. Not yet.

Darkness flicked around in veiled disgust. I can't summon Huang Chun. If I do, Mother will be ready to send him back to the Ghost Realm. But at least Weiwei isn't here. His eyes cut back to Tesla and willed for her to lift her head, but she kept her head down and listened to everything Ping Mei had to say. She shouldn't have to lower her head towards Mother. She's strong and brave. But I did this. His nails dug a deeper groove into the underside of the table. I brought her here, and now she's back in a negative headspace. I did this. I should've listened to that pissant.

"Are you sure you want to bring her home?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Prison clothing never looked good on anyone, and Gary was not the exception. He sat on his cot with his elbow on his thighs as he looked up at the focus with clear ceruleans. "I'm more than happy to come back with you to Zhōnguá again," he reminded. "I hit it off with your mom."

"Yeah, I know," Jaxton grunted. "My father noticed it too."

Gary chuckled until he sighed. "Look, I've vaguely met Tesla, but I know she is your everything. Just like Angel is my everything. But your mother…"

"I know." Jaxton shifted. "She's a different breed of person."

"She is," Gary agreed. "From what you've told me, she's been trying to force you into a position you don't want. She'll know the second you bring Tesla that she's the key to controlling you." Ceruleans grew haunted. "You don't know what it's like to be tortured that way. I know you've lived longer, but—"

"I know," Jaxton murmured softly. "I never experienced that sort of torture."

"I had to be perfect so Angel could live another day," Gary whispered. "I'm not saying your mother is Invel. But I am saying I know the position you'll be in better than anyone else. She'll block Tesla from you to keep you in control. You won't be able to attack her without your dad putting you down. And she'll do what she can to render Tesla defenseless, so Tesla can't fight against that sort of manipulation."

"We can handle it—"

"No." Ceruleans struck the focus. "You can't. You think you can, but you can't. That sort of thinking is the same naïve bullshit you used to shake out of me, remember? Jang-ta, you know what it's like when you're threatened. But it's different when someone who is your entire future on the line. Nothing else matters. You have…compulsions you can't control. You can't keep her safe, and it drives you insane."

"She needs to know who I am—what I am," Jaxton growled. "I can't keep hiding this from her. You understand that."

"Of course I understand that," Gary sighed. "That's why I understand why you want to take her back with you to Zhōnguá, but I'm worried about what could happen. I know what it's like to pray she loves you for what you are. But there are so many factors that could go wrong—"

"She could never love me."

"Not that." Gary shook his head. "But your mom could obscure things for her." He shook his head. "I just…hate that you'll do this, and I can't go with you for back-up. Invel might not be in jail like they claim, but he can't show his face in Fiore, and Angel's safe here. There's no telling what can happen to you or Tesla in Zhōnguá. Just think about that. Please, Jang-ta. Think about it."

Jaxton let out a loud growl as the focus turned away to the window. A reflection of a man cloaked in shadows stared back at him with yellow-ambers—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jaxton clenched his jaw. Everything I've anticipated, she's been one step ahead. And Tesla is paying the price for this. He glared into his water. I can't call Euboea without it being a challenge. And I can't call Huang Chun. I'm useless to protect her.

DING-A-LING-A-LING.

The congregation looked up to see Kuen She and Ping Mei rising to their feet, hand in hand. Ping Mei smiled at them all. "This Venerable One has been pleased with our dinner and dessert and requests we all migrate to the great hall, where the finest performers of all the western region of Zhōnguá will entertain such esteemed guests."

Applause and agreements passed around.

Ping Mei raised her hand for silence, and she got it. She extended that hand for Tesla to take. "Our venerated emissary from the southwest, Lady Tesla, is an esteemed musician and has come all this way to hear the finest music Zhōnguá has to offer. And we do not displease our guests within Te Gōng. As such, this Venerable One has acquired the guzheng from the Yang vault, passed down from this Venerable One's mother."

Obsidians scanned Jaxton as Tesla took her hand and came to her feet.

Jaxton made his War known.

Blood-red lips pulled into a large smile with teeth.

"And we would all be honored to hear the musical genius of Young Master Yang for the sake of his Chosen."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It was as though everyone was holding their breath as their eyes went from the Immortal Yang to Jaxton. A command was given in the form of a request. And a response was needed.

Jaxton slowly rose to his feet and kept his eyes locked on his parents. With clenched hands, he bowed to her. "This humble young master would be honored to play for the Yang family," he replied in Szuchounese. "However, this humble young master would like to request thirty minutes to warm up. Each guzheng has its uniqueness and nuances. This humble young master asks to get accustomed to this new guzheng to be at peak performance for Te Gōng."

Ping Mei inclined her chin. "This Venerable One approves."

"This humble young master also requests for his Chosen's presence for those thirty minutes," Jaxton continued. "His Chosen has always served as the key to this humble young master's best performances for her inspiration and soothing presence."

Ping Mei looked properly amused. "This Venerable One approves. A servant will recollect Young Master Yang's Chosen once those thirty minutes are over." To the crowd, she announced, "Let us move to the great hall, dear guest, and make sure tonight's performance is one even the great Báihǔ cannot ignore."

°•°•°•°

The private room Jaxton had been given was one of the sitting rooms he was well acquainted with. The guzheng was a lovely ivory and deserved attention, but he could not bring himself to look at it as he waited. He straightened when the doors opened and strode in hurried steps when Tesla slipped through. The second the doors closed, he was on her in a sweet kiss she relaxed into.

He pulled away a few seconds later to smoothen his hand down her twists. "Are you okay?" He tried to catch her eyes when she would not look at him. "Baby girl—"

"I'm fine." Tesla winced when her voice came out small and strengthened it. "I'm fine." She met his eyes. "I'm fine, Jang-ta, really. Your mother, she's…" Her eyes fell again, and her voice turned quiet. "She's been kind to me…"

"Tesla—"

"She has," Tesla quickly interjected. "Really, Jang-ta, this is nothing. I've had worse." She shrunk when Jaxton huffed, agitated. "It's okay," she tried to soothe. "All she's been asking me is about Fiore and our relationship and how you like Fairy Tail. Nothing else." She added in a weak whisper, "Please don't be upset with me."

Jaxton looked stunned. Then it saddened him when he realized how small Tesla was making herself. "I could never be upset with you," he whispered to her in honest promise. "You've been doing everything right. I'm just…frustrated with myself that you're being put back in that headspace—"

"It's okay—"

"It's not," Jaxton insisted. "No one should make you feel small and force you to just listen and be quiet. My mother doesn't have to insult you to make you feel the way. I know that. I've watched her break people without saying one insult." He placed his forehead against hers. "I want you to be strong and courageous and free to speak your mind like you are at home."

"But we aren't at home," Tesla told him. She let her hand splay on his neck as she drummed up a sad smile. "I know none of this is ideal, but we can get through this, can't we? If I know you're right there, I know I can."

"I just don't want you to put up with things you don't have to," Jaxton murmured. "I don't want her to make you think you're something you're not." He rubbed her sides. "I'm so sorry I put you in this position—"

"There's nothing to be sorry about," Tesla promised him. She scratched his nape. "We just need to get through the rest of this night, and then we can have all tomorrow to recover, okay?" She glanced behind her, dejection in her eyes. "I'd better go back out there and let you warm up."

"No."

Tesla shot him a troubled frown. "No? But—" Her eyes widened when she felt Jaxton's hand dip. "Oh… Oh, no." She vehemently shook her head. "You said you needed time to warm up—"

"My mother knew that was a lie." Jaxton brushed his lips over Tesla's. "That guzheng is the one my grandmother passed down to me. It's recognized me as its master since her death. I don't need to warm up."

Tesla sucked in a breath when Jaxton suddenly dropped his head to lightly bite her neck. "What do you—? Oh… Oh, wait…" Her eyes fluttered. "But are you sure we should…?" The words were lost on her when Jaxton pressed a fierce kiss onto her lips. An mmmph! squeaked out when his fingers drifted beneath the slit and touched skin. "Jang-ta—"

"I need you to know how powerful you are," Jaxton whispered. He kissed her chin then her throat as his hands slid down her body. "I've done many things, and I've won many fights. I have more enemies than I do friends." He kissed her stomach as his hand hitched up the skirt of her dress to whisper sinfully, "But you have brought me to my knees." He looked up at her for heated darkness to connect with darkened steely-grays.

"You really know how to pick a girl up when she's feeling down," Tesla breathed. "There are servants outside—"

"Then since I don't have a gag, you'll need to be quiet," Jaxton told her as he moved fabric. Raw hunger burned in his eyes. "Such a good girl for wearing no panties." He smoothed his hand against her thighs before slipping one of her legs over his shoulder. "This is my reminder to you how strong you are, baby girl." He craned his head—

Tesla heaved a breath as her eyes fluttered shut and her body jerked. "Jang-ta… Ah…!"

"Quiet, baby girl," Jaxton whispered against her flesh. "They don't deserve to hear the sounds you make for me." And his head moved as Tesla threw back her head and tried to swallow down a moan she desperately wanted to give.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And then…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Why did I give in?

Awkwardly, Tesla let the servant guide her down the hall as she tried so hard to keep her gait steady and prayed her face did not look as flustered as she thought. In my defense, I said, 'no more' after the third orgasm. She wanted to cry remembering how quickly her no had turned into pleas of yes when Jaxton pulled away to honor her wishes. And like the weak bitch I am, I begged for more.

She could feel her soul leave her body. Why am I so weak? No, scratch that, why is he so irresistible? This is clearly his fault. I should give him a piece of my mind when we get out of this fresh Hell! Yeah! And I know exactly what I'm going to say!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

3

2

1

GO!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Somehow, this fantasy was in grayscale as it filtered over the entire defense attorney's office. A dramatic jazz score was its soundtrack as papers were everywhere and the desks were empty. Everyone had somehow gone home in this fantasy—except for one.

Jaxton was hunched over his desk with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the top buttons unbuttoned, and suspenders strapped to him. He ruffled his hair in frustration over his casework—

BAM!

A sly smirk. "Put 'em up where I can see them, Detective."

Jaxton looked up from his paperwork to see a shadowed vixen had invaded his office armed with a pistol that aimed for his head. Slowly, he dropped his pen and raised his hands. His voice swept low as he said in some strange drawling accent, "I didn't think the boys would send me a pick-me-up tonight."

"Oh." She swept closer, and the moon caught a glint of her heels. "I'm your one-way ticket to the good place, Detective." She stepped into the light to show her trench coat and hat that shadowed one eye but let him see that killer steel gray and her black lips smug. "Didn't you know Angels wear black?"

"And what a fine Angel you are, doll," Jaxton rumbled as he drank in the sight of her.

She hummed her laughter as she prowled for with the lithe of a tigress. With slow grace, she leaned over his desk for her pistol stashed under his chin and her gloved fingers wrapped around his loose tie. "Don't call me 'doll' if you don't want my gun aimed for what you're packing, Sir," she rasped.

Jaxton smirked. "And don't call me 'sir' and talk about what I'm packin'"—he struck quick as he wrestled the pistol away and threw it (never throw a gun because that is dangerous) and trapped her with one hand on her throat and another one on her cheek—"if you don't want me to show you, doll."

"Like you have anything you could offer a girl like me," she purred kittenishly.

Jaxton whispered, "I have more than a fine doll like you can handle. But don't you worry, baby." He gripped his chin to pull her lips down to his. "Daddy will go gentle with ya." And his lips crashed onto hers—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

KRRRRRRRRRRR…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The servant looked like Tesla had gone crazy when she crouched down and vigorously shook her head before slapping her cheeks. Was this how everyone on the southwestern content acted?

I can't even give him a piece of my mind in my head, Tesla comically sobbed. Why can't I be pure like Kyler?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Meanwhile, in Bellum...

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Achoo!"

Kyler reached for a tissue on his bedside table and blew his nose. He had been comfortable underneath the comforter and now he had to sit up again. "I hope I'm not coming down with something," he mumbled to himself. "I promised Talia we would go to the ice-skating rink tomorrow."

"Don't worry, baby. I'll nurse you back to health."

Kyler turned a brilliant shade of red when Mirella snaked behind him to embrace him, naked. "A-Arezodi!" he stammered, flustered. "Your definition of nursing me in sickness isn't appropriate!"

"I know." Mirella stroked his hair as she kissed below his ear. "That's what makes it more fun." She dragged her teeth along his earlobe and took pleasure when he shivered. "Come back to bed, baby. I'm not finished with my adorable Malã'iko just yet."

Kyler tried hard to resist when she pushed him back down. "W-W-Wait, Arezodi, pl-please…!" His neck flushed red when Mirella refused to listen as she nipped at his neck before offering a loving kiss. "I… But we already did it so many times… W-We should rest…"

Mirella chuckled as she hovered her lips over his. "You're in luck having half a Demon for a lover. We have stamina for days," she murmured. "Don't worry, baby. I'll take good care of you." And she drowned out Kyler's weak protest with a hard kiss on the mouth.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Back to our Plot A...

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

He wouldn't have such a filthy mind, Tesla thought in sorrow. He'd be able to resist temptation. He's an Angel. Of course he could turn down sex. She caught the servant looking at her half in worry and half in panic and got up to compose herself and follow the very nervous servant.

Well, whatever the case, that calmed me down enough to survive the rest of this night, Tesla told herself. I can do this. I can get through this… Her eyes widened as big as saucers when she saw the golden doors waiting for her. Right?

The doors were opened on her behalf.

Tesla took an automatic step back. Ay dios mío…

A glittering red, gold, and silver dance troupe had taken the floor with their complex routine to the beat of the traditional percussive instruments. Magicians had been invited as they crafted glowing animals who paraded about the room and dazzled the wowed audience. It was truly a vision to behold and had the same glitz and glam and mysticism of a MagiaLand performance.

Maybe under better circumstances, Tesla would not be gawking but ooh-ing and aah-ing.

There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

The servant guided Tesla inside, and people made sure to step aside for the venerated emissary of the southwest. Tesla kept her had low and off the performance. She knew that was rude, but she felt if she lifted her head, she would see dozens of eyes waiting for her to fall. I can make it through tonight. I can do this for Jang-ta. She lifted her head, ready to be confident, but as she approached the platform for the heads of the Yang family, she…faltered.

Jaxton's mother was gone.

What? Tesla looked around, but Ping Mei was nowhere to be found. She's…gone? She wiped her hands on the skirt of her dress. I want to be relieved, but… She swallowed when she felt those intense yellow-ambers pin her down. I don't want to be near Mister Yang.

She had little choice in the matter when the servant escorted her up the steps of the platform. Her silk pillow had been moved to sit beside Kuen She, and she used the servant's arm to lower herself down with grace. The servant bowed and quickly retreated.

And that left Tesla and Kuen She alone.

Tesla kept her hands folded on her thighs and her eyes straight. But she prayed she did not sweat when she felt those eyes hang onto her profile. When Jang-ta stares, I feel like prey, but in the sexy chase-me little-red-big-bad-wolf way. She could see chibi-herself in a red cloak as she cutely ran away while chibi-Jaxton chased her with ears and paws and a tail with that stoic expression.

But when his dad stares at me…

RAAAAAAAAAAAAW…!

In her head, Chibi-Tesla was furiously running away while a monster of the night with those gleaming yellow-ambers roared for blood.

I feel like I'm still little red riding hood, but this big bad wolf is about to eat me—in the bad way.

"Tesla Greer."

Tesla jumped and nervously squeaked, "Yes, sir?" Then it hit her. Wait a sec… He speaks Minstrish? Wait another sec… Was I supposed to speak Minstrish?

"Your fear displeases me," Kuen She rumbled for her ears only. "You are the Chosen of my son. There is no need for you to fear me."

"Of course, sir," Tesla quickly agreed. "I d-don't fear you, Mister Yang. You're very kind." You just sound like you're perpetually brooding and look like you could walk away from an explosion like it was nothing. She hurried to make good conversation. "Thank you for inviting me to your home. It's very…big."

Kuen She's face darkened. "Yes. Too big."

Tesla wanted to cry. I feel like I'm pissing you off just by saying nonsense!

"Tesla Greer. I would like to ask you a question," Kuen She stated. "You may not answer if you do not feel comfortable nor will my wife hear your answer."

"Oh." Tesla swallowed and knotted her hands into each other. "Of course, sir. What can I do for you?"

Kuen She looked like he was thinking through each word he wanted to say like he was going over it with a fine-tooth comb. "Is my son…happy…with his life in Fiore?"

Such a question surprised Tesla. For a man like this to ask her such a simple question… She looked down at her hands as she debated what the correct answer should be. But all her contemplation and deliberation led her to only one answer: honesty.

"It hasn't been easy for him." Words soft and true. "He's had to sacrifice a lot to be in Fiore." And he has. I never thought about it, but…if he was always spying on me, I'm sure he barely had time to himself. He sacrificed years of his life for his mission—for me. "But even through that sacrifice, he's done very well for himself. He's a top student at Saint Tupelo's. He's made some wonderful friends. He joined a provincial hockey team." She smiled to herself. "And he's the best dancer partner I could have at my family gatherings."

She fiddled with her fingers. "Things might not have been easy… We've had our differences and not every moment has been perfect, but… I'd like to think he's enjoying his time in Fiore. But my answer is just my answer. You should ask him yourself for the truth."

"I see."

Tesla let out a quiet breath. I hope I didn't say too much or overstep any boundaries. I didn't want to lie, though… I hope Jang-ta doesn't get upset for this. A sigh caught her ears. She glanced over to see Kuen She's face had softened a little.

"I had hoped he would find happiness," Kuen She revealed. "It's unnatural for one so young like him to be confined to a single territory. I knew he needed to roam like I had when I was younger. Regardless of what his mother might think, I never believed we should take his Choices away from him when he has so much life to live."

"Then why are you?" Tesla was quick to cover her mouth in horror. "I'm so sorry, Mister Yang," she whispered. She bowed to him as anxiety gnawed at her stomach. "I'm so, so sorry, sir, I didn't mean to say that. I misspoke. Please don't be upset with Jang-ta for my mistake—"

But what she heard next was surprising.

She heard…a chuckle.

"Please, raise your head. I'm not the head of this family and never cared for superfluous manners like my wife." When Tesla lifted her head, Kuen She glanced at her before going back to the performance. "You aren't wrong to ask. In fact, I would have been worried you were not a worthy Chosen if you had not confronted me. Well done."

"Ah… Thank you, Mister Yang?"

Kuen She's eyes danced in amusement for a few moments. "My wife is a strong woman," he regarded. "Her mind is sharp, and her plans are plotted out for decades to come. She has always been this way ever since we met."

"May I ask how you two met?" Tesla asked, curious.

Darkness shrouded Kuen She's face as shadows covered his eyes. "I'd rather not say."

Tesla's eyebrow twitched as she smiled. "I-I understand, sir." Why do I get the weird feeling their love story is a love tragedy? Or horror?

"But she has always been determined in anything that she does," Kuen She said. "I admire her and respect her for not straying from her goals. But that does not mean I support her when her goals aren't sound." His eyes slowly scanned the entire room. "I've made mistakes. My son and I have been at odds because of my silence towards his mother's goals and my push for his control." Yellow-ambers observed Tesla. "But Weiwei was right. He has changed for the better—and I have you to thank."

Tesla shook her head, bashful and nervous. "No, sir, you have it backwards. Your son has changed me for the better."

Kuen She hummed with a flicker of approval in his stare.

The performers ended their show with bows all around, and rampant applause filled the air. Unlike the western continents, where shouts and hollers and whistles would happen, they kept their praises diminutive or nonexistent here and allowed the performers to gather themselves to leave while the announcer started his spiel.

She smells afraid yet calm, Kuen She observed. Her heartbeat has decreased since meeting with Ping Mei. I'm sure she was aware Jang-ta needed to calm his Chosen. This one of gray eyes reeks of a mated female. I'm impressed Jang-ta is heeding his instincts, but he exercises control. Perhaps the time is coming for me to train him to challenge me. His eyes flickered front as Jaxton entered with his guzheng being carried for him. His eyes darkened. That is if he survives Ping Mei's foolishness.

The guzheng was set up, and the announcer had said his piece.

The floor was Jaxton's.

Jaxton bowed to the platform thrice and said in strong Szuchounese, "This humble young master thanks the Yang family for this honor to perform at such a sacred event. As such, this piece will be dedicated to the Yang family as a gesture of this humble young master's gratitude for the opportunity. And this will also be dedicated to this humble young master's Chosen." His eyes pinned on Tesla. "Who serves as this humble young master's inspiration."

Tesla flushed and dipped her head, shy.

Jaxton's lips twitched before his eyes went back to his father.

Kuen She raised an eyebrow.

Jaxton averted his eyes back to the guzheng and sat on the silk-cushioned bench presented to him. His fingers poised over the instrument with fake nails bandaged securely. Inhale. Exhale. He closed his eyes…

…and he started to pluck.

Tesla had heard the guzheng before. Of course she had. She had gone through a phase where she was obsessed with Z-period dramas and had a weakness for those soundtracks. But as she heard Jaxton weave together this tale with his guzheng, everything impacted her at once.

My own father forced himself on me. He hurt me and used me. And he's free from jail now.

The song swung high as though a woman was serenading the audience with her melody.

My boyfriend has been my spy since I was little. Some of the events in my life were orchestrated. Other events never happened…because he protected me from behind the scenes. And to top it all off, he's been alive for god-knows-how-long and has this crazy other life I never knew about.

Jaxton strung together a harmony to the melody.

I illegally went into another country where my friend was being forced into being crowned Empress. Gary tried to kill me. Kyler nearly died. Luna had…things done to her. I nearly died, and that Mason-guy…bound himself to me. And begged for me to kill him.

The male voice came alongside the female as they wailed about their romantic woes.

I thought I could live my life like normal. And I tried so hard to fit in and be normal. I just wanted the breakdowns to stop. I couldn't stand it when I cried. I just…wanted it to stop. So, I force myself to act like I'm normal and everything is fine, but…

The song broadened as the melody and harmony faded into runs with a strong bass backbone.

Everything isn't fine. I'm not normal. I've never been normal. I have Anti-Ether—the only one on this planet to possess its true power. My boyfriend dates back to ancient times, and he's been my spy. I met an Angel—two Angels if I count Nashi. Gary and Skade are the same person. A cousin I never knew found me. My best friend is a Hunter and spied on my sperm donor while he was in prison. And if Carlisle is related to Kyler, then he's not normal either. Nothing in my life is normal.

Jaxton took the song and pitched it up an octave.

I know I'm not smart or powerful. I know I have a lot of questions. I know I lack a lot. I can't be as fearless as Nashi and Gary and Kyler were in Alvarez. I can't do what Jang-ta does. I can barely act like myself.

Jaxton dramatically slowed his pace before he filled the entire hall with sound.

"But these moments we get to breathe are just as important as fighting." Resolved hickories. "Whether we like it or not, we can't keep pushing through and fighting battle after battle. We need these little in-between moments."

"It's the moments we get to breathe"—honest ceruleans—"that make you realize how lucky you are to have the people around you."

"Your strength lies in your will to live, Tesla Greer." Calm turquoise. "Your partner sees that as your greatest strength. And so do I."

"You don't look broken to me." Kind chocolates. "And you don't feel broken. You're really strong, Miss Tesla, and kind and nice."

Jaxton sway to the scene he painted with his song.

But…I'm not broken, Tesla told herself. I… I want to live. I'm going to cry. I don't think I'll ever stop that and…maybe it's not so bad if I keep crying. Because there are always breaks in the storm. And rainbows don't light up the sky unless you let it rain. So when I stop crying, I'll get little moments like this to breathe. And these little moments will be precious to me. To remind me about how many people encouraged me. From my mom to Dante to Julia to all my friends and family…and Jang-ta.

Steely-grays watered.

I'll cry a thousand tears. And then…I'll cry a thousand more. But please…if someone did actually make this world…please let me have more moments like this…where I get the chance to remember how far I've come…where I get the chance to appreciate everyone who encouraged me…where I get the chance to breathe.

Jaxton looked up from his playing to glance at Tesla—

DRIP…

DROP…

He softened when he saw tears slip down her cheeks, but the smile she held was quiet and affectionate. Tesla… His eyes fluttered shut as his hands went through the automatic motion. That's right. Let the only tears these people see…are your tears of happiness.

Kuen She cocked his head as his eyes went from his son to Tesla. Jang-ta… You have grown into the male I had wanted you to. And I could not be prouder that you are ready for me to complete your training. But… Ping Mei… Your foolishness will make our son show you the teeth and claws he's been restraining all this time if you continue down this path. He glanced at the empty spot beside him with his eyes dark. I hope your Báihǔ can protect you from your Choices.

Ena did not mind dressing in a ridiculous cow onesie (which was not made by her, by the way) and wearing twin buns with her one braided lock if it meant Luna was happy. They had turned the living room into a childish pillow fort, complete with stringed lights, stuffed animals, and one fluffy Icarus. Ena entered the fort with drinks in hand, but she saddened when she saw Luna leaning against Icarus' side as she cuddled her Dragon stuffy with her Poko Sherpa hoodie blanket wrapped around her.

"I come bearing gifts," Ena chirped. She set down her drink before she pushed Luna's drink into her hands. "Tea that helps calm the nerves—spiked tea." She caught Icarus' blatant disapproval and showed her tea. "I won't be drinking, but L needs it."

Icarus huffed.

Luna murmured, "Thanks, E." She thumbed the rim. "I'm sorry I'm not making good company to you. You finished a long day at work. I should be—"

"Doing exactly what you're doing." Ena crawled atop the pillows and stuffed animals to lean against Icarus and tuck Luna into her side. "I love it when we get to bum around and not have any plans. And right now, planning anything is the last thing on my mind." She rooted around for the remote. They had made sure the LV was part of their pillow-and-blanket fort. "But we do need to make some decisions like what we want to watch. Do you want me to put on Poko?"

Luna shook her head. "No." She looked up at Ena. "Can we watch Dawn?"

"We can do the entire Dawn anthology," Ena decided as she selected Amazone. "I should have Dawn, Starlight, Night Fall, and Daybreak, but we might have to rent Sunrise." She nudged her best friend. "And we can fawn over our favorite werewolf ever."

Both sighed dreamily, "Aaron Gray." Both giggled.

"Thanks for letting me stay over," Luna appreciated in a partial mumble. She sipped her spiked tea, but she grimaced when she tasted some of the alcohol.

"I never care." Ena leafed through all the movies she had bought for Dawn. "How is everything at home?"

"I don't know." Luna looked at her glass. "I miss Igneel."

Ena snorted. "I don't. No offense, but he always rubbed me the wrong way."

Luna smiled. "You just say that because you guys would always glare at each other.

"If we fought, I would have one," Ena declared darkly. "But he was too much of a coward to make the first move. Ladies never start fights, but we finish them." She smiled when Luna laughed. "You're always welcome here if things at home aren't okay, L."

"I know, E," Luna assured. "I just…need to get over things." Nashi seems to have gotten over it. Luke told me everything is fine. She looked down at her stuffy. I'm the only one hanging on to anything.

Hush now, pup, Icarus soothed. There is no shame in letting such events affect you. And there is nothing wrong with needing time to process those events. You went through a horrid ordeal. It makes sense you need time to think.

But Nashi doesn't, Luna argued. She's doing interviews and everything. And Luke is working really hard in his Magic studies. All I do all day is stay in my room. They just…forgot everything we went through and moved on. She sighed. Like a real Fairy Tail Mage would.

Ena cut in before Icarus could argue. "I might not understand what's going on," she murmured, "and you might not want to tell me. But I'm here to help in any way I can." She rubbed Luna's arm. "You're my best friend, L. I'll always be here for you."

"You're my best friend too." Luna leaned her head onto Ena's shoulder. "Thank you."

"Anything for my favorite model," Ena teased. She found her Dawn: Extended Edition in her ⟪ Library ⟫ and played it. "This will definitely cheer you up. We are about to embark on a love thriller between our broody vampire Cedric and our hunky werewolf Aaron all for"—she made a show of rolling her eyes—"Lily."

Luna cracked up. "Stop hating Lily! She did nothing wrong!"

"Are we now forgetting how she strung along Aaron, had an emotional affair with him on Cedric, made false promises, and then broke his heart even more when she married Cedric?" Ena demanded to know. "Aaron is too good for her! She can have Cedric. He's old."

"Age is just a number," Luna jested. "And besides, the vampires do have one you like."

Ena dreamily said, "Jeremy… He's so dark and unhinged." Her eyes gleamed. "I love it."

"You have problems." Luna sipped her tea when her Compact lit up. Although, she frowned when she saw what had come up and put her Compact back.

Ena saw the motion and scowled. "Is he texting you again?"

"E…"

"L, I love you, but I'm more than willing to show him just how sharp Lunagr'an is when she's thirsty for blood," Ena growled darkly. "I get you don't want to block him, but if you just let me—"

"No," Luna rejected. "And besides, E, it's… It's complicated, okay? Can you please leave it alone?"

"For you," Ena muttered. "You're lucky you're my best friend. Resisting the temptation of going on a warpath is normally impossible for me."

Luna tittered. "Well, since I'm so lucky to be in your presence as your best friend," she drawled as she nudged Ena, "what's going on with you and Silver?"

"Silver?" Ena's brow furrowed in confusion. "Nothing. I work. He manages to do a decent job. And he goes home." She saw the clear disappointment on Luna's face. "What? What did you expect?"

Luna sighed as she pointed and flexed toes beneath the blanket. "I don't know. I would have thought you two would have been closer after your first friend date. I mean you could at least say he was your friend, couldn't you? Would it kill you?"

"Well, yes, he's my friend," Ena said, still puzzled. "But he's also my valued assistant." She cocked her head in thought. "Although, we agreed he's to stay beside me for eternity."

Luna's eye twitched when all she imagined was Ena as a fabulously dressed yet cold-hearted warlord as she sat tall and proud on her throne while Silver was chained and cuffed, like a slave to a master. "Um, E, how did you say that?"

"Well." Ena sipped her tea. "Remember when I told you how I went out with Jasper? I don't know how or why, but Silver was at the restaurant." She snorted. "He looked so plain and simple. I can't believe they would let in someone dressed in street clothes to a restaurant like that."

Well, at least E won't kill Silver for stalking her if she can't even figure out he was stalking her, Luna thought.

Ena's eyes softened. "I told you the night with Jasper turned weird. And we spoke the next day and he apologized and told me he didn't mean to make me uncomfortable, but still…" She sighed. "But…I didn't like how it felt. I went to go collect my thoughts, and I found Silver." She smiled a little. "He might be clumsy and flustered and may not do everything right, but… He certainly has a way of making me feel better. I was so out of sorts, and he just…held me. It was nice."

SNIFFLE.

Ena turned and sweatdropped when she saw Luna's eyes were comically watered. "L, why are you crying?"

"It's just so sweet," Luna blubbered. "And so romantic!"

"'Romantic'?" Ena parroted with a laugh. "I highly disqualify him consoling me in a unisex bathroom as 'romantic'." She adjusted her knitted blanket and looked at the logo Silver had taken the time to craft for her. "He's very sweet—I'll give him that. And he has many good qualities about him like his cooking and his eye for art. But you know romance isn't for me, L." Her face went flat. "And honestly, Silver isn't my type. He's so uncouth and ill-mannered. We met with the Viscountess and her son, and he had the nerve to sit in their presence." She shook her head in disgust. "He better do well in his etiquette lessons or he'll answer to me."

Luna smiled. "I'm sure he will, E." Well, at least they're friends, but my ship got hit with a canon before it even left the docks. She plucked Ena's blanket. "Did that Nora guy contact you about a duel, by the way?"

"Yes, he called the next day." Ena sipped her tea. "I scheduled a tour and duel with him in March." She shifted. "Something tells me my time with him will be interesting. He was interested in Lunagr'an, so I hope he brings an equally interesting sword to the duel."

Luna grinned. "It helps he's a lord. You could be his lady." She cleared her throat and said in a posh Minstrish accent, "Lady Ena Fernandes, you are a model lady."

"Why, dahling," Ena drawled in a Minstrish accent, "you are a model princess."

"Why, thank you, dahling, I take after my best friend!"

Both broke in a fit of laughter when a knock on the door drew them out of it. Ena frowned. "Did we order food?"

Luna shook her head. "No…"

"I'll get it." Ena made sure to place her tea in a secure spot and pause the movie before she crawled out of the fort. No one should be coming. Mother is away for work, and Aine and Mystogan have a key to the house. Her eyes sharpened. Lunagr'an.

Her rapier appeared in her hand with a lethal glint.

Carefully, Ena went to the front door. The latch was slowly unlocked, but she did nothing for several moments. Without ceremony, she ripped open the front door with her sword poised and Magic in her eyes. "Who dares to—?"

"Don't stab me!"

Ena paused when she saw Silver cowering on the deck. "Silver?" Confused and annoyed, she dismissed her sword. "What are you doing here?" She unlocked the screen door and took note of his appearance, a sweatshirt and some joggers. "Don't you have to go splash around in dirty water or something?"

"It's not dirty." Once Silver was certain she was not going to stab him, he could relax, only a little, however. He tucked his hands into his sweatshirt pocket and scuffed his shoe on the deck. "Regular swim season is basically over. The nationals aren't until the end of the month."

"Oh. Very well then." Ena still did not understand. "Did you leave something here?"

Silver shook his head.

"Did you…need to tell me something urgent?"

Silver shook his head.

Ena sighed. "Eventually, you will need to speak for me to understand why you're here. I thought I made it clear to you that you should be focusing on your friendships. If you're here to make sure I'm not working, I'm not—"

"I had an attack."

Concern burst on Ena's face. "Oh, dear." She stepped outside to search his face. "Are you okay?"

Silver ducked his head and mumbled, "No." His hand came up to scratch his neck. "Some friends on the swim team wanted to see a movie tonight, but I had an attack and I…just didn't feel like going. But I didn't want to be alone, so I…."

"So…you came here," Ena filled in gently.

Silver winced. "I know Lulu is over, and you don't like it when I interrupt—"

"No, I do not." Ena added when Silver looked hurt, "But tonight, I won't mind if you intrude. After all"—she reached up to pat his head—"I'm your anchor, remember? You've let me lean on you more times than I wished. You can lean on me too. It's what friends are for."

A healthy pink coated Silver's cheeks. "Okay."

"Come in." Ena stepped inside, and Silver followed her. She drifted back into the living room. "L, we have a third party joining us for our Dawn marathon," she hollered. She crawled inside to catch Luna's confusion. "Though, he might not be able to keep up."

Luna frowned as Ena reclaimed her spot beside her. "Who?"

A long groan. "You guys are watching Dawn?"

Luna brightened when Silver came into the pillow-and-blanket fort with a look of twisted dismay. "Silver!"

He shot her a toothy grin. "Hi, Lulu!"

"I thought you had a movie thing tonight?" Luna asked him as he took off his sweatshirt in one fluid motion. "You're joining us tonight?" She grinned back. "Because we're totally going to drool over Aaron Gray."

Silver made a disgruntled noise as he automatically took Ena's other side and tucked himself under the blanket with her. "What's so great about him, anyway?"

"Abs, tattoos, he's hot—"

"I never took you as being so shallow, Lulu."

Luna gaped. "E, you agree with me, right?"

"Well…" Ena's eyes glinted in mischief. "He does have those rippling pectorals, and his martial arts technique strikes me every time." She simpered. "And his butt is cute."

Luna laughed while Silver looked ardently betrayed. "Et tu, Ena?"

"Play the movie," Ena instructed Silver. While he grumbled and grabbed the remote to do so, she confessed, "And I'm not a silly fangirl. I just appreciate the finer things in life. Too many muscles aren't as impressive as someone who is fit and snug," she added while Luna wisely nodded.

Silver snorted. "You two are gross."

"It's called browsing and window shopping, Silver. No need to act like it's a crime," Ena said dryly.

"It's so much fun!" Luna chirped.

"It's objectifying!" Silver argued. "You're just basing their attractiveness of looks? How is that okay?" He flushed when both girls laughed at him. "It's not funny! It's true!"

"He's right, E," Luna snickered as she tried and failed to hone her grin. "It's not funny. It is objectifying."

Ena gravely nodded. "You're right, L. It's such a shame. And here I was going to compliment Silver that I think his butt's cute, but…" She waved a hand while Silver turned wide-eyed. "I suppose that's too objectifying."

"Wait, wait!" Silver cried. "You actually looked at my butt!"

"We should go back to watching Dawn respectfully," Luna sighed. "We wouldn't want to objectify all the hot vampires and werewolves, E."

"Don't ignore me! Did you really think that!"

Ena agreed with Luna, "Of course, L." She swept both Luna and Silver into his arms to snuggle into her sides. "Don't worry, Silver. We'll only look at half-naked men respectfully for you, okay?"

Silver whined, "Ena…! Answer my question!"

"Why?" Ena's eyes twinkled in amusement. "It would be objectifying you."

Silver huffed as he clung to her. "Witch."

"You want to say that again, little pig?"

Silver gulped when he heard the darkness in Ena's question and quickly mumbled, "No, mistress."

"Very good." Ena stroked his side as her eyes glued onto the opening scene of the movie of a town in some obscure forest. She dipped her head to whisper to Silver, "But yes, I did."

Silver tensed and wanted to press, but his face was too red, and his tongue was too tied. He inhaled her scent deeply and closed her eyes when a small smile toyed on his lips. She thinks I'm cute. He nuzzled into her. I think you're cute too.

Dante came into the townhouse carrying Carlisle on his back, but he dead stopped when he got to the living room in front of the couch. "Okay. You've been spoiled enough." He dropped Carlisle onto the couch before he walked away.

Carlisle groaned. "Rude!" he bemoaned. "You throw out my back in bed and now this! How cold-hearted can one person be to me…?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Dante's Townhouse

Poke Township

Fiore, Ishgar

8:27 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Dante snorted as he headed to the front door. "I need to get my boxes out of the trunk. Why don't you get changed and figure out a documentary for us to watch?" He left before Carlisle could agree or object.

Carlisle pouted. "Rude." He got up and stretched himself out. At least he brought home the shrine. Maybe I can figure out why it still has energy attached to it. He kicked off his shoes and placed them by the door before climbing the steps.

"You're back."

Carlisle had a sour look when he saw Muta sitting at the top of the steps in his Cat Form. "Don't you have a litter box to pee in?" he grumbled. He danced past Muta to go down the hall. "And yeah, we are. Can you finally leave now?" He got to the bedroom, but Muta slipped in before Carlisle could close it. "Don't watch me change, pervert."

Muta huffed as he climbed onto the bed and settled into a cat loaf. "I don't have plans to, but I'm hopin' you'll listen to me this time around."

Carlisle rolled his eyes as he trudged into the bathroom to get to the closet. "Thanks, but no thanks. Now that that's settled, please return to your owner. Dante wants to adopt you, and you're not exactly a cat."

"But I am someone who can protect you," Muta reminded.

"I'm fine." Carlisle came back out to drop his clothes in the laundry. He had changed into some tennis shorts and a long sleeve shirt as he gathered up his hair. It had grown out over the weeks, and he could manage it into a small ponytail. He heard the front door slam close and lowered his voice. "I don't need your help or his," he hissed. "I don't need or want your protection. I've been protecting myself longer than you can conceive, Exceed."

Muta went to respond—

"Lips." Dante entered the bedroom with his moving box in his hands. He set it on the bed and smiled when the tomcat got up to automatically brushed against him and ask for pats. "You might hate him, but he's pretty much chosen us as his cat dads, Princess."

"I object," Carlisle sniffed. "I refuse to be a cat dad." He hissed when the tom came over to him, stretching itself out. "No, don't come to me. Shoo. Go away. Scat." He tried to back away, but the tomcat meowed loudly as his paw came up as though to grab onto Carlisle.

Carlisle narrowed his eyes when Muta showed those smug grays.

Dante chuckled. "If it turns out he has a family, we'll make sure he gets reunited." He hauled the box off the bed and moved to the bathroom to get to the closet. "But I think we should keep him if he's a stray."

"Oh, absolutely not," Carlisle refused. "I mean look at it. It's not even cute. It's so fat."

Muta's ears flattened, but he did take a good look at himself. He was not fat; he just had thick fur…with a few pounds here and there.

Dante laughed from the closet as he put things away. He called from the closet, "Don't be mean. So he's a chunky cat. As long as he's healthy and active, he'll be fine."

"Maybe we should put him on a diet," Carlisle muttered darkly. "I'm thinking starvation." He smirked at Muta's displeased look and whispered, "If you won't leave willingly, then I'll make sure to force you to leave, kitty."

Muta bit back saying anything and decided to give a pitiful meow instead.

"Don't scare the cat, Lips." Dante came out into the bathroom half-naked with some basketball shorts on. He smooched Carlisle's cheek before offering the tomcat a kind pat to his side. "You'll be a great cat dad."

"I just might poison him," Carlisle grumbled. He gawked when Dante smacked his rear. "Hey! Rude!" He shivered when Dante covered him with his body and offered a placating rub. "H-Hey, I thought we were going to watch a documentary?"

"We are." Dante kissed Carlisle's neck before he pulled away. He glanced at the tom as he strode to his dresser. "We should probably give him a name. We can't just keep calling it 'cat'."

"Why? Leaves less room for attachment because that thing is not – staying," Carlisle stressed. "We can just call it 'cat'." He grinned. "Maybe 'Fatty'."

Muta's glare made Carlisle's grin broaden.

"Not 'Fatty'." Dante got out a leather collar with the words PRINCESS glammed onto it and the matching key alongside a dog tag. "But he should have some sort of name. I don't know." He hummed in thought as put on his dog tag necklace. "The only white cat from Magia was 'Duchess', but I don't think he'd appreciate that."

Carlisle snorted. "Probably not." He stilled when Dante came behind him and flushed when his collar was delicately tethered to his neck and locked in place. "Dinner at your parents' house was great! I'm happy your parents liked the wine I gave them! Mom said it's one of her favorites."

"I think it's turning into one of their favorites now," Dante remarked. "I'm sorry about them and the whole thing with engagements and marriage. I love my parents, but they tend to go overboard and get very…supportive."

Carlisle laughed. "It's okay. Maman is the same way." He shook his head in amusement as he guided Dante out of the bedroom. "Do you have to go to work tomorrow? I was really hoping we could spend my half-term break together?"

Dante sighed as they climbed down the steps. "I was too. I wasn't planning to head in tomorrow, but I just need to help put out a fire. It should only take me a couple of hours since I'll head to the garage after the gym for an early start. But you have a breakfast date with Mellow, and I'll pick you up from there. I was thinking we could do a day trip into the country."

Carlisle brightened. "Really? I never go to the countryside! Where would we go? What would we do?"

"I'm not sure." They made it to the first floor. "But we can figure out. Honestly, I'd like to go to Rose Garden City. There's a show going on there for Magic Transportation I'd like to go to. Some really big Enchanters are going to be there."

"Then, let's do it. It's not like we have much to do on Friday outside of checking into Pleasure Palace."

Dante settled on the couch, and Carlisle curled into his side. "Are you sure you and Tesla will be ready for your dance at the burlesque show?"

"We practiced our butts off before she left, and Tantan went to rehearsals with me to make sure we kept up with the timing and blocking," Carlisle reminded. "And we'll have enough time to go through the run-through when she gets back." He leaned for the remote and turned the LV on. "Can we watch the flower documentary I saved to our watch list?"

"Sure." Dante looked down at Carlisle in thought. He didn't even question me about my family's belief in Giat Hat and Khong Lo. He just accepted everything. My mom said that she can feel my dad's emotions, but it's not in reverse. But he can feel me. His eyes softened. He's certainly strange…but it's comforting to me he can feel what I feel. And it makes me even more curious about Cane's tarot reading.

"Prince, are you ready?" Carlisle looked up and blinked when darkness and sea-greens freckled in violet connected. "Prince?"

"It's nothing," Dante rumbled. "I love you."

Pink grew on Carlisle's cheeks as he mumbled, "I love you too." His blush increased when Dante snickered. "Evil! Don't laugh at me!"

"I can't help it. You're too cute." Dante kissed Carlisle's forehead. "My very own princess." His hand went up to finger Carlisle's collar. "I'll have to pray to Giat Hai tonight to thank her for sending you," he murmured. "Thanks for dancing with me back at that party, even if you were just doing it to prove a point and you ditched me after you got me hard."

Carlisle fidgeted, abashed. "I said I was sorry!"

"I know." Dante tugged at Carlisle's hair. "I just like watching you squirm."

Carlisle shot him a salty glower. "You have a twisted mind."

"Agreed." Dante kissed his temple. "Let's watch your flower documentary. I won't distract you," he added in mirth when Carlisle looked wary. "But if I played with you without wanting any, is that okay?"

"Oh." Carlisle blinked, surprised. "Can we do that?" He arched an eyebrow. "Can you do that?"

"You make it sound like I'm an uncontrolled sex machine," Dante remarked, dry. When Carlisle's unconvinced look lingered, he sighed. "Yes, I can. If you don't like it, tell me to stop. But I've always wanted to play without it turning into anything."

"Oh…" Carlisle swallowed. "Then, that's fine." He wriggled a bit and tugged at the sleeves of his shirt. "If it does turn into anything…"

"Nothing has to happen," Dante soothed. "If anything, I just want to take care of you." He caught the surprise on Carlisle's face and smiled. "I know what it's like for people to just want to have sex all the time. It's exhausting and painful. But sex with me doesn't have to be me inside you. I want you to know that." He added softly, "Sex is whatever we want it to be."

Carlisle lowered his lashes and whispered, "You really do understand." His fingers threaded with Dante's. "I wish I met you sooner."

"For whatever reason, Giat Hai didn't think we were ready before." Dante touched his forehead to Carlisle's temple. "I guess she thought now was the time." He closed his eyes when Carlisle twisted to kiss his jaw "Documentary?"

"Yeah." Carlisle turned to play the documentary, and his heart sighed when Dante thumbed his waist. His body hummed, but it was not that burning need. It was contentment. That hook in his check—that invisible string—it was calm and nurturing. He felt a surge of warmth as though whatever force was pleased about this event.

"Miaow…" Muta decided to climb onto the recliner and stretch out before he settled down.

Dante glanced over at the tomcat. "He really does need a name," he mused. "He's a white cat, so it should be something white. Snowflake? Snowball?" He raised an eyebrow when the tomcat huffed. "He doesn't seem to like that."

"I still vote on 'cat'," Carlisle sniffed as he watched the documentary when one floor came up with its creamy petals mocking the form of a trumpet horn. "Moon Lily."

Muta stiffened and turned his head to Carlisle.

Dante took notice and nodded his approval. "I think he likes that name. He responded to it." He relaxed and stroked Carlisle's side. "Moon Lily. I like it. It's definitely something unique, and he has white fur like the moon. Good job, Princess." He further teased, "For someone who wanted to kick out Moon Lily, you came up with the perfect name."

"Don't patronize me," Carlisle muttered. "I did it so you could stop focusing on Fluffy and focus on me."

"Yeah, because jealousy over a cat makes sense." Dante chuckled when Carlisle huffed. "Fine, baby, I believe you."

"Thank you." Carlisle sighed when Dante kissed his cheek. His fingers tightened onto Dante's as their rings brushed each other. "I really like this," he murmured in quiet confession.

"I really like it too." Dante put his feet up on the coffee table as his thumb caressed Carlisle's hand. That hook in his chest made coddled him, pleased and drowsy from all the chaste affection. Thank you, Giat Hai…for sending me someone who loved me back.

Muta curled into a ball and turned away from the couple as the tip of his tail flicked involuntarily. Moon Lily, huh?

A tiger's strips.

Fur black as night.

Muta sighed. I haven't been 'Moon Lily' in a long time…not since I couldn't protect White L—Shaggy… But that doesn't stop me from hoping those two kits of mine made me proud. At least I know Panther Lily cleared his name, but I hope the tigress hasn't lost that spark inside her. His ear twitched. Wherever she may be.

Tesla clapped along with the audience as the Dragon and Tiger dancing with a rabbit marionette had come to a show-stopping close as their Magicians pitched safe indoor fireworks that spelled out Yang in hanzi and wished good fortunes upon the family of the west. There was truly no sight like the Zhōnguánese New Year festivities. Each act had topped the last with comedians, an opera singer, acrobats, dancers—all those who were in attendance would forever remember the Yang family had gone above and beyond entertainment and gifted everyone an experience.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Te Gōng

Hǔde Mountain

Sīchóu Province, Zhōnguá

11:30 PM SST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

This has been fun, but… Tesla looked around in worry. Jang-ta hasn't returned since he bowed out from his performance. And neither has his mom. It's already getting late. Are they talking? Is he okay?

"Calm yourself, Tesla Greer."

She looked up in Kuen She had spoken, but he offered no other words. Right. I should keep calm. She took a deep breath. Just breathe. Don't think about the worst outcome. Keep it together and have faith in Jang-ta. Confusion hit her when there was no announcement for another act to follow up the dancing. What's going on?

GACHA…

The door opened, but it was not a new act that swept through the room. Ping Mei came in with her chin lifted, her fan poised in her hand, and with all the regality of an emperor. The bows started automatically, like it was a compulsion to lower your eyes and submit the moment she was near. Even Tesla bowed her head in reflexive respect.

Ping Mei stood at the center of the hall and let those deep obsidians scan every person present. In Szuchounese, she announced, "Friends of the Yang Family, this Venerable One is honored and delighted to have served you a feast fit for Báihǔ and provided you with the best entertainment the west could provide. All of you have served the west in your own way, and this Venerable One cannot be any more appreciative of your service, your insight, and your initiative. Through our relationships, this Venerable One has seen your worth and is pleased with the conclusion."

Blood-red lips smiled. "And you have proved to this Venerable One she made the right decision choosing each and every one of you to share such an auspicious occasion with."

Bows were made as everyone buzzed with delight.

Tesla, however, felt partially disturbed. I can't figure out this dialect, but…for some reason, something sounds off.

"As promised, this Venerable One has selected one guest the honor and privilege of midnight seclusion in at Te Gong's towered temple for Báihǔ," Ping Mei continued. "And this Venerable One has made her decision of who will receive such a gift."

Whispers were passed around, but Tesla did not understand a lick of it.

"She is choosing who will receive access to the temple," Kuen She quietly translated.

"She is?" Fear hit Tesla. Oh, no…

Steely-grays connected with obsidians.

"Young Master Yang has been awarded such a gift to climb the western and to greet Báihǔ," Ping Mei declared with gasps flying and Tesla confused and a little scared. "As of now, the acolytes have been cleansing his body of impurities and blights to prepare him for his pilgrimage, so the monk may bless him to meet Báihǔ. He has brought honor to his family to his Chosen"—obsidians dipped to Tesla's stomach—"and honor to his future due to his Choices."

Tesla recoiled under Ping Mei's stare and let her eyes lower to her lap.

"This Venerable One asks that you join in the midnight seclusion pilgrimage as we send off Young Master Yang in the hopes he ascends to meet the great Báihǔ," she said. "And believe this Venerable one when she says"—obsidians clashed with yellow-ambers—"he will ascend."

Kuen She's stare darkened.

Ping Mei went back to Tesla as she extended her hand. "As Young Master Yang has accepted this Venerable One's gift, this Venerable One will allow Young Master Yang's Chosen to walk beside this Venerable one and her Chosen for the accompanying pilgrimage to send off Young Master Yang with a procession." She smiled broadened when Tesla did not move. "My beloved, as you have managed to communicate with Young Master Yang's Chosen, please escort her to his Venerable One."

Kuen She said nothing, but he did move. He offered Tesla his hand.

"What's happening?" she whispered urgently, not wanting to move.

"The inevitable." Kuen She extended his hand. "Your hand, Tesla Greer."

Tesla hesitantly slipped her hand atop Kuen She's and let him help her to her feet. She swallowed thickly when she saw Ping Mei's amused look and whispered to Kuen She, "What's happening now?"

"Now." Kuen She looked at his wife. "We follow a fool."

°•°•°•°

Jaxton remembered this process well.

The process was lengthy, and he was quiet as the acolytes worked on him in their sacred cleansing house. It differed from a bathhouse due to the innate purpose of it. It had been spiritually cleansed and made to cleanse the impure in their preparation for blessings and ascension.

The salt bath and steam used to cause him slight discomfort. It drew out the toxins in his body, and the monks had explained to him, should he lie with anyone, it would rid his body of their essence. If he had not fasted, he would vomit, but he never minded before But now, he was snarling fury this time around as every cell inside his body had been lit aflame. He had staved off from eating today out of awareness, but the pain and agony of losing Tesla's intimate imprint had been excruciating, and several acolytes had to restrain him from lunging out of the bath and killing them all.

And the drums beat…

The waxing had not been as severe, but he was on edge. The acolytes, however, had not been afraid. All knew if he had attacked them, he would be blighted. That was a consequence he could not afford.

And the drums beat…

The oil massage stung his skin and burned his nose. The touches had been light and only moved where necessary, as though they were aware his Wild would not tolerate closer contact due to the loss of his intimate imprint with his Chosen.

And the drums beat…

The tea ceremony was made to boost his spiritual awareness. The tea was bitter but necessary with tradition. It wafted scents to tingle his senses and settle any nerves. But it gutted him for a moment and made him gag, stinging his lips, and he knew why. It was erasing anything left from his intimate imprint. But he drank the cup provided to him down to the last drop.

And the drums beat…

He had been toweled off with a special material, and cream had been slathered on. He had hesitated when he saw the simple hanfu left for him in the purest of whites, unblemished. He had no choice when the acolytes had dressed him, but his jaw locked the entire time.

And the drums beat…

GACHA…

The doors opened for him to see the professional. Lantern-bearers had straight backs and eyes focused, while those who had been invited to Te Gōng had bowed as the processional decreed. The drums had softened as the bells were played with their song of Summons. Incense had been ceremonially lit and swung in the hopes to open the spiritual nodes within every creature and swarm Jaxton with such powerful energy to entice Báihǔ.

Jaxton's eyes instantly drew to Tesla, who stood at his mother's left while his father stood to the right. His muscles coiled as his nostrils flared, but the moment his father looked at him, he kept his position, but he held his father's eyes out of his declaration of challenge.

Kuen She lifted his chin and warning gleamed in his eyes

Jaxton tried to keep the glare, but instinct won out, and he looked away.

And the bells rang…

The monk came forward in ceremonial dress with an ancient rattle that had been carved by hand and passed through generation upon generation. The monk turned to those who stood before the house as he offered his hymnal of Summons and provided blessings.

And the bells rang…

The monk turned to Jaxton, and Jaxton knelt on both knees, spine straight, eyes forward. The monk hovered a hand over Jaxton's face as he shook his raddled and continued his hymnal of Summons. He asked for safe passage; he blessed for ascension; he approved of tonight's seclusion.

And the bells rang…

An acolyte had stepped forward with an obsidian bowl. The monk dipped his forefinger and thumb as he held his rattle to mark Jaxton's forehead with the symbol of Báihǔ, the symbol of the White Tiger of the West, and King of Beasts:

王

And the bells rang…

Another acolyte had come with a white eye mask to present that had slits for the eyes and the nose of a predator. He was careful to put it over Jaxton's eyes before bowing and retreating. The monk offered his final cry and rattle.

And the bells went silent…

The monk spoke to Jaxton in Szuchounese, "Rise, Son of Báihǔ."

Jaxton rose to his feet, head bowed.

"You shall journey to the western temple of the White Tiger of the West," the monk proclaimed for all to hear. "Your journey shall be silent, as our Guardian's silence made our mountains. Your journey shall be barefoot, as our Guardian's paws walked this earth with no barrier. Your journey shall be alone, as our Guardian has no need for others to intrude on your connection. And your journey shall have no light, as our Guardian has blessed you to see in the dark as he had."

Jaxton responded: "And I shall."

The monk came closer to whisper to Jaxton, "You will not need to detach to ascend, Son of Báihǔ. Peace. Your Chosen will not be lost. But you must be cautious. Your selection was blighted when Immortal Yang made her Choice without virtue."

"Why are you telling me this?" Jaxton whispered back.

"Because this humble monk knows who you are, Yang Jang-ta," the monk answered. "And this humble monk knows of Immortal Yang's Choices and your own. Fear not. Báihǔ sees all and knows all. And he does not speak to those without virtue."

He stepped back and decreed, "Son of Báihǔ, your journey must be completed before the last stroke of midnight. For then, the gateway to Báihǔ will have closed. Light the lantern at the western temple to ease our minds that you have arrived with safe passage. Let your journey be swift and your ascension be fulfilling." He stepped aside.

Jaxton took the first steps down the stairs. From beneath his mask, his eyes raked over a worried Tesla. But he had no time to offer his apologies or affections as he continued his stride and exchanged the light for darkness.

Tesla… I know what my mother plans for me. But it's you I'm worried for… So, I ask this of you…Father… Protect her from what Mother is preparing for.

°•°•°•°

With the monk retreating with his acolytes to prepare for Jaxton's return, Ping Mei turned to address the audience behind her with those obsidians sparkling and her blood-red smile without any teeth.

"This Venerable One is pleased Young Master Yang has been accepted to journey to the western temple," she announced. "As we wait for Young Master Yang's return from midnight seclusion, please join this Venerable One into the courtyard where we will continue with our processional and let Báihǔ see the worth we possess." She led the charge with the lantern-bearers igniting a path.

Tesla and Kuen She were behind her with robed guards to partition them from the guests, who all looked smug as cats to be offered more access into Te Gōng. Tesla had her hands clasped before her, but she looked over her shoulder in the hopes she could spot Jaxton in the darkness. But the shadows had swallowed him and allowed not even the moon to impede upon such sacred tradition.

Sinnish purred to her. "Worry not, dear Tesla." Ping Me slightly turned her head to show one obsidian gleam. "My son will not disappoint me. And he certainly will not disappoint you."

Tesla lowered her head and nodded. "Yes, Misses Yang," she agreed in Sinnish. Heart-pounding, she tried to take quiet breaths. Something about this doesn't feel right. But I don't want to embarrass Jang-ta. This is his culture and tradition. I need to be respectful and calm. It's not my right to question it… She snatched a look to Ping Mei. …even if I really want to.

The journey to the courtyard was not too far. With stone storage buildings acting as boundaries, the courtyard was spacious in a way that surprised Tesla. No chairs had been provided and the moon's light had been gracious enough to bathe them all. No complaints had been made, however. Excitement was in the air to share a night of the Lunar New Year with such authority of the west with the hopes if they pleased her enough, they would curry better favor. Kuen She stopped Tesla from following Ping Mei as she ventured up the steps to address the crowd.

When the moon touched Tesla, it cooled her with its maternal touch and nudged her eyes to glisten with starlight and kindness.

When the moon touched Ping Mei, it heightened the blood-red of her lips and the blackness of her eyes as though the dark side of the moon had given birth to her.

"This Venerable One humbly extends gratitude on behalf of the Yang Family and all of Te Gōng to this esteemed group of the chosen few," Ping Mei told with that lilting voice that upheld confidence and authority. "This Venerable One expresses joy you have eaten at her table, drunk from the cup offered, and offered good tidings in honor of Báihǔ for the year of the Rabbit. You have shown this Venerable One the definition of virtue."

Her eyes flickered to see the lantern at the western temple had been lit.

Blood-red lips showed teeth. "That you all have none."

SPLAT!

Tesla did not understand what happened, but she had heard something happen. Confused, she looked around before she turned around and just stared. And stared. And stared.

What…?

An older official did not understand the horrified looks that had stung him. Bewilderment hit him when he felt something in his stomach. He looked down to see a large claw had pierced him straight through. Blood fizzled out, with muscle and fat deposits exposed for all to see. He tried to breathe, but he choked, and blood coughed out to spray the ground.

The older official looked up to see the one who had stabbed clean through was another official with a wrong smile on their face and their eyes had mimicked that of a yellow-eyed reptile. Their tongue slithered out, forked.

GONG…!

CRUNCH!

Another official had grown three rows of teeth and had bitten down upon the arm of the person beside them, their eyes having no pupils or iris. No one could speak as they chomped through bone and muscle and blood. No one could move. No one could breathe.

GONG…!

"You, the chosen few," Ping Mei started with her eyes open to this chaos, to this blood, "have been selected to come to my home tonight for one reason."

GONG…!

SPLAT!

Steel-grays rounded when another official looked terrified and wanted to scream when the limbs of a furry spider bubbled out from their flesh, but their tongue was taken away when their face melted, ruined.

GONG…!

Obsidians darkened with contempt. "You are all pigs in human clothing."

GONG…!

Tesla's hands covered her mouth as water festered in her eyes and nausea befitted her when another official was on their knees, vomiting, but their suit ripped as spikes tore from their spine. What is…this…?

GONG…!

"You pigs have eaten my food and consumed my drink," Ping Mei continued. "And like pigs you are, you did not have the intelligence to understand what you consumed."

GONG…!

Actions caught up to them. One official had sullied her dress while she watched as another official's skin tore off, but an exoskeleton grew over flesh as pinchers dove out from his jaw.

GONG…!

"You pigs in human clothing have no virtue," Ping Mei went on. "You were all insubordinate, disloyal dogs who tried to destroy the west from within with your greed. I watched and waited for this day—the day for you to reap the consequences of your Choices before Báihǔ. To cleanse the west of your filth, I have turned you into the gluttonous monsters you have always been."

GONG…!

Roars and howls and squeals broke out as flesh cracked off and bones jutted and broke. Clothes were in tattered ruins as these humans turned into monsters with their scales and fur with teeth sharper than swords as they salivated for the taste of blood on their tongue and flesh in their bellies. They clawed at each other with their hunger so potent and carnal that they did not care about defending themselves. An eight-legged sluggish monster with rows of teeth chewed off the leg of another monster with three monstrous breasts that acted like the heads of Cerberus.

GONG…!

Tesla's knees gave out. She barely held back her bladder as her shoulders violently shook. Her eyes blurred with tears, but those tears did not wet her skin. It was as if they were frozen. Nothing about her could move or react as she watched man turn to monster, and monster turned against monster for a piece of flesh and a drop of blood. What…? I…can't move… I don't understand…

"Have faith, Tesla Greer. My son will not let you die here."

Tesla could not blink when she felt claws graze her shoulder. The demonic atrocity before her would not allow her to.

GONG…!

"Báihǔ came to me when Jang-ta was born," Ping Mei went on as though she spoke about the weather. Her obsidians thrive off such chaos and bloodshed. "But he didn't show himself to me. He showed himself to my son. I happened to be there as his mother. And Jang-ta will break the great Guardian's silence once more." Her clawed nail-guards tightened onto Tesla's shoulder. "Until then, I'm sure you can defend yourself with that charming power of yours, can't you…"

Tesla looked up—

Teary steely-grays clashed with burning obsidians.

"…sweet little One of the Gray…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

GONG…!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

TO BE CONTINUED…

It looks like things have taken a turn for the worst for our heroes. I don't know about you, but I'm hoping Tesla can show this Immortal Yang just what she's made of. Stick around for the next episode of Fairy Adventure to find out!

— • — • — • —

sugu ni aitai noni aenai

kimi ni sotto chikazuite yuku

honto no koto kikutte kowai keredo

tashikame ni yuku yo

•

aitai noni aenai

hibi mo zutto kimi no tame ni waratta no

"arigatou" tte saigo datta tte

kaomisete baby

— • — • — • —

The winds were still tonight. But it made sense. The winds were cowards when it mattered.

The moon had been kind to her as she stood in the shadows with her balance precise atop the tiled roof. No wind meant no updraft or downdraft. Her scent would not hit his nose. She was safe for now. She did not turn her head when another presence joined her. It was a bundle of snarling shadows that calmed into the body of a cloaked man with silky-silver eyes and his mouth and nose covered.

"Huang Chun," she spoke, tone pitched low. "Are you sure? She could cast you back to the Ghost Realm."

Huang Chun nodded.

"You're loyal to him. I'll give you that." Her chin lifted as she looked down below at the courtyard massacre. Even after all this time…she finds new ways to disgust me with her Choices.

"Do you have a pen?"

Solemn darkness.

Her hand dipped into her pocket to retrieve her inkless fountain pen that most would consider useless. Yes. Her hand clenched the pen as her thumb smoothed the rounded end of it. I have a pen.

CLICK-CLICK.

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeung

Tesla Greer / Hylia Lynk – Galena White

Yang Ping Me / Immortal Yang / Venerable One – Ming-Na wen

Yang Kuen She / Untamed One – Marc Diraison

Dante Princeton-O'Neill – Adrian Petriw

Carlisle Justino – Erik Scott Kimerer

Minh Princeton-O'Neill -

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Doctor Orr – Michael Forest

Sycaña – Christen Auten

Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

Kyler – Ray Chase

Mirella – Edie Mirman

Nashi Dragneel (voice only) – Lauran Landa

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh

Icarus – Christopher Sabot

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Muta/ Moon Lily – Jason Douglas

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ HANDS ⟫

BLUE ENCOUNT

Lyrics by

Junichi Tanabe⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG

⟪ Music for Beauty 4: Autumn & Winter ⟫

Wang Jian-Min

Composed by

Wang Jian-Min⌟

•

⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Long-Distance Train ⟫

Aoi Yamazaki

Lyrics by

Aoi Yamazaki⌟

Chibi-Luna pops up with a sunny grin. "Good day, class!"

"Good day, Teacher!" the students chirp. "What's our Fairy Lesson of the day?"

"Today's Fairy Lesson is…"—Chibi-Luna rolls down to show the symbol of yin and yang—"religion!"

The students groan as a dreary aura fills the room.

Chibi-Luna giggles. "We'll talk today about the ritual that Jaxton had to go through," she explains. "That ritual is very common within many spiritual religions, especially with my family, the Heartfilia Clan!" She flips down to show a black-and-white replay of Jaxton's ritualistic cleansing. "Long ago, it was believed that for us to be able to receive the Spirits or have them speak to us, we had to be physically and spiritually clean!"

A hand goes up. "But how does that work?"

"Through a lot of cleaning," Chibi-Luna answers. "Jaxton's ritual is tailored to Báihǔ, but anyone who wanted to go into seclusion and contact the Spirits had to go through a salt bath, oil massages, a waxing, and some Spirits required fasting or the eating and drinking of certain foods."

"But, Teacher," a student interrupts, "what about the Gods?"

"The Gods were actually more demanding than the Spirits," Chibi-Luna says. "To be honest, the Spirits didn't require cleansing from their mortal supports. Spirits might have been fickle, but the Gods were worse."

She frowns. "Their behavior wasn't all that kind, and many of them like to play games with people and weren't the most responsible with their duties and the vows they made. The Spirits were a lot more studious about their positions, and not many thought they should need sacrifices or offerings. But they do think it's respectful." She shrugs. "Each folk religion and other religion come with its own sets of rules and practices but obeying the Spirits and the rituals to summon them went across the board."

She beams. "That's our Fairy Lesson for today! Next time, on Fairy Adventure: I CAN'T LOSE YOU!"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

TRANSLATIONS

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Sinnish → Fioren-Minstrish

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

¿Me hago la tonta o debo responder?

Do I play dumb, or should I answer?

• — • — •

No hagas nada. Fingiremos que no hablas zonguanés, así que tengo que quedarme contigo para traducir.

Don't do anything. We'll pretend you can't speak Zhōnguánese so I have to stay by you to translate.

• — • — •

¿Qué acabas de decir?

What did you just say?

• — • — •

Que eres un músico talentoso, y me has hecho enamorarme locamente de ti.

That you are a talented musician, and you've made me fall madly in love with you.

• — • — •

Maldita sea, lo soy, y maldita sea, lo hice.

Damn right I am, and damn right I did.

• — • — •

¿Qué está diciendo? Cogí algunas palabras, pero...

What's he saying? I caught a few words, but…

• — • — •

Mi madre quiere una audiencia contigo. Mis padres sí, pero mi madre es la que hace que parezca que su honor está en juego.

My mother wants an audience with you. Both of my parents do, but my mother is the one making it seem like her honor is on the line.

• — • — •

Por favor disculpe a mi Elegido. Tiene afinidad por los tesoros exóticos. De tal palo tal astilla. ¿No estás de acuerdo…?

Please excuse my Chosen. He has an affinity for exotic treasures. Like father, like son. Wouldn't you agree…?