Fairy x Adventure

by Magnafeana

In a new era after the Alvarez War, Lucy, Natsu, and the rest of Fairy Tail not only face new challenges but watch as their kids go on new journeys, learn new powers, and battle new enemies and old! Join Luna, Nashi, and the upcoming generation of Mages on Fairy Tail and more on their never-ending adventure!

94. Adventure 094

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.

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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.

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PREVIOUSLY, on Fairy Adventure, we got to go to the party of the year at Te Gōng, but Jaxton's mom was ready to shake things up with some unpleasant surprises in store. Meanwhile, Dante came clean about his family's relation to a goddess that seems sweet and harmless, but something about the statue makes it seem like their goddess isn't done with him quiet yet. Gale was able to face the music and admit he was wronged in the past. Far out! Now, it's time for him to keep talking about. Luna and Ena decided to have some well-needed girl time…until Silver came to crash it. Back in Zhōnguá, just when Tesla is trying to keep her cool, things escalate when the same officials she was dining with turned into bloodthirsty monsters!

"Jang-ta will break the great Guardian's silence once more. Until then, I'm sure you can defend yourself with that charming little power of yours, can't you…sweet little One of the Gray?"

Man, oh man—talk about having a psychotic mother-in-law! And no offense, Silver, but hot werewolves are always going to be objectified no matter how wrong it is!

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Chibi-Nashi appears. "Hi, guys! Ready for some more Fairy Adventure! Author-san wanted to refresh your memory of 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!"

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OSU's library was no joke when it came to their book selection. The shelves had been stocked for research and for pleasure, and more students than you thought had taken advantage of that. Sure, you had those goof-offs making crude jokes in their own corner or people hogging up a conference room for a "project" that derailed or watching Webflix in a study room because their roommate kicked them out. But the library had done its part to induct bunches of graphic novels, comic books, and manga of a variety of language for its student body, and the students were eternally grateful.

Tesla kept to herself at one of the long tables. Today was a good day for her to hammer out her Zhōnguánese essay and read the assigned book for class. She settled in with a good soundtrack playing in her ears with her Compact on ⟪ Do Not Disturb ⟫ and did her best to type without relying on her notes. Halfway done, she took a break to stretch. Damn, I'm tired. My fault for going over to that guy's house last night. She sighed, crossed. It wasn't even like he had stamina. But all his talks about being dominant was bullshit. What a waste of my time and a waste of a good wax.

She grabbed her Compact to see Dante had left her a message and her cousin Diego, though his was from the virtual pool game they were playing. From Dante, it read:

« What time do you want me to come get you from the library? I got off work early and only have my evening class »

She replied:

« How about in an hour? I can do my reading at home, but I want to finish my essay »

« Sure »

« And try not to wander »

Tesla snorted. Like I wander. She cracked her neck. Well, time to take a quick break. With cameras everywhere and the students of good conscious (plus her tag on her PAL), she had no fear about leaving her possessions alone and only took her Compact. I wonder if they got in the new volumes for HQ…

The manga section of the library was more selective than the average bookstore, but it was thanks to dedicated donors and a nerdy alumnus that the library was well-stocked with manga, manhua, and manhwa with various titles, and genres and came with the original language and Minstrish translation. A few students loitered in the section as they picked out some volumes to graze or settled in the comfort accent chairs.

Tesla switched her playlist to her Cipanguese one and bobbed her head as she skimmed the titles. I keep meaning to read 'Chainsaw Man'. She fingered the spine of the first volume, but her eyes caught sight of another magical girl manga. I really want to see 'Rebellion'. Maybe Julia will see it with me if she's not busy. She went to go to the shelf when something caught the corner of her eye. Whoa, hottie alert.

Darker than black hair in a messy curtain style, he looked semi-out-of-place as he hovered near a shell with a manhwa, but she could not understand why. He looked like a typical college student with his denim hoodie jacket and his white and black sneakers, but there was something about him.

I don't think I've ever seen him before, Tesla mused. To be fair, this is a big campus. I'm sure he's here as a college student. I'm just here for CCP full time. She cocked her head as she drank him in from head to toe. He's definitely hot and pretty. Steely-grays dropped to the manhwa. And he's interested in Xianxia stories? Major score. Inwardly, she pouted. Ugh, he probably has a partner. No one as hot as that isn't taken. Just my luck. She sighed and decided to abandon her venture of a new volume to read. Still, he is hot and pretty and has good taste.

Decision made and earbuds off, she casually walked over to him with a friendly yet cautious smile. "Excuse me, ah…?"

His head tilted—

Intense darkness collided with steely-grays.

Holy shit. Internally, Tesla was suffering from a nosebleed, and mini versions of herself were trying to revive her. He's not just hot. He's stupid hot.

His stoic expression did not change as he rumbled, "Can I help you?"

Oh my god, his voice—have mercy. Tesla dipped her head in apology. "Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt, but that's a great manhwa." She shook her head. "This might sound strange, but you look like a total bishōnen, and I couldn't just leave without telling you that."

"'Bishōnen'?" he echoed.

"Yeah, uh…" Tesla searched his face only to give an embarrassed laugh. "I take it you're unsure if I just gave you a compliment or not."

His lips twitched. "A little bit, yeah."

"Compliment. Definitely a compliment," Tesla assured. She gestured to his book. "May I…?" He easily handed it over, and she needed no table of contents to know where to flip. "So… Ah, here we go. This is a bishōnen. Though, it's a Cipanguese term, but you should get the point." She showed him the image of a pale Cultivator in his white hanfu with his guzheng, eyes narrowed and sleek, and hair down to mid-back. "Basically, I'm calling you attractive."

Something in this man's eyes flashed, but it was gone all too quickly. "I see."

"There are some better examples in some other manga here." Tesla handed back to the book to skillfully find a few other series and showed them off. "This is The Host Club which is made for bishie," she explained as she showed him one cover. "This one is of Touken Ranbu with a bunch of bishies who, somehow, are also legendary swords…" She sighed with a smile. "It's a very long story and I'm very sure this conversation is getting very weird."

His chuckle was low and gravelly. "Not at all," he assured. "This is the first time I've been called a bishōnen. Thanks for the compliment."

Ah, my god, and his laugh—step on me…! Tesla's smile broadened as she put back the volumes. "No problem." Once she was finished, she turned back to this man with her hands in her pockets. "Well, I just wanted to give you the compliment. Sorry if it came off weird." She offered a wave. "See you around—"

"Wait."

Curious, Tesla stopped and offered him an expectant look. Is it just me or does he look a little nervous?

"Actually…" He hesitated for several moments. "I've been coming to this section for a while hoping to meet you." He scratched his nape as his eyes lowered to the ground. "Or at least hoping you might notice me."

Somewhere in Tesla's mind, something shattered. Dammit. I knew he was too good to be true.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lesson Time!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Chibi-Tesla appeared in what looked to be an art museum with three portraits waiting to be unveiled. "All right, guys, here's the thing. When you see someone you consider attractive, normally, one of three things happen." She drew up the first curtain to display an animated scene of her being dazzled at this mysterious man. "They have a partner." Now she was crying as she waved a tissue when a fashionable person with a black bar over their eyes clung to her mystery man.

Chibi-Tesla moved to the next curtain and drew it back to show an animation of her and her mystery man. "They end being psycho or crazy." The scene changed to a disturbing one as she ran away while he chased after her with a chainsaw and death in his eyes.

"Or…" Chibi-Tesla drew back the final curtain to show the beginning scene once more of her and her mystery man. "They end being some sort of creep." The scene changed with Tesla cornered with her mystery man looming over here.

Chibi-Tesla raised a finger. "Now, that doesn't mean anyone you consider attractive will be either of the three, but it happens a lot more than you would think." She winked. "Enough of my lessons. Let's get back to the plot."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lesson Ended!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tesla's eyebrow twitched as she chirped with a false happiness, "Oh, did you now?" Ugh, so he's some sort of creep. Great. This is why you don't trust hotness. "Well, that's nice of you." She took a step back. "But I don't like playing those sort of stalker games and consider it 'cute'." Tone kind but firm. "The next time you want to do that, please consider trying that on guys who think that's okay. I don't have time for this."

Without waiting for his response, she turned on her heel with a roll of her eyes and a mental huff. Let this be a lesson to me to take Dante's advice and not talk to every attractive person I see. She threw back in her earbuds as she journeyed back to her seat and texted Dante.

« Actually can you come get me soon? I think I'll finish my stuff at home »

He answered as she shoved her PAL into its protection case:

« Sure. Be there soon »

He totally ruined my good mojo, Tesla grumbled. Books put away, she zipped up her bag and hawked it onto her back. Where do people think stalking is 'cute'? Mama is right. Stupid media romanticizes way too much. She pushed in her chair and went for a speedy getaway. I just want someone to be upfront. Is that so hard to ask for? Stupid creepiness. Stupid stalking.

She flashed a smile and a wave at the library aids who farewelled her before she went out the front exit. Whatever. I dodged a bullet. She took a breath before she scanned the street. Maybe Dante could meet me over at the café down the street. I'm hungry. She wrestled out her Compact and started her walk—

"Wait, excuse me."

Tesla turned up her volume. Ignore him. Dodge the bullet. But she did not have to worry about that when her mystery man blocked her path. Her smile was gone for stern annoyance. "Listen, sweetie." Slow to take off her earbuds, she sized him up and shifted her weight. "No offense to you, but your execution for speaking to people needs work, and I'm happy to give you constructive criticism in around never." Steely-grays hardened. "Move. Or I'll make you move."

"I don't mean to make you uncomfortable—"

"I'm not uncomfortable," Tesla cut in. "I'm offended you thought stalking me then cornering me would make me listen to you."

"You're right," he agreed, truthful. "I shouldn't have done that, and I shouldn't be doing this." He stepped aside. "But I wanted to ask if I could try again without any sort of mind games and apologize to you for offending you." He bowed to her. "I am sorry."

Tesla lifted her chin and weighed her options. Her words came out short. "You said you were hoping I noticed you. Why?"

"Because I'd like to take you on a date." He straightened up with those dark eyes firm and unmoving. "To be honest with you with no tricks, I'd like to take you out to dinner. I want it to be casual, so I'd want for you to wear something casual, but it's obviously your choice on what to wear. And afterwards, I want to take you to see Rebellion if that's a movie you're interested in. From there, I'd ask if I could walk you home and kiss you good night."

Tesla was slow to nod. "I see." With slow steps, she circled him. Two predators, one outcome. She stopped before him and was forced to lift her chin to meet his eyes. "You just want a date. No offense, but if this is just you asking in a roundabout way if you can sleep with me, just ask me. Save yourself the semantics and pleasantries, darling."

His eyes heated, but he murmured in that rumble, "No. I don't want to sleep with you."

"Oh." Tesla raised both eyebrows. "If you're someone who isn't interested in that, that's fine."

"That's not it." He shook his head. "With your permission, I'd like to take you out on three dates before we sleep together."

Tesla's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "So in the end, you just want one thing. I told you, you don't have to dress up asking me to fuck you with dates. I'm not a hard sell, and I don't like wasting my time."

"You misunderstand." He leaned down to make sure she stared him in the eyes. "I want to take you out on three dates so we can get to know each other. I don't want to sleep with you without some semblance of trust built up. And I don't want just a beneficial relationship with you. I want to continue going on dates with you afterwards."

"Promises, promises," Tesla murmured. "That's a lot of talk for a future that isn't close."

"Then am I allowed to talk more?"

Tesla challenged, "Be my guest, Mister Darcy."

His lips came to her ear as he murmured, "I don't plan to sleep with you like the way most do. I want you to choose the room I get to strip you naked. And a room you feel comfortable with so I can take my time having your taste on my lips."

Sweet Jesus, this man is saying all the right things, Tesla wanted to moan. If this is what Hell is like, sign me up! She cleared her throat, face hot. "That all sounds good in theory," she supposed, nonchalant. "But how did you know saying all that wouldn't just creep me out anymore?"

He drew back to search her face. "You didn't want me to play mind games."

"So, you did what I asked then and now I should praise you?" Tesla snorted. "Look, sir, I don't buy into messiness or jokes like this—"

"Look into my eyes."

Tesla snapped her gaze to him in obedience and found herself drawn into such darkness.

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"No." The answer slipped out without her consent, but it was in the air now. She blinked and looked away from him. Damn. Maybe he's one of the good ones. If not, I get to see 'Rebellion', so I still win in the end, right? It's just a date. We'll fuck at the end of the night and call it a day and never see each other again. Everyone wins. She schooled her features with a grin. "Well, with an offer like that, how can someone refuse?" She offered her hand. "I'll just need us to do a bit of background searching."

He shook her hand, but he did not let go. "I have my license if you want to check it, no criminal record, and I'm a Mage of Fairy Tail."

"I have my license on me too and no criminal record. Not even a parking ticket." Tesla cocked her head. "I'm sure your stalking told you as much, but I'm Tesla Greer."

He lifted her hand closer to him and asked, "May I?"

"Kiss my hand?" Mirth entered her eyes. "Sure thing, Mister Darcy." But her breath was stolen when he pressed as a soft kiss on her knuckles. "And are you going to tell me your name or wait for the background check, Mister Darcy?"

"Yang. Jaxton Yang." Darkness lifted to connect with steely-grays. "It's a pleasure finally meeting you face to face, Tesla."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

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!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

GONG…!

RAAAAAAAAAAAW…!

The squeals were things of nightmares.

Their human bodies were torn up as they vomited and buckled into such monstrosities that calling them monsters felt like too delicate a word. They were Demons. Their teeth hankered for blood and their spikes rammed to maim with their extra limbs being chewed into and grossly regenerated. A tentacled fiend that rose above the roofs of the courtyard buildings with eyes marring its body screeched as he gleefully ripped apart a creature made of only spikes like a porcupine. Acidic black blood sprayed down and melted the earth and all that it touched. Like an untamed anime, a half-furred bull creature that looked all sorts of wrong mounted a feathered banshee as he combined fucking her and killing her in one go, even as she shrieked and tried to get away.

Yes, these were not monsters.

These were Demons.

Tesla lost control of her lower body, but she did not have the emotional bandwidth to be embarrassed or mourn over her soiled dress. Her eyes bulged as she unwillingly looked at this sabbath bloodbath mixed with lust and death.

LUB-DUB.

What…? What do I do…?

Another creature that was more teeth than body chewed on the remains of a human leg, but it shocked a stalking monster with horns and its eyes melted as the creature moved with immaculate speed to chomp the horned monster in half.

LUB-DUB.

I… I want to go home.

The half-fur bull creature shuddered as it finished and its teeth descended on the neck of the banshee while she twisted and clawed his eyes out, her jaw broken and one eye ridiculously bleeding.

Ping Mei drifted her claws away and extended a hand to Kuen She to take. Without batting an eye, she had him escort him away. "I wouldn't waste any time if I were you," she loftily called. "Pigs have a tendency to sniff out food quickly—especially when they smell fear." Obsidians glanced back at the paralyzed Tesla, and those blood-red lips tugged into a venomous smile as Kuen She escorted her up the steps.

My son was foolish enough to imprint. Now, he will have no choice but to break Báihǔ's silence. Though, it would be a shame if he could not. Attaining an Anti-Ether wielder would be amusing. Maybe if she survives tonight, I'll make her an offer. That bond to her to that Dull… I'll offer to break it for her.

GORO-GORO!

Obsidians looked up in dark delight as clouds festered with the rumble of thunder. Yes, Báihǔ. Listen to my son's howling if he wishes to save his Chosen. I know you won't ignore him. Blood-red lips showed teeth. Oh, Jang-ta. This would have been avoided if you had picked better Choices.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 094

•

I Can't Lose You

•

一緒にいられたらいいのに。

でも、真実は私があなたを失うことを意味しますか？

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

GORO-GORO!

The moon, disgruntled, was pushed away as storm clouds diseased her skies with their cackles and thunders. Lightning had yet to make its flamboyant appearance, but without the light of the moon as a safety net, glowing eyes and animalistic howls and roars pressured around Tesla.

She could not move.

I… I need to move.

But she could not.

I have to get up. I have to run.

But she could not.

Why can't I move? I could move in Alvarez. Why can't I move?

Her heart might have pounded and her body tremored, but her legs were useless. Steely-grays dazedly drank in this unfathomable anarchy with the want to look away but without the strength to do so.

Mama… Dante… I'm scared. Jang-ta… I want to go home.

The demonic entities continued on with their sex and slaughtered. Where there was room to commit atrocity, there was room for lust. They were creatures who were once pigs in human clothing. They were animals with no self-preservation. Through their greed and gluttony, they turned into monsters who could only sin and never atone.

A salivating beast built like a rhino, but it was built with two head. The first head took up an inconceivable amount of its body with glowing yellows and jagged teeth while the head lived between its broad horns with a solid eyes and poisonous hair. The beast splattered blood and looked ready for a rut or for more blood. Its eyes shifted for its next target—

Hungry yellows clashed with steely-grays.

Tesla's heart stopped. No.

The beast turned its attention on her with its intentions clear as its saliva dribbled onto the pavement and melted it inches deep. It stomped its feet before breaking into an abrupt charge.

No. No, get up. Move. Tesla willed for her body to listen, but she was staring her demise in the eyes. Please. I'm scared. I need to run away. I need to run. Move.

The demonic beast snort with avarice made known its eyes, but it did not stop.

Please just move, Tesla begged herself. Please. I just need to get up. Please. Please! But her body betrayed her with the demonic entity only a few yards away. Her heart slowed as though preparing for an eminent death and her muscles relaxed. Jang-ta… I'm sorry…that you have someone as weak as me…to love… Her gaze reflected as the beast reared its legs, and she knew even in death, what she saw haunted her. Its stomach had a carnivorous mouth, but even in its time of being changed from human to monster, it had kept its nether regions.

Her body had given up.

And her mind was giving up too.

It wouldn't be so bad to die, would it? Would it really be that bad?

GORO-GORO!

PIKA!

Thank you, Jang-ta, Tesla whispered, for loving something like me.

GORO-GORO!

PIKA!

The clouds snarled as white lightning streaked across the sky with a fearsome blaze that blinded all.

Blood-red lips broadened. Yes. He's coming.

DRIP.

A single tear smacked Tesla's cheek.

DROP.

The demonic beast slammed down—

Feet danced across the pavement at lightning speed.

GAAN…!

It took Tesla some time to realize death had not claimed her. The salivated beast ready to defile her and kill her had not only not taken her as its victim, but its body had been shredded down into flesh and meat that steamed and blackened.

What?

A woman stood before Tesla. Black fitted across her body with that wavy brunette down and swinging across her back. A qiang spear was wrapped in her hands like she had grown up with such an ancient weapon.

Blood-red lips pulled down into a deep frown of displeasure.

The woman whipped the spear around her only for one of the four ancient weapons to shrink down into an innocent pen. "Huang Chun," the woman ordered, "get Tesla back to Bái Láng Peak. Take care of her. I can handle things from here."

Tesla did not even realize the silent Huang Chun had crouched near her person to gather her into his arms. The voice tickled her mind, and the owner's name passed through her lips. "Weiwei…"

Weiwei thumbed the end of her fountain pen. "Go." She turned to give Tesla and Huang Chun a solemn look. "This isn't your fight." Turning back around, she clicked her pen for it to expand into a jian (a large double-edged sword that require two hands) and with all the prestige and predation of a tigress, she charged into the calamity.

GORO-GORO!

PIKA!

Tesla felt numb as she was gathered in Huang Chun's arms. His footing was light and eerily silent, like he was a shadow and did not exist. The sounds of utter chaos had muted in her ears. Her body was frozen in time. It was that feeling when you watched a tragedy. Some people had the instincts to take actions, but many had been immune to violent from the media and were dazed, frozen, and unalert for what to do in the presence of it. You watched like you were possessed. You stilled like your body locked down. You could not flee, but you could not fight.

You froze.

PIKA!

White lightning trailed as the clouds amassed and swirled over the western temple.

"They just…turned into monsters." Tesla's whisper sent goosebumps down her body. "What…? What is going on?"

Huang Chun did not answer.

"Hey…" Tesla's teeth chattered. The cold had blighted her. "Tell me… What's going on?"

Huang Chun continued to move.

Worried murmurs tickled her ears. Tesla's glazed eyes flashed over to the servants who were slightly panicked as they gathered together to figure out their next move against whatever devastation would come their way. Those are…innocent people… Right?

GORO-GORO!

PIKA!

Hey… Tesla found her pointer finger twitched, but she could not move her whole hand. We… We have to save them.

Huang Chun continued to move.

Hey… Wait… Tesla could move her middle finger too. We can't leave them. Stop.

Huang Chun throttled himself upwards to scale a rooftop with her in his arms.

I…can't move. Tesla tried to regain sense in her other fingers. But I need to move. I need to save them. Why can't I move? She tried harder, and her pinky twitched. I need to move faster. I have to save them. The glaze in steely-grays thawed. Come on. Move. Move. We can't leave them here to die. We have to save them.

PIKA-PIKA!

The clouds tunneled as their spiral descended to the western temple, sure, but white lightning splattered through the clouds above Tesla and Huang Chun—

CHIRIN-CHIRIN.

• — • — •

The focus skimmed through the hues of gray of the empty ancient streets at lightning speed. No longer did the rabbit need to help and light the way with scarlet lanterns. It traveled back to the ladder street and hopped up the steps to charge for its destination.

CHIRIN…

"You of the Gray."

The focus skidded before the colorful shop with such a mysterious monk and his rice hat as the shopkeeper with the mark clear as day on his rice hat. "In times of death, I will give life." His hat shifted. "Go with virtue." He lifted his head—

Vibrant yellow-ambers.

• — • — •

Huang Chun could not control Tesla when she thrashed and accidentally hit his jaw. He did not drop her, but he was gentle with her to put her back on her feet. Those steely-grays that had been glossy and death-touched were back with resolution and anger.

"We can't leave," Tesla stressed. "I don't know what's going on, but I saw all those monster things. If even one of them gets out, people could die. Innocent people." In her punctuation, she yanked off her heels and threw them to the side. Steely-grays burned into silky-silvers. "I'm staying. This is my fight." Her hands tensed as she willed her Anti-Ether. Energy of swirling hues of gray cloaked her and darkened until her black bodysuit turned into a reality. Her saber summoned to her hand and she charged it with a beam of Anti-Ether with challenge clear in her eyes. "Are you going to stop me?"

Huang Chun amounted her with a look. Then, his body turned back to the fray without a word.

"Good." Tesla flexed her jaw as she looked into the courtyard overrun with entities that deserved to be thrown back in Hell. Even if someone saves me, who will save everyone else? Weiwei said this wasn't my fight. She snuck a look at the storm that brewed above the western temple. But this is Jang-ta's home. If he were here, he would fight. Her stare steeled. And so will I.

Without ceremony, she bounded towards the warzone with the storm as her soundtrack and Huang Chun keeping pace like a loyal subordinate. I'm sorry, Jang-ta. For a moment, I was fine with dying. I gave up. But I'm not living this life just to die like that. I'm not living this life because of someone else.

GORO-GORO!

Tesla got to the last roof until she was a leap away from the courtyard. Saber at the ready, she took the plunge and steeled herself against these creatures—these Demons—who had no purpose except for sin and despair.

And this life—

PIKA!

White lightning shattered the sky to haze her features in such an ethereal glow and showed the gleam in her eyes. Her saber poised in the air as she honed her target.

—is mine to control!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAW…!

The blade cut straight through a spider-like creature with a yawning mouth and triple tongues. The monster imploded with its poisonous blood splattering, but Tesla's body and suit steamed, unaffected. With a screech, she set off for her next target with eyes that cut through the night. When a monster had tried to blindside her, a scimitar had cut straight through the heart of another demonic beast. She looked to see the scimitar had returned to Huang Chun, who nodded at her, and both took off for their next prey.

Weiwei finished off another demonic beast to catch the sight of Tesla killing whatever had dared tried to kill her first. I suppose this is your fight. She struck her jian through one of the breasted heads that had gunned for her mid-section. In the midst of it, her eyes narrowed as she caught sight of her mother looking like she was draped in clouds dyed from blood. But she saw her mother's interest was elsewhere and glanced to see the heralding storm over the western temple. The fight could not wait for her thoughts, and she pushed herself through.

We can't leave until Mother's creations are dead. We can't let them escape. But we need to keep her attention on us. If Báihǔ does break his silence, she'll do everything we can to keep Jang-ta here, even if he hates her.

Weiwei glared at her mother before her eyes slid to her watchful father. Ba… If anyone can stop her from this path—black blood hit her chin, but she flicked it off—it's you.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

GORO-GORO!

PIKA-PIKA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

GA!

Jaxton banged on the doors, but they could not break. Candles had been lit for him, but he did not need that much lighting to see in the dark. He did not care if he showed disrespect right now. Traditionally, he should have given as many kowtows as he had years to his life before he started his spiritual journey to summon Báihǔ, but he paced with growling agitation and banged the locked doors that would not budge.

Without any mirrors in here, I can't leave. His growl vibrated in his chest as he paced the door like an animal severely wronged for being in such a cage. Ba was right. The instinct makes me want to change, but I know I can't.

Dull steely-grays.

Jaxton banged his fists on the door with a snarl. I should be out there. I know Mother made her move, but I don't know what. Darkness shimmered. And it's my fault for Tesla getting caught up in my fight. Gary was right. I shouldn't have brought her here. His hands fell from the door. I…failed as a Chosen.

"I'm not the best back-up, but it feels like you're going into battle, and you'll need back-up." Honesty steely-grays. "I've got your back in tis. I didn't come all this way just to hide, right?"

You shouldn't have come at all. Jaxton rested his forehead against the door. I was arrogant to think I could protect you from my mother. I just…couldn't stand lying to you anymore. I just wanted you to love me…for me.

"You won't lose me." The wisps of a precious memory. "You have me—heart, body, and soul, Jang-ta, just like I have you. Nothing will change that."

"I love you, but I love you enough to be patient. And I am ready and willing to wait for you to be ready and willing."

Jaxton closed his eyes and filtered out a deep exhale. His hand came up to remove his eye mask and let it drop to the floor. I can't question her love for me right now. She's strong and she means what she says. And if she's willing to love me and trust me and be patient with me, she deserves that same respect.

Yellow-ambers flashed over to the altar of Báihǔ.

Jaxton stood before the altar, but he did not kowtow. He had no need for such needless pleasantries, even if it broke ceremony. "I was arrogant and impatient," he murmured. "I was blinded and jaded." Those yellow-ambers fell upon the wolf pup fangs at the offering table before they narrowed. "But I understand it now."

The monk's words haunted him. "You will not need to detach to ascend, Son of Báihǔ. Peace. Your Chosen will not be lost."

Jaxton's hands went to fists before he relaxed them. For a long time, I kept quiet and ignored you because of Mother's intentions. But if you can promise me that I'll continue to hang on to everything I've built and loved and you'll give me the strength to combat Mother at her own game—he dropped to his knees with his knuckles pressed together in meditation—then I'll receive you now, Great Guardian of the West… Please forgive this lowly believer and accept him…

He closed his eyes. "…Báihǔ..."

A tiger's growl blew out the candlelight in one breath. But the growl thundered into a snarl and the statute's eyes gleamed yellow-amber in the darkness.

RAAAAAAAAAAW…!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

GORO-GORO!

PIKA-PIKA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Faster.

Tesla wrestled her chains to bind a worm-like creature with multiple mouths across its body and sliced its head with her blades.

Faster.

Weiwei slung her qiang spear as she tore through the throat of a monster with the body of a horse, but the head and tail of a serpent.

Faster.

Huang Chun commanded his scimitar to gauge out eyes and abduct hearts while those silky-silvers summoned equally silky-silver butterflies who swarmed and feasted on black blood.

We have to move faster.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

GORO-GORO!

PIKA-PIKA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kuen She watched the battle, but the tension in his shoulders was apparent. Yet he dared not make a move. His eyes flashed, however, when clawed nail guards skimmed his jaw.

"Do you wish to help them, beloved?"

Kuen She said not a word and kept watch. His knuckles turned white when a massive reptile monster with spikes larger than life and four eyes scraped Tesla's side. She got it good in the nose and ripped at its muzzle, but she covered her wounded side as it steamed. "She's not ready." Words clipped and biting.

"She's doing quite well from where I'm standing," Ping Mei replied with her eyes on the storm the western temple summoned. A low growl made her blood-red lips smile. "I'm surprised you wish to defend her. I doubt you'd do the same for me, beloved."

Kuen She's muscle coiled when Tesla was knocked over. She spun herself out with her trusty Anti-Ether sabre but battling amongst several monstrosities as once was not the same as human opponents who had the honor to wait their turn for an attack. "You've gotten your wish. Are you not satisfied yet?"

Her clawed nail guards left him and she gave him her back. "No. I'm far from satisfied." She walked up the steps. "Do as you wish, beloved." She paused. "But remember." Obsidians swirled. "Your loyalty is with me."

Kuen She curled his lips to flash her teeth, but she carried on. Yes. I'm well aware of your hold over me, Ping Mei. Yellow-ambers drove back to see Huan Chun had seen Tesla was now a primary target. His silver butterflies swarmed and his scimitar raided, but Tesla was now being shoved around. Her eyes burned hatred and pain when one ambitious monsters had sunk its teeth on her shoulder, but she violently stabbed it in the forehead.

Unlike you, I do not throw those who are not ready into a war. He stepped down as his hands twitched and his nails lengthened. And unlike you…I want our son to have his own Choices.

GORO-GORO!

His teeth shifted into sharp points. And I will give him the time he needs to make them. His muscles bunched and he took the plunge—

PIKA-PIKA!

And as white lightning bleated in the sky in a flash, the shadow of man was gone for something far bigger and clawed.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

GORO-GORO!

PIKA-PIKA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tesla shook off the dizziness when she was battered to the ground. Her saber stabbed the stomach of the beast and she dragged it down. Black blood oozed out, but her suit could take it even if her nose hated the smile. Teeth had come for her arm and dragged her, but she bucked and kicked as hard as she could. Huan Chun's scimitar had played the part of savor as it cut up the face of the monster and forced it to let her go. She could glance at the large gashes, but steam crawled off her flesh.

I can't give up. Innocent people are in danger.

She stumbled back when a creature bowled her over and half-heartedly stabbed up through his chin and skull before cutting off its head. Liquid metal invaded her mouth and as her eyes shifted, the movements streaked and doubled, like she was watching everything outside her body and with a different time perception.

What…? What's happening with me?

She screamed when something got a hold of her. She knew she fell to the ground and landed on her jaw wrong to the point tears populated. It was dislocated. But numbness filled after a body-electrifying pain shot her. Her blurred vision looked down.

Her right foot was gone.

The bone and muscle had been chewed off. Her body coped, steaming, and tried to stop the bleeding, and Huan Chun's butterflies flashed forward to feast on the monster.

My… My foot's gone…

Weiwei appeared to defend her. Her gun staff was stabbed into the ground and a shield bloomed around them. The monsters clawed for entry with the sweet smell of blood on their noses and their mouth salivating at weak prey to feast off. Alarm and pain filled Weiwei's eyes when she saw a paralyzed Tesla on the ground with her ankle a bloodied mess. Oh, no. She knelt beside Tesla and checked her eyes.

"Tesla, you need to stay awake," she instructed. "We need to stop the bleeding and get you out of here—"

"My foot's gone."

"I know." Weiwei tore off part of her top with practiced hands. She can't stay here. Those things smell her blood and they'll go into a feeding frenzy. But if I leave, those things will turn their sights on the rest of the palace. And Mother would let them to prove a point. Carefully, she bandaged Tesla's ankle.

"My foot's gone," Tesla whispered as her eyes glazed. "Where's my foot?"

"I don't know, sweetie, but you're going to get out of here," Weiwei soothed. Her eyes hardened as she watched the demonic being shove at the shield her staff projected. Without my powers, I'm useless. Huang Chun can't hold them off alone, and he needs to leave before Mother is done playing and sends him back to the Ghost Realm.

PIKA-PIKA!

She looked up as lightning flashed. And Jang-ta is still in there for midnight seclusion. I can't leave him without basically sacrificing him to Mother. And Elijah can't stay here. She locked her jaw. We're stuck.

GAO…!

Her head whipped around to see one of the monsters desperate to break the shield had its neck in the powerful jaws of another beast with fur dark as night. The jaws clamped down. The monster's head was decapitated, but the beast did not stop. It tore into the side of an equine demon without so much as a thought and shredded its insides until it could no longer breathe in this life.

Yellow-ambers clashed with darkness.

PIKA-PIKA!

We have some time. Weiwei looked back at Tesla, but something was off. Her eyes had glossed over as she stared at nothing. Her hands twitched, but her body looked stiff as a board. Mouth closed and quivering, she could pass as a corpse in rigor mortis. Worry filled Weiwei as she whispered, "Tesla?"

Tesla did not answer.

"Tesla?" Weiwei tried again, but she refrained from touching her. "Tesla, can you hear me?"

Tesla opened her mouth, but an odd rasping sound came out.

"She's having a seizure."

Weiwei was on immediate alert and covered Tesla's body with her own when a strange man had bypassed the shield to hover. Nothing about him was normal. His rose-red hair was long, but half his face looked human and lifeless while the other half looked like he was the child of Death. Dressed for a funeral, one of his hands was badly bandaged into the sleeve of his button-down. But those auburn-opal eyes focused on Tesla.

"Who are you?" Weiwei snarled.

"I'm her victim." The strange man knelt down. Weiwei did not attack him, and he did not show fear that she would. "I could feel her using too much power all at once. She's the one who will kill me. I can't let her die until she kills me." His bandage hand aimed for Tesla.

Weiwei bared her teeth as she shielded Tesla. "What are you—?"

"Her atypical absence seizure would slow down her healing." He lowered his hand. "I put her to sleep. She must heal. She can't die." Auburn-opal burned. "Not without her killing me first."

Weiwei glanced down to see the dazed Tesla had her eyes close and her chest heaved in deep breaths. Without her actively using her powers, her red qipao had returned in shambles. I don't sense typical Magic from her or him. But I can sense a Spirit Thread. Her eyes darkened. Is he from the Ghost Realm? And he bound himself to her?

GORO-GORO!

PIKA-PIKA!

Weiwei shook off the thought as she scooped Tesla into her arms and shouted over the noise, "Huang Chun!"

Huang Chun flashed forward in a mass of tumultuous shadows before he was back in a human body. Silky-silvers darkened when he took in Tesla and her steaming ankle. Without a word, he prepared himself to take her.

"She killed more than I thought she could," Weiwei praised as she transferred Tesla's weight in Huang Chun's arms. "Take her back. I'll get there soon." She looked up at the storm. Jang-ta, you're time is running out.

"I'm coming too."

"No," Weiwei refused, glowering at the strange man. "We don't know who or what you are."

"But you know I'm bound myself to her," the man casually reminded. "I can't kill her. But I can't let her die." Auburn-opal swung to Huang Chun for a long moment.

Huang Chun looked at Weiwei and nodded.

Weiwei growled. "Then leave quickly. I can give you five seconds, but you'll both have to move quick." She went to grip her gun staff. "Are you ready?"

Both men nodded.

Let's hope this has enough spiritual power for it. The second Weiwei picked up her staff, the shield dropped. But before the monsters could stampede, she spun her staff around. Wave upon wave of energy circled around her and pushed back the monsters from their prey. She shouted, "Go! Now!"

The strange man disappeared into the wind as ashes while Huang Chun's silver butterflies flocked him, and he and Tesla were gone.

Once it was clear, Weiwei whipped her gun staff back into her qiang spear. With the grace and precision she had not forgotten, she showed these demonic atrocities what a true killer looked like. For each monster she did not get, she never worried when the shadowed beast took it down on her behalf with teeth stained of blood and gleaming eyes forced on everything at the same time.

It's been a long time since I've had to fight like this. Weiwei spat as she took down another creature. Once I could no longer Cultivate and was banished, there was no need for me to train. But Jang-ta stole this pen and gave it to me, telling me I'd need it to defend myself. She stabbed through a large skull. What sort of older sister am I if my little brother is the one protecting me?

GORO-GORO!

PIKA-PIKA!

I might not be the prodigy—she gained back her gun staff as pure energy poured into her eyes—but I can still fight. Her grunt turned into a shout as she reached down into the depths of her body and yanked free the limited energy she had kept inside. It was like the physical feeling of opening up a shaken can. The contents sprayed out with no regard for direction, volume, pressure, or control.

Weiwei threw back her head as her body burned when that bottlenecked energy scattered. She could feel the blights on her cut and blotch her skin, but it did not matter. The energy that rushed out speared the demonic monstrosities and had them squealing and shrieking into their final breaths until they were nothing more than steaming flesh and pools of blood.

SPLAT!

A bone-deep exhaustion weighed down on Weiwei as she staggered to a knee with blood cornering her lips. Violet splotches shown through the tears in her clothes and her vision blurred as she coughed, but she had done it. Those men-turned-monsters were dead.

GORO-GORO!

PIKA-PIKA!

ZAAAAAA-ZAAAAAAAA…

Rain was dramatic. It chose when to come and chose when to stop. It whisked down to earth as though mother Nature was desperate to wash away the vile blood that stained her earth and sweep this mess under the rug. Thunder rumbled, displeased, but it could not nothing to stop this.

Weiwei panted, off-kilter. It'll take me another century to collect that much energy again. She coughed blood. But it was my only choice. Now, I'm useless.

WHINE.

Weiwei felt a snout push against her and an aggressive tongue lap the blood off her mouth as though trying to clean her. Her hand slipped from her gun staff (which turned back to a fountain pen) and she collapsed into a heap on the ground. Paws stepped around her as that snout sniffed her all over until it disappeared.

"Weiwei."

She sputtered out more blood and wheezed. "D-Don't worry… Ba… I'm fine." Against her wishes, her father carried her off the ground and curled her into his chest. "You need…to stop her…" Shallow breaths.

Kuen She stood in his shadowed hanfu regalia with his eyes on his daughter. "You know it isn't as easy as that," he rumbled. His eyes focused on the western temple. The storm had stopped over it and the light had been blown out from the lantern. But he could see the door had been opened. It has never been easy. And it will get much harder before it gets easy. He crossed through the blood and torn flesh—

Blood-red lips curled. "Running away so soon, beloved?"

Kuen She paused. His body pivoted—

Yellow-ambers clashed with obsidians.

"Even now, my own son and husband run away from me." Ping Mei stayed where she was, but she lifted her chin, unbothered at such needless bloodshed. "Have you no sympathy to comfort your wife over our son's distance from me?"

"You don't require any sympathy." Kuen She held his eyes and kept his features impassive. "You would need a heart for me to feel sympathy towards your foolishness."

Ping Mei drifted down the steps with those obsidians burning. "Oh, beloved, you've had my heart since the moment we met." Words soft and floating, but they were the poison you would never suspect from such a shiny apple.

"You should stop this now, Ping Mei," Kuen She rumbled. "You won't get the results you want."

"But I will." She let her cape drag through the blood and had nary a worry about getting herself dirty. "I know Báihǔ spoke to him. He has not walked the earth, but he spoke to our son. That can only mean I must continue on this path until Báihǔ touches the earth once again." She stood with only a yard between them, her head held high. "Do you really think your mere words would hinder my plans?"

"Once, they did."

"Perhaps. But I have not come so far just for my desires to be so easily swayed." Ping Mei took another step forward, but those obsidians looked down at a barely conscious Weiwei in contempt. "Even now, Báihǔ spares her with good fortune. If only he had showed himself to me when she was born. Perhaps I might love her." Obsidians flicked back to Kuen She. "Go, if that's your wish." She strode past him. "But your dear wife will enter seclusion for convalescence. I suggest you make your return swiftly. I'm not that forgiving towards a husband who chooses the wrong side."

Kuen She gritted his teeth. "How could I have ever loved you?"

Ping Mei gave pause.

"Not the death of my brothers—not the birth of our children—not even a war could bring you to love me like I had loved you," Kuen She lowly growled.

"Oh, beloved, you have no idea." Her clawed nail-guards lifted. "For all our time together, I have thought of little else outside my love for you. But you still seek to rob me of my goals." With a flick of her hand, she caught a raindrop with the tips of those claws. "I change my mind. Take your time coming back to our bedchamber. Comfort your useless daughter. Speak to our stubborn son." She flicked away the rain and continued her stride. "You'll have my undivided attention when you return as a reminder of the love I have for you, my amusing beloved."

Kuen She watched as she could walk away from the massacre she had initiated without batting an eye.

Weiwei coughed. "Ba…"

"It's okay, Weiwei." Kuen She turned away. "She is nothing more than a lost cause."

---

The campus tonight was slim on students. Spring reading days had most students using this time to get off campus for a quick trip or heading home for free food and no charge to do laundry. Campus security still patrolled about, however. While Alexandria had never been propped as a party school, that did not mean wild parties never broke out. After all, most who lodged in the dorms did have magical abilities. It was natural they would want to exercise them whenever they could.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Magnus Hall Dormitory

Alexandria College of STEMM

Minstrel, Ishgar

11:00 PM CMT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

With Marek on a trip with friends, Peter had their room to himself, which proved to be good and bad. On a good note, he had privacy, but on a bad note, he had too much of it. Still, he could not complain now. He yawned as he finished up typing his essay not due for another week. Better to finish it now than to wait until last minute. But when he yawned again, he pushed back from his desk.

Maybe it's time for me to take a break. Peter laid back in his chair. I wasn't able to learn anything about the Van Helmont family. I kept going back to speak to them, but none of them wanted to speak about Jean. I'm not a step closer to figuring out what happened to my parents.

Stretching himself out, he got up from his chair, grabbed his wallet and keys, and shuffled on some slides before he left his room. He could hear a dorm party down the hall, but he went out of his way to avoid it. Honestly, who am I to investigate their deaths? Would it really change anything for me?

The vending machines were right up ahead, but it looked like a few students were lingering by them in their pajamas, laughing to each other. He hung back for his turn.

Maybe it's for the best I don't look into this any further, he decided. It's not like I can speak to my birth family even if something came up. He yawned behind a fist. I think I've done enough work tonight, anyway. I better get to bed. His stare drifted to the loitering gaggle of students who clearly were finished with their time at the vending machine, but they were too embedded in their conversation to move. Their language was foreign to him, but he moved to pardon them. "Excuse me—"

He stopped.

It looked like their conversation was on a photo strip. One of the students had showed the back where a note had been written in sharpie that had the others fawning over it.

A message…on the back of a photo? Golds widened. That's it.

He abandoned his venture to hurry back to his dorm. I might not be able to figure out the recipe encryption left for me…but maybe… He shut himself back in is room and stormed over to his closet. He yanked out the photo album, but hesitation held him back. What if this is just an empty lead? What if…there's nothing on the pictures? With a deep breath, he opened the album. I'll just check. If there's nothing, I'll give up trying to figure things out.

He took out the first picture of his parents, but he staved off from flipping it. Don't get your hopes up. This could mean absolutely nothing. With that in mind, he flipped over the photo.

But he saw made little sense.

A small arch had been drawn in the lower right corner, but that was it. What…?

He settled down the ground to place the picture on the ground, backside up. Curiosity made him flip the page and take another picture, but it confused whim when he saw lines and curves drawn on the back with no rhyme or reason. What is this? He set down the photo backside up and tilted his head, puzzled. This doesn't make any sense. He pulled the two photos together, but nothing worked. The arch on here doesn't even match all the drawings on here—

It clicked.

He was quick to take out another picture to see symbols had been drawn on the back. It's like a puzzle, he realized. All of this must line up like a puzzle. He went for the next picture, but hesitation got to him. He witnessed his parents as happy as could be with his mother having a baby bump. But another couple was with them—a dashing gentleman with a colorful parrot on his shoulder and his partner, a brilliant woman with dark hair in ringlets and silver eyes. Hey… These two kind of look like…

Warm silvers…

"Dazzler," Peter breathed. Right. She said her parents were friends of mine. His brow furrowed as he flipped over the picture to see more drawings. Her mom died in a fire too just like Jean and Alex… But I wonder…

"Back then, a serial arsonist was setting fire to powerful Wizards who came from strong bloodlines."

Peter took a good look of the pictures he had detained and the mystery of their drawings. Did their deaths have anything to do with this?

---

The forest was in black and white.

The focus looked left and right, but the trees and bushes all looked the same with gray moonlight peeking through cracks of the canopy that felt like it was miles away. Everything looked the same, and yet, nothing looked the same. It was easy to be lost here. You could blink and be somewhere else.

Glowing eyes.

A white stag great in size and in its antlers stood before him in its ethereal beauty. Dripping gemstones of gold and emerald and ruby and sapphire clung to such pure antlers. In respect, it bowed to the focus.

The focus bowed back.

The stag turned and started in a steady walk. With no choice, the focus followed, but their footsteps did not sound like a human's footsteps. Black claws as polished as obsidian grazed the earth. The leaves rattled with each step the focus took, but the focus did not care. It followed the stag and matched its pace.

The stag stopped and stepped aside for the focus to get to the ledge of a high cliff. Claws gripped the earth as the focus looked upon this vast forest that had once been full of color and life. A mountain rage enclosed the center, but it was strange. Low-hanging clouds prevented the masses from seeing what was inside. It looked like the clouds were swirling in a lazy hurricane almost.

DING-A-LING.

The clouds were banished, and the focus could see what was truly in sight. The tree that centered itself in those mountain ranges could arguably be told by philosophers as the tree of life. Emboldened with rich leaves and stone formations, it was the light in the darkness, the beacon of beginnings and the friend to endings. It was the home to all who welcomed and embraced life.

The focus looked down to see those of Anti-Life had sowed dark roots into the earth with their evil prowess and chaos. Monsters slogged and slaved under their Tamer without any clue of their own actions, just subservient to the core. They huffed and puffed and blasted at the mountain range, but their attacks did nothing. Alone, they were useless against the power the tree offered.

Without ceremony, the focus was dragged under.

The darkness wrestled with him until he could only see and blurs and hear in muffles, but nothing made sense. Afraid. He was afraid like a hatchling who knew something was wrong outside the comfort of his egg. A mother's love caressed him. His mother had come to try and defend him. She would show all who dared to touch her offspring a mother's love. But no matter how hard she put up of a fight, tooth and claw, she was no match against man and their modern machines.

Pain.

He felt…pain.

The screaming horrified him because it took him a moment to realize he was screaming. His skin itched and painfully shed as his bones cracked. His teeth felt crowded and his gum bled as his body prepared unsuccessfully for rebirth. He was being born again. The agony of losing his skin as his stomach bottomed out and he lost control of his bladder. His skin cooled with an armor that rivaled the hardest gemstone as it thickened and imprisoned him. He was simultaneously killing one version of himself and molting into another form. He threw back his head when he felt more pain jerk him from the outside and a body that was his but did not feel like his thrashed under the breaking restraints—

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW…!

Vivid gold eyes.

• — • — •

Gale sat up, sweaty and tense. Even with his bedroom encompassed in darkness, he felt like he had been blinded and no matter how much blinking he had done would make the glare go away. He seldom wore a shirt to bed, but his comforter and sheets had been causalities in his war with his subconscious with his sheets scuffed up and his comforter shredded. His gums ached and his skin felt like he had gotten a sunburn on top of freshly waxed skin.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Redfox Household

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

10:20 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale pushed back his hair as he looked at the destruction he had caused. What the Hell was that? Aching, he forced himself out of bed and stepped over the remains of his comforter to head to the bathroom. After quickly doing his business, he washed his hands, but he saw how his eyes resembled a raccoon and the haggard look of someone who went toe to toe with Death. As he toweled off his hands, he tried to gather himself.

That dream… It felt a little too real. He threw the towel in his laundry basket and abandoned the bathroom. Was I dreaming about what happened in the Boundary Forest? About that forest spirit? He grimaced when he truly saw the damage to his bedding. Shit. I better get rid of this so Mom doesn't have a heart attack in the morning. He ripped off his sheets and piled the remains of his comforter into them before swelling them into his arms.

Thank goodness his father taught him how to travel light-footed. He exited his bedroom in silence, but it surprised him when he heard a heartbeat and steady breaking. From the top of the steps, he saw that the kitchen light was on. Who's awake?

It was a surprise to him when he got downstairs and he saw Panther Lily sitting at the island in his Battle Mode Shift with his tail flicking as he helped himself to a brew. "Uncle Lily?"

Panther Lily looked up, burgundies quietly puzzled. "Gale. You're up?"

"Yeah." Gale jerked his head to his torn bedding. "Had a rough night." He decided to scope the kitchen for trash bags. "Drinking this late at night? I never thought you were like my Old Man."

Panther Lily chuckled. "We can all use a drink now in then. I don't like to overindulge, but tonight seemed appropriate."

Gale found a trash bag and stuffed his bedding inside. "Mind if I join you? I might need a drink if I want to knock myself out and get back to sleep."

"By all means."

"Thanks." Gale finished stuffing in his murdered beddings and tied the trash bag, leaving it right by the door that lead to the mudroom. He decided to help himself to one of the imported beers his father had bought and sat beside Panther Lily at the island.

Panther Lily waited until after Gale's first swig to speak. "Anything you want to talk about with your dream?"

"Nah." Gale wiped his chin with his arm. "Not until I make sense of it. I'm pretty sure it has to deal with what happened in the Boundary Forest, but…" He shrugged. "Whatever." He tipped his beer in his uncle's direction. "What has you up this late drinking alone? Gotta say, Uncle Lily, it's a little depressing."

Panther Lily snickered before he sighed. "I suppose it is a little depressing to drink alone," he mused. He nursed his drink for a few sips. "But it felt right to do so. Nothing like a drink to help dull the memories of the past."

Gale swirled around his beer. "I know that you used to be the traitor of Extalia or whatever that whole mess was," he murmured, "but you never really told us what your life was like before that huge 'betrayal'."

"Not much for an old panther like me to tell," Panther Lily told.

Gale nudged his uncle with a grin. "Try me."

Panther Lily snorted, but he obliged. "Before my betrayal, I was a captain—"

"No, no, I've heard about that," Gale cut in. "I mean, you know, what it was like for you when you were a kitten." He made a face. "Hatchling? I'm not all too sure if I'm using the right terms with Exceeds…"

"'Kitten' is the correct term," Panther Lily said. Those burgundies swirled with a doomed love for ancient memories. "What was it like when I was a kitten? That takes me back." Both sipped their respective drinks. "Do you know how old I am?"

"I dunno." Gale looked him up and down. "Sixty?"

Panther Lily grinned. "I'm older than that," he chortled. "Exceeds perceive time at a different rate than humans. Seven years for a human is a blink of an eye of us." He sighed. "Extalia was never just placed in Edolas. We weren't a country. We were a planet."

"Holy shit." Gale's eyebrows rose as he brought his beer to his lips. "You guys are aliens? I mean… You are an alien, but…" He waved a hand. "Keep going."

Panther Lily simpered. "Not all of us were. But once, yes, we were, and then…" Burgundies dimmed. "Well, that sort of tale is for another time with a heavier drink," he decided. "My kittenhood was not usual. Tell me. Do you know why black cats are rejected?"

"Easy. It's that shit theory they're bad luck," Gale recited.

Panther Lily nodded. "Before we changed our thinking, having a kitten with only black fur was considered unlucky. Parents had to wait until their kitten was born to see their fur since most of the time, eggs were multi-colored."

"But…" Gale's brow furrowed as he gestured to his face. "You have white fur right here…"

"From age." Panther Lily sipped his drink. "I was born with all black fur."

"Oh." Gale hunched over. "I get it now." He chanced at a look at his uncle. "Did your parents…?"

Panther Lily hummed. "When I hatched, my parents were devastated. My mother had tuxedo fur and my father was orange and black. I'm assuming they hoped I would inherit one of their fur colors, but I was born with black fur. At first, they kept me in secret. Black-furred kittens were normally abandoned, but I believe my parents had issues with having an egg." Burgundies darkened. "They tried to die parts of my fur, but it wouldn't stick. And eventually… Yes, they abandoned me."

Panther Lily, back in the past, and Gale, somber, took a swallow of their drinks.

"Life there was different than how the Exceeds are today," Panther Lily continued. "Exceeds today have little power, but in older times, we were filled to the brim of it. We could shift into our nine Lives and survive anywhere."

Gale blinked. "Is that where people get the saying 'cats have nine lives'?"

"Something like that." Amusement danced in Panther Lily's eyes. "Some parts of our planet believed in existing in only one Life while others were free to shift as they pleased. To survive, I had to shift. It might not have been easy, but I did it and learned much from my experience on my own. And then…"

Kind yellows. Orange and black.

Soft grays. White like the moon.

"I met an old warrior and his ward." Panther Lily kept his drink on the counter. "Both of which are the fiercest warriors to have lived, in my eyes. I hadn't meant to meet them. I had been trying to find unclaimed territory and ended up in the Wilds."

"'The Wilds'?"

"Yes." Burgundies gleamed. "The Wilds were untamed lands in which no Exceed could naturally survive. It was a place where exiles were cast. I had wandered too far and ended up there. I couldn't get out. Once The Wilds take you, you can't leave except death. But as I searched for a way out, I found them…living there." He shook his head. "I had watched them. They had skills I'd never seen on any Exceed. Their shifting was fluid and the hunted like an Untamed."

"'Untamed'?"

"Exceeds who chose to live in their Beast Life," Panther Lily explained, though it further confused Gale. "Did you ever wonder why I was named 'Panther Lily'?"

Rubies rounded. "You're shitting me…"

"No." Panther Lily chuckled quietly. "While panthers don't exist here, they were rare in my home. Most with black fur still had spots. I had none. But back then, I didn't have a name. I couldn't remember what my parents called me—or if they even named me at all." A long breath. "But I watched these two who lived and thrived in The Wilds like I had never seen. I figured my best chance of survival was to mimic them, so I watched and learned. I learned how to feel vibrations under my paws and how to scent a stale trail into a fresh one. I learned how to find water and where to rest. But…I wasn't alone for long."

Sharp yellows and sharp teeth. "Who are you?"

"They found you?" Gale presumed. "How'd that go? I mean, you're obviously alive, but y'know…"

Panther Lily smiled for Gale and for himself. "It didn't go well. The Wilds abide by the rules of any Untamed. It's instinct for younger, weaker males to be killed on the spot if they invade territory of another male. They had the right to kill me…but they obviously didn't."

"Let him go." Guarded grays and prestige. "He looks to be alone and just a cub. There's no honor in killing a cub."

"I had explained to them of my abandonment and my survival." Panther Lily laughed to himself. "The one who would become my mentor believed me. He was far older than me and understood the discrimination about black-furred Exceeds. But his ward…" He grinned. "She didn't trust me. She was more inclined to kill me than let me live."

Gale studied Panther Lily's grin. "And…I'm guessing she had a change of heart?"

"With time." Another gulp. "It was obvious she was younger than me and smaller, but she had never come from the cities. She had been hatched in The Wilds and knew very little of the nuances of the cities. She had skills and strength I lacked and certainly kept me on my toes. If I wanted to live with them, I had to prove my worth. I couldn't sleep in their den until I could successfully hunt. My mentor wouldn't let me join them on their larger kills." He chuckled. "At one point, he tormented me and he forced me to consistently shift through all nine of my Lives until I could do it twice without thinking."

"Harsh," Gale breathed.

But Panther Lily shook his head. "Among any who have Lives or a Beast Spirit, it's natural to be trained until your shift is fluid. It saves you the pain of shifting so you're prepared for anything."

Gale absently scratched his arm as the faint stings of his memories resurfaced.

"It wasn't for a while until they welcomed me into their home, but she was always cautious around me," Panther Lily recalled. "She didn't care I was older or bigger. My mentor told me she understood the laws of The Wild. She wouldn't respect me until I could take her down." Burgundies danced. "I had to train harder to keep up with her. We didn't just train in our Battle Life or our Beast Life or even our Morph Life—our mentor trained us in all nine of our Lives. He gifted me my first sword."

"He sounds like a strong Exceed," Gale quietly complimented.

"He was an exiled warrior with a past I only knew when he drank." Those burgundies saddened. "From how he explained it, he was a drunk and a bum before he met his ward when she was abandoned as an egg. As an exile, he could only live in The Wilds, away from civilization and to succumb to the madness of the Untamed. But he took the role of parent and teacher to his ward.

"One night," he continued, "he had come back to the den reeking of alcohol and had bruises in his Morph Life. Exceeds who walked as humans often lived in higher-class cities, so his ward and I both knew he had done something to earn those marks. He never spoke to us, but he spoke to phantoms of his memory." His hand gripped his mug. "White Lily. His sister. He often apologized and promised to save her. He swore up and down no one would use her again."

Another long swallow. "His ward told me she was used to it. I never judged him. We all had moments of weakness. It was an unspoken rule that we did not speak about his. Where his ward had heard more about White Lily than me, she never pressed him and made it clear if I wanted to stay in their den, I wasn't to mention it either."

"Do you think White Lily could be alive?" Gale wondered. "Like… Maybe she could be on Earth Land?"

"I'm not sure." Panther Lily was honest about that. "White fur isn't common but it isn't rare either among Exceeds. In older times, pure white fur meant you were unblemished and you could never be tempted to live as an Untamed, the same as those who lived in their Morph Life. But for all I know, she could have died when…" He cut himself off and started anew.

"Times were tough on Extalia. A prophecy was woven, and the Exceeds were panicking. Little choice was made about how to proceed." Panther Lily finished his drink off with Gale giving his undivided attention. "I was arrogant enough to think I knew the best path for us, but instead…I never did." He tried to relinquish the tension in his body, but it proved improbable. "Before Extalia was established in Edolas and I was made captain, I trained among others. His ward did as well. We became warriors in the eyes of foolish elders who had a plot no one could guess."

His jaw locked. "My misplaced trust and foolishness cost me dearly. Extalia was established in Edolas…and I had lost my mentor and her in the process. And that is my biggest regret. I had turned my back on my mentor…and…"

Teary yellows.

"I hurt someone I thought could be my…" Panther Lily closed his eyes for a deep exhale. "But that life is gone."

"Maybe not," Gale said in kind argument. "There could be a chance they're on Earth Land, right? Have you searched for them?"

"I had become so tangled in human affairs that I never did." Panther Lily paused. "Once, however, I asked Oswald to search for them, but he couldn't find them. For all I know, they can be undocumented or don't want to be found. Or perhaps they aren't here. And even if I did find them… In the end, I betrayed them and their trust." He sighed. "With time, my mentor might forgive, but she never would."

"And she…?" Gale prodded, testing the water. "Did you…love her?"

"Warriors did not have the time for love," Panther Lily said as though he was reciting a detached rule. "Through our leaders, warriors were matched with warriors who would hatch strong kittens and, in turn, become warriors—"

"But I'm asking if you loved her," Gale pointed out. "Not if you two got matched."

Panther Lily offered a humorless chuckle. "She will never forgive me for my Choices. I will respect her hatred for me." Tone firm. He was done with such questions.

Yet Gale was not. "You didn't answer my—"

"Gale, it's late." Panther Lily left no more room for an argument with those burgundies clouded and his face closed off. "You should be getting to bed. I'll be training you in the morning and you will wake up at five whether you like it or not."

Gale offered a lengthy stare down until he resigned. "Fine, fine. No need for the threats." He chugged the rest of his beer. "Thanks for the story, Uncle Lily." He made short work of trashing his beer bottle and taking his trash bag of ruined bedding outside to the garage bins. But when he came back inside, before he went to his room, he murmured, "For what it's worth, even if you might've made some mistakes, they led you to being the coolest uncle I could ever have." And he darted away.

That boy… Panther Lily got up to wash his glass in the sink.

"You will never be worthy of my den!" Words with teeth. Yellows full of poisoned fury. "You've shown me how soft your belly is, you traitor!"

His tail flicked before it drooped. He finished cleaning his glass and put it on the drying rack. I never cared that I was the traitor of Extalia. But…

"You traitor!"

He slunk out of the kitchen and put his hands on the light switch. Once a traitor—those contrasting stripes of strength and the whites of the scarred moon haunted him with their scents so close like they were before him—always a traitor.

The lights went out.

---

GORO-GORO!

The moon was in a hurry to push away such pesky storm clouds so she could peek into the wooded territory and understand the know. Jaxton's house was in organized chaos and guarded as those who lived on his territory and worked in his home had come out of the darkness to be on guard for intruders. Boundaries set magically or not, there was always a chance someone could slip in.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Bái Láng Peak

Sīchóu Province

Zhōnguá

1:35 AM SST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tesla laid sleep in Jaxton's bed, but her body had been cleaned and her right foot had regrown. Her qipao had been replaced for one of Jaxton's cotton t-shirts and her own cotton panties, but she had not been taken under the comforter. Jaxton exited the bathroom with his hair a mess and his eyes dark. His hanfu and the mark on his forehead was gone after a shower and a change into shorts.

Tesla twitched, pained, and Jaxton came to her with a washcloth soaked in ice water. He got into bed with her and delicately placed the washcloth on her forehead. Pain wrecked his eyes when a muffled whimper escaped her lips.

"Shhh… You're safe now, baby girl," Jaxton murmured. He curled around her as he scented her.

Her fever won't break. I knew her regeneration took more power than she had. His eyes drifted to her regenerated foot. We'll have to make sure she never has to regenerate that much of herself again. Her body might remake itself, but it won't matter if she can't keep herself together in the aftermath.

Tesla whimpered again.

It was hard to resist Nature's intent, but his control won over as he laid his hand on Tesla's arm. He could feel that tingling session in his chest like he was skimming water with a hand. He tipped that tingling energy through the pads of his fingers and let it sink into Tesla's skin. I don't know if her body will accept Qi. There's still so much unknown about Anti-Ether. When her face scrunched in agony, his eyes darkened with grief. But I have to try.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

Jaxton growled, hackles raised.

The door opened. Huang Chun slipped inside, but he kept himself close to the door.

"Is my father outside?" Jaxton questioned. At Huang Chun's nod, he pressed, "Is Weiwei with him?"

Huang Chun shook his head.

Jaxton's eyes narrowed. "And that man? Is he outside?"

Huang Chun nodded.

Tesla gasped.

Jaxton's attention was back to her with worry in his eyes when her body shifted. He murmured soothes in Sinnish and peppered her face in light kisses. With time, her body calmed, and she only had the fever to combat instead of her own mind.

I can't lose her. Jaxton rested his forehead against her temple. I can't leave her. She needs me. His jaw clenched. But I have to take care of this now. He kissed her nose and whispered, "I'll be back soon." Reluctantly, he departed from the bed. His eyes lingered before he forced himself to move away. "Alert me if anything changes," he growled to Huang Chun.

Huang Chun nodded and those silky-silvers locked onto Tesla's form in resolution.

Jaxton left his bedroom. No one else had been allowed in the house, not with his temperament. Huang Chun had little to fear being in his presence, but that was why all others had taken to being sound guards.

Angrily, he moved within his house. It's been far too long. Darkness lightened into yellow-ambers. I need answers.

He abandoned his home and strode through the brisk air unaffected. The gateway doors parted without his asking and a growl was in his throat when he saw his father step out of the shadows with that stoic look, like he had not one ounce of remorse. War rose up and showed in Jaxton's teeth as he pointed at his father and snarled, "I blame you."

Kuen She stared him down in contemplation. "Remember what you do if you fight me now. Do you understand what I will do because of your Choices? Because I will give nothing less than a perfect effort."

Jaxton got on the balls of his feet, but he hesitated as though trying to fight down an instinct that would spiral into a life-altering mistake. He showed his teeth, but he backed down with his hands twitching and his body coiled. "Why didn't you stop her?" he demanded to know. "Why did you let it get this far?"

"You know as well as me one doesn't 'stop' her," Kuen She remarked. "She will stop at nothing until she achieves her goal or until she's killed." He cocked his head. "And I have no intentions of ending her life."

"She orchestrated Tesla's near-death," Jaxton spat. "You can't just keep standing by and idly watch as she continues on with shit like this! She turned dozens of officials into monsters!"

"They were embezzling or working with Matsumoto," Kuen She mentioned offhandedly. "They were traitors to the west. Your mother doesn't tolerate disloyalty."

Jaxton sneered. "And even now, you defend her like the loyal dog you are."

"You forget yourself." Kuen She's eyes glowed with cutting caution in his words. "You are still young and impatient and immature. And you don't understand your mother."

"I understand her enough," Jaxton gnashed. He paced before his father. "She needs to stop this."

"She'll only stop when she gets what she wants. You know that."

Jaxton threw a glower at his father. "And I will continue to spend the rest of my life making sure she doesn't get it," he thundered. "How could she expect Báihǔ to approve of her being this callous and cruel?" He shook his head, not wanting an answer. "How's Weiwei?"

"Recovering," Kuen She replied. "She'll have to rest for a few days." He watched Jaxton pace. "Your mother knows you had to have spoken with him. I'm sure the monks know as well. She petitioned to speak with them before you came home. From what they told her, Báihǔ would speak to you if you asked for him."

Jaxton stopped. He let a pregnant silence go by before he spoke. "I asked him a question."

"And the answer?"

Jaxton's eyes cut to his house, but he remained silent.

Kuen She lifted his chin with vague interest. "I won't stop you from telling her," he told his son. "However, I'll remind you what happens if she doesn't react well. You are responsible for her Choices." He watched Jaxton tense. "She does seem strong. But strength can only go so far. You dragged her into family affairs, and she's paying the price. So tell me… How much more you think she can take before she breaks?"

Jaxton's knuckles turned white, but he held his tongue.

Kuen She turned away. "Perhaps it's time for me to train you," he decided. "When you've had enough, you know where to find me." His body faded into the night and all that he left behind were fading steps of a beast.

When I've had enough? Jaxton ground his teeth, but he stalked back to his home. Of course he would word it like that. His strides paused when he saw a person waiting at the gate with his strange auburn-opal eyes and looked like a mourner.

"I can't get in," the rose-red-haired man said, but he was not all that put out about it.

"I've lived longer than you have, Dull," Jaxton said. "I know how to keep things like you out of my house."

Emotion finally showed on the man: surprise. "You know I'm a Dull?" He stepped forward, eager. "Then you can—?"

"I don't know how to kill you," Jaxton spat. "But I know you won't die, even if I tore out your throat. You can't live, but you can't die."

"But she can kill me," the strange man insisted. "If you just let me see her—"

"She's asleep," Jaxton bit. "I don't know who you are, but I'm not letting her become a murderer just so you can finally die."

"I'm Mason. There. You know who I am." He surged forward, beseeching. "Please, it can be quick. I don't care. I can't keep living like this. I need to die—"

The second the man got too close, Jaxton shot out his hand to grab Mason by the throat and lift in the air with War in his eyes. "I don't fucking care how much you want to die. I've met Dulls before. All of you are pathetic," he snarled. "But I will not let her turn into a killer." He shoved Mason severely feet away, who coughed and spluttered. "I can see you tied yourself to her, but I don't give a fuck. She won't kill you."

Mason got himself under control with deep breaths and rasped, "Yes, she will. She has to. I'll make her—"

"You want to go down that route?" Jaxton poised his body to give a perfect effort, timbre dark and dangerous. "I know Dulls can't die, but you can feel pain." His hands flexed and he made a show of his claws that had Mason take a subconscious step back. "And I can make sure you feel nothing but pain over and over for the rest of your life if you so much as think you can force her to become a murderer."

Mason swallowed. All his apathy had been traded for a glimpse of the person he was before his change. Fearful and anxious and timid. "I just need to see her," he whispered.

"If she wants to see you after I told her you were here, she'll ask to see you." Jaxton traded his claws for his regular flesh and bone. His steps towards Mason were menacing, and it was clear Mason was in no hurry to get close to him, but the distance shrunk and he had no choice. "But I know what your stench smells like. And if I smell you around her again, I have no intentions of letting you roam freely ever – again."

Mason shrunk back, apprehensive. "What are you?"

"Nothing you need to be concerned with unless you piss me off." Jaxton pivoted and went back to his stalk towards the gates. "Get off my land, Dull, if you're smart enough to understand I don't make empty threats." The gateway doors opened, but he glanced over his shoulder to see Mason had disintegrated himself to ash and flowed in the wind. I doubt he knows any other Dulls with how young he is. Even if he did, he's too eager to die. He wouldn't tell them he found a power source unless he could secure it himself and had something he wanted.

Sidelining the thought for a calmer time, he retreated into his home. Huang Chun must have sensed he was near as he slipped out of the master bedroom seamlessly and abolished into a snarl of shadows. But one of his silver butterflies hung onto the door as though to alert him if he was needed, and Jaxton would thank him later.

A long sigh.

Tesla was comfortably asleep, and Huang Chu had done his due diligence to wet the washcloth with cold water. Jaxton hovered over the bed with obvious concern as he cradled her cheek with a hand and watched as she breathed deeply.

There's so much I have to tell you. And there aren't enough apologies in the world for making you go through something like tonight. You didn't deserve to be put in the middle of all of this. And you're far too precious to me for me to let this happen again. A decision had been made, and one he did not like. If I want to take her down, I have to take her place—both of their places. But if I do that, it means I lose you. And I can't lose you.

Tesla's nose twitched. She sighed again.

Jaxton took back his hand to lean down and kiss her cheek. "I love you, Tesla," he whispered in reverence. "Please forgive me." He retreated as his shadow expanded and shifted into something not…human. The bed did not creak when he put his full weight on it and curled around her. He greedily inhaled her scent as he settled in for a long night of waiting and worrying and self-hate and doubt.

Please still love me after this.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Calabash Avenue was not as quite as you might think. With it being spring half-term break for secondary schools, students from Lake Sciliora South and Magnolia High had gathered in a house for some loud music, cheap food, and games. Granted, they had warned the neighbors two weeks in advance of this, so some of the parents had stopped by to set up in the driveway for a bonfire, blankets, and booze. Mira and Laxus had decided to come over to mingle with their neighbors as Laxus talked shopped and Mira was abuzz in happiness one of her neighbors' daughters had gotten engaged.

But the Dreyar Household had not been totally abandoned.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Dreyar Residence

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

11:52 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mary Jane had taken over the basement with her blanket, pepper poppers, and a mocktail her mother had made for her before they left. She had decided tonight was the night she was going to catch up with Hero's Academy and no one was going to stop her. As the battle scene grew intense, her Compact lit up. Absentmindedly, she got a hold of it and glanced down.

Peter had sent her a text message in reply to their ongoing chain.

⌜MESSAGES

Mine

I think I found something on my parents, but I'm wiped. Ugh. I miss you.⌟

Mary Jane opened up her ⟪ Messages ⟫ and typed back:

« I miss you too. What did you find? Or do you want to call tomorrow about it? »

« I'll call tomorrow. I need to get some sleep for my SI. »

« I love you ❤️😘 »

Mary Jane hesitated, but she typed back:

« I love you too 😍 »

Sighing, she closed ⟪ Messages ⟫ and went onto her ⟪ Instagraph ⟫. She was not one to want to post things on social media, but she leafed through her posts about her and Peter when they went to his dance and all the comments. She could not bring herself to smile like she had that night. Against her better judgement, she had posted a picture of her and Peter at breakfast with the caption:

BEST NIGHT EVER BEST MORNING EVER

#Bestboyfriendever #Dancesarecool #Morningafter

The comments had been pinging, but she had turned off her notifications to ignore them. Out of grimacing curiosity, she checked them. Most were positive. Genius had been a, well, genius to install programs to filter out any profane comments. But two comments struck her.

_peachykeen So you and #IgneelDragneel really aren't dating? Sucks

Dicequeennat20 Lol right hey maryj_d56 when did you and #IgneelDragneel break up?

We weren't together in the first place. Mary Jane kept scrolling, but comments like that continued on.

ASwifter when are you and #IgneelDragneel getting back together

nichinoya you moved on pretty quick lmao I hope #IgneelD doesn't see this

169YN ignore then maryj_d56 you and your boo look so cute! We all know you and #Igneel are just good friends

Mary Jane closed out of Insta and tried to turn her attention back to the show, but the comments stuck to her, even when she did not want them to. All Igneel and I were…were good friends, so… She touched her naked clavicle out if instinct and frowned. Instead, she let her hand drop to the knitted bracelet she and Peter shared. Why did I think of him when…? She sighed. I feel bad. I really like Peter. He's funny and sweet and he makes me really happy, but…

Soft onyx.

Vibrant emeralds.

I couldn't…do it that night. Mary Jane shored up her blanket. I know Peter said it was okay, but still, I feel like such a bad girlfriend. I told him I wasn't ready, but I didn't tell him it's because I thought of—

"MJ." A fanged grin. "MJ."

She hid under her blanket with an unwanted flush on her cheeks. I don't want to think about Igneel like that. He's my best friend. Peter's my boyfriend. So why…? She shook her head. Maybe I'm just a terrible girlfriend. I don't know what's wrong with me. She grabbed her Compact again. Ronnie is probably asleep. Maybe Nik is awake?

She called her older brother and waited for maybe ten seconds before he gruffly answered, "Why aren't you in bed?"

Mary Jane smiled. Leave it to Nik to always ask the important questions. "Why aren't you?"

"Because I still have shit to do tonight and I am not a kid who needs their sleep."

Mary Jane rolled her eyes. "I turn sixteen in, like, three months."

"Still a kid."

"Nik…!"

A rough laugh. "What's up, Janie?" Nik asked. "Mom and Dad are at the Romanov's for that party, right? You didn't go with them?"

"No…" Mary Jane peeked from her blanket to see the episode had escalated to a point where she could not piece together what happened. "I decided to stay in." She rooted around for the remote and paused her show. "I wasn't up for partying tonight."

"Good. Partying is overrated anyway. All they're probably doing is passing around a joint and doing Seven Minutes in Heaven. Nothing you need to be doing."

Mary Jane raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you and Ronnie used to do that?"

But of course Nik had the perfect rebuttal. "Yes, and we turned out fucked up. Save yourself some years in therapy and be the good kid of our family. Mom needs a break. Hold on."

Mary Jane saw a request for FaceCall had come in and accepted it to see her haggard older brother in a fitted tee and his hair pushed back. Concern filled her when she saw his exhaustion and prompted her to ask, "Are you okay? You don't look like you've been getting much sleep."

"I'm fine," Nik brushed off, waving a hand. "Shit's getting busy and I have a lot to do. Looks like I'm up for deployment."

Mary Jane looked stricken. "You're leaving again? And you weren't going to tell anyone?"

"Aw, c'mon, Janie, don't give me those eyes," Nik groaned. "We still have some pre-deployment prep and training to get through before this next tour, so I won't be leaving for a little while. Just heard from the commanders a few days ago about the tour, but I was going to tell the family on Sunday. So keep it a secret for me, all right?"

Mary Jane huffed. "I still don't like that you're leaving."

"Ronnie chewed my ear off about it and called me suicidal," Nik said dryly. "I'll be back home before you guys know it. And we can still call and write, so no pouting at me like that, Janie. I struggle enough when Mom gets emotional. I doubt I'd survive against both of you."

Mary Jane sighed as she thumbed her Compact. "It just felt nice when everyone was home…"

"I know." Nik softened. "It'll happen again soon. I promise."

"You better keep that promise," Mary Jane sternly warned. "Once I get my Flying License, it's game over for you if you try to skip out on us."

Nik grinned. "I'm shaking in my boots. How will the military protect me?" They both shared a laugh. "So, what's on your mind that you'd ditch a party?" His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "That boyfriend of yours isn't doing shady shit, right? You know I can pull strings—"

"No," Mary Jane giggled. "He's not doing anything shady. And I can handle myself."

"This is coming from the peanut who used to cry loud as fuck when she saw a fly."

"That was a long time ago," Mary Jane said in her defense. "And it's natural to hate flies. They get everywhere and they're disgusting."

Nik snickered. "Yeah, and you're the reason why I had to eat inside with you whenever we'd do family shit outside. God, you were a nightmare trying to convince to eat outside, and you'd have these legendary meltdowns—"

"Okay, okay, I was a nightmare, asshole, I get it," Mary Jane grumbled.

"Hey." Nik frowned. "No swearing."

Mary Jane gaped. "You do it all the time!"

"Yeah, but soldiers are fifty-shades fucked up and swearing is basically our second language. You're just a sweet kid."

"Ugh!" Mary Jane threw herself on the couch. "I should've called Ronnie if I knew I'd get lectured by the biggest hypocrite ever."

Nik chortled. "Then, why did you call me? Dad getting on your nerves again? Or are you crying to me for more money so you can fill that obnoxious stomach of yours?"

Mary Jane shot him a middle finger.

Nik raised an eyebrow. "Since when did my sweet little peanut get so vulgar?"

"I'm in Fairy Tail." Mary Jane stuck out her tongue at her brother. "Need I say more?"

Nik snorted. "Nah, probably not." Voices and laughter burst through his end, and his eyes darkened. "Janie, give me a sec." He muted himself as he left his room. His head swung out into the hall and whatever he had said looked serious and had him pointing. With a huff and an eye roll, he retreated back into his room and unmuted himself. As he scrubbed his jaw, he muttered, "Sorry for that. Motherfucking new boots are driving me up the walls. Do me a favor and don't ever date them."

"I don't plan to," Mary Jane laughed. "Not if you're just going to glare at them when you meet them or worse."

"Damn right I'll do more than that," Nik growled. He cocked his head as he took her in. "What's wrong?"

Mary Jane automatically replied, "Nothing."

"Peanut, I've known since you were this big." Nik raised his hand to show maybe a few millimeters between his thumb and forefinger. "I know when something's up with you. If it's not your boyfriend doing something, then what's going on?"

Mary Jane sighed and looked down at her blanket-covered feet. "I don't know. It's weird."

"Try me."

"Well, it's just…" Mary Jane propped up her knees and laid her cheek on them. "This sounds weird, but… Have you ever been with someone, but then you started thinking of someone else while you were with them?"

Nik choked into an awkward laugh. "I'm not sure if you want that answer." He caught Mary Jane burying her head in her knees and sobered. "Why? Did something happen between you and your boyfriend?" His frowned when Mary Jane peeked at him with glossy scarlet-cerulean eyes. "Janie, what's going on?"

"Everything," Mary Jane blurted, tone wavering. "I don't know what's wrong with me, and I feel like a bad girlfriend."

"Walk me through it," Nik gently suggested. "Start from the beginning."

Mary Jane sniffled. "I don't know," she said pitifully. "I just…" She tried again. "Igneel is my best friend and I love him as a friend. And Peter is my boyfriend and I…like him. But"—she rubbed her nose—"it's just weird. I don't know. I feel like I should love Peter and be able to do things with him, but I just keep thinking about Igneel instead and—!"

"Breathe, Janie," Nik soothed.

Mary Jane did as she was told.

"You're having some mixed feelings. I get it." Nik shifted. "You told me you like your boyfriend and you feel like you should love him… Did he tell you he loves you?"

Mary Jane bit her lip and nodded.

"And did you say it back?"

She winced, but she nodded. Quickly, she defended, "I thought I was supposed to."

"You don't have to say it back," Nik assured her. "It doesn't matter if he tells you he loves you. You get to choose when you say it back." He rubbed his chest. "I get what that's like, though. My girlfriends back when I was your age would tell me they loved me. Sometimes, I said it back, but I didn't really mean it. Other times, I didn't say it at all and they got pissed at him for me."

"See?" Mary Jane muttered. "It's like you lose either way."

"Not if you have an understanding boyfriend," Nik told her. "Shit's not easy to talk about. Fuck if I ever actually talked about this with my exes. I just did whatever to get—" He coughed into a fist. "But it's better to tell him you're not ready to say those three little words than to say them and not mean them."

"But I already said them," Mary Jane relayed, despaired. "I can't just take it back."

"You can, actually," Nik negated. "You'll feel shitty doing it at first, but you can tell him you feel uncomfortable saying it. If he's a dick and gets mad, then you're better off without him. If he's cool, he won't pressure you and will back off."

"But that's the thing. What if he does get mad?" Mary Jane murmured. "I really like him. I don't want to break up."

Nik sighed. "Look, it's up to you if you want to talk about this with him or not, but I say you should. It's not easy being your age. Everything probably feels huge and scary. But you might feel better if you talk to him about this instead of keeping it inside."

"Maybe," Mary Jane muttered.

Nik rubbed his neck. "What's going on with that second part, though?" He switched gears. "About you and Igneel? Damn. Little shit must be one Hell of a fighter by now...or in prison."

Mary Jane perked. "You knew him?"

"Yeah. He was a fucking thief," Nik said, voice flat. "God, he was such a pain in the ass. Mom told me I had to be nice to him, but I just wanted to strangle him. He robbed people left and right. Even got me a couple of times until I smartened up and did a protection spell."

A smile slipped onto Mary Jane's face. "Was he really that terrible?"

"Yeah, he was." Nik shook his head in disgust. "Mom nagged me he was just a kid, but he was a criminal mastermind. The only thing that kept him from going to some kid detention center was him turning around his act." He snorted. "I still hate that kid."

"Why?"

"Reasons," Nik said in vague. "What do you like about that guy, anyway? He was such a loose cannon."

"No, he isn't," Mary Jane tittered. "He's really kind and sweet and thoughtful." Something softened in her heterochromic eyes. "He's confident and strong, but he's protective and warm. He might look like he doesn't think things through, but he's really smart and he knows what he's doing. And he doesn't leave anyone behind. He defends anyone…no matter how they've treated him in the past."

The vivid memories of Igneel's scarred back from those whippings plagued her. I'd been so cruel to him…but he took those hits for me. That doesn't sound like a bad person. That sounds like a hero.

"You sound like you admire him a lot."

"I do," Mary Jane murmured. "He's an amazing person."

"And…you feel nothing else for him outside of that?"

Without thinking, she answered, "I do." But her mind caught up with her words and panic overcame her. "I love him as a friend, obviously!" she hurriedly explained. "Just as a friend! And he's been a really good friend to me all this time!"

"Janie…" Nik adopted a gentle look. "You don't have to lie. It's okay if you feel something for him."

"I-I don't, though," Mary Jane tried again, but she did not know if she was convincing herself or her brother. "I'm with Peter. I'm dating Peter. Igneel is just a friend. And he left, so…"

"So…?"

"So, nothing else matters," Mary Jane poignantly finished. "He left and that's fine. I'm happy with Peter, and Igneel's happy doing whatever it is he's doing. I just miss him is all. That's why I'm thinking about him. I just miss my friend."

"And that's okay too," Nik soothed. "I'm sure you guys were pretty tight. And I know the way he left wasn't cool. It's fine to miss him, Janie, but…" He sighed as he leaned forward, pale greens sincere. "Maybe…ask yourself how deeply your bond with him goes. And if that bond of yours is something you want to go even further. It's nothing that has to be answered now. But it's something you should think about it."

Mary Jane sniffed. "Okay."

"Don't get all sad on me now, Janie," Nik lamented. "You know seeing you upset is, like, my number two weakness after Ronnie kicking me in the d—" The second he bit his tongue, pain registered so much on his face that had him hitting his desk. "Ah, goddammit!"

Mary Jane giggled. "That's what you get for swearing."

"Ah…" Nik winced as he swiped his tongue. "I just have shit luck is all." He smiled when Mary Jane laughed again. "You know it's getting late. And I remember when someone would get pretty fucking crabby if she went to bed late…"

"I'm not a kid anymore—!" Though, to Mary Jane's embarrassment, she loudly yawned.

Nik snickered and pointed at her. "Go to bed, peanut. We can talk in the morning."

"And you promise you'll tell everyone on Sunday you're leaving?"

Nik sighed as he pushed back his bangs. "Yeah, yeah, I promise," he assured. "Don't get mixed up in any partying, peanut. You're too good for that shit."

Mary Jane rolled her eyes. "Good night, Nik. Love you."

"Night, Janie. Love ya too."

Mary Jane ended the FaceCall with a big sigh and fiddled with her Compact. Think about…my bond with Igneel. Slowly, she went into her ⟪ Photos ⟫ to go into her locked folder. Not too many photos were in there, but there was one of her and Igneel from Margaret Town. It was obvious the picture was Igneel's idea as he yanked her into it, and murder was in her eyes. Igneel was too carefree to care or maybe he knew he could take her blows.

If he had stayed…what would have happened?

Mary Jane brushed her finger over Igneel's grinning face. After lingering a beat, she locked her Compact and laid down in a ball on the basement couch. I think I need to get some sleep.

---

'Come home.'

Blues of intimates skies and deep oceans blurred together to make something beautiful. It was impossible to feel cold in such waters. You felt alive and free like you were suspended in flight. The currents brushed him into a direction, gentle nudges, as those same currents guided schools of fish with glittering scales.

'You are ready, Young Prince.'

Beyond the fish and the blues lie a gorge dug out from time and maintained through dedication. A city thrived below with their lights softened yellows and blues and greens and reds. Beings swam without fear in such a city, but the currents pushed him towards a castle with its steeples and its glowing blue crystals glued to its side and fueled with the energy of the ocean.

'It is time to come home.'

Those presences with their smooth scales touched his sides. Their shadows stained the rocks and coral below, large and powerful and serpentine. But the fish and aquatic mammals were unafraid of these two who lurked into the sea. In respect, they cleared a path and continued on their way. But while the two presences were inclined to continue forward, he was pulled to a stop. He did not want to stop, but he looked down to see chains had wrapped around his wrists. He shouted, but bubbles of oxygen left him. Choking. He was choking. He could not breathe.

A harmful giggle. "So that's what you've been hiding, little boy."

Against his will, something dragged upwards him at such speed that his face burned and he lost touch with himself. The moment he breached, his hair was yanked, and he was face-full of those unnatural eyes that burned with a lust for bloodshed and apathy.

"Now you're worth something, Silver."

• — • — •

Silver woke with a small start with his eyes glowing blue only to drain away into his normal mayan blues. Darkness had crowded around him, but the low lights of the stringed lights were enough for him to recognize his surroundings. Pillows and blankets tucked all around him as Ena snorted like a chainsaw had replaced her throat and her eye mask in place while Luna clung to her like a koala bear to a tree. Icarus sighed as he slept, content his mistress was peacefully sleeping.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Fernandes Household

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

12:40 AM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Silver pulled away from Ena's side, alert and dreary all at the same time. The same dream ended in a nightmare. Those haunting eyes flashed before him. It's been four months. Why do I keep remembering those eyes? He looked down, and those blues softened watching Ena and Luna. At least they can get some sleep. Lulu hasn't looked like she's been sleeping well, and Ena works way too hard.

With grace, he moved Ena's braided lock from her cheek, but he did not dare push his luck and retreated. I want to go back to sleep, but I feel like I can't now. And I'm sure it's pretty early in the morning. His ear twitched, and his head twisted. Is that…?

After climbing out of the pillow fort, he squinted when he saw the kitchen lights were aglow. He shuffled over as he heard little noises and peeked in to see Erza was reheating leftovers dressed in a fluffy robe and her pajamas, hair up in a ponytail. Misses Fernandes must've turned off the LV for us. He went to retreat. I shouldn't disturb her—

"Oh, Silver. You're awake."

Silver flashed an awkward smile at Erza and stepped into the kitchen. "Hi, Misses Fernandes. Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Nonsense. You did no such thing." Erza put her food in the microwave and set the time. As the microwave hummed, she went back to the refrigerator. "I'm a little too tired to make any tea, but—"

"I can make some," Silver offered instinctively. "It's not a problem, ma'am."

Erza smiled, amused. "I see that Ena's trained you well," she teased, tittering when Silver flushed. "Very well. Why don't you make us some tea? I have to get something from my room, but I'll be right back. And don't worry about waking those two up. They sleep like the dead."

Silver chuckled. "Yes, ma'am." As Erza left, he found the tea kettle and filled it with water.

I'll probably need to tell Dad about my dream, but… I don't want him to think I'm a coward because I keep dreaming about that woman. I still don't know who Nano Leaf is, but it seemed like she knew Dad. With the kettle filled, he put it on the burner and turned it onto a high setting. What did she have against Dad that she'd take it out on me? She said something about my dad saving her, but…then the villains still got her. I'm so confused. He sighed. No use thinking about it now.

Burnt yellows.

Silver's mouth fell into a deep frown. That Nora guy… Something about the way he talked to Ena… Why does he want to see her sword that badly? As the water eventually boiled, he fixed up the chamomile tea ingredients. By the time he finished, the breakfast nook was set up with Erza's leftovers heated. A hexagonal board laid on the table and Erza fiddled with its accompanying boxes.

She looked up with a smile when Silver set down a mug before her. "Thank you, Silver."

"It's no problem, ma'am." Silver made sure to pour the tea with the elegance he learned from his etiquette lessons. He glanced at the hexagonal board, curious. "What's that?"

"A game my husband and I often loved to play," Erza remarked with fondness clear.

"O-Oh. I'm sorry—"

"Nothing to be sorry for. The memories are happy ones." Erza swallowed her mug between her hands and blew on the tea before she took a sip. A hum of approval. "You're an excellent brewer, Silver."

Silver finished pouring his own tea to sit across for her. "It's nothing." The kettle sat down on the mat. "I never really liked tea before, but Ena likes tea, and I want to make sure it's a good blend for her." He ducked his head, embarrassed. "My mom helped a lot with teaching me how to make tea."

"And she taught you well," Erza praised as she set aside her mug. She opened the wooden boxes. "Have you ever played chess, Silver?" she questioned as she started putting the marbled pieces on the board.

"Oh. Um, no," Silver admitted. "I mean, I know the rules, I think, but…"

"In the past, we would all play chess," Erza explained. "Jellal found the game challenging, and it helped us both with strategy. Oberon and Aine often played against us and each other, and they learned how to be threats on the board. Once Jellal left, I made sure to teach Ena. She doesn't play as much, as you can see, but she's excellent."

"I think that's been mentioned to me before," Silver realized as he watched her place white before him and black before herself. "She's good at everything."

"She's very talented," Erza agreed. "She excels at anything she puts her mind to, and it couldn't make me prouder. But now…" A few beats of consideration. "All these years, it seems my children are spreading out. And I have regrets on how handled my time with them in the past." She waved a hand. "But I don't want to bore you with my woes." Sandwich tucked into her hands, she nodded at Silver in encouragement. "You go first since you're White." She took a bite.

"Okay." Silver thought about his first move before he decided to move his further pawn up on hexagon to E5.

Erza scanned the board and went for her pawn. "How have you enjoyed working under my daughter?" She shot Silver a smile as she placed her pawn at B6. "I hope she isn't working you too hard."

"Not at all, ma'am." It was Silver's turn again. Another pawn went to B3. "I enjoy the work. I'm learning so much about her—Ah, I mean from her," he corrected, ears shyly pink. "She's so much more different than my friends."

"She grew up faster than she should have," Erza supposed with a twinge of remorse. "I was so busy taking care of Aine and working… I should have been there for her more." Her pawn went to D6 after some contemplation. "Sometimes, I wonder if she hates me for neglecting her."

"Not at all, ma'am, Ena doesn't hate you," Silver was quick to assure, candid. "I know she doesn't. She admires you a lot." His eyes dropped back down onto the board. "She admired Mystogan a lot too, even if she doesn't say it." His pawn went to C3.

"I know." Erza took a sip of her tea. "Forgive our family drama and my foolish son. No matter how much I wished and tried with him, he was too stubborn to understand how to properly love Ena." She caught the tension within Silver and softly asked, "Do you hate him?" Her pawn went to C5.

"No." Silver hesitated as he went for a pawn, but he retracted his hand to think through his next move. "But I don't like how he treats Ena. He makes her cry, and I hate it. She shouldn't be crying." Mayan blues gentled. "She's so strong and courageous. She does things I don't think I've ever thought about. I don't want her to cry because someone else makes her feel less than she is." He decided to go with his rook and moved it to A1.

"An excellent move." Erza took another bite of her sandwich. "She is strong," she agreed. "But some of those tears are my fault. It was my fault for not raising Oberon better. Jellal would be so disappointed in him. This is not what he would have wanted." She reached for her knight—

"Then why did he leave?"

Erza was slow in getting her piece, but she did not set it down just yet. "There are things you can't understand yet," she told him, "but Jellal left for a mission only he could do. It wasn't an easy decision, even if Oberon thinks it was. Jellal wanted to refuse since I was in my last trimester with Ena. But"—she set her knight down at C6—"the mission couldn't wait. He had to leave, whether we liked it or not. We explained it to Aine and Oberon. Aine understood, but Oberon called it abandonment. And Ena suffered." Mocha browns settled on Silver. "Do you hate him too?"

Silver was quiet for a long moment before he reached for his knight. "I don't hate anyone. But I don't want to see Ena cry anymore over anyone. I know she misses her dad." Mayan blues sparkled. "She cried so much when we went to New Rosemary, so I held her," he murmured, tone hushed. "She misses him a lot."

"We all do." Erza grabbed a napkin to blot her hands. "Between Oberon ignoring her for Aine and me having to work, I'm sure she wished Jellal was home more often than she would want to admit. It's not an easy choice to choose duty. It can be seen as foolish and selfish." She lifted her mug. "But sometimes, even if you don't want to, you have to leave." She sipped her tea.

"I won't." Silver placed his knight at I3, but those blues were resolved. "I'm not going to leave Ena alone. I won't let her cry any more tears over someone else, especially not over me. She's done so much for me. I won't ever leave her side."

Mochas saturated with respect. "As a mother, I'm happy to hear that." The mug came back down to the table. "As your Guild Master…" A steady exhale. "Silver, as much as you are determined to stay by her side"—mochas collided with mayan blues—"are you certain there's nothing that would pull you away from her?"

'Come home.' A rumble, deep and ancient and paternal. 'We wait for you, Prince of the Sea.'

Silver batted away the memory. "I don't care what's out there. I'm not leaving her," he resolved. "I promised her I'd stay by her side forever and I meant it. I'm not ever going to leave her."

"You can still remain at her side even if you two aren't physically close," Erza reminded. "Because, Silver, as your Guild Master, I can tell you there will come a day that Ena will need to go to a place you can't follow. And you too will have to walk a path alone."

That alone unnerved Silver, and his arguments went dry. He mumbled, "It's your turn, ma'am."

And it was.

Erza considered each of her pieces. "I don't mean to sound rude or discouraging," she promised him, "but I'm well-aware of the growth a young Mage has to experience on their own. But even if you are away from the people precious to you, they're never truly gone. You'll carry them with you in your heart." She decided to move her pawn to E6.

"But what if…? What if I don't want to go?" Silver asked her, question unsure and afraid.

"Whether you go or not is your choice," Erza placated. "But speaking as a parent and a Guild Master, I'd encourage you to find out what's out there for you. It's healthy to leave and grow and to return stronger than you realized. Leaving might seem scary at first, and it can be when you're wading into the unknown. But you'll experience things you never would have if you had stayed in one place." She added, "And perhaps you'll become the person you've desired to be, so you can remain at the side of the one you find precious."

Mayan blues glinted in surprise before Silver scratched his cheek, abashed.

"It's your turn, Silver," Erza encouraged before she went for her late-night snack.

Silver swallowed and nodded. His fingers froze as he tried to figure out what to do next on top of his own plaguing thoughts. But if I leave…why does it feel like Ena won't forgive me? I don't want to leave her alone. I don't want her to cry alone ever again. I just want to be next to her, even if she'll never look at me.

Blues shimmered as his hand clutched the material over his heart. But if I leave…would I really turn into someone worthy enough to stand next to her? I'm not as smart as her or talented… I just want to be useful to her so she doesn't have to do everything alone.

"What do I get if I win this match?"

Silver looked up, disorganized. "Huh?"

"It's not that fun of a game without some sort of wager," Erza acknowledged with a hint of amusement.

"Oh." Silver focused on the board and decided to move his pawn to G5. "I see."

Erza went for her knight, but she did not place it down. "Here is my wager. If I beat you at chess"—mochas turned unbreakable—"you will swear to me that you will protect my daughter."

Silver blinked, surprised, but he could not speak.

"My daughter is just like me when I was her age," Erza remarked. "She's strong and smart and wise beyond her years. However, she's the type of young lady who builds barriers to protect herself and doesn't realize others are willing to protect her from hurt"—her head tilted—"and perhaps teach her how to love."

Silver blushed.

"But if you can look beyond that," Erza continued, "I'll ask you again." She placed her knight at I6. "Please, Silver. Take good care of Ena."

Silver tried to speak—he really did—but those words of promise, of affirmation, they never came. His lashes lowered as he looked at the board. "I don't…believe I could protect her…or have the right to teach her that." He picked up his knight. "You should change your bet, ma'am." His knight fell to K5.

"I know you can do it, Silver." Erza went for her rook. "Because I know you are braver than you believe, stronger than you might seem, and smarter than you think. You have gifts waiting for you to unwrap and those gifts will empower you in ways you haven't realized. And I know you are capable of making Ena feel safe enough to show you who she is beneath her walls. You are enough to be at her side…and she is enough for you." She placed her rook down at H9 and waited.

The words made his heart beat a little faster. Thoughts he knew he had no right to think conjured up like a storm. The idea he would comfortably stay beside Ena was enough for him, but… All those times with his attacks and his own clumsiness and mistakes and wrong words killed the idea. His shoulders drooped as he replied, "I'll try, ma'am." His pawn moved to AA4. "That's the best I can do."

"That's all I'll ever ask from you as your Guild Master and as family," Erza assured him. "All I want are for my fairies to try their best at what they do. I want you to grow and be strong in the ways that matter. And I want you to treasure yourself and those around you." Her pawn went to IF8. "You'll do great things, Silver. I know it." Her eyes flashed down to her tea, but her question drifted to him. "A question for me?"

Silver shifted and hemmed and hawed before he decided to spit it out. "Did you…? Did you know…? Did you do that mission with my dad way back when in Giltena? And, you know, met those Dragon Gods?"

"Yes. We met them and fought them." Her chin tipped down. "And we did meet Mercuphobia. A strange man, but he had an honest heart." Mochas glinted. "I'm sure he would be impressed with the Prince of the Sea of Fairy Tail. Perhaps, when you're ready, an introduction is in order."

Silver's eyes rounded. "Wait. He's alive?"

"I don't know, Silver." Mochas stared him down. "Do you think he's alive?"

Silver was hesitant to respond. To say one answer felt like a lie, but the other answer felt like a truth he did not want to know.

Erza spared him from answering as she feigned a yawn. "I feel like I'm aging a decade every month," she jested. "Why don't you return to bed? I can finish up here. I still want to read some files before I turn in."

"I can help—"

"Miss Five is my assistant. You are Ena's," Erza firmly reminded. "Go to bed, Silver, it's late." Her lips twitched. "That's an order from your Guild Master."

Silver laughed. "Yes, Master." He got up from the nook, but he stopped short of leaving. It felt wrong to just leave. "Thanks for the game," he appreciated. "We'll have to finish it."

"We will in time." Erza's eyes sparkled in mischief. "You should ask Ena for lessons. We have a fifty-fifty tie between the two of us. She's an astounding player. And I'm sure she would appreciate having a constant opponent. And you might catch her eye if you become a reputable player."

Silver cleared his throat, a little hot. "Good night, Misses Fernandes."

"Good night, Silver."

He abandoned the kitchen to head into the living room. Ena's snoring took up most of the space, but he did not mind. He crawled back into the fort, but he paused when he saw Ena had curled onto her side while Luna was tucked into her. Careful not to wake them, he got under the knitted blanket and gave them his back.

"However, she's the type of young lady who builds barriers to protect herself and doesn't realize others are willing to protect her from hurt…and perhaps teach her how to love."

How am I supposed to teach anybody how to love when I still don't love myself? Silver sighed. At least the game isn't over. Hopefully, I can change her mind about the bet. I don't think I could ever protect Ena. He yawned and went to close his eyes. His nostrils flared, and an alluring sweet scent called to him so deeply that he did not realize how relaxed he was becoming. I just…want to be enough for her… I don't want to just be her assistant or her pet or a knight in shining armor… He sighed as his hand fell to his side. …I want to be the prince in the fairy tale…who gets to stay by the queen's side forever.

Too far gone, no one could have noticed it. But when Ena had stretched mid-sleep, her limp hand brushed against Silver's and stayed there. And as the wisps of Silver's consciousness faded, he never realized his fingers instinctively and loosely threaded with hers. And neither one pulled away.

---

The entire condo was dark yet cleaned. Dishes had been put away, and the counters wiped down. The dusting had been recently done with care placed on the glass creations and olden frames that had survived this long. The dishwasher swished around, and the curtains had been closed. The master bedroom had a light that seeped out from it with the murmured noises.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Gary's Condo

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

1:15 AM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Nashi lay in bed in one of Gary's shirts and her hair up as she watched an oldie but a goodie horror movie as Býleistr lounged on his back all stretched out and in his Cat Form. Gary was on FaceCall with her as he looked to be in bed too. She picked at the comforter as she teased, "I'll have to give Skade a reward for agreeing to work with Uki so nicely."

Gary laughed. "We'll both appreciate that." He brushed back his bangs and sighed. "I'm happy we were able to have a session on a good note," he admitted. "I know Miss Uki is a kind person, but I understand why she can't trust me. I don't want to push her, but she needs to get her Curse under control or else she could end up being possessed by it."

Nashi frowned as she lay on her side. "She's not going to give up wearing that Anti-Ether jacket and stuff, is she?"

"Not anytime soon."

"I understand why she feels like she needs it," Nashi sympathized, "but it's unhealthy for her to have that on her body, let alone being absorbed into her system." She slipped a hand beneath her cheek. "But I think you're approaching this the best you can. If you push too much, she might snap. Just keeping being patient and guiding her. If anyone can understand her, it's you."

Gary smiled, eyes half-lidded. "Thank you, Angel." He shifted in bed. "Are you excited about the burlesque show? I'm sorry I'm missing it. I'd love to see Angel perform."

"In another life," Nashi snorted. "But yeah, I'm excited about it. A little bummed you won't be there, but I'm happy to support. And I got to promote it on the stream last night too."

"I saw." Worry flared in those ceruleans when she yawned. "I'm so proud of you for doing all this, Angel, but please don't overwork yourself. There's no rush to anything."

"I know, but I just have so much to say," Nashi told him. "I want to show the world I'm not going to hide here. I want to keep up the publicity from the trial and keep pushing for advocacy for equal rights for Aberrants and intelligent creatures and abolishing all those stupid marriage laws and child laws around it all." Her eyes softened. "I just want there to be a better tomorrow for all those people who never even got a trial…who never asked to be hated for being born who they are."

"And it's admirable that you're doing that, but you can't win a battle exhausted," Gary gently reminded. "Just look after yourself until I come home. Then, you can exhaust yourself, but I'll be there to carry you home."

Nashi laughed. "Aren't you romantic?" she teased. "I'll have you know your dad and my papa are training me so I can be selected for S-Class this year, so expect me to challenge you when you come home permanently in the summer."

"I look forward to it." Gary meant that. "I've always told Angel that you're strong, with or without the title of 'S-Class'."

"But a title would be nice," Nashi sheepishly said. "I remember how obsessed I used to be with it, honestly. That and being stronger than you." They shared a wistful chuckle over that. "Misty would help me with my Magic studies before he took Luke as a student." Hickories glinted. "I wonder how he's doing. Luke said he hasn't spoken to him since he left in December."

Gary frowned. "Misty normally disappears without telling us, but he at least tells Luke. He went to Infiorata last I checked, but he might have gone elsewhere if his work needed him too. I just hope he's safe if he left Fiore."

"Speaking of leaving Fiore," Nashi segued, "I was thinking…"

That worried Gary. "You're not coming up for my birthday."

"No!" Nashi was quick to soothe him. "No, no, it's not that! Of course I'm coming to the Arctic for your birthday." She puffed a cheek. "But it's bullshit about the Teleportation License and the passport. Unless the Chairman gives me permission, Býleistr can't stop in Giltena, and TelePorts are limited as is. And I take my Flying Exam in another week and even then, Flying Hubs are hard to find without all this clearance."

"It's not easy to travel anymore," Gary remarked. "A lot of countries are adding a lot of restrictions. Arcticados is fairly accepting when it comes to Magic but doing that big of jump is impossible without a Teleportation Pad or TelePorts."

"You're telling me." Nashi hooked away a loose hair from her mouth. "But I spoke to Kyler after the stream, and I asked him if in April, I could come stay with him in Bellum for…maybe a week or so?" She grew disheartened when she saw the alarm on Gary's face. "You look like you're not happy with that."

"I won't control where you go," Gary promised.

Nashi sighed. "But you think it's a bad idea, just like Kyler."

"I'm just concerned how you'll be treated," Gary explained. "Mirella explained it to me that the Spiritless are starting more protests against Magic, and even Mages there have a hostile opinion about me and, by extension, you. I just want you safe."

"I will be," Nashi promised. "I already planned to transform my pink hair into Kyler's colors, so we can look like siblings." She could tell Gary was still unsure. "Kyler promised me if I was determined to go to Bellum to see him, that he'd be with me the whole time and read me the whole speech about stranger danger." Her nose scrunched. "I guess this is what Luna hears when I speak to her. I've never had an older sibling. It's weird being lectured."

"I don't think I ever lectured Silver and Julia," Gary mused. "If anything, Julia terrified Silver and me. I might be older, but she was a lot scarier." He mumbled, "She still is. She saw I didn't do laundry yet while we were FaceCalling, and she started chewing me out. Our own parents don't do that to me."

Nashi snickered. "I'm surprised. You're normally so clean. Tsk-tsk."

"I was going to do it that morning," Gary defended. "But that night, you and I had—"

"You don't need to finish that sentence," Nashi hurried to stop him, cheeks red.

Gary chuckled. "Angel is so adorable when she blushes," he crooned, making her red cheeks darken. "You know… My birthday will be the last night Angel and I can touch."

"You're getting a vasectomy, not dying," Nashi said dryly. "And I'm more than okay to take care of you for that forty-eight-hour period. But do we really have to go through all this just for you to get a vasectomy? I didn't even know you knew a surgeon to do the procedure on you. It seems extreme to have him come up there for this."

Gary leaned back and scrubbed his jaw. "It's better this way," he told her. "I can't take the chances that my surgery will be intentionally botched to hope you and I…conceive. Or if they sample anything from me to try and get kids through insemination."

Nashi's eyes rounded as she gaped. "You're not serious, right?"

"I am." Gary tossed her a sad but resigned look. "You don't understand how things worked under The Doctor," he said as that haunted gleam entered his eyes. "I was ten when he took me and there were…attempts he did that Invel never dared to try."

Horror mashed with nausea within Nashi's stomach. "Did they…?" Her voice quivered as her words trailed off. She did not know if she wanted an answer, but she felt his self-loathing chill her. "Oh, Gary… I…" What could she say? An apology?

Gary forced out a frosty exhale. "It's okay, Angel," he soothed. "As much as I hate Invel, he never pushed that limit. He turned me into a murderer—a perfect weapon—but I only heard it once when someone assistant came on behalf of The Doctor to re-negotiate terms. The Doctor wanted more Devils." Detachment was in such heavy words. "Invel nearly killed the assistant. I remember how angry he sounded. He asked me after another training session if the Doctor…touched me or had others touch me."

Nashi could see frost expel from her mouth. Winter swirled inside her, and her summer was too distraught to calm the swell.

"I didn't speak." Words so quiet and composed. "No one had touched me, but The Doctor provided incentives to get me to think about things. I was still too young, but I know now he was trying to get me to hit puberty faster. I think he always knew I was on borrowed time."

Nashi covered her mouth as her stomach lurched. "You were just a kid," she rasped, trying and failing to understand.

"The Doctor didn't care, Angel." Gary calmed down his winter and detangled it from strangling her summer. With a deep breath, he was back down to his normal cold. "I can't and won't take any chances. It's why I was careful with throwing away condoms. I can't risk it." Two beats. "It's ironic to me that Invel was the one to promise me The Doctor would never touch me. No one would touch me. He made me kill for him over and over to become perfect, but he cared about that." Ceruleans softened. "Don't cry over me, Angel. It was a long time ago."

Nashi could not help it when tears streaked her cheeks. "You were ten, and he…" She sniffled and rapidly blinked away any more tears. "I'll make sure to do the same about my own surgery once my IUD is done," she hoarsely promised him.

"I'll ask around about a surgeon for you that we can trust," Gary promised. "You should be safe in Magnolia but let me know if you want to go somewhere else."

"Thank you." Tone hushed. "I really wish I could hug you right now."

Gary smiled. "I miss you too, Angel," he murmured. "I'll see you on Sunday through Tuesday. But I don't want to talk about unpleasant things. I just want to talk about things that make Angel smile—"

"Gary," Nashi cut in, aggrieved.

He quieted for a few moments. "I'm doing it again, aren't I?"

"It's okay if you're not comfortable talking about it," Nashi assured him. "But I don't care if what we talk about is upsetting to me or not. I want to hear everything about you, good or bad. It doesn't matter."

"I know." Gary sighed. "I don't like making you cry."

"Then, don't worry about it," Nashi said. "Hearing about things like that… It makes me love you even more for how hard you pushed yourself to keep living and how brave you are for being right here with me."

Gary covered his eyes with his arm as he chuckled. "Now Angel is going to make me cry." A long exhale. "I just want you to be careful. I know things might look safe and maybe they are. But you can't be too careful. Because of me, you have a target on your back. And there are people out there who will do incredibly psychotic things to break you."

"Baby, you feel so good…!"

Nashi's body locked down.

Gary sensed something was off when he pulled his arm away to examine her. "Angel?" When she did not respond, his eyes darkened and his voice took to a dark growl. "What happened?"

Nashi flinched and licked her lips. "It's…" But she could feel winter cradle her and nudge her to tell the truth rather than a dismissive lie. Her murmur was timid. "Back in December, during Justin and Honey's event… Someone…sent me something."

"What did they send you?"

Nashi swallowed. "It looked like just a regular milkshake," she said in her defense. "The person who delivered it said it was from 'the host', so I thought it was from JJ, and then…" She bit down her nausea. "I also got a sex toy…"

"And then what happened?" Gary could take a guess. "That milkshake and the gift were never from Justin…"

"The shake did something to mess with my senses," Nashi told him, heart-pounding. "I used the sex toy, but I didn't realize…" Her eyes closed. "It turned into you and…"

"Oh, Angel…" Distress rained down Gary's face. "Angel, I'm so sorry." His hand reached for the screen as his winter swelled to cover her summer. "I understand why you wanted us to have some sort of touch we'd recognize. I completely understand. And we can do that. I want you to feel safe with me and know it's me too." His jaw locked. "I'll have to ask a friend to get you something like my necklace, so this doesn't happen again."

Nashi blinked as she tamped down her own grief for confusion. "What do you mean?"

"My necklace is enchanted," Gary explained. "If someone or someone near me is wearing a Glamour or a Transformation Spell or if something I'm given or about to touch or eat has been tampered with, it silently alerts me by growing hot. It's overkill and it might be slight paranoia, but I can't be too cautious. I'll make sure you get something similar."

"That would be helpful." Nashi sighed. "Considered I was drugged and dragged to Alvarez, I don't want to keep taking chances."

Silence.

"I should've known Invel would make a move—"

"Gary—"

"I was too comfortable," Gary continued. "I knew he wanted you—"

"No one could have known," Nashi soothed. "No, that's not true. My parents knew something was wrong and asked for me to make sure we all stayed inside Magnolia. Instead, we ignored them."

"You couldn't have known—"

"You're right. We couldn't have and neither could you." With Gary quiet, she went on: "At the end of it all, no one could have known we'd be kidnapped. We were naïve to think it wouldn't happen after Erika Town and even a Demon getting into Magnolia and the whole ordeal with Margaret. We just need to be more cautious. We can't trap ourselves at home." Hickories saddened. "I just hate that that's what Luna is doing. I understand why she doesn't want to leave. But I should have—"

"Angel, we're both working ourselves up," Gary calmed. "You're right. No one could have known. We just need to take more precautions." Two beat. "Silver told me Looney has been quieter lately," he admitted.

Nashi curled up and coddled the Compact. "Yeah. She dropped out of training. Mama and Papa don't mind, but I know they're worried about her. As much as I want to encourage her, it's hard. Because I know what it feels like to be in that headspace." She clutched her Compact. "And I hate she's in that headspace."

"All you can do is be there for her," Gary said as he laid on his side. "I didn't have to be there with her the entire time to know how hard she pushed herself in Alvarez or in Bellum. If she wants to start training again, we'll support her. And if she doesn't, then we'll support her too."

"I'd just rather she stopped because she had another passion, y'know?" Nashi yawned. "Not because a fucking pedophile scarred her."

"I know. I want that too. But we can't push her."

"I know." Nashi yawned again.

Gary smiled and teased, "I haven't even touched Angel and she's worn out."

"It's past one in the morning, let me have this," Nashi grumbled. "Today was exhausting. Training, class, JJ, streaming, shopping, conditioning, homework, IshgarVision, and then you."

"What was your favorite part of today?"

Nashi pulled up the collar of her nightshirt as her cheeks heat and pointed and flexed her feet. "You already know," she mumbled. "Please don't make me say it." She blushed more when Gary's low laughter touched her ears. "Don't laugh at me, you stupid dog."

"Angel's so cute when she's embarrassed." Gary rubbed his bare chest right over his heart. "You're right. I don't need to ask. I can feel Angel's answer right here." His smile broadened when Nashi groaned and buried her head into the comforter. "Angel…"

Nashi lifted her head just for those hickories to be visible and mumbled gruffly, "What?"

Gary crooned, "I love you…" He chortled when Nashi buried her head again. "Angel…!"

"I love you too," Nashi replied, voice muffled by the material.

"Huh? What was that?" Gary cupped his ear. "I don't think I could hear you…"

Nashi huffed. "I'm not saying it again, you stupid dog. What you get is what you get." She nestled in the covers as she yawned again.

"Do you want me to go?" Gary softly asked.

"Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?" Nashi got comfortable as a bout of dreariness relaxed her body. "I don't want to hang up yet."

"That's fine." Gary twisted onto his stomach with his head on his pillow. "I can stay with Angel."

Nashi exhaled through her nose as her eyelids dripped. "M'kay." She scratched her nose into another yawn. "Are you really okay with getting a vasectomy?" she asked him. Perhaps it was the weighted exhaustion that had loosened her tongue without fear or anxiety latching onto her. "I don't"—fuwa!—"want you to regret it…"

°•°•°•°

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Ur's Parents' House

Outskirts of Adelie Town

Arcticados

12:35 AM ACT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gary softened as he watched Nashi succumb to sleep. The bedroom was neat and tidy with everything tucked away. He had even revamped the master bedroom with black and blue and white as its signature colors and accents of pink.

"I'm sure, Angel," he murmured. "No need to worry. This is something I need and want to do."

Nashi sighed. "I love you."

Gary hummed as she felt her summer simmer into embers. "I love you too." Affection gleamed in his eyes when he witnessed Nashi give to sleep, out like a light in only seconds. He thumbed his Compact as though he was not ready to let her go. Maybe in another life…I'd have a family. If the world wasn't so cruel…and only if you wanted a family too…

He muted himself as he twisted to sit up. The soft love in his eyes darkened into something else. But the world is cruel. He abandoned his bed. Even though I'm publicized and under the Council's protection, what does that matter if the Council is corrupt and people don't care about the noise they make. He crossed the threshold to go to his large bay window and used two fingers to part the curtains.

Ceruleans narrowed. No matter how 'safe' I am, I'm well-aware every second, there are others out there waiting for me to slip. His eyes glowed into icy-blue as he scanned the mountains. He saw everything in thermal signatures with the cold a jarring blue, but in those mountains, he saw two creatures in their warmth as they hedged the territory line. Checkmate gave me the ability to fight back. So I don't care what happens to me.

Almost as if they knew they were seen, they turned tail and fled—

Gary growled.

Ice shot up in his line of vision and impaled the two creatures stupid enough to scout for a way into his territory and foolish enough not to realize they would be killed. The ice that pierced them infected them with a winter that sapped their thermal signatures within seconds and left them as wintry corpses.

The glow dropped his eyes as he exhaled frost through his nose. They will never touch me or Angel ever again.

The curtains fell shut.

---

The master bedroom bled darkness, which was fine when Tesla was in the middle of sleep. But the darkness played tricks and made you dream of things you wished you had forgotten or never thought of at all. Her brow twitched, furrowing, as something unpleasant had invaded her dreams and took the helm of her subconscious.

• — • — •

The focus was blurry and hidden. It looked to be beneath the metal frame of a bed with stained concrete to steady her and blocked her in like a lowly prison cell. Arguing in an unfamiliar tongue barraged the metal door that kept her in. Afraid. She was afraid. The arguing sounded like it would not stop, but she bit her lip and kept quiet. Crying was something he liked.

SLAM!

She did not jump when her door pried open with so much aggression, it should have broken off the hinges. Her heart leaped, but she had peed herself once today, and it cost her dearly. She could not do it again.

"Hylia. Out. Now."

Obediently, the focus came out from under the bed to look upon this man who was twisted in shadows, but she could see his eyes. The same eyes she had. She kept her hands to her side and her feet flat on the pavement when he dropped to her level and stared her down. In a few simple moves and clicks, he took off the gas mask he paraded about. But she knew why. The second he was free of his gas mask, he buried his nose in her neck and breathed.

His exhale gave her skin goosebumps, but she kept quiet.

"That's my girl." He pulled away from her with that look in his eye. A look she knew too well to refuse. "Daddy has a visitor who wants to see you. Be good for him and let him touch you." He gripped her jaw with bruising force. "Do you understand?"

She nodded, but she kept quiet.

"Good girl." He let her jaw go, but his face came closer in sweet threat. "Daddy needs a kiss before another man comes in here. Stay still." Warning held in those last two words, but he need not worry.

She knew how to stay still.

His kiss was harsh, but she was used to it. Her hatred and discomfort would never override his disgusting addiction. The only thing she was grateful for was when he pulled away sooner than the other times with a drugged smile on his lips and in his eyes. His thumb caressed her bottom lip. "You're so good for Daddy today," he praised her like he meant, like she should preen. "Once the visitor leaves, Daddy promises to come back so we can play."

She nodded, but she kept quiet.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

He got to his feet, displeased, but he took a step back. "I told you I'd come and get you," he snarled.

A winsome smile. "Gannon, you know I have no patience." A voice that flowed like a snake charmer with purpose and easy confidence. "Is this little Hylia?"

Gannon nodded. "Yes. Only touch her where I approved." A warning growl that meant violence.

A light laugh. "Oh, Gannon, I wouldn't dare ruin this opportunity to meet a prime patient so…unique." A shadow entered the room with a sleek figure hidden beneath a lab coat that looked like it had a curled tailcoat. Hair wild, the face was not recognizable, but those goggles were so large and reflective that she saw herself, small, dull, with large steely-gray eyes that knew nothing of life.

"Hello, little Hylia. It's nice to meet you." The shadow loomed over her and its mouth expanded into a smile that showed a diamond tooth amongst those pearly whites. "You can call me 'Doctor'."

• — • — •

Tesla twitched as a huff of noise passed through her lips. To keep her cooled, she had been sponge-bathed with damp clothes and another cloth lay on her forehead, but she glistened regardless. Unable to cope with her mind, her eyes blearily opened half-mast as she tried to rouse herself. But sleep had a death-grip on her. It would not let her go without a fight, and she had very little energy to spare. Her eyes tossed around, confused and agonized, but she could not make heads or tails of where she was. But she knew one thing.

There were…clouds around her.

It sounded strange—chalk it up to her sleep depravity and fever—but she could have sworn white tufts had swarmed her with such a soothing scent. She breathed in with everything she had and clung to those white tufts.

Something shifted.

BLINK.

She struggled to keep her eyes open when she felt something proud her cheek. Was that…a nose?

BLINK.

Blearliy, her focus turned and…

BLINK.

Yellow-ambers.

BLINK.

She tried to speak. Maybe it was a cry for help or a whimper. She would never know. "J-Jang…ta…"

BLINK.

A feeling not her own imprinted onto her mind as a dizziness rankled her head.

BLINK.

Sleep, the emotion told her. Sleep.

BLINK.

Tesla sighed as her eyelids drooped. Her fight with sleep had been decided and done. As her body relaxed, maybe if she had pushed herself to stay awake, she would have seen what she had been waiting for this whole time. Instead, she slept.

And she never noticed how large the clouds around her were nor the beastly shadow they had cast.

---

TO BE CONTINUED…

I think I need some sleep to if I'm going to process this week's episode. But that doesn't mean I'm not ready to find out what happens next! So stay tuned for the next episode of Fairy Adventure!

---

— • — • — • —

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

— • — • — • —

---

Low-hanging branches were a big cat's best friend—let no one tell you otherwise.

The tigress prowled through the jungle with such speed and precision that she knew where to step and where to turn. Snakes and other predators were wise enough to leave her alone, but a foolhardy magical creature was still a possibility of making her their lunch. Her paws guided her way until she came upon the base of a mountainous structure. With a few leaps, she was down on the ground. Tossing her head and stretching her legs, she breezily shifted back into her Human Life with those sharp yellows alive and angry.

A man had come out from the vine-covered cave at the base with stubble on his face and exhaustion in his eyes. "He's not gonna wanna see ya, Tigerlily. In a bit of a spell. Rooney's takin' a look at him—"

"He'll make the time," Tiger Lily growled as she stalked past him. She breached through the curtain of vines to find their camp. It was basic enough. After all, they needed very little human supplies to get them through. True enough, a woman was moving her hands in a shamanistic motion as wafts of violet glitzed off her flesh and onto an ugly black wound that looked more twisted and violent than it should have.

The woman did not look up as she murmured, "I'm not finished with today's session."

"This can't wait." Tiger Lily knelt to the patient with her head down. She showed her respect. "The humans sent to help me have found the concentration camps yet they do nothing. They have assured me that they will move when there's back-up, but I can't believe that. We have to act now."

The man from before came in with a sigh. "Sheila, no offense, but we have our own shit to deal with. And our king ain't lookin' too hot to help you out."

Tiger Lily threw him a withering glare. "I'm well-aware of that, but my options are limited." Frustration toward her own shortcomings. "I need help. And you're the only one powerful enough in this jungle to help me free those innocents." She placed her fist on her opposite shoulder. "I know you're injured and you told me you're planning on leaving the jungle soon, but I beg of you: help me free those people."

The woman was content to ignore, but a hand had gently pushed her own away. Her violet gemstone shimmered and she, too, looked on in worry. "We haven't finished…"

"I know." A rough grunt. "Tiger Lily, how many did you spot in that camp?"

"A least three dozen if not more," she instantly reported. "All of them looked malnourished and beaten. They had separated the young from their parents. We cannot let this continue before they are taken away."

The ground crunched as the patient forced himself off it and leaned against the cavernous wall for support. "You understand this isn't my fight. And what I'm risking if I help you." His voice carried a wild weight to it, solemn and dark.

Tiger Lily bowed lower. "I know. And I swear to you my assistance in your next endeavor."

Another grunt as the patient limped forward. "Lives are lives, no matter if it's one or a thousand. Someone close to me taught me that." He brushed past Tiger Lily and the man to part through the vines and escape to the outside. "It's been months since we took this job and so far, we've been waiting for the right moment." His hand clenched into a fist, but the grin on his face was sharp and challenging.

The others followed him out as the sun beamed down on him to catch the fire in his hair and clinging to his skin.

"It's time to remind people you don't fuck around with lives." Embers and smoke puffed from his nose. "Wander, Arunima—are you with me?"

Wander—the man with a relaxed gait and an easy-breeze grin—shrugged with just shorts and a tank top on. He preferred to be barefoot and that obnoxious hair of his was tamed into a healthy bun.

"Not like we have a choice when the king asked that," he jested. "Ain't that right, Rooney?"

⌜MELANDIA

Name: Wander Albright

Age: 17

Magic: Ice Dragon Slayer

Occupation: Left Hand

Likes: women with blonde hair Dislikes: dishwashing

Special Note: Wander is a Melandian with a knack for snowboarding and surfing and serves as a tough-to-beat right hand!⌟

Arunima looked beside herself with her black hair in a bubbled ponytail. The jungle heat might have made it impossible to want to wear anything heavy, but she managed with her chiffon saree with her violet lehenga (long skirt) and dupatta scarf over her functional crop-top.

"Yes," she supposed. "We'll follow you wherever you wish to go."

⌜HODU

Name: Arunima

Age: 19

Magic: Tantra Dragon Slayer

Occupation: Healer

Likes: sunbathing Dislikes: ice cream

Special Note: Arunima might not be that big of a fighter, but her healing powers are second to none!⌟

A grin broadened. "Well, all right then. Tiger Lily…"—he turned to show those vibrant emeralds—"you've got yourself a deal." His skin shed for scales as smoke and steam and embers blew around his body in a dramatic fashion. A wing shaped first with its twin before a tail slammed down to make a divot on the earth and sharp claws flexed. A crown of horns shaped on such a majestic head and glowing emeralds dilated then turned to slits.

All right. It's about time we show them it's a mistake to come into my territory.

The beast lifted its head through the smoke and embers and its throat vibrated as it gave the Call for all to hear in this jungle.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW…!

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Tesla Greer / Hylia Lynk – Galena White

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeong

Yang Ping Mei / Immortal Yang / Venerable One – Ming-Na Wen

Yang Weiwei – Suzie Yeung

Yang Kuen She / Untamed One – Marc Diraison

Mason – Jonah Scott

Peter Shuusei-Thompson – Joe Zieja

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Panther Lily – Rick Keeling

Tiger Lily – Patricia Duran

Muta / Moon Lily – Jason Douglas

Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck

Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook

Nikolai "Nik" Dreyar - Jason Liebricht

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Erza Fernandes – Colleen Clinkenbeard

Nashi Dragneel – Lauren Landa

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

Gannon Lynk -

The Doctor -

Wander Albright / Sub-Zero – James Napier

Arunima / Deva / Karma – Anjali Kunanpaneni

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ HANDS ⟫

BLUE ENCOUNT

Lyrics by

Junichi Tanabe⌟

•

⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Long-Distance Train ⟫

Aoi Yamazaki

Lyrics by

Aoi Yamazaki⌟

---

Chibi-Luna tips up her glasses and chirps, "Good morning, class!"

"Good morning, Teacher!" her students greet back. "What's our Fairy Lesson for today!"

"I'm happy you asked!" Chibi-Luna clicks on the projector to show the word MAGIC WEAPONS. "Today, we're going to speak about a magic weapon!" She clicks again to show the fountain pen Weiwei had been using. "We'll be talking about this weapon in particular!"

She clicks to show the jian sword, the gun staff, the dao sabre, and the qiang spear. "In ancient times, these four weapons were called the Masters of Weaponry. Depending on the style of training, people would use these in martial arts. But in the use of Cultivation, these weapons were spiritually-charged and helped Cultivators fight spiritual enemies such as Ghosts, lower-level Demons, and others."

She flicks to show a black-and-white slow-motion replay of Weiwei flicking her pen and it expanding into her qiang spear. "The pen Weiwei used today has the ability to transform into all four weapons with strong spiritual energy tied to it. Magical weapons like this are very rare to have since it takes a lot of spiritual energy to create and to maintain. But likely, she's able to use it sparingly, so when events like this happen, all four weapons are ready to go!"

She ends the projection. "That's it for now! Next time, on Fairy Adventure: Episode 095 – LANTERN FESTIVAL!"