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!

123. Adventure 123

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: Nora came back in a big way, and that was for a very important meeting with Ena to become her partner—in more ways than one. Luna's trip to The Society with Luke left her meeting an honest young man with a mysterious power and a mysterious "Cymmie". Silver was still a little shaken from his vision, but Luna was there to help pick him up when he felt down. Too bad some people ruined it. But at least Silver has his best friend and his crush for support. Luke's situation is still a little murky around the woman who connected them, but he's still a cool big bro! And big brother Luke is fine with Gale spending the night. But one thing is for certain, Luna still has a lot to figure out with how she feels about Gale.

'Things are better now. And he's changed. It's fine.'

Y'know, my mama told me people don't change; they grow. But I guess that's just one more lesson Luna will have to learn.

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Chibi-Nashi appears with a grin and a wave. "Hi, everyone! Ready for more Fairy Adventure? To keep your eyes safe, make sure you read with at least one light on in a low setting! And here is the updated time zone table!"

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

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

CST • — • — • – Cipangu Standard Time • — • — • — Cipangu • — • – UTC +5

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

WST • — • – Western Ishgaran Time • — • — • — • Caelum • — • – UTC - 0:00

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

CAST • — • — • — • — Caracole-Alicanto Standard Time – Fiore • — • UTC – 1

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

EAT • — • — • – East Andüsa Time • — • — • – Andüsa • — • — • — UTC - 2

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

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

Chibi-Nashi winks with a thumbs up. "Enjoy the episode!"

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If you thought going to the Sky Port on a Saturday morning meant more traffic, you would be absolutely right.

The crowds had overwhelmed the Sky Port so much so that it felt impossible to move. Now that everyone had no work and had the night to pack, it was time to hit the road for vacation. Families were the biggest culprits of using today as their departure day as they clustered in semi-functional units. MagiaLand and Magia World were on the brain for children with others thinking of trips to see their grandparents and aunts and uncles. Others were teenagers ready to shed the shackles their parents put on them for some shenanigans across the pond. Ragged expat university students finished with exams were off to pop home.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Jabarosa-Crocus International Sky Port

Jaborsa

Fiore, Ishgar

10:05 AM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"This is so awesome!"

Maybe Luna looked like Ariel out of the sea, but to be fair, being inside a Sky Club Lounge was a different experience than waiting at your port. The lounge had its own bar and restaurant, a fireplace, couches, and even private bathrooms. Most who came to the lounge dressed in their business suits or business casual, but they showed side-eyed to two unruly men at the bar shooting the breeze with each other.

She looked out the window to see the Sky Boat sink down to their ports and others start their ascent into the air. "I've never been to a Sky Port before! This is so cool, right, Icarus?"

Icarus yawned in his harness and scratched his collar. But he could not help his amused look at Luna's excitement. Yes, Pup, it is nice. His brow twitched as he closed his mind from her. Although… He glared and saw several young men turn away, sweating. Filthy eyes seem to be staring at my cub.

Luna looked over at Ena, who sipped her Starfox tea as she reviewed documents on her tablet. "This is so cool you get to do this all the time, E! And I'm with you this time!" She laid back and stretched out. "It's like a dream."

Ena looked up from her work with a soft smile at Luna. "I'm glad you like it." Glancing out the window, she remarked, "I suppose it's nice I do this all the time, but I never saw the exciting factor like you. It's refreshing."

Luna poutily muttered, "Rub it in you're so amazing, huh?"

Ena laughed. "It's not that. I guess I took things for granted. But now I'll make every moment count since I'm with you."

A low whimper.

Ena forcibly exhaled. "And with a lowly pig." She crossed her legs and her arms. "Do you feel that you have reflected on your actions well enough, pig?"

"M-M-Mistress…" Silver could not get the red blush off his face and he looked at his lap, ashamed. Pig ears and a pig nose might have made Luna snigger behind her hand, but all the confused looks he received made him all that more humiliated. "I didn't mean to tell her. B-B-But she just…got it out of me."

"So you're blaming her for your ineptitude, is that right?" Ena challenged.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Silver!" Luna placed a hand on her cheek, innocent as could be. "I didn't mean to get you in trouble." Even sad, a flowery aura sprang from her. "Truly. I'm so sorry, Silver. E, you shouldn't punish him. I'm the one to blame for ruining your surprise."

Ena shook her head. "No. Someone"—Silver shrank at her hiss—"couldn't keep his mouth shut." She reached over to grab Luna's hands. "Don't worry. You did nothing wrong."

Luna beamed. "Okay!"

Silver gawked when Luna discreetly stuck her tongue out at him. You liar! You used puppy eyes on me, my weakness! He tugged at Ena's sleeve and begged, "Please, Mistress, I said I was sorry! I really didn't mean to ruin it—Eep!" Now he truly felt like a piglet for slaughter when Ena loomed over him.

"Did I say a pig like you could touch me?" Ena pressed.

Silver gulped. Mistress is so cruel.

"E, you should let Silver's punishment go," Luna urged, her innocent flowery aura back again. "He really didn't mean to tell me, I promise. And I still love the surprise. So please, won't you forgive Silver?" Her eyes shimmered. "For me?"

E smiled and rubbed Luna's head. "Of course. You know I can't say, 'no' to you." She cut Silver a cold look. "She spared your life. Go change." Her eyes flared with Magic. "Now."

Silver felt like Luna's biggest worshipper and was erecting Encan statues in her maidenly honor. Thank you, Lulu, I'll never doubt you again!

°•°•°•°

With Silver happily back in his regular clothes, Luna asked Ena, "So what's the business trip about?"

"Oh?" Ena raised an eyebrow as she gave frozen Silver a glance. "He didn't spoil that too?" She sighed. "Well, at the last investor meeting, we spoke more about broadening my brand into international boutiques. I have more than enough international supporters and the forecast research supported that it would help the House of E increase fiscally."

Luna frowned. "But your whole brand is about being original."

"Exactly." Ena smiled a cunning smile. "I would deliberately have region-specific ensembles for those boutiques. I wouldn't be compromising my brand this way." She dipped her chin between her thumb and forefinger. "The expansion project we're undertaking would require the House of E to have six boutiques. One in Fiore, on in Pergrande, on in Minstrel, one in Zhōnguá, and we're debating about the location in Andüsa and the USM."

"Woah…" Luna gasped. "That's a lot, right?"

Ena nodded. "Mm. Normally, an upstart designer wouldn't be so bold and would start with one boutique close to home, especially considering the expenses. In fact, they normally do online because it's cheaper that way. But I've made sure the research team and financial analysts forecasted strict success with budgeting, taxes, expenses, locations, management, and employees. The board of directors thinks it's risky, but they've seen the numbers and are in unanimous agreement. So are the investors from last quarter…"

Luna's eyes swirled as she swayed. "Th-That's so much information…"

Silver whispered to Ena, "Mistress, I think you broke her."

"Oh!" Ena coughed, flushed. "Well, anyway, the point of this meeting is to meet with a Caelun airfreight company called Sky Adze Cargo. I'd like to tackle sea trade as well for a more consistent option for bulkier items since sea-freights are a lot more limitless, but right now, airfreight gives more expedited options if more expensive. And Sky Adze is well equipped to handle international inventory. From what I hear, the prices, insurance, and security guarantee are second to none."

"I see…" Luna tapped her chin. "Is it normal for you go overseas for these sorts of business deals?"

Ena shook her head. "No. I have project managers I normally entrust for foreign deals. Sometimes, I'll handle domestic travel. I was going to send one of my project managers once Sky Adze accepted to hear our proposal and enter negotiations, but…"

Silver filled in. "We had a personal courier from the chairman of Sky Adze request Mistress to come in person." He scratched his head, perplexed himself. "It was really strange. From what I know, it's not normal for that to happen. And since we're still filling in position for the title of president, as Mistress is the CEO, she had no choice but to accept going on behalf of the company."

Ena chewed on her thumbnail. And from the research I did on the chairman of Sky Adze, he's an eccentric man who often makes random decisions. But those decisions always manage to make the company richer. Would he even go for a company like mine? She closed her eyes. No, I shouldn't think like that. He accepted this business meeting. But I can't help but feel restless. Her eyes opened when she felt a hand on her cheek and dark browns met blues.

"Don't worry, Mistress." Silver rested his forehead against her, eyes closing. "I'll be at your side the entire time. I know that they'll accept your proposal. I have faith in you. So have some faith in yourself too."

Dark browns widened before sparkling. "Right." She closed her eyes and leaned against him. I have nothing to fear with my shield with me. Everything will be fine.

BASHABASHA!

Ena withdrew to sneak a suspicious look at an innocent Luna. "What was that?"

"Nothing." Luna kept her Compact behind her back with the photo of Ena and Silver clear as day. I have to use every tactic I can to document this and report back to Auntie Erza and Auntie Juvia like I promised them. In her head, Chibi-Luna looked at the picture she had taken like a hikkimori shafted under her blanket with the only light from her Compact. I won't be the third wheel on this trip! I'll be—Chibi-Luna had on a fisherman's hat, shades, a face mask, and her trusty camera—the relationship photographer!

Silver sweatdropped watching Luna's facial expression blatantly change. "She knows we can see her, right?" He sighed, amusedly watching Luna's internal conversation play out. "Well, whatever. I'm happy she's with us. I hope we can see her even more happy."

Ena hummed. "I agree." Her gaze fell to the window as she watched a Sky Boat ascend from the runway. I hope I can make you both happy with the surprise I have planned.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Tobase STAR TRAIN

Tsuki akari wo se ni FLY AWAY

Mada minu mirai he to kakedase

Yozora wo koete

•

Kimi mo Step Forward

Sono Yuma wo nosete Jump Around

Sekai wo hirogete hashirou

Shuuchakueki ha

Kimi no Wonderful World

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Once in a person's life, they had to come to Caelum.

The mainland was overrun with the wilds and tropical jungle. It was worth visiting, of course, with all the natural beauty and the rare flora and fauna and the crystal-clear waterfalls.

But it was the floating chunks of the island one needed to see the most.

Nothing about the floating landmasses was through technology and no one had a fear they would fall. Skyscrapers and universities and mosques and cathedrals had piled onto the land without a care in the world. Citizens traversed through the cities like it was nothing. Parks filled with healthy trees and large ponds made many flocking to relax. The shopping districts had increased sales with the spring break influx.

But that was not all.

FWOOSH!

Watching people travel by cloud or surfing the breeze might not impress a local, but foreigners lost a breath watching locals use the clouds as transportation. Some were teenagers who liked to stir up trouble as they rode their flying nimbuses. Some were thrill-seekers who sailed on the waves of the wind with grins and a love for the sport in their eyes. Others used the clouds for practicality, even touting along their groceries or carrying children. Aerial magical creatures had made their homes here and were more than happy to act as couriers and larger ones were "sky taxis" to get from one landmass to the next or even sky busses.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« Welcome to the Island of Caelum, also known as the Sky's Paradise. The mainland on the ground is predominantly used by agriculturists, horticulturists, and most of the land has been claimed as a wildlife conservatory and a historical landmark. Above are the six floating masses, each called a "Paradise" and named after the five gods that once ruled each land, and the sixth is named after the Sky Spirit, who gave Caelum its floating cities.

Because of the higher altitudes, foreigners are given the option to use the Acclimation Lacrima Chamber so their bodies quickly acclimate to the decrease in oxygen and colder weather. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The moment they had arrived at the hotel, Luna had dropped her things, hurried to open the balcony doors, and rushed to the railing. Her eyes sparkled in wonder as she looked at the city before her. The rhythm of the city could be felt in her bones, feverish and alive. Over yonder, a large Lacrima billboard showcased a commercial for a luxury fragrance. A large park looked to be a blast with street performers and a large playground. The city itself looked busy with normal traffic, but—

FWOOSH!

Luna kept a stubborn lock of hair tucked behind her ear as wind gusted, but to her amazement, the culprit was a sky taxi. A beautiful Roc carried the taxi carriage in her talons with her Tamer guiding her, but they caught Luna's curious look. The Tamer tipped her hat while her Roc cawed and showed off her broad wings.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hotel Nimbus

Ao's Paradise

Caelum, Ishgar

12:57 PM WIT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Wow…!" Luna giggled seeing a few teenager cloud surfers taking off down the street and doing tricks that would give a parent a heart attack. "This is amazing!"

Ena came out onto the balcony, her own gaze bright. "It is," she agreed. "We're staying on Ao's Paradise, which is the biggest island. Ao was the Guardian Spirit who granted Caelum the ability to have floating islands like this.

"My granny Anna told me about Ao," Luna chirped, enthralled. "They were a benevolent Spirit who often pitied the humans here. Ao granted Caeluns airpower, but that left lift the mainland unprotected. So Ao got the blessing to share Caelum's domain with another Spirit—the Guardian Forest Spirit, Kāne. Ao would protect the skies and Kāne would protect the forest." She also said Kāne had a brother, Tāne. They were brother-sister Spirits who looked after a forest in Fiore, but Kāne agreed to be the Guardian Spirit here. I wonder what they're like…

"Lulu! Mistress!" Silver called from inside. "All our stuff arrived!"

Luna peeled from the railing to race inside. The hotel had a master suite and another bedroom with two full beds with a common room in the middle, more than enough for the three of them. "Our room is huge!"

Ena chuckled. "It is. I only wanted the best for us." She nodded to one door. "Silver, you can have the large bed. L and I will take the other room."

"What?"

Ena's brow furrowed when both Silver and Luna looked dismayed and shocked in equal proportions. "What? It makes the most sense," she pointed out. "That way, we'll each get our own bed."

Luna and Silver tried to look for a flaw in her plan. "B-B-But…!"

Luna clutched her head, eyes swirling. No, no, this wasn't how it was supposed to go! What do I do?

Silver's eyes comically watered as he tried and failed coming up with a reason. But…I thought we could share a bed, Mistress. Is this the end? Do you not want me anymore?

Shadows covered Ena's eyes as she witnessed Silver and Luna's panic. What on Earth Land is going through their heads to make those faces? She shook her head and held out her hand. "Silver, let me show you your room."

That made Silver freeze. Sh-She's going to show me my room?

"Silver…!" Fantasy-Ena moaned with seductive hearts around her as she kept hold of his leash. "Come here. Let me show you our bed." She leaned forward to purr, "And let's break it in to-ge-ther."

"No!" Silver held his face in his hands as steam puffed from his head. "I'm too young for this, Mistress! I must wait until marriage!"

A tick mark beat Ena's forehead as she itched for her swords. Why do I feel like he thought of something inappropriate? Impatient, she came forward and stole his hand. "Come. To your room."

Silver gulped, shaky and red-faced. She's so forward! But…I'm the man. Shouldn't I be the forward one? We're so young! But…if Mistress wants to, I can't say 'no' to her. He closed his eyes as Ena opened the door. I want to be of use to Mistress. And if that means this, then I'll do it for her! I'll show her I'm a man she can trust with her body! I-I can do it!

Ena stood two steps into the room, proud. "Well…" She turned to Silver. "Surprise—!"

Silver leaned forward with his lips puckered. I'll please you, Mistress—!

SHING!

Silver's eyes flew open, and he sweated when he saw Soledia and Lunagr'an had aimed for his throat.

"Tell me, pig." A frosty look burned in Ena's eyes as she wielded her swords. "Were you about to conduct yourself inappropriately towards me? If so, allow me to correct you."

Internally, Silver was bawling. I should've known my imagination would kill me one day! He whimpered, "M-M-Mistress, I…!" He trailed off when he caught the details of his room.

Mayan blues widened. No way… Is all this…?

Ena noticed Silver's attention had gone elsewhere and dismissed her swords to step back and encouraged him, "Go on."

Silver tentatively crept forward to look at his bed. Fan paraphernalia from Young Nation had piled onto the comforter, from the famous jersey sweatshirt after MINNI to a Young Nation Light Bomb to a Z Pop Funko, and when it all came down to it, Silver ended up picking up the signed VIP pass with a limited-edition lanyard on it. Words were not his strong suit, but he sparsely breathed, "M-Mistress…"

Luna bounded in. "Hey, what's going…"—her eyes flew open seeing all the Young Nation merchandise—"on…? Oh my goodness…" She passed Ena to get a look at all the goods on Silver's bed. "Th-This is…"

Luna and Silver exchanged a wide-eyed look before looking at a grinning Ena. "E / Mistress?"

"Well, I'm not the Mistress of the House of E nor the daughter of a Dame and Guild Master for nothing." Ena twirled her hands to show two more signed VIP passes. "I know how much you both like Young Nation and they may or may not owe me a favor that I cashed in on. I take it you'll both be able to make it to the concert this upcoming week with the fan meet and greet and autograph signing?"

Luna and Silver's jaws dropped.

It shocked Ena when rivers of tears gushed from their eyes. What's with this reaction? Her eyes widened when both of them pounced for her. "W-Wait! Oh!"

THUD!

Ena winced from the fall. Ow. Why did they—?

"This is amazing!" Luna gushed as she hugged Ena's side, beaming. "E, you're so amazing!"

"This is perfect, Mistress!" Silver told her, hugging Ena's other side. "You really are the best!"

They both cried, "Thank you so much!"

Ena let go of scolding her for bowling her over to pull them close. "Of course. There's nothing that I wouldn't do for the both of you." She looked up at the ceiling with the world brighter and lighter than ever before. This is just a small thing of gratitude I can offer you both for how much you mean to me, my best friend and my faithful shield. She squeezed them both. "Well, then. We're going to have a great time at the concert! All three of us!"

Silver and Luna laughed and cheered, "Aye, sir!"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 123

•

The Floating City

•

浮かぶ街

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Do you think my Prince Charming will be a knight? I'll bet he'll be a knight!"

Nora felt a headache coming on as he picked up his teacup. Why did I agree to this again?

The Savant Hall main conservatory had no purpose being open, to be honest. Reserved for the Marchioness hosting tea parties with important nobles and merchants or Odette's own tea gatherings, it normally was neglected outside of special occasions.

Apparently, Sylvie boasting about her solstice party was also a special occasion.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Savant Hall

Larkspur County

Fiore, Ishgar

1:37 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"And he'll be tall and strong and have dreamy blue eyes…!"

Nora muttered dully, "That's nice, Sylvie." He sipped his tea again and slipped Sylvie's maids a withering look (and both bowed, sweating profusely). I have actual work to do and you both tricked me into listening to her when you got fed up.

SLAM!

A shiver crawled up Nora when Sylvie pointed at him, puffing a cheek. "You weren't paying attention to me! What could you be thinking about that's more important than my ball?"

Nora turned away from the accusation in her stare, scratching his cheek with a finger. "I, uh… I…" Father, now I see why you told me you suddenly had a business trip to go. He remembered how quickly his father could whirl away, even with his cane, and his jovial goodbye the moment Nora was awake enough to see him off.

"Oh, I know."

Nora's eyebrow twitched seeing that feline smirk on Sylvie's face. "Um, you know what?"

"You were thinking about Ena," Sylvie purred, "weren't you?"

Grayed yellows widened before they lowered to his tea, soft and warm. Ena… Recalling her flushed cheeks and the twinkle in her eyes made a smile tease his lips. She really is beautiful inside and out.

Sylvie loudly coughed.

Nora huffed and raised his cuppa. "Whatever. So what if I was?"

"Then that's great!"

Nora's eyes narrowed. "It is?"

"Yes!" Sylvie rubbed her hands together, devious. "The quicker she becomes an in-law, the more I can have her make me clothes so I can get a duke of my own."

Nora sweatdropped as Sylvie spewed her plans for Ena. She really is boy crazy. And isn't in-laws a little too soon? He sighed. "If you must know, Ena and I have decided to take a slower approach to companionship."

Sylvie looked disinterested as she checked her nails. "So nothing I can gossip with. Boring."

A tick mark twinged Nora's cheeks as he gripped his teacup. And you think listening to you talk about your preferences in men is interesting?

Finding his patience, he said, "It might be boring, but it's the best course of action." Melancholy tinged his gaze. "I have many responsibilities as the son of a Marquis, especially that both Atticus and I have equal chances to inherit Father's title. And I still have to work hard to become a Holy Knight. That's a lot she would have to deal with right away."

And even if I wanted to move faster, our companionship isn't true courting. It's all for the sake of fooling the Holy Eye. That grayed yellow regard saw his reflection in his tea. And even if I wanted it to be real… No. It's best to dream of that instead of wish for it to be real. She would run away if I came outright and said my feelings. At least in my dreams…I could keep her close.

Sylvie sobered at Nora's words. "You've been taking your duties seriously as the young lord, huh?" She rested her chin on a propped hand with her eyes gentler and wistful. "It's weird. When you first came here, I didn't think you'd actually be serious about inheriting Daddy's title. But you, Odette, Atticus—all of you are working so hard. And then there's me. I don't work at all, and it's not like Daddy tries to force me."

Eros' cold words came back to her. "You're nothing more than a spoiled little girl who needs to be taken by the hand. And you are not at all the same caliber of lady as Odette."

Sylvie wanted to get agitated about Eros' treatment of her, but she did not have it in her. Was he right? Am I just supposed to stay in Odette's shadow forever?

"If you want to work, then work."

Dark browns widened.

Nora looked at his tea as though debating. "Father has no issue if you don't want to work for the estate. And he will gladly accept you if you want to work. He won't overwhelm you. When I told him I wanted to work, he guided me through smaller tasks and helped me with my staff until I could do it on my own. And now, I have the annex, my staff, and I'll be attending the Round Tables with him."

He ended up adding more honey. "What I'm trying to say is that you have the power to change how people perceive you. But you have to be the one to ask Father for help." He gifted her a half-smile. "And then you'll be a distinguished lady of the court like I always knew you'd be."

Sylvie blinked. Nora… She broke into a laugh that surprised him. "Wow. I'm getting lecture by the little brother now."

"I'm not that much younger than you," Nora muttered.

Sylvie hummed as Nora kept grumbling about all the ways he was older than her. Nora really has been working hard. Every time I'd see him at college, he'd be studying. And I know Daddy is proud of him. Even Atticus advocated for the roles Nora could take. Her eyes darkened. But Irina… I'll never consider her my mother. Something about her isn't right. I don't know what. But something…

"Nora? Sylvie? There you are."

Sylvie huffed while Nora perked seeing Odette come into the conservatory (and she had her assistant and guard wait outside). "Odette, hey," Nora called. "Sylvie and I were having tea and having an extensive discussion on her—what was it again? How you like your men?"

Sylvie flushed while Odette laughed. "Sounds like I'm right on time." She looked like every bit of the lady she should, with her prim and proper pantsuit. She gave her sister a nervous look. "If…I'm allowed to join, that is?"

Sylvie wanted to refuse, but a raised eyebrow from Nora made her grouse, "I guess."

Relief made Odette's shoulders sag. "Thank you." She took her seat at the table and thanked the maid who came over with tea. Nodding to her sister, she remarked, "I heard everyone on your list RVSP'ed. And I also heard how late Eros received an invitation."

"I didn't want that grandpa at my ball," Sylvie grunted. "But Daddy said I had to invite him." He even bought me all that stuff just to convince me. Her father had bribed her with all sorts of shoes, make-up, and jewelry until she caved into the invite.

Odette tittered. "You needn't worry about Eros. Rumor has it there is a lady naval officer he met and hit it off with."

That made Sylvie stiffen, but she played it cool. "Really? I can't imagine any woman falling for a mood-killer like him."

"Lord Eros is a well-accomplished man," Nora said, thoughtful. "He is already knighted and has a concrete position as the next Duke of the House of Normandy. He's well-spoken, well-read, well-cultured…" He shrugged. "I'm sure he has plenty of marriage offers."

"There's no way anyone would marry him!"

Odette and Nora looked at a red-face Sylvie when she realized had shouted, and she abruptly stood up. "I'm tired. I'm going inside. Maids?" And she hurried out of the conservatory with her maids shuffling after her, throwing apologetic looks and bows to Odette and Nora.

Odette managed a snort. "I always wondered why Sylvie suddenly hated Eros. He was nothing but kind to her when we were kids." She shook her head. "Maybe she does have a thing of liking men too old for her."

"But Duke Alexandreux is the right age for you," Nora mentioned.

Odette prettily blushed. "I…take it you've been listening to gossip."

"Or looking at the truth in front of me." Nora leaned forward, serious, when Odette looked at the table. "Odette, you're beautiful, talented, and intelligent. Duke Alexandreux sees all of that and more in you, as he should. If he asks for you for your hand in courtship, would you take it?"

"I…" Odette swallowed, toying with her thumbs. "I…want to. But it's all so sudden and we hardly know each other—"

"It's a good thing it's courting and not marriage then," Nora chuckled.

Odette flashed him a good-natured glower. "Just like you're courting Ena."

"If only," Nora sighed. "Let's settle on a companionship." I have a worthy opponent to face for her heart. And I know he'll fight with everything he has.

"Speaking of Ena…"

Nora straightened seeing the graveness on Odette's face. "What? What is it?"

"It's…" Odette looked around before leaning it. "It's actually about Atticus and his spring holiday."

That confused Nora. "What about it? He's taken his spring holiday with his rowing friends."

"That's the thing. He isn't anymore," Odette informed. "I overheard his change of plans late last night. I had been meaning to talk to Father, but I ended up eavesdropping. He took a solo holiday."

This gave Nora a bad feeling. "Where did he take it?"

Odette drew out a long exhale. "Caelum. He said he was going to Caelum before he had a friend he wanted to visit. And he wanted the trip to be as discreet as possible."

Nora's brow furrowed as he thought hard. Caelum? But we know almost all of Atticus' international friends. None of them reside in Caelum. So why would he go—?

Grayed yellows widened.

Odette blinked when Nora stood up. "What is it?"

"I need to make a call. Excuse me." Nora ignored any pleas for explanation as he rushed out of the conservatory and onto the grounds. I should've known this is why Atticus has been so quiet. He was plotting something. But why is he going after Ena in Caelum? Is he really going after her? He didn't even have that big of an interest in her but in the model she brought for the Yule Cotillion.

Theories strung along in his head. I can't think about it now. I have to alert Ena. If Atticus really went to Caelum, there's always a chance he's coming for her. As for why? He gritted his teeth. That question still haunts me.

---

Ena and Luna's bedroom had been quickly filled with comforting touches. All of the Young National paraphernalia Ena had bought Luna were carefully tucked away to be taken out the day of the concert. Luna had taken out her main camera with her back-up on its charge. She checked all her equipment while Icarus dozed on the foot of the bed. Ena took up the bathroom as she showered.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hotel Nimbus

Ao's Paradise

Caelum, Ishgar

1:42 PM WIT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna could not stop smiling and wriggling. My best friend is awesome. I can't believe I get to see Young Nation at the Sky Arena! This is like a dream come true! Icarus, can you believe it?

Icarus kept his eyes closed, but he asked, Is this 'Young Nation' those seven men you speak of wedding? I still do not understand this 'bias' and a…'bias wrecker'.

I got you. You'll learn in no time, Luna promised.

I'd rather not learn at all, Icarus muttered.

Luna booped his snoot when her Compact rang. Her father's contact came up, so she answered and put it on ⟪ Speaker ⟫. "Hi, Papa. How's your honeymoon?"

"Hey, if you ever meet the right person, you'll be doing these honeymoons too," Natsu laughed. Then he sternly added, "But only after you're thirty-five."

Luna giggled. "Yeah, yeah. How's Mama?"

"She's still recovering from all the stress from her tour, so we're taking it easy," Natsu told her. "How's Caelum, baby girl?"

"It's so gorgeous," Luna gushed to her father. "You should see it, Papa! Everywhere is so beautiful and we haven't even left the hotel room!"

Natsu chuckled. "Then you better be takin' a million pictures for me to look at when you come home, you got that? I want to see your trip through your eyes and don't leave a single thing out."

Luna playfully rolled her eyes. "Yes, Papa."

"And if you need any money—"

"Papa!"

"What? I'm just saying!"

Luna finished checking her equipment to take her Compact in her hands and turn off Speaker. She fell onto her pillows and told her father, "I have enough money for the trip, Papa, it's fine. You don't have to worry."

"You're my kid. Of course I'm gonna worry about you," Natsu teased her. He added, tender, "I know the jobs you've been taking with your ma and I aren't always the heavy hitter ones like Nashi and Luke would take. I'm sure you have money from all that. But don't hesitate to ask if you need anything, all right? And you have your mom's Call Card and my Call Card too, just in case."

And Gale's, Luna added, but she would not tell her father that. "Yeah, I know, Papa." She curled onto her side. "But I'm okay."

"I know you're okay, but that doesn't stop you from being my baby girl."

Luna felt her heart soften. "I bet you don't say that to Nashi."

"She'll always be my princess and she damn well knows I'm going to call her that even if she betrayed me and moved in with that ice bastard's brat—!"

"Natsu," Lucy tiredly called from a distance. "Stop cursing Gary's name. You know him. You've known him since he was born."

"Lucy…!" Natsu whined. "You're supposed to be on my side of this! We're married!"

"You always say that when you're wrong about something, dummy," Lucy good-naturedly muttered. A smooch and some footsteps. "I'm ordering room service. No, don't tell me what you want. I'll get one of everything."

"Say it, Lucy," Natsu goaded with Luna grinning at her father's goofiness. Lucy's mother groaned in the background and Natsu's large grin could be heard. "C'mon, ya gotta. You lost to me fair and square, Lucy, ya gotta say it!"

A loud sigh. "I'll get one of everything, Your Majesty," Lucy gritted. "Now if you'll excuse me, Your Majesty, I need to go find the rest of my dignity and the menu."

Natsu hooted. "See that, baby girl? The right person will treat you like royalty."

"Gale calls me—"

"The right person will treat you like royalty when you're thirty-five."

Luna bubbled with laughter. "You're silly, Papa." Her mind flashed back to last night. Gale…

Vibrant rubies intense with desire.

Gray's murmured words. "And sometimes, for people like you, Luna, and Juvia, it can be easier to forget when it comes to the people we love."

Luna's lashes lowered half-mast. I… I don't know what to do. "P-Papa?"

"What's wrong, baby girl?" Natsu murmured.

"I…" Luna clenched her hand. "It's… It's nothing."

Four beats.

"If it's still nothing in the future, you can still call me," Natsu promised her. "And if that nothing turns into something, you can call me and I'll listen. I don't even have to talk. But you can call me if you just need me to be there, baby girl, okay?"

Luna swallowed. "Y-Yeah."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"You swear?"

Luna smiled. "I swear."

"You cross your heart—?"

"Papa!"

Natsu breathed a laugh. "I love you, baby girl. I just wanted to check-in and see how you were doing. Caelum… It's a lot different than Fiore."

"I know," Luna murmured. "I'm okay, Papa, I promise. I have E and Silver." She laughed when Icarus nudged her foot. "And Icarus too." She heard the communal room HCL go off, but Silver had picked it up. "I promise I'll call if I need to."

"Thank you." Some distant conversation. "If you're good, I'll let you go. You have fun in Caelum but stay away from boys and any strangers. And take lots of pictures and eat a lot of good food. But no drinking."

"But—!"

"No drinking without Ena or Silver present and one of them has to be sober," Natsu amended, but he would not budge on this.

The shower shut off in the bathroom, and Luna squealed her glee. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You're welcome," Natsu chortled. "I love you."

"Love you too, Papa. And I'll talk to you and Mama soon. Have fun on your honeymoon!" She blew a kiss to the Compact before ending the call, feeling warm and fuzzy. I want people to treat me like an adult too, but… It's nice when Papa calls to check-in.

Ena came out of the bathroom as she towel-dried her hair, but she did not bother hiding the rest of her body. "Your dad?"

"Yeah." Luna sat up. "So we're going sightseeing, right?"

Ena chuckled. "I made dinner reservations, but Silver pulled together most of the itinerary. He's awfully good at planning things. I never knew how organized he is."

"It's not like I didn't tell you," Luna said dryly. She went about packing away her equipment. "You guys just refused to listen to me when I told you guys about each other and spent time fighting when I was the one who said for you two to not fight and talk to each other."

"All right, all right, L, I hear you," Ena muttered, though she still smiled. "You were right."

Luna lifted her chin, smug. "Yes I was."

Ena laughed as she finished toweling her hair and blotted her body. "L?"

"Hmm?"

A few beats.

"So you…always knew about Silver's true passions?" Ena asked her. "About the knitting and the make-up and J-music?"

Luna nodded as she packed her camera bag. "Yeah. But he didn't want me to talk about it in public since other things were happening at the time. I mean, he really does love being on the swim team. But he played lacrimagames and pretended to like sports and stuff just so his friends didn't call him 'gay' because he normally hung out with girls back then. And even then, the girls all called him their 'gay best friend' because they didn't see him as a 'real guy'."

That made Ena sharpen. "What?"

Luna realized what she said and instantly splashed regret on her features. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry, but I can't say anymore. Please don't tell Silver I said all of that, E, please. Wait for him to tell you himself."

Ena wanted to argue, but the merit in Luna's words and her guilt for speaking too much forced Ena to back down. "I won't say anything," she promised. The gears in her head were turning, however.

He confirmed enough he was judged for his interests, but… I didn't realize his own friends and teammates insulted him for it. Anger filled her. Had I been there, I would have shown them who deserves an insult. Her anger slipped away. But I wasn't there. All I can do now is support him. I wonder… Does his lady love know his interests? Does she support him too?

Her toweling slowed to a stop as something inside her shifted. If she supports him, I'm…happy for him. But… Dark browns shimmered. Would it be so horrible if I…? If I wished she…?

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

Ena froze. What was I thinking? Disturbed, she shook off her question. Now's not the time to worry about such absurd thoughts. She strode to the door and opened it to see Silver on the other side. "Yes?"

Silver swallowed. "Well, Mistress, I…" But his mouth dried up when he realized one crucial factor.

His mistress was very, very naked.

Ena frowned. "Silver? What happened?"

Silver said nothing.

Ena jolted when his mouth started over-salivating buckets of drool. Is he dying!

°•°•°•°

"The chairman said what?"

An embarrassed Silver (who had to shower again, thanks to all his inhumane drooling) spent his time brushing out Ena's hair while she sat crossed-legged and crossed-armed in her robe on her bed. "The chairman of Sky Adze sent a messenger here to tell us he wanted to have an informal late lunch before we break into negotiations on Monday," he reported.

"Can he do that?" Luna questioned. "I mean we just got here and it's a Saturday."

"I heard the chairman of Sky Adze was an eccentric sort of man who did all sorts of 'tests' on potential partners," Ena informed as she stewed over her options. "Some potential partners were tested knowing about the culture and traditions of Caeluns. Others spent time with him on the mainland to see if they were athletic enough. I heard he even did a spicy food contest."

Luna wrinkled his nose. "He's allowed to do that? Isn't that hazing or something?"

"It is," Ena huffed. "But Sky Adze is such a well-known and crucial airfreight company that people put up with it if it means securing the contract. Because of how eco-friendly and reasonable it is, Sky Adze has controlled international airfreight routes since its inception."

Silver questioned, "And we can't use Tele-Warps?"

"Out of the question," Ena vetoed. "Considering there is too much strife with Magic, sanctioned and unsanctioned, a Tele-Warp overseas would not only be costly, but the permits we would need from both the government and the Council would be a losing legal battle, especially when I try to justify it with my clothing line." She closed her eyes when Silver massaged her scalp. "What did you tell the front desk?"

"I let them know you would personally call back the front desk with your answer if the courier was willing to wait for an answer of your acceptance or decline," Silver informed. "The courier, however, let me know that the chairman will be at the restaurant since he already had a reservation. And he'll have a Sky Taxi ready for us when we're dressed."

Ena exhaled through her nose. "Any details of the time and place and what to wear?"

"I asked, but the courier said to wear what we feel represents us," Silver told her. "As for the time, he said the chairman will wait as long as needed and that if this needs to turn into a dinner invitation, he's more than willing to accommodate."

Ena snorted. "'Accommodate'. How amusing."

Silver did not understand. "Mistress?"

"It's a test," Ena explained. "He wants to see how long we'll make him wait, how we present ourselves, and how we explain our tardiness to him." No wonder he wanted me and not the project manager. I'm sure he wants to see how much I'll endure as the owner of the House of E. If these air cargo routes weren't so necessary to the expansion project, I would've declined his invitation. But we need this contract.

"So…" Luna looked down at her camera bag. "I guess…no sightseeing today."

Ena and Silver paused, glancing at each other, before their guilty gazes fell on Luna.

Luna picked up her face with a weak smile. "But don't worry about it! Seriously! We have all week to sightsee and this chairman is why you came here in the first place, isn't he? So go to the lunch thing! I'll be okay here."

Ena's lips parted only to press back together. We were supposed to have fun today. Silver and I… We had a whole plan, so she would give us genuine smiles. But now… Her thoughts stopped when Silver rested a hand on her shoulder. What is he…?

"We promise we'll be back as soon as we can, Lulu," Silver told Luna. "Please endure this for a little longer, okay? And then we'll have a whole bunch of fun that Gale will get jealous."

Luna laughed. "Yeah! That sounds good!"

Ena could breathe easier seeing Luna's laughter come from a genuine place. L… She closed her eyes as Silver continued to massage her. He always knows what to say. Her eyes cracked open with a little smile softening her face. How charming.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

DING!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The elevator opened to a busy lobby and heels stepped out followed by designer espadrilles and some slides. Attention flocked to the lady in red with Ena's pareo dress in two tones of red and her sun hat and glasses large. Her gladiator heels completed the look. Silver dutifully followed behind her with the faded blue of his button-down matching his shoes and his white-and-blue sprinted shorts being the eye-catcher. He did not mind carrying Ena's bag and with his shades on, the whispers of him being a guard could be true.

Luna felt like a troll in comparison with her shorts, sunglasses, and crop top.

The trio would have moved outside when a staff member hurried over to them. "You must be Mistress Fernandes of the House of E," he said. "Your Sky Taxi awaits you, madam."

Silver's lips curled hearing "mistress" come from the staff member's mouth, but Ena put a hand on his chest that could have been mistaken as a lover's touch. She aimed a blood-red smile at the staffer. "Thank you. We appreciate it."

The staff member was more than happy to escort the trio outside. Pick-ups and drop-offs all had their own way of things with concierges at the ready. But the hotel gifted the Sky Taxis their own small strip of land for their taxi carriages. Two had landed with the large magical birds getting care and affection from their Tamers while the passengers exited out. But the one they were escorted to had an Adarna preening his feathers as he sat atop of the large taxi carriage with his Tamer waiting.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is a Sky Taxi. Tamer Guilds run sky Taxis and Sky Busses where Tamers and their flying Partners must be able to prove their proactive and defensive flying, an endurance test, a strength test, and have proper socialization for permit and licensing. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The Tamer turned out to be a kind woman with some crow's-feet, laugh lines, and some spunk to her with her bomber jacket proudly displaying her patch number, her guild's insignia, and trusty goggles resting atop her hat. She tossed up a fish to her Adarna to snack on before turning her attention to Ena, Silver, and Luna.

"It looks like I'll be taking you after all," she jested as she extended a hand. "I'm Koa. Mister Kapula has assigned me to you as your cabbie. And my Partner's name is Ano. We welcome you to Ao's Paradise of Caelum."

⌜FA'ATIU STRIKE TAMER GUILD

Name: Koa

Age: 48

Magic: Tamer

Occupation: Cabbie

Likes: pā uma (standing arm wrestling) Dislikes: alarm clocks

Special Note: Koa and Ano have been partners since Koa was ten years old! ⌟

Ena shook Koa's hand. "Thank you for the warm reception." She gestured to Silver, who bowed. "This is my assistant and fellow Fairy Tail Mage, Silver Fullbuster."

"Thank you for the welcome, miss," Silver murmured.

Koa laughed. "My, my, aren't you two a fashionable couple!"

Silver burst into flames while Ena laughed at the sentiment. "Thank you!"

Silver gawked. Sh-She's agreeing with this?

Koa noticed Luna standing back and gentled her smile. "And this must be the third guest Mister Kapule told me about."

Ena and Silver tried not to let their bewilderment show, but a wariness burned Ena. How did he know about L? But the time for introductions was needed. "Yes. This is a close friend of yours." And that was as far as she would go.

Luna picked up on Ena's intentions and waved. "It's nice to meet you."

"And you as well," Koa said, warm. She stepped back to open the doors to the taxi carriage. "And if you would both climb inside, we'll be on our way to the restaurant. Mister Kapule let me know to make some haste with you, Mistress Fernandes."

"'Ena' is fine," Ena promised as she stroked Silver's wrist when he bristled. If he's going to get annoyed every time someone calls me that, we'll have an issue. Her eyes narrowed. But why are they calling me that? Normally, I'm called 'Miss Fernandes'. A cultural nuance? She felt Silver thread his fingers with hers. Or maybe…

"Mistress," Silver murmured. He placed a hand on the small of her back.

An electric shock up Ena's spine made her shiver.

Silver grew concerned. "Are you cold?" His nose moved closer to scent her and a layer of sweetness made him curious. She's a little sweeter and…something else. Surprised?

"No." Ena cleared her throat. "I'm fine." She turned to Luna before Silver could guide her away. "Are you sure you'll be okay here?"

Luna nodded. "Don't worry." She rubbed her arm. "I think I'll just stay in the hotel room until you guys get back, if that's okay. I'm not up for sightseeing on my own."

"All right." Silver gave her a stern look. "Call us if something happens."

Luna rolled her eyes, sighing. "Why is everyone trying to be my papa? Luke, then Gale, then my actual papa, and now you. I'm your age."

"You're still younger than us by a good six months," Silver teased her. "Respect your elders, Lulu." He snickered when Luna stuck out her tongue. "We'll be back soon." He nodded to Ena. "Mistress."

"Right." Ena waved at Luna. "See you soon." She let Silver guide her away—

BASHABASHABASHABASHA!

Comfortability and efficiency was the way to go for the taxi carriage. It had been deliberately designed to fit four people comfortably who were not looking to bring much on their person. Silver and Ena sat across from each other when Koa shut the door and the latch on the inside fell shut too.

Silver caught Ena leaning back with a long exhale and fretted, "Are you okay, Mistress?" He switched to be at her side and it was instinct wrapping an arm around her. "Did the acclimation spell not work as well as it should?"

"No, it's fine," Ena assured him. Her eyes flitted to Luna. Mister Kapule… Just what exactly is your plan here?

Koa radioed to the taxi carriage. "And off we go!"

Ano the Adarna needed a light rub to the right side of his neck to understand it was time. His white wings expanded to give two large flaps that hauled them into the air for a hover. With some more flaps, he took them off into the sky to join the other Sky Taxis.

Silver watched the affair with amazed eyes. "I know we've been in Sky Ports, but I've never seen this view from a Sky Taxi. I can't wait to show Lulu this!"

"Neither can I."

Silver blushed when Ena rested her head on his shoulder. "M-M-Mistress?"

"Everything will be okay." A soft confession that sounded so sweet from her lips to his ears. "Because I have you, right?"

Silver felt himself melting. "Of course, Mistress." To keep himself from being enchanted by her, he looked out the window to watch the scenery. "Everything will be okay because we have each other."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

DING!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Icarus stretched out and shook out his fur when Luna returned to the hotel room. Did you see them off?

Yeah. Luna dragged her feet back into her bed. She could feel Icarus jump up and curl around her, but she had no desire to move. So we'll be here to a while until they get back. She decided her side was better (partially because she wants Icarus' fur as a pillow) and sighed. I'm really happy we came. And I know this was supposed to be a business trip for E. I just wish business didn't start so soon.

To their credit, I don't think either one anticipated this turn of events, Icarus pointed out. I could feel both of them were as disappointed as you that they had business to attend to.

Luna peeked up at Icarus. When will I be good enough at Telepathy to feel the emotions?

Empathy is emotions. Telepathy is for thoughts, Icarus corrected her. And you already have strong empathic connections with anyone you come across. Your telepathic connection needs work to associate the emotion with the thought. Your summer schooling at Saint Layla's will be an asset so you can learn how to combine Empathy and Telepathy utilizing me as a conduit.

Luna's nostrils flared with her exhale. I jumped at the chance to go to Saint Layla's when Granny suggested it, but… Now I'm not sure. I know Saint Layla's is safe with all the wards. And Granny said I'd come and stay with her on the weekend, but… She grabbed onto Icarus' fur.

It is much easier to sleep in an unfamiliar den with a member of your unit than it is to sleep alone, Icarus filled in. When I traversed the realm as a Guardian, I often filled my den with comforts. But I suppose you would like a more human comfort.

Maybe, Luna mumbled, unsure. I just… Can't you tell me if I made the right call going to Saint Layla's this summer?

Icarus thumped his tail. I think you want to get stronger and prove to those around you you are strong. I think Saint Layla's will help you with your strength. But those who have something to prove rarely understand their limitations or their pacing. Exercise patience in finding your strength, Pup. Do not rush finding your howl. It will find you.

I just want to stop being afraid, Luna whispered. I want to be normal.

Icarus nuzzled her head. You are normal, Pup. And you will always have fears. How much you control the effect your fears have on you? That is up to you. But do not push yourself or think escaping fear is the answer. We can learn and grow from fear as well. Fear can show you how to be strong in the proper way. If you are—

Patient.

Icarus chuckled hearing Luna's grumble. Yes. Patient.

I really hate that word. Her lashes lifted a little, tickling fur. Icarus?

Yes, Pup?

Did…? Did Mister Jaxton learn about this too?

Ah. Icarus pressed his smile into their connection. I was wondering when you would ask me about Ya Ke.

'Ya Ke'? Luna echoed.

Yes. That is his wolven name, Icarus told her. When a Lycan is born, they follow the naming rights of their human culture, whatever that may be. However, the seven brothers were gifted their names by me, as was their father, Ya Ke. He was the first Lycan. And Jang-ta has been given the name Ya Ke to represent him being the last of his kind. I bestowed it upon him the night we went for a run. Icarus sighed. He has my fur and the eyes of Báihǔ. He is a blessed soul.

In my vision, I saw a white wolf howling, Luna told him. It was that day I learned about Báihǔ. So that means…Mister Jaxton has a connection to him?

Icarus nodded. Yes. Báihǔ's scent remains fresh to Ya Ke. It is not often Guardian Spirits imprint on one particular being without reason. As you saw with Erion and Nadya, they chose Faven as their mother and spiritually linked with her to make her as that. But that was not common. Most Guardian Spirits did not interfere with mortal life. If we did, we treated that mortal as our cub. Báihǔ has adopted Ya Ke as his cub, his Spiritual Son. What his reasons are? I cannot say.

Luna thought back to February. My vision didn't give me to go much off of either. Her hand came up to thumb Icarus' maw. Why were you the Guardian of the Lycans?

Icarus heavily sighed. The tale is not happy.

I don't mind.

You never do. He nosed her for her cheekiness, chuckling when she giggled. I was always the Guardian Spirit for wolves. That would not change. Upon their death, we would touch noses and I would guide their Spirit to the Great Forest for them to rest where their bellies were full, the territory was endless, and some could meet their mate and live in their den once more. I had little care for humans. They hunted my wolves for sport and did not understand the true values wolves carried. They slaughtered them without a proper ritual. I had no love for them at the time.

Luna understood. I bet.

Icarus' ear twitched. One day, over thousands of moons ago, I saw hunters lure out a female from a mated pair. They were juveniles, and the male had barely been accepted by the female's sire let alone her other den mates. He had lured her away to mate her in one of the coldest of winters. Nature dictates to withhold from mating when there is no guarantee of full bellies in the morrow. He told Luna, If you ever meet a male who wants to start a litter during winter, you are to leave him. He is an irresponsible male. And if he tries in summer, he is also irresponsible.

She smiled. Yes, Papa.

Icarus softly teethed her ear as retribution, amused when she simpered. The hunters were desperate for food, as was the wolf pack. The juvenile could see how frail his female had become. The pack had not allowed him to join hunts for bigger game as he was an outsider. And as a stubborn juvenile, he went to find any elk nearby. But his female was desperate. She needed food for the pups. So she snuck from the den.

Sadness could be felt from Icarus. Her dame had not been able to properly teach her the way of the wild due to the harsh conditions of the winter. The juvenile female let her instinct take over. The hunters could see her stomach was swollen with pups, yet her ribs were showing. And they lured her out with meat.

Luna's gut twisted.

When the hunters caught her, they had no plans to be honorable and allow her to live. They cut out her pups while she breathed and left her to die.

She felt sick.

I mourned for such a loss. She was so young, Icarus breathed, grief still fresh in her mind. I had been ready to guide her to the Great Forest. I had planned for her to mother pups in the Great Forest who had died from the winter. But…a male human came. He saw her and he looked devastated as she took her last breaths. I thought he would take her remains, but… He did not. He sat beside her and stroked her fur until her whining stopped. Her Spirit lingered, so I could not take her yet. And then…he did something odd.

What? Luna asked.

He gave her a proper burial and sat vigil for her, Icarus told her. He did not take her fangs or her claws. He sat vigil with her. Her pack had come sniffing for her. They saw him and instantly thought he had killed her. But her mate crawled to her even with the man there. And he sang to me of her death. As did his pack.

Luna's eyes watered, and she sniffled.

Her Spirit pulled from her body then. We touched noses, and she understood her pups were gone and she had died. Her mate would die within the winter. His depression would be his demise. But she touched noses with him and sung her song, Icarus recalled. The man was there for it all. And when the ritual ended, he started to dig.

He was going to bury her? Luna presumed.

Yes. It is…unnatural for a wolf to be buried. Another beast would eat our bodies. But he showed the entire pack he would bury her. And where he buried her was where her mate would die as well, Icarus thought. I had never seen a human be so compassionate. He had shown he understood the way of the wolf. And the female's Spirit had gratitude towards him. I had gratitude towards him. That was why, once I guided her to the Great Forest, I had been permitted to visit him in his dreams.

'His dreams'? Luna echoed.

Icarus hummed. Yes. Dream Spirits are fickle creatures as all Spirits are. I warped his dream to show him as a wolf. I ran with him, taught him how to hunt, how to howl, and how to be part of a unit. I showed him that he was a man. But because of his compassion and respect for wolves that no human had showed before, I would impart to him a Wolf Spirit if he drank from the spring. And he did. Ya Ke became the first Lycan, a being with the Spirit of Man and of Wolf.

Luna sniffled.

Icarus nuzzled her. I told you that you had strong empathic ties.

I'm sorry for that wolf and her pups, Luna sniveled. That wasn't fair to her.

Icarus was inclined to agree. No. It was not. But I guided her mate to her upon his death. And she had become a foster mother for orphaned pups. And when Ya Ke died, I was there to greet his Wolf Spirit so he could run with his pack in the Great Forest.

That's so beautiful. Luna rubbed away a tear. What was Ya Ke like?

Icarus stilled. Well… At first I thought he was a noble man. But then… He thought, flat, He was nothing more than a rutting bull.

Question marks floated around Luna. Huh?

Icarus closed his eyes as he recollected, Ya Ke had his lustful adventures. I had not realized Ya Ke was an unkept man who preferred to be unkept. He had no desire for a mate as a wolf nor as a man. He enjoyed rutting any willing male or female.

Um. Luna blinked. What was 'rut' mean?

Ah… Icarus cleared his throat and looked away, sweating. You should ask your dame and sire.

Luna narrowed her eyes. It means something dirty, doesn't it?

Ya Ke was promiscuous, he explained. He enjoyed sowing his wild oats with any person. That is how he had seven pups with seven different women. It was shocking he did not have any more pups considering how quickly he moved on to the next partner. Even as much as he dislike the philanderer, his eyes held love. But even though he was a cad, he taught his pups the way of the wolf. He taught them how to howl, how to feel even the tiniest mouse's steps beneath their paws, and how to live among the wolves as an outsider. And in his death, I greeted him as an old friend.

That's sweet, Luna professed. Is Mister Jaxton like him—?

No.

Luna sweatdropped. He answered so quickly…

This Ya Ke is different than his grandfather, Icarus thought. He shows what an alpha male of a unit should be. Mirzam has taught him well to live in the wilds and understand how cruel Nature can be. From what I scented, his Female is a constant and passionate mate and he has provided her with all she needs for a proper future.

Luna smiled. I like Miss Tesla. She's super kind and honest and nice. Mister Jaxton always seemed so…um… At first, she remembered Jaxton's image as cold, distant, and silent. But that image could not stand against the Jaxton she saw at the Pachanga with Tesla in his arms. Warmth and light and love lit his face around her. He's…kind…and nice too. He really loves Miss Tesla. And Miss Tesla really loves him too.

Icarus thought to himself, I should hope the small offering I could do for him helped. I cannot offer a Spiritual Tie, but the ingredients should help allows them to mate. I hope he warned his Female there is no love when wolves mate. He cares for her deeply. He sighed. Báihǔ… Please bless their Knot in my stead.

Hey, Icarus?

Yes?

If Mister Jaxton is a Lycan, is he a werewolf?

No. Icarus shook his head. Your werewolves have the soul of a man and a wolf. A Lycan has the spirit of a man and a wolf. Shifters with Beast Spirits were stable. One body, one soul, two Spirits in harmony. Back then, humans who meddled with the souls of animals and bound themselves were turned into werebeasts. They were unstable in their soul resonance and, therefore, were killers and pillagers.

Luna took that into account. I understand. And Mister Jang-ta would never—?

No. Ya Ke would not. Icarus thought back to that night. He is a good wolf.

• — • — • — •

• — • — • — •

TATATATATATATATA!

Two white beasts of wolves ran through the forest with precision and grace with the moon on their pelts and the wind in their fur. A moon-touched clearing came up soon and Icarus slowed to a comfortable trot with his head to swing with a look.

Jaxton nodded.

They walked into the moon-touched clearing with Jaxton's shit back into a man flawless with his white hair and glinting yellow-amber eyes. He did not give an inch to show he was exhausted. If he had stayed a wolf, his tail would be up, chest forward, and he would be hopeful to earn praising licks on his fur for his performance.

Icarus laid down in the grass and nodded for Jaxton to kneel before him. 'You have become quite the wolf. Though, you smell like you have just grasped adulthood as a wolf.'

"As a human, I feel old," Jaxton told him. "But as a wolf, I feel very young still." He looked at Icarus before shaking his head. "I can't believe you were once the Guardian to my people. A people that has been lost in time like most others."

Icarus looked up at the moon and the glinting stars. 'And you want to become the last.' He looked back at a tense Jaxton, but not a shred of guilt leaked from him, only defiance. 'And I understand that need. There is no need for you to look at me with such rebellious eyes,' he chuckled before sighing. 'There is no need for Lycans to be caught in this future war.'

Jaxton hardened. "My mother had told me of such a future war. I had no understanding of it then. But…" His hands clenched into fist. "The more I bond with my Chosen, the more I can feel it. But it's very subtle. We still have some time."

'Aye. But it is the battles between that we ought to prepare for,' Icarus thought. 'For one lost battle can shift a war even closer to fruition.' He shook his noble head. 'I shall make sure my cub is ready for the war. She will not fight the battles. She will not be ready in time.'

Jaxton looked up at Icarus, curious. "Is she really…?"

'Yes.'

"I see." Jaxton glanced at the night sky. "I couldn't sense anything from her until I was close enough. And even still, it was difficult to sense. Someone made sure she was protected." He added, "I will do the same."

'You owe me nothing—'

"I do not owe you, no," Jaxton agreed. "However, I'm grateful to you for allowing me this…freedom." His fingers threaded through the grass. "Being a Cultivator, being in tune spiritually with the world is natural. But as a wolf…I am nature. It's an indescribable experience. And for that, I thank you. And I will protect her." He gave Icarus a serious look as he bluntly put, "And Tesla is more obsessed with me knowing I'm a Lycan. So I have to thank you for that."

Icarus sweatdropped. 'You truly are Ya Ke's grandson, aren't you?'

"My grandfather…" Jaxton was quiet for several moments. "My father told me his father slept with anything with a pulse. And my uncle Sirius was no better."

'That's…true," Icarus reluctantly conceded. 'It was a miracle Ya Ke sired seven pups. Sirius was smart enough to take the poison so he would not have pups with every Female he was with.' He took a whiff of Jaxton. 'You smell barren, however.'

"My mother wasn't subtle in wanting me to have children," Jaxton remarked, tone dry. "During my time, a vasectomy was not an option." His expression softened. "However… My father was the one to give me a clue how to find a Wiccan to sterilize me. He went against the tyranny of my mother for that act and she has been none-the-wiser." Yellow-ambers darkened. "I may not understand him. But…I don't know what my mother will do once she learns I won't give her grandchildren. I know she will blame him."

Icarus tensed. 'Will she kill him?'

"No." Jaxton shook his head. "She forced a spiritual tie between them. If he died, as would she. And her love for him…" He showed his canines. "It's always been a slow-acting poison. But I know she has other ways to punish him for his actions."

Icarus held a growl in his throat. 'Your dame needs to be put in her place.'

"I know." Jaxton flashed Icarus cold yellow-ambers. "Believe me. I know the sort of monster she is."

Icarus met Jaxton's stare with a declaration of challenge. 'Then tell me, juvenile. How will you protect your den and your Chosen from your dame's heavy paw? Can your claws match hers? Can your teeth?"

Jaxton looked away. If he was back as a wolf, his ears would be pinned back and his tail would curl. But his frustration would not be discounted amongst his submission. "As I am now, I'm no match for her. But I will do what needs to be done for my future with Tesla. Because she…" Yellow-ambers glimmered. "She is my future. She is who I howl for."

Icarus observed Jaxton before looking back up at the sky. 'That is good to hear,' he murmured. 'Cherish your Chosen, Jang-ta. Cherish your future with everything you have.' He felt the wind tingle his fur as he thought to himself, 'How long has it been since I cherished my own future? Even now… I miss her dearly. My beautiful Sun.'

"Icarus, may I ask you something?"

Icarus looked down, curious. 'Yes.'

"I…" Jaxton kotowed before Icarus and requested, "I beseech you, former Guardian, for your blessing in my spiritual union with my Chosen."

That shocked Icarus. 'Lift your head, juvenile.'

Jaxton did so.

Icarus questioned, 'You have considered such a sacred act? You do not need my blessing. As Báihǔ's Son, all you require is his. And from the scent of your Chosen, his fur has brushed her in his approval. So why this ask?'

"Because I want to us to be together in every way," Jaxton desired. "I don't want to give half of myself to her. Báihǔ has taken me as his Spiritual Son in the name of Cultivation. But my Wolf Spirit belongs to you, former Guardian. You might not guide Lycans anymore, but you were the one to bestow us this power. And I want to adhere to the rituals properly so I can build my future with Tesla. So, please."

He kowtowed again. "I petition for your blessing. My Chosen is my strength, my weakness, my light, my life, my love, my hope—my future. And I am hers. I will do what needs to be done to give her happiness. And I will honor your name in everything I do for her."

Icarus could not help but feel proud. 'Mirzam has taught you well, young wolf.' He drew himself up to his paws and let Nature breeze around him. Closing his eyes, he could feel the ebb and flow of energy in the land around him, from the pulse of a bird to the pulse of a tree. When his eyes opened, they glowed a vibrant blue, and a powerful growl thundered from his chest.

Jaxton twitched before his wolf form took over. He stayed low, eyes low, ears back, but he kept his tail straight out.

A responding snarl.

Icarus' eyes darted to see a white tiger edged the clearing with glowing yellow eyes. But he did not interfere nor did he prowl like a waiting combatant. He took his seat and bowed his head.

Icarus bowed back before swinging his gaze to Jaxton. 'If you do this—if you mean this—you will understand a Male's role in mating a Female. A wolf does not mate for affection. It is for a future. You will crave for a future in her belly and you will have to win the right to have a future. Will you honor your Female in giving her the right to show her teeth if she does not want a future with you? And will you honor that rejection?'

Jaxton whined, but he dipped his head in agreement.

'Will you provide a den and a nest for your future?' Icarus challenged. 'Will you care for her? Will you treat her as your equal?'

Jaxton dipped his head, tail wagging a little.

Icarus stepped forward with a warning growl when Jaxton tensed. 'You will make a strong Male for your Female.' He sniffed Jaxton's muzzle before nuzzling it briefly. 'I will show you how to Bond with her, if that is your wish. You understand the way of a wolf. You understand Nature. And you will be the last of your kind and the best of them. That is why I will give you your name.' He breathed warm breath across Jaxton's face. 'Ya Ke, Son of Mirzam… You and your Female have my eternal blessing.' He stepped back. 'May the song of those before you guide you both.'

Jaxton looked up with glowing yellow-ambers before tipping back his head to joyous howl.

• — • — • — •

• — • — • — •

Icarus was brought out of the memory when he felt Luna's mental struggle. Pup?

Well, it's just… Luna sighed. Talking about Lycans and mates and stuff… I've heard about it from Mama how Dragons can mate and stuff. And I… She shook her head. Never mind. She rolled onto her other side and hugged herself. I think I'll nap for a little while, if that's okay.

The concern for Luna's mixed emotions remained, but Icarus consented, As you wish, Pup. I will watch over you.

Thank you. Luna closed her mind off him as her fingers touched the crook of her neck and shoulder. I'm…probably overthinking last night. Her hands fell away from her flesh, but that phantom sharpness tingled. He wouldn't do that. It was probably nothing anyway. Feeling better about it, she closed her eyes. He's changed.

But the more things changed, the more they stayed the same.

---

In most places, it would be strange to land atop your restaurant—in Caelum, it was expected.

The restaurant had the leisure of being in one of the skyscrapers and had taken up the entire floor to give an unobstructed view of the floating island at 360 degrees. Sky Taxis, winged Aberrants, broom and carpet-drivers, and cloud-surfers were encouraged to entire for the rooftop where valets were more than happy to make sure the transportation of choice had a locked home for the time being.

An elevator ride down to the lobby granted you black granite walls with gold trimming, natural lights, and many odes to the abandoned gods of Caelum. They had dedicated a magnificent painting of the Guardian Spirits of Ao and Kāne to the restaurant as an original from a famous author. Kāne looked to be a beautiful doe with white eyes and flecks of jewels dotting her fur. She pranced through her forest, perky and pleased. Ao nested in the clouds as a large bird with four wings and feathers as blue as the summer sky.

The clientele here reeked of old money and new money, but the contrast was clear. Old money had no need to flaunt their wealth so brazenly. Sure, they had their designer suits and watches and bags, but the brand label was subtle. New money had something to prove and everything to lose if they did not show they, too, deserved a seat at the table of the wealthy.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is The AK's, a fine dining restaurant common for date nights and business luncheons and dinners in Ao's Paradise. The protruding glass boxes from the restaurant are called "floating rooms" used for private reservations. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ena and Silver waited in the lobby as others went to the host stand about their reservations. Ena's arm wrapped around Silver's like she was being escorted and she scoped the area.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

The AK's

Ao's Paradise

Caelum, Ishgar

3:10 PM WIT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Hm… I expected a luxury restaurant, but this is something. Ena felt a vibration and looked up at Silver with his eyes shifting around and body tensed. "Silver?"

"Sorry." The stir in Silver's chest would not go away. "I just…feel something off."

Ena frowned. "An enemy?"

"I'm not sure," Silver told her, honest and agitated. He turned away from her when he felt compelled to sniff the air. I can't put my finger on it, but someone smells…weird. And I just feel so annoyed. He turned back to scent Ena's sweet aroma to settle his nerves. "Stay close to me, Mistress."

Ena gave him a subtle laugh and murmured, "Are you saying you'll protect me from the big bad man waiting in the closet?" Her smile abruptly crumbled for heat to tinge her neck when Silver's nose brushed her. "Silver—"

"I'm your shield, Mistress," Silver breathed as a reminder. "I know you're strong. But please stay close so I can be your shield properly."

Ena could not argue with that as she inhaled ocean and rain, mystifying scents that made her relax. "I will." He smells good. Her cheek turned for more. A hauntingly familiar purr made her tingle. That noise…

KA-KA…

The stir in Silver made a low growl tear from his throat as his blues stormed. It was instinct putting himself before Ena.

She frowned. "Silver?"

The steps stopped. "Good afternoon, Mistress Fernandes."

Ena tightened her hold on Silver when he bristled, but she looked at the gentleman who had spoken. Tan skin and black hair had him, but his lithe frame and long hair made him pass for any gender. He looked the part of servant with his white gloves, his button-down, his chinos, and his vest. But his closed eyes and the hint of a tattoo on his neck sparked intrigued.

He bowed to the pair. "I am Kalua, the personal assistant to Mister Kalupe of the Sky Adze company. He has been expecting your arrival and sent me to retrieve you upon your arrival."

⌜SKY ADZE AIR CARGO

Name: Kalua

Age: Unknown

Magic: Air

Occupation: Personal Assistant, Custodian

Likes: Unknown Dislikes: Unknown

Special Note: Kalua might be a personal assistant and a Custodian, but he's still a personal mystery! ⌟

Kalua looked startled when a hand was before him and looked up to see Ena had offered it.

"Shaking hands will do just as well," Ena told him. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Kalua."

Kalua shook her hand, taken back for a moment. "Likewise."

Ena gestured to Silver. "This is my assistant and Fairy Tail Mage, Silver Fullbuster." Silver gave a silent bow, but he made no move to exchange hands like she had. "As this is an informal luncheon, I hope it would be okay to bring him along. If not, we understand."

"Mister Kalupe expected your assistant to be in attendance," Kalua assured. Even with his eyes closed, there was a tell his sense strayed behind the duo before he gestured to the hallway. "Follow me, please."

Silver and Ena fell behind Kalua, but Ena's gaze narrowed. Was he looking to see if L joined us? But why? No one should know about her being here. Her gut clenched. I don't like feeling I'm missing something.

Kalua guided them down an adjacent hall from the main dining room. The room he had guided them to had quite the grand door. He opened and called inside, "Mister Kalupe, I have Mistress Fernandes and her assistant."

"Oh?" A large smile. "Then by all means, send them in."

"Of course." Kalua held open the door and bowed.

Silver could feel agitation rash his skin and his teeth craved to be out. This feeling… Why am I so angry? He made sure to follow Ena inside to the floating room and tried hard to keep his powers under control.

The floating room looked like a dream. The walls, the floors, the ceiling—all of it was made out of a thick glass that could withstand the elements. The business of Ao's Paradise was below your feet and you were floating above it.

The smile widened as a fan snapped into face. "My, my, I didn't anticipate you to keep me waiting for so long. But I suppose you could be excused as fashionably late."

Silver's throat flexed, wanting to give a snarl. This man…

Ena kept her chin up. "We apologize for the delay, Mister Kalupe. But I hope this surprised and informal lunch will not reflect badly on our negotiations on Monday."

"It would never." A closed fan swept to the seats on the other side of the table. "Please sit."

The man had the looks of a gambler who could cheat like no tomorrow. A prideful tatau sleeved his arm all the way up to his shoulder with a cloud symbol with an adze crossing it shaping up the tattoo across his right pectoral. The rest of his tunic was a loose print with nothing to prove. The solid gold bracelet with black enamel flaunted on his wrist. And his thick band of black hair had locks that spilled down his chest while the rest had been tied into a braided ponytail.

⌜SKY ADZE AIR CARGO

Name: Raimana 'Rai" Kalupe

Age: 29

Magic: Sky God Slayer

Occupation: Chairman of Sky Adze Air Cargo

Likes: games Dislikes: touch

Special Note: Rai might be a God Slayer, but is that the reason he unsettles Silver? ⌟

His dark gaze shifted to an agitated Silver—

—and his smile went for a half-smirk to show one canine. "Oh, my." He licked his lips. "We really do have so much to discuss."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The spread had been designed to be a "tasting" service. Various vegetarian dishes that cultivated the Caelun spirit sat on the table mixed with fish and beef dishes dressed so well, it was a shame to eat them.

Rai feasted on a shrimp creation with Kalua obediently standing behind him. "I hope the food is to your liking. AK has some of the most creative takes on Caelun foods."

"It's very delicious," Ena agreed as she finished her ahi bruschetta. "I've never had edamame puree, but it ties the dish together."

Rai leaned forward with a cheek cupped by a propped hand. "I'm delighted you think so, Mistress."

TICK!

"Might I suggest the squid lau?" Rai brought up as he pointed at the bowl. "Considering your palette, I think you would enjoy that dish as well, Mistress."

TICK!

Ena counted backwards from five. "Thank you, Mister Kalupe. I will."

Rai laughed. "No need to be so formal at an informal lunch, Mistress. Please call me 'Rai', Mistress."

TICK-TICK!

Ena took up the bowl with an agitated aura hitting her back. I can feel him getting angry. She cleared her throat. "Well then, Rai, I must insist you call me 'Ena' if we are stripping formalities."

Rai smiled. "As you wish."

Thank the gods. If he had said 'Mistress' once more—Ena pretended not to notice the flaming aura around Silver as he stood behind her—I'm not sure Silver would have kept his cool.

Rai bounced his gaze to Silver.

Silver lifted his chin with his stare cold.

Rai blinked before he cocked his head and winked with a sly smile. He blew a kiss with a little chu.

TICK!

Silver kept his hands behind his back, but anger flamed on the inside. Ugh, he's so annoying! Even so, he observed as Rai merrily took another bite of his food. I don't understand it. I've never even met him, but he just…makes me so angry. And his assistant… Blues examined the closed-eye Kalua. What's his deal? Something about his smell…

"So." Rai turned his attention back to Ena. "How do you like Caelum so far?"

Ena slowed chewing on her food to stall. Is he testing me? His sly smile and cunning eyes made the deduction more than plausible. She swallowed and got her napkin to blot her mouth. "Well." She set down her napkin to look at Rai square in the face. "From a foreigner's perspective, I would understand why the islands are called 'paradises'. Your home is beautiful and rich and culture." Dark drowns glinted. "A culture that is being stolen from its people."

A smirk. "Hmph." Rai toyed with his drink. "Go on."

Ena was prepared to. "The conservation of the mainland is currently being negotiated to put additional rental and luxury properties on its surface to attract more foreigners, which could compromise the conservatory's integrity. A legal battle is in the process to mark the land as historical property, but we both know the case will be thrown out because the notion of making the entire floor of Caelum a historical landmark is laughable.

"Caeluns have tried to take their case to the Magic Council as the mainland is sacred ground because of the Guardian Spirit. But the Magic Council has no interest in such affairs as spiritual grounds or holy grounds of any kind cannot be legally petitioned without evidence the sacred deity or Spirit remains and even so, the Magic Council would consider it a religious affair.

"That being said, the six paradises here are losing their cultural integrity as well to make way for tourists. Much of your traditions are being touted as exotic tricks. Your pride is being squandered for financial gain. Caelun culture is being exploited to make this sub-sequential 'paradise'." She leaned forward. "And Caeluns reap none of the benefits tourism could provide."

Rai popped in another veggie appetizer. "I see you have done your research."

"I make it a point to do my research when it comes to foreign trade and deals," Ena told him, firm.

Rai tilted his head. "And may I ask you why?"

"Because I'm not here to exploit what has already been exploited," Ena replied. "Many cultures—predominantly in Ether senses—are now catering to Spiritless tourist culture and making unnecessary accommodations for financial gain. But it's the wealthy who benefit from this shift, not the working. Fashion, unfortunately, is a culprit in this exploitation."

Rai raised an eyebrow. "And as someone who runs a fashion brand, you are not selling me n why Sky Adze should negotiate international air-routes with the House of E."

Ena lifted her chin. "Are we here for business or pleasure?"

Rai blinked before he broke into chortles. "My, my, you really aren't child, are you?" He nabbed a manapua (a doughy bun filled with sweet pork) and looked at the baked good. "I do my research as well. Daughter of Dame Erza Fernandes, who is also the Guild Master of Fairy Tail, and also daughter of Jellal Fernandes, a talented Sorcerer for Fiore. And you're the younger sister of up-and-coming Sorcerer Mystogan Fernandes. You have quite the pedigree."

"Whether my family is accomplished or not, it is irrelevant to my own success," Ena stated. "My 'pedigree' isn't important. My own accomplishments are."

Rai was about to take a bite of his manapua, but he broke into chuckles. "You really are amusing." His dark eyes slid back to her. "You're right. What use is a pedigree if you have the life of a mutt?" His gaze went to Silver.

Silver's jaw tightened.

Dark amusement gleamed in Rai's eyes. "And let me take a look at your…assistant." He drew up his looming height, but he moved with the grace of a ballerina.

The closer he came to Silver, the more Silver strained himself to be still and keep his mouth shut.

With one arm crossing his chest, Rai propped up his other arm with his hand on his cheek as he lapped around Silver in a saunter. "'Silver Fullbuster'. Quite the last name. I've seen your parents at the Grand Magic Games, of course, but your brother is magnificent to behold. So powerful. So dark. So beautiful."

Silver could not help it when his teeth flashed.

Rai sensed Silver's rising fury and simpered. "Have I said something wrong?" he cooed. "The Prince of the Sea, Silver Fullbuster. Such an arrogant title. Don't you think? Unless…"—he leaned down and whispered for Silver's ears alone—"you truly are the sea's little prince."

Blues dilated.

SCRAPE!

Ena got up from her chair, gaze cool. "I apologize for my interruption, but let me make one thing clear to you." She did not hesitate to point Lunagr'an at him.

Kalua's eyes opened to show sky blues with vivid pink pupils.

"You will not harass a member of my staff," Ena warned Rai. "All your issues will be addressed to me and me alone." Her chin tipped down to make sure he saw the hue of her Magic in her eyes. "So, get away from him."

Rai chose to linger with an unbothered grin. "My, my, what a temper when someone plays with your things. Or perhaps you can afford to show your temper, unlike filthy beasts."

The water and wine provided started boiling and steaming.

Rai slipped away from Silver with his hands raised. "I only wanted to get to know your assistant. He's quite the quiet thing." Molten browns flickered. "It's almost like he's hiding something."

The wine frothed and the water overwhelmed the glasses, oozing onto the table.

"And if he is hiding something, then it is for his reasons," Ena remarked. "That is not for you nor I to investigate." She kept her eyes pinned on Rai, but she commanded, "Silver."

Silver obediently came to Ena's side.

Rai crossed his arms, grinning too wide and too amusedly. "You have such a well-trained and protective little pet."

Ena's cheek twinged. "He is no such thing—!"

"Oh, you'll have to pardon me on my error." Rai made sure Silver could see his twisted mirth. "I wasn't talking to you."

Glass shattered.

Rai came forward and put a finger on Lunagr'an's blade, never losing his grin. "This informal lunch has been rather informative for me. I'm excited to see how you'll impress me for your contract."

"You think I would do business with someone like you?" Ena snarled.

Rai simpered. "Perhaps not. There are other airfreight companies you could seek out. But the problem is you need Sky Adze to be your provider if you wish to successfully launch your expansion project within your projected budget."

Ena gritted her teeth. How the Hell does he…?

"I've had such great fun today," Rai told them both. "And I'll make sure to keep my expectations high for our meeting on Monday, Mistress Fernandes. I guarantee our meeting will be one like you haven't seen before. And, by the way." He leaned down to add, "I don't mind if you bring a third. She might make things even more exciting."

Revolted, Ena took back her blade and growled, "We're leaving." She stole Silver's hand and bit to Rai, "You're vile."

"And yet, you'll come to the meeting on Monday." Rai slipped back into his seat across the table, but his eyes went to Silver. "I guarantee it."

Ena did not grace Rai with a farewell nor did he deserve one when she forced the door open. Silver was on her heels, but his head turned for hateful blues to catch the pure malice in Rai's eyes like years of a vendetta had developed in such a short time.

Rai's lips moved.

Silver's eyes widened.

And the door fell shut.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

DING!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ena stormed out the elevator with her arms crossed and her destination on Koa and Ano waiting in the Sky Taxi. She mutinously muttered, "Unbelievable. Hazing? More like severe harassment. Who does he think he is to say all that? How dare he. How dare he say that to you. I should've fought him when I had the chance!"

When her heel clicks did not have an echoing soft step of shoes, she spun around to see Silver had stopped. "Silver?" She strode over to him and held concern when his face looked unreadable. "Silver, I understand you're upset with what happened, but don't worry. I'm going to—"

"No."

Ena scowled. "'No'? What do you mean 'no'? He is clearly harassing—!"

"No." Silver's hands fisted. "He wasn't harassing me." Those last words he mouthed to me. Why did he…?

But Ena still seethed. "Yes, he was! And I am going to make sure he never…" Her fuming sputtered when Silver came close to nuzzle her temple. "What are you—?"

"It feels nice to have you defend me, Mistress," Silver murmured. "But it's okay now. Please don't be angry anymore."

"But I…!" An accidental sharp intake made Ena feel woozy from the heady scents of ocean and rain. Her undeniable rage that flamed her dulled its roar into barely alive embers. That scent… She blinked, eyes hooded, and murmured, "Silver…" Her argument was for naught when Silver drew her into his shoulder. That placating purr buzzed in her head and all her fight felt unnecessary. This…noise…

"It's okay now, Mistress." Silver supported her when she relaxed, but those blues of his looked more dangerous than ever. "There's no need to be upset anymore, okay? Let's go back to the hotel and see Lulu."

Ena hummed, a little weary. "All right." She curled against him. "I'm sorry. I think I'm more tired than I thought." He feels nice.

"Then you can lean on me, Mistress." Silver adjusted to make sure Ena was kept close to his left. He breathed against the side of her face. "I have you, Mistress. Don't worry."

Getting into the taxi carriage went without a hitch. Silver and Ena claimed the same bench with Ena content to rest against him. But Silver could not relax. He looked out the window with something feral in those blues.

How did he know? What did he know? And why did being around him make me so furious? Silver touched his neck, but he winced at how sensitive his skin had become. I could feel it even more now. My powers… They feel a little stronger. But I have to keep them in control. I have to figure out what he knows. I have to figure out all of this. Blues darkened. And there's one person who could tell me.

Ena sighed against him.

I know I promised Dad I wouldn't go to the beach. And I'll keep that promise. But—blues flickered—I know I don't need to be at a beach to find that woman.

---

• — • — • — •

• — • — • — •

Their argument spoke volumes.

The setting for the argument looked so beauteous that it felt wrong to have an argument here. The plants and the books and the view of an abundant forest and waterfall down below did not deserve this.

But no one picked where their battles were.

Luke looked different, and that was not necessarily a good thing. His normal academic attire had been traded for a comfortably tunic and pants and hand-maiden slip-on shoes with his ears pierced. His fluffy pink hair had a black underbelly. But that was not concerning. It was clear he had been crying as he argued and fought and pleaded.

The woman before him graced over him at least half-a-head with her dark locks accompanied with silver streaks. It was clear her position of power warranted her extravagant regalia and the sash on her person. In any light, from any angle, she looked ethereal and elegant. Luke might have looked distraught, but she kept her expression cool for this debacle.

But something Luke had said made her lose her cool entirely.

He had turned away for her to grab him and force a kiss down his throat. He struggled, but his strength seemed to have no impact on her own. Even biting her would not shake her off as a trickle of blood weaved between them. His hit to her chest forced her to let him go with her bottom lip cut from his canines and his own lips swollen and his eyes teary. He could not find the words for this…this…this mess.

And yet she did.

The words she breathed to him looked intense and ominous, enough that it made Luke step back, afraid. He wasted no more time escaping her.

And she did not give chase.

The doors to this secret haven opened to show a black man with brazen britches and a lithe woman dressed in her court robes. But the smiles they shared as lovers fell seeing Luke. And the man shifted into a glorious Pegasus while his lover tried to soothe Luke. But his violent shaking made her help him onto his steed, and she watched as the Pegasus took a running start to fly off into the sky with his rider hugging his neck.

The elegant woman left behind watched Luke leave with no one but herself to blame. Grief overtook her for the flick of a second before she seethed. Her power barreled out in a psychedelic warp to match its mistress' howling anger—

The scene shifted.

Scarlet reaped the world.

The forest dunked in grays and blacks and off-whites stood no chances when waves of scarlet flooded every crack, every crevice, every cranny. The beasts and monsters that had called this place their home could not resist the scarlet wrath with their eyes burning with utter madness. A great stag with antlers colorfully bejeweled galloped through the throne as scarlet seeped into the trees, in the water, into the air. But the stag remained unaffected from this madness.

From this chaos.

He pulled to a stop and swung his head back to the focus as though telling them to hurry. Because then they looked up, scarlet oozed from the mountains that once centered the forest. It rippled and rolled down the mountainside and no one would be free from its utter wrath. Even the storm clouds that layered the sky felt such madness as they grumbled their thunder and spat red streaks of lightning.

Great flames forced a hole through the wall of storm clouds.

And a thunderous roar bellowed upon the forest—

The scene shifted.

The walls were white.

Everything—everything—in this room was white. The walls, the floors, the ceilings—it was white. No windows. No doors. It was a room.

It was The Room.

A low chuff.

War-scarred knuckles pushed a bowl of stew towards her. Her appetite was gone. How could she eat like this? How could she live like this? She wanted her parents. She wanted to go home. She wanted him.

A low whimper.

Rough hands tried to bring her comfort. He always tried to comfort her when she cried and it made her cry more when she did because she knew he knew no better. He never caved under the pressure. He had been her sole protector and provider.

But she wanted him.

He was purring again.

It was a rough purr, but it sounded better than before. All her tension and agony softened hearing those low vibrations. Her body did not lock up when his rough hand grazed her even if the tears from her eyes ran warm and consistent. The more she felt him skin to skin, the more she noticed all the bumps from his jaggedly heal scars and the more she wanted to sob. How could they do this to him?

He gave a rumble that ended in a question.

Her eyes closed when he nuzzled her with his purring growing louder. "To comfort the Female", she had been told when she cried, when she sobbed, when she screamed let me go. It was instinct and intimate. And once her body learned to relax hearing the purr, it meant the program was working and they could shift to the next phase.

Her body relaxed against him.

She did not want the program to work.

He was innocent as he scented her and nosed her skin to skin. No clothes for them, never clothes. "Skin to skin is crucial to bond," she had been told. But it meant everything was left to be seen, left to be touched, left to be felt.

She could feel his excitement.

Her body did not lock down. The purr was too tempting to disobey. The program was working. But she knew how much he never had the intent behind his excitement. He was so innocent and pure. He knew of desire and sex and rutting—she had been told that—but he refused to act on it. He treated her like treasure.

She felt like trash.

"Lu… Lu…na…"

Her name. He… He said her name.

He spoke.

The program was working.

Her eyes open, caked in tears, but she could not speak. Her throat would not let her or else she would regurgitate what her stomach tried to keep down. She looked at this room—"no distractions as you bond", she had been told—before she looked down at his hand that had been sliced so much and healed that his hand looked like abstract art.

"Luna."

Her eyes lifted—

—and worried golds started back at her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Little Mother!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna woke, but it was not dramatic. But it might as well have been her waking from the dead the way Nayda jumped around her like she was an excited dog. She groaned as she rose from the golden grass. "What…?"

'Little Mother!'

Luna giggled when Nayda bowled her over to nuzzle her. "Hey! Nadya, you're knocking me over!" She kissed Nayda's snout before pushing the great Guardian Spirit away to get up and dust herself off. 'I guess I'm in the Spirit Realm then.'

"Young Luna!"

Luna looked to see Faven was sitting at a round table beneath a no-leave tree on a grass hill. A few other Spirits had come to join her for her reading and tea, and some took a few snacks themselves only for Erion in his younger form to snarl at them and snap up his own cookie.

Nadya shrunk back to her juvenile size to race to her mother while Luna was slow to follow. The Spirits all looked happy she could join them and even were kind enough to make room for her to sit (and two kangaroo mouse-like Spirits even poured her tea and brought her cookies).

She smiled at them. "Thank you."

The Spirits made little squeaks of happiness.

Faven gifted Luna a smile, but her eyes held sympathy. "You were asleep for quite some time here. You've been coming here to sleep more and more these days. Our Clan worries for you."

Luna sighed. "I'm fine. I just…have these future visions. Visions I can't even make sense of right now." Her gaze drifted—

Yellow-ambers.

Luna's brow furrowed when she saw a white cat with black straps nestled on Faven's lap with shocking yellow eyes. "A Cat Spirit?"

"Something like that," Faven said in vague, amused. She stroked the tomcat's back. "He came to visit today, and he's being awfully lazy when he has somewhere else he needs to be."

The stripped tomcat Spirit twitched his tail, but he focused his knowing eyes on Luna.

Luna laughed while Faven made a show of rolling her eyes while she grabbed her tea. "Spirits are such beastly things sometimes," she muttered before taking two sips. "Now." She set down her tea. "Your visions have been troubling you since you started to get them."

Luna's merriment exchanged for melancholy. "Yeah…" She rubbed her arm. "But… But it's not like it's all real. I mean it's all possibilities, right? So there's no need for me to actually be upset."

Faven sighed. "Time is always about the possibilities and the most likely outcomes of those possibilities, yes. Most Seers could only see the path likely taken. But in that, because they relied so heavily on their foresight, they never understood that even some of the most unrealistic outcomes could become their new reality if given the chance."

Luna's shoulders sagged. "I don't want to rely on this, though. I just… I want to be normal."

"Oh, Young Luna." Faven put a hand over her descendant's. "This—having the abilities you have—is your 'normal'. And right now, 'normal' feels confusing and overwhelming, but with guidance, you will find the balance you seek."

"But who could even teach me about this?" Luna asked her ancestor. "I'm not supposed to talk about it." She winced remembering her slip-up with Carlisle. "Anymore, anyway…"

Faven hummed. "Sometimes, the teacher that you want is not the teacher that you need. Teachers come in many forms, overlapping their lessons with you. But the teacher is not as important as the student. And you will know when you are ready to learn."

Gritted teeth. "I want to learn now!"

Faven blinked around when she saw the Spirits wince. It was not from Luna's volume. But the peace and tranquility had been disrupted and none of them could resist the interference. Even the tomcat in Faven's lap had his ears back.

Luna breathed heavily, but it took her a moment to see the Spirits were cowering. "Oh… Oh, no." With a deep exhale, she let go of her anger. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt all of you. I'm so sorry."

Peace stored, the Spirits chattered to her in their tongues that they were fine.

The tomcat jumped off Faven's lap as she brushed Luna's cheek to her jaw before holding her chin to get a look at her. "You want to change," she deduced. "You want to break free from the chains you put on yourself and that's wonderful. But you must be—"

"Patient," Luna sighed, eyes downcast. "Icarus said the same thing and so did Papa."

"And you can count me among them." Faven took Luna's hands into her own. "Time does not heal your wounds like people say they do. Time is a mere illusion. Your wounds will always remain. How much your wounds heal, how your wounds leave a scar, how your scars feel afterward—that is dependent on you, not Time. You want to heal. But rushing it will leave your wounds too tender and they will slice open at the faintest hint of pain."

"So what do I do?" Luna beseeched. "I don't want to live being afraid, but I still feel afraid. I want to be strong like my friends and my family. I want to use my powers too."

"And you will, Young Luna," Faven soothed.

"When?" Luna was desperate to know. "When, Mama Faven?"

Faven sighed. "Oh, how I wish I had the answer if it meant your troubles will cease. But I do not. You can only answer when. You have the power to learn about yourself and your gifts. And I think Saint Layla's is a step in the right direction."

"I wish you'd just give me a map of the rest of the directions," Luna mumbled. As Faven tittered, Luna hesitated to ask, but she still had to. "Mama Faven… About Luke's Bond…"

"Ah. Yes." Faven's expression dimmed, but it did not close off like the time before. "What…? What about his Bond?"

"You know who Bonded to him," Luna softly spoke, "don't you?

Faven looked at the rolling and rich grasslands with quiet despair.

"Why wouldn't you tell me who it is?" Luna pressed. "Luke should know—!"

"Does he want to know?"

Luna reeled back, but the answer was clear. "He…" She looked at her tea. "No. He doesn't." Her stare came back up determined. "But he should. We all should. In my vision, I…!"

Faven looked back at her, worried. "You what?"

"I…! I think I saw her," Luna confessed, her own vision disturbing her.

That sharpened Faven's features. "What exactly did you see?"

Luna swallowed. "I was in this really beautiful place. It didn't… It didn't look or feel like Earth Land, though. I don't know. There was something about it." Her brow furrowed trying to catch the details of her vision. "Luke was upset. I couldn't tell. My visions were muted this time until—"

Worried golds.

That would be processed later. Luna plowed on: "But he was crying and upset. And there was this woman who was talking to him—arguing with him. And then… Luke said something that made her snap. And she…kissed him." Remembering Luke's tears and struggles made her feel sick in the stomach and not right in the head, like she had acted as a physical bystander to her own brother's assault. "He didn't want it. He was trying to get away from her. He did, in the end. He got away."

Faven urged, "And then what?"

"Well…" Luna rubbed her forehead. "He went outside… There was this couple outside. This man who…" Her eyes widened. "Endymion."

Faven looked white as a sheet. "What?"

"It… It was Endymion," Luna recalled, flabbergasted. "It was him. I know it was him. I saw it. That was him. And that woman—" She broke off when Faven grabbed her shoulders, distraught. "Mama Faven—"

"The woman with Endymion—did she have white hair with gold in it?" Faven demanded to know.

"I-I-I…!" Luna rapidly blinked, recounting her vision. "I-I…think so."

"Selene." Faven whispered the name like it was a death sentence. "Endymion's mate. The Unicorn Constellation."

Now it all came back to Luna. 'She was in Nadya's vision back in Margaret Town. And Endymion mentioned about her being a Unicorn back in the past when he was Auntie Meira's Celestial Spirit.' She beamed. "That's great that they were together then, right…?" Her question drifted seeing Faven looked gray and sickly. "Mama Faven?"

"So it's true," Faven breathed. "It's happening again. It can't."

Nayda and Erion clamored over to Faven, worried. Nayda prodded her. 'Mother?'

"Luna," Faven called, shaky. "Tell me. Did Luke escape in your vision?"

"I… Yeah." Luna wracked her brain to confirm. "Yeah, he did escape on Endymion, but—"

"Then there's a chance." Faven seared Luna with her hard eyes. "The woman who Bonded to Luke is not a good person. If you remember what she looked like, you need to tell Luke to stay far away from her, do you understand?"

"W-Well, I…!" Luna shook her head. "What's going on?" The world around her warped and it panicked her more. "Mama Faven!"

"You're waking up," Faven hurriedly told her. "Luna, you need to make sure Luke never meets her. He needs to run far away from her if he senses her. She will bring him nothing but misery. Tell him not to…!"

But with the world fading, Faven's voice sounded too distant from Luna to hear Faven. She shouted, "Faven! Faven! What's going on? Faven!" But the golden grasslands faded and she was thrust out into icy darkness that made her choke. The black void was unforgiving, isolated, and cold-hearted.

Her skin prickled.

A hushed whisper tickled her ear, masculine and so gentle that it felt made your skin crawl.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

'I'll come for you soon.'

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna woke with a start this time around.

Icarus jolted as she groaned, and he got up to check her over. Pup? I could feel your emotions. Are you all right?

"I'm fine," Luna assured with a grunt. She forced herself to sit up in the bed with a whoosh of an exhale. "I think… I had a vision." She moaned as she rubbed her head. "But now I don't know anymore. Some of my visions stick and the other ones fade away."

But I do remember specific things, she thought. I remember those eyes…

Worried golds in a room of white stained her mind.

Luna pressed her lips together. And I remember…

The vision of a forest overrun with scarlet came back to her with the white-furred stag and his grandeur antlers.

Chocolates darkened. And lastly…

The image of Luke fleeing from the woman of his agony would haunt her.

Luna raised her arms up high before sprawling out on the bed, her mind in overdrive. So there's a possibility that Luke gets Endymion's key? No, that's not right. It felt…right for Luke to have his key. So then it's fate and not destiny? But why does it matter if the woman who Bonded to him has Selene's key? Not like I like the lady. Not after seeing how miserable Luke was in my vision.

She rubbed her eyes. "Icarus? Do you know anything about Selene and Endymion?"

The Unicorn and the Pegasus, Icarus named. As for Endymion, yes. For his mate, no, I do not. I have heard of Selena—she is well-respect in her House—but I have never interacted with her. I do know, however, they had physical forms on this realm once. As to what made them transition into Star Spirits, I cannot say. Endymion and I never spoke about such matters.

"Huh." Luna brought down her hands, speculative. I wonder why Faven was upset when I told her Selene and Endymion were together. Endymion loves Selene, right? And it looked like she loved him too. So what happened there?

She groaned aloud. "Ugh…! Too many questions and not enough answers!" She sat up. "I hate all this not knowing. I thought vacation meant I wouldn't have to deal with this." She reached over to wake up her Compact, but her face fell when she saw no messages from two best friends. And I'm sure E and Silver are still at their meeting.

Putting her Compact on the desk, she bounced off the bed to head outside. The breeze felt warm, even from all the way up to where she was. Even with her mind all mangled and muddled, the city persisted in its beauty and bustle. With the sun still lounging in the sky, everyone made the most of springtime. Cloud-surfers and Sky Taxis and brooms and Magic Carpets spruced up the sky.

She leaned against the railing, gaze half-mast and musing. Why did I get this power? What is my power? I train and I've been taking small jobs with Mama and Papa, but… I still don't have a name for my Magic. I can teleport and heal. I have Empathy and Telepathy with Icarus. And…I can see into futures that I don't even know will come true. But how does that help me? What does it all mean? Why couldn't I get my powers sooner?

A smoky breeze of spice tickled her nose.

Igneel… I wish you were home. There's so much I want to tell you…and so much I don't want you to know. She laid her cheek against her resting arms as her stare fell onto the greenery a little ways away. You wouldn't be like this. You'd be strong and brave like always. You wouldn't always be so afraid. You told me Dragons were never afraid. And when you told me I was a princess, you said it was okay for me to be afraid because you'd be there. But I'm still afraid. And you're not here. The sun brightened her lashes.

Intense rubies. "Blondie."

Luna felt her heart of hearts sigh. I know I have Gale, but I can't rely on him. I can't rely on Mama and Papa. I want to rely on myself. But…how? How can I learn about all this? I don't want to be patient. I know I have to be, but… Browns glinted. How can I be patient when everyone else is moving on…and I can't catch up?

Gale's soft words spoke to her. "I want there to be a day you can go out and feel safe in your own person without me."

Luna's gaze kept going back to the park. I haven't done anything on my own since we came back from Alvarez. I want to…but I keep thinking something is going to happen again. Her hands tightened onto the railing. What if I get captured again?

'The world is dangerous,' Icarus had once told her. 'But that is why we prepare ourselves for the unknown. We prepare ourselves for danger. We have learned from this experience to exercise more caution when leaving the den.'

Thoughts wove together. I have my Compact charged and I have my location shared with my family and E and Silver. And I have everyone's Call Cards. I brought my mini-PDP too. Luke taught me some spells to check my food and drink. She looked up at the sky. And it's daylight and really busy. Browns dropped back to the park. Maybe… Maybe I…

She stood up. "Icarus?"

Icarus came padding outside and sat beside her. Yes?

"I… I want to go for a walk," Luna declared. But second thoughts crippled her decision, and she asked, "Is that okay?"

Icarus wagged his tail with his paws shuffling and his tongue out, but he tried not to get too excited. Yes, Pup. He nuzzled her side with his butt wriggling. That is more than okay.

°•°•°•°

More foreigners than natives flooded the park this time of day, but to be fair, the Sky Arena would hold a Young Nation concert in a few days. A few teenaged cloud-surfers barreled down a route and ignored the cries for them to be careful. The pond had brought along toy boats and "water artists" (Water Mage Artists) with aquatic Aberrants more than welcome to swim with the fishes. A street percussionist was busking for a pretty Caelum Crown. In fact, a group dressing in Josean high street fashion were busking to an EIGHTEEN hit single.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« Hura Park is a popular park for people due to the abundance of food trucks. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Maybe Luna would have given lip if her parents had suggested the sunglasses, but she felt safe behind them as she took to the park with her Nicky-nyan and Nina-nyan mini-PDP. Icarus had been all too happy with her going outside to complain about his collar and leash. He kept close to her and played the part of dignified dog, but his sharp eyes cataloged everything and everyone.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Hura Park

Ao's Paradise

Caelum, Ishgar

3:47 PM WIT

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

I'm okay, Luna told herself with her Compact clutched to her chest. This is okay. We're walking. And I texted E and Silver where I am.

You're doing great, Icarus encouraged her. Chin up. Scan around. Keep breathing. Keep pace.

Luna forced an exhale. Right. Breathe and walk. She glanced around at the park activities, from little kids giggling about to a low-impact yoga class on the grass. This is a lot like home. It's nice. She caught an amorous young couple lip-locking, and she blushed before turning away. Icarus' laughing was not appreciated. It's not funny, Icarus.

It is. Icarus nosed her to make her understand he meant no harm. You might be a juvenile, but you are still a pup in so many ways.

That made Luna's cheeks heat more. I'm not a kid! She froze when she saw a polyamorous relationship between three women. One laid her head on her girlfriend's lap and smiled when she got a peck on the lips while the third girlfriend was busy reading and running her fingers through the second girl's hair. She must have noticed Luna when she offered a friendly beam.

Embarrassed she had been caught, Luna offered a shy wave in return and carried along with Icarus' chortled burning her ears. I'm not a kid, she muttered. Her eyebrow twitched catching another couple feed each other. But there's a lot of couples out here today. Her entire face turned red when the couple caved into a sweet kiss. And they're so bold too!

You would have had a fit seeing the first Ya Ke, Icarus told her. His son Sirius took after him with public rut—ah, displays of affection. Wolves have little care for human decorum and privacy. But Ya Ke was known to fulfill…certain desires in his form with his pleasure mates.

Luna owlishly blinked. What do you mean? What's a 'pleasure mate'?

Icarus coughed and looked away. Ahem. Perhaps it is best to wait until you are older.

Luna glared at him while he sweated. I told you I'm not a kid. She huffed and looked ahead. Her eyes spotted a couple a little more unsure of themselves sitting together on a bench. But the way they shared food and the faint blushes on their cheeks made Luna yearn yet hesitate. Her fingers clutched her Compact. I'm just not ready for that sort of stuff. Chocolates burdened with regret. It's not like last time went well for me.

Icarus glanced up at her. Hmm…

Benches settled around the park as a perfect spot to people-watch, eat food truck food, read a book, or converse with a friend. Luna had managed to snag an empty bench with Icarus sitting on the grass beside her. Seeing the peace and tranquility let her relax, if only a little.

Icarus closed his mouth. You are not too young to be dissuaded in a romantic relationship, if that is your wish. But if it is also your desire to wait until you are more certain of yourself, that is also your right. There is never a 'right' time to enter a pair. But there are countless wrong times. You are wise to understand that.

A sigh left Luna. I don't feel wise.

That is good.

Luna frowned at him. What do you mean?

When you feel wise, that is arrogance. When you feel you understand yet can still learn, that is wisdom.

Luna put her cheek in a propped hand. Sure. Whatever, I guess. Her stare skittered to see another couple, but this one was spades older with their glory years gone. But they enjoyed each other with the way they smiled. Do you think…I could've had that?

With Bleu or with Gale?

Luna winced. C'mon, Icarus, you said you wouldn't bring up Bleu.

Icarus laid out before her. Well?

With anyone, not just with them. Luna broke her gaze to look at the pond. I'm okay that Bleu and I broke up. Seriously. I'm over it. But…that doesn't mean I don't care about him as a friend.

Which is why you are going to his celebration, Icarus thought. And why you worry for his lack of communication.

Luna closed her eyes as she breathed out. He asked me to come. I said I would. End of story. Browns cracked open. But I know Carlisle is worried about him too. From what Bleu told me, his family is having more issues than he knows what to do with. And because of that, it's harder for him to speak to Carlisle. And for Carlisle, outside of his mom… Bleu is the only family he has left. He must be really worried for him.

Icarus thumped his tail twice. And you?

I'm worried too, Luna confessed, but as a friend.

And you worry about Gale as a simple friend?

Luna turned away. That's all I can do. A part of me doesn't want to, but… It's what I need to do. I just…can't do anything more. Not right now. The Snow Ball came back to her mind, disturbing her. Why am I thinking about that now?

I am pleased you and Gale are on the same page, Icarus noted. Most would not say the same and would rather hone selfish desire than grow. A beat. I believe Luke's Bonder might succumb to that desire.

That scared Luna. So they'll come back for him?

They'll have no choice, Icarus explained. You explained to me Luke was Bonded when he was unconscious. It is not unheard of for that to happen, but it's rare and nonconsensual. And those Bonders who take mates this way can sometimes succumb to a Haze.

A 'Haze'?

Yes, but this was thousands of moons ago, Icarus reminded her. Bonds can wither and die. It is not meant to trap you or force an emotion you do not feel for another. But selfish Bonders were punished with a disease called 'Haze'. Their power was greatly weakened and their body slowly lost certain functions.

Luna fretted, How do they cure it? Does Luke have to, like, accept her?

Nothing like that, Icarus soothed. In fact, he does not have to do anything. The selfish Bonder will eventually die. Luke might feel sadness, but he will not have to worry about any sort of depression or suicide. He never consented to the Bond. The Spirits recognize that and minimize his attachment.

Luna sighed, relieved. That's good then. At least he won't really be affected. Yet this fear would not go away. But still, my vision… It makes it seem like she does find him and he isn't happy. He gets forced into being with her. Her fingers clutched Icarus' leash. I have to make sure that doesn't happen.

Icarus played panting dog as he swiveled his head. There is a male approaching you.

Six words. One emotion.

Fear.

Luna tensed and tried not to give into her anxiety. Are you sure?

Yes. Icarus slowly rose to his paws. His gait is strong and his sight was on your head. We will move immediately.

Right. Luna shakily got to her feet. Breathe and walk. Breathe and walk. She and Icarus walked away from the bench at a steady pace, but she listened for following footsteps. Is he following us?

Icarus turned his head. No.

Luna partly wanted to sit from the relief and from her shame. So we left for nothing? Because we're paranoid?

We left out of caution, Icarus corrected her. We have the right to be wary of incomers. As a juvenile female, you must be especially careful.

Luna harshly swallowed. Right. Against her better judgment, she glanced behind her. The man who lingered around her former bench looked nothing out of the ordinary, but a strange look crossed his face. Why does he feel…guilty?

Icarus barked and shifted. Pup, watch your step!

THUD!

Luna staggered back, alarmed and a little achy on her face. "Ow…" She rubbed her cheek. What was…?"

A charming smile. "My apologies, miss. I didn't mean to bump into you.."

Luna shook it off. "No, no, it's fine. I should've watched where I was going." She gave an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry."

"It's fine, miss." A tall and sure young man stood before her with kind grayed yellow eyes and a tailored suit that meant business. "It was my blunder. Forgive me. I was enjoying my ice cream too much, I suppose."

Luna waved it off with a laugh. "It's okay! I hope you enjoy your…!" Both of them looked down to see the man's ice cream had fallen to the ground.

Silence.

°•°•°•°

The truck vendors had come from all walks of life with Sinnish and Andüsan and Selan dishes at the ready for everyone's convenience. A YouViewer was vlogging about his favorite Báchnamese restaurant with a friend of his tagging along. A journalist and a detective had decided to share a bread bowl of Alakitasian stew. A couple of friends teased one of their own for getting a calzone instead of a pizza in a cone.

"I'm so sorry!" Pink-cheeked, Luna offered the new cone of ice cream to the young man. "I'm really sorry!"

"It's all right, miss," the man assured. He sat on one of the pathway benches as he accepted the cold treat. "Really. It was because of my error that I ran into you. But thank you for the ice cream." He nodded to Luna's milkshake. "And I hope you enjoy yours."

Luna gave an awkward laugh, scratching her cheek with a finger. "Well, we were already over here…" She brought Icarus with her as she sat down a few spaces away from the young man. "Friends of mine warned me not to get any ice cream because it'll ruin dinner." She sweatdropped remembering Silver and Ena hounding her prior to their departure to the lobby. They act more like my parents than my friends sometimes.

The man chuckled. "I used to say the same thing to my sister. Though she doesn't eat as many desserts anymore. She keeps telling me she wants to have a 'figure' for her ball. I told her it doesn't matter. But little sisters don't like to believe their big brothers."

"It's not what you say but the way you say it," Luna reasoned after sucking down some of her milkshake. "I have three older siblings and I get babied a lot by one of my brothers. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded him giving me advice, but it's the way he said it that mattered."

"So you instantly got rebellious and went against his words," the man teased her.

Luna sniffed. "Well, if he wanted me to actually listen to him, he could've been nicer about it." And she went back to her milkshake.

"You're right. It's the fault of us older siblings and not being more finetuned in our advice-giving," the man jokily agreed. As he looked at his ice cream, he confessed to her, "You really do remind me of my little sister."

Luna paused before giving the man a curious look. "Do you miss her?"

"Quite much so," he confided. "She has her quirks, but I still love her. She's strong, a little silly, and very brave. She's becoming an astonishing young lady."

Luna's milkshake lowered as her eyes turned back to watching the pedestrians. "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't think I'm like your sister at all," she murmured. "I'm not strong"—her eyes fell to her moonstone and turquoise scale bracelet—"or all that brave."

"I disagree." As Luna looked over to the man, he said, "Strength and bravery are very subjective for measurement. For example, I might consider you brave for the way you handled yourself today."

That perplexed Luna. "Really?"

"No." But the man still smiled when Luna pouted her annoyance. "But I don't feel very strong against that look you're giving me right now. In fact, I think I'll need all the bravery I can get to face that look."

Luna hmphed and toyed with her milkshake's straw. "I ran into you, so it wasn't me being brave." Her toying slowed to a halt. "To be honest, it's been a while for me to walk around like this. I haven't felt brave in a while. Just scared."

"I think you are much braver than you believe," the man placated. "Bravery is not something that requires giant action. It can be the smaller actions that make you just as brave. And if you faced your fear today by taking a walk, I would say that is bravery."

Luna looked over at him. "You really think so?"

"Yes." Grayed yellows glinted. "I really do."

"Sir! Sir!"

Both the young man and Luna looked up when a gangly young man came bounding over with a Compact in hand and a work backpack on his back. He glanced at Luna before turning his attention to his employer and said, "Sir, there are you. We have to go. We'll be late for our meeting, and I told you we only had ten minutes of free time."

"Oh, that's all right," the young man dismissed without care. "We could spare the extra minutes." Still, he got up from his seat and nodded to Luna. "Apologies, miss, for having to leave you here and for bumping into you in the first place. It was nice to talk to you."

"It was nice talking to you too," Luna agreed. She blinked when the young man held out a hand. Nothing was in his palm. But when his hand twirled, a wholesome flower had come out to greet her with its ethereal beauty. "You're a Magician."

The man laughed. "Nothing of the sort, miss. I just to up-close illusionary, which I'm sure most Magicians would find offensive. Allow me to give you this cereus flower as a gift to you."

"O-Oh!" Luna took the innocent flower. "Thank you, sir."

"You can call me 'Addy'," the man told her. "It's what my friends call me."

"Thank you, Addy," Luna amended. "I'm Lu—Layla." Her stomach flipped. I almost messed up. I hope he didn't notice anything wrong.

But Addy gave her a heartfelt smile. "Layla," he tested the name. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Layla." H gave her a subtle bow. "Please enjoy your time here at the park." And he walked away with his nervous assistant close to him.

Luna watched him for a moment. Addy… He seemed nice. Her eyes brightened. I did it. I did this all by myself too. I remained calm and nothing happened. I even talked to someone. Icarus, isn't that great? Her brightness faltered seeing Icarus' gaze elsewhere. Icarus?

Ah, yes. Icarus nosed her knee. You have done very well, Pup. He scented her flower. It is peculiar for him to gift you such a flower.

Luna set down her milkshake to take off her mini-PDP. How come? It's just a flower. She unzipped her bag. And I'll keep it in my bag. It should manage to keep it stored and fresh.

As she did so, Icarus thought privately, A cereus flower rarely blooms and it wilts horrendously in broad daylight. But it smelt real and not plastic. How did he manage to keep it alive?

"Lulu!"

Luna looked up and had to beam seeing Ena and Silver come closer to her. She waved. "Hey!" Swinging on her mini-PDP and stuffing her Compact into her pocket, she got up with Icarus' leash and her milkshake in hand. "How was your lunch thing? What's the chairman like?"

"Annoying," Silver grunted.

Ena sighed. "For once, I agree. The chairman is much more than a mere 'eccentric' man." She frowned at herself. But then… Why don't I feel as angry at him as before? She shrugged. "In any case, we have until Monday to calm our heads." She snuck Silver a patronizing look that made him freeze. "Meaning you have until Monday."

"But he kept calling you 'Mistress' on purpose!" Silver complained. "And you're the one who shoved a sword in his face—!"

"Are you trying to criticize me, pig?"

Silver sweated, waving his hands. "N-No, Mistress! Never!"

Luna sweatdropped watching an irked Ena and an overly apologetic Silver. Well, if anyone's changed the most, it would be those two. She softened watching Ena stop Silver's babbling by putting a finger to his lips. She meant to comment, but Silver took hold of her wrist and kissed her finger. And it was for the better. I knew if they gave it a chance, they could be friends. They both had big hearts; they were just misplaced. And look at them now.

Silver and Ena both gave pause when they saw Luna laughing behind a fist. Ena cocked an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

"It's nothing." Luna smiled. "You're both so cute together is all! You'd make such a couple!"

Silver gawked with dramatic lightning striking in his head. Lulu, why would you say that! He fiddled with the hem of his shirt, red. But… Mistress didn't deny it with the nice cabbie. Maybe…if I could hear her say it one more time…

"Oh, L, don't be ridiculous."

Blues widened. Wh…? What?

Ena tittered. "Honestly, L, I think that couldn't be further from the truth. And besides, Silver already has a lady love in his life. We should be more supportive of it, shouldn't we?"

Luna flailed for the right response. "Well, yeah, but…" Frustrated, she glared at Silver, who sweated and his eyes averted. "Yes," she groused. "We should."

"Good." Ena's browns dimmed. It's only a matter of time he goes to her anyway. I should prepare for that. It startled her when Luna looped an arm around her own with that beam of hers. "L…"

"C'mon! You guys are free for the rest of the day, right? So let's walk around, yeah?" Luna urged. "We have a lot of time until dinner and we can pick up doing stuff on the itinerary later."

Before Ena could put in her opinion, Silver's fingers threaded her own. "Silver…"

"Let's have some fun, Mistress!" Silver cheered.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ena looked between both her friends' hopeful faces and felt like a golden retriever and a Samoyed were giving her puppy eyes. She sighed. "You both are incorrigible." But her smile could not be denied. "Very well. Let's go have some fun!"

Icarus barked, prancing, while Silver and Luna pumped a fist. "Aye, sir!"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Oh, yeah, I wanna be with you!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna could not resist taking photos on behalf of the group, and she would keep that position until she died.

The food trucks were first up. Silver and Luna pretended to praise her for buying them food, but Ena simply ignored their antics (even if her hint of a smile could be seen from her profile). They sat on a bench together with Icarus digging into his fries (and a dog mom nearby looked scandalized in the corner of the photo). Luna had shown her teeth for a smile while Silver held up a peace sign and Ena primly ate between them.

Percussionist brothers were putting together quite the rhythm on one of the pathways to attract the crowd. Luna had rushed over to donate from crowns for their cause and took a video of a cute baby girl wriggling to the song before swinging her camera back to find Silver trying to get an amused Ena to dance with him while Icarus pranced around them.

Though for all of Icarus' happiness, he was not the least amused when Silver was treating him like a normal dog and goading him to play fetch. It was not that Icarus did not want to. But he figured out quickly Silver was faking throwing the stick. Fed up, he turned on Silver.

And that led to Silver running for his life while Icarus barreled after him.

Foreigners and locals had recognized Ena. Some had been polite enough to leave her be, but a few bolder ones came over to her in reverence for pictures and questions. The camera showed Silver watching with a proud grin on his face only for him to realize he was being recorded. His cheeks reddened and the camera went all wonky when he tried to stop Luna from videotaping him.

One fan had come up to Silver, however. He looked enthusiastic until she showed him a picture of Gary.

Luna and Ena could not stop snickering when Silver looked so put-out he was nothing more than a stepping stone.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

(Yes! Oh) kimi to iru kara yūki ga waku no

(Yes! Oh) kore kara mo zutto

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Close to the pond, Silver had impressed a plethora of people with his Magic as he made constructs out of the water. The aquatic Aberrants and magical creatures had come up to him on the bank, enthused by his display, and could not stop their praises and pleas for more tricks. Touched, Silver rubbed his neck and laughed. And Ena looked on in quiet approval.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

O-Oh I wanna be with you!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

With the sun curving, the trio and Celestial Sprit walked through the park in bliss with Luna flicking through all the pictures and videos she had taken while Ena and Silver were linked like a servant escorting his mistress.

"What do you say we get back to the hotel, relax, and then we can change and head out for dinner?" Ena offered.

Silver fretted, "Are you tired?"

"Nothing like that," Ena dismissed. "But it couldn't hurt to relax a little." She grew wary when Silver grinned. "What?"

Silver, however, shook his head. "It's nothing." I can't tell her how happy it makes me she wants to relax. She'll want to work again. He simpered to himself. But she looks so cute when she argues.

"Five… Four… Three… Two… One…"

All four of them perked hearing the countdown.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Yeah mweodeun jechyeobeoryeo da knock out machi

neukkimi ganeun daero play it now machi

eodil bwado neomu easy

I just make it easy

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna and Silver looked at each other with one decision in mind. "We have to go!"

Question marks flew around Ena. "Where are we—? Oh!"

Never mind what she wanted to ask. Luna and Silver herded her and Icarus down the pathway until they stumbled upon a large group of people gathered at a square with speakers blasting Easy. Locals and foreigners had all lined up either to dance within the square or stay on the sidelines and record.

Ena frowned. "What is this?"

Luna scoffed. "I'm the sheltered one. How do you not know about random dance plays?" She shook her head and longingly looked at the dancer. "I always wanted to do this…"

"Then do it."

Luna gaped on how readily Ena gave encouragement. "B-But I can't go up there! I thought I wasn't supposed to do anything that draws attention to me!"

"Your sunglasses will protect you and won't fall off," Ena assured her. "I made sure of that. And besides, we're on vacation. You should do what you want to do."

Luna still shuffled, unsure. Icarus?

I agree, Icarus chimed in. But it is your choice.

Luna turned to Silver to see him watching the dancers and blurted, "Silver, you have to come with me."

He grew taken aback. "Me? B-But…" He looked back at the dancers. "I don't…"

"We dance to this, like, all the time and I really, really, really want to do it," Luna pleaded. "Didn't we always say we wanted to do RDPs, but we never could back home? Now we can! This is our chance! So please…?"

Silver good-naturedly growled when she flashed those big doe eyes. "All right, all right, Lulu, don't look at me like that. I'm in." As Luna squealed and cheered, he turned to Ena. "Will you be okay here?"

"I'll be fine," Ena assured him. She touched his cheek. "Go have fun."

Silver kissed the back of her hand. "Okay, Mistress."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Um tikitaka Honey babe

L.O.V.E

Play that PING PONG

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ena laughed when Luna turned over her Compact and Icarus' leash before she and Silver ran out with the other dancers. Whoops and cheers went around as the two of them reenacted the pointe dance together to match the energy of the Josean couple.

I never knew Silver could dance to things like this. I had seen a little, but nothing to this extent. She tittered when the crowd crowed when Silver and Luna were close for the chorus and the body rolls they did with matching smiles.

The song faded out, and the pair rushed back out of the square, flushed and perky, while Ena asked them, "So you only dance to a portion of the song?"

"Basically the bridge and the pointe dance, yeah." Luna shed her mini-PDP. "Can you hold this?"

Ena snorted, but she took the bag. "Well since I'm your servant."

The voice called again, "Five… Four… Three… Two… One…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

dashi kamkamhan igose Light up the sky

ni du nuneul bomyeo I'll kiss you goodbye

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Silver grabbed Luna without a thought and hustled off with her to jump in with the rest of the dancers. They picked up in the middle of the bridge and ended up matching with two other boys for How You Like That formation. Silver had the honor of being Lisa as they tore up the chorus with Luna mimicking Jennie.

Ena could see the exhilaration on both their faces and could not help but want to selfishly keep them happy like this forever. All this time…I thought wrongly of him. It's clear he loves this. I hate that it took for us to be in another country for him to experience this sort of freedom. But at least he's having fun now.

Silver and Luna came back, giddy, but now they were hungry for another song.

The voice called, "Five… Four… Three… Two… One…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

dalla dodohan nal utge hajana (Oh right)

aljana yojeum naega Hot ah ah

nal boneun shiseon neodo neukkyeo bwa (Ooh oh)

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ena kept her mirth to herself when Luna and Silver rushed out again. He was one of the only boys who had dared to come out for Bad Boy, but he and Luna had their two-person formation ready. Cheers and claps came as the chorus turned up with Luna and Silver recreating the point dance. The crowd sang along oh-oh-oh-eh-oh-eh-oh like they were at a concert.

More people clapped when Silver took pointe with his finger gun moving towards the sky as he and Luna moved their hips.

The warmth Ena felt could never be compared to again watching the two of them. I want to make a place for him at home where he can do this. I want to see all that you want to do, Silver. Is that…okay? Her hand touched her heart. Is it okay…to want to see new sides of you? And to cherish that privilege?

Muttered Josean tickled her ears enough for her to turn her head. Four young men in regular street clothes lingered on the outskirts of the random dance play. Some had face masks on, one had shades, and two had bucket hats on, but they seemed joyful about all the dancing. One of them pointed their Starfox cup at the dancing Luna and Silver.

Huh. Ena turned back to the dancing. I wonder what was about… They looked familiar.

Once Bad Boy had ended, everyone had cleared out for the next song to start.

"Five… Four… Three… Two… One…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

irweojiji anneun kkumsogeseo

piul su eomneun kkocheul kiweosseo

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Many people rushed in for Fake Love, but it surprised Ena seeing the four men come in closer as if hedging to join. Luna and Silver had joined the group of five who had started the dance play in the first to get into OT7 formation for the dance with Luna becoming RJ/Jinnie and Silver became Jung-Jung.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Love you so bad, love you so bad

neol wihae yeppeun geojiseul bijeonae

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Her confusion turned into full-blown surprise when the four men slipped into the dance and dance behind Luna, Silver, and two other group members. Her eyes squinted watching them. Is that…?

To the credit of the dancers, they did not start a mob, but squeals and screams came about when Silver and the other dancer both lifted their shirts for the bridge. And seeing the dancer's tattoos made it hit home for those who did not understand the initial enthusiasm.

Oh my god. Ena laughed in disbelief. She hurried to get out her Compact and started recording. Young Nation came here!

When the intense dance was over, applause rang out with both Luna and Silver star-struck their artists had come all this way to participate. Luna looked like she could have fainted on the spot when Jinnie tugged down his facemask and gave her a quick hug she was not prepared for. Silver got a high-five from Jung-Jung and could not help but be wide-eyed when Jung-Jung complimented him in Minstrish. The other two members—T and Koya—welcomed others with smiles and greetings.

Ena shook her head when Luna caught her eye and waved her over. So much for keeping a low profile. Either way, she strode over with Icarus in tow. But as long as they're having fun, what more could I ask for?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

BASHABASHA!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And the was how Luna ended up with a picture of her, Silver, Ena, and Icarus together with four of the seven members of Young Nation doing finger hearts in the middle of Hura Park.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

BASHABASHA!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna was the one to turn on the lights to the hotel room as they marched in with doggie bags from their restaurant of choice for dinner and a few souvenirs they had lifted traveling down a tourist-heavy street.

"Today was so much fun!" Luna cheered as Icarus shook his fur before trotting further inside. "I can't freaking believe we got to meet Young Nation and we're seeing them in concert next week!"

"I'm never washing my hand again," Silver said dreamily as he shut their door behind him. "JJ high-fived me."

Ena gave him a worthy dressing down. "I made you wash your hands before dinner, remember?"

"It's the principle of it though!" Silver insisted as he followed both girls to their bedroom. "I heard sometimes people see artists who end up coming to dance plays and busking, but I didn't think it would happen to us! And JJ high-fived me!"

Luna stuck out her tongue. "And Jinnie hugged me. I'm winning…!"

"I'm a loser…!" Silver sang. "I'm a loser…! Lover with a dollar sign!"

"Is a loser!" Luna sang back with Ena shaking her head at their antics. "I'm a lover…! I'm a lover…! Lover with a dollar sign!"

Silver and Luna shouted together, "Is a loser!"

Ena asked them, entertained, "Is this how you two always are together?"

While Silver set down a few bags, Luna replied, "Basically. I told you. We're either in the living room learning dances or watching a Magia movie." She wagged a finger at Ena and jested, "And you could've joined in the fun if you two stopped fighting way earlier…!"

"I'm okay," Ena chuckled. "But…"—her gaze slid to Silver—"I am glad we stopped fighting—most of the time,"

Silver gave a cheeky grin. "You're cute when you're angry, Mistress."

"And you're cute when you're quiet," Ena muttered not unkindly. Fluffing out her hair, she decided, "I feel like such a glutton, but I was thinking about ordering room service and if you two wanted anything…" She sweatdropped when Luna, Icarus, and Silver salivated with hungry eyes. They make it look like I never feed them.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And then…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Wings, burgers, fries, and ice cream—unhealthy but damn good to have at the end of a long day.

All three had make-up headbands on to keep back their bangs while Icarus lay passed out on the floor from all the wing nuggets he devoured. Luna's exfoliating mask was not finished and Ena had already rinsed off her cream mask and done her routine for the evening, but she helped Silver peel off his own green tea cream mask and made sure to start the immediate skin aftercare.

Luna finished coating her toes in clear paint with her separators on as she watched a western high school MCOM movie with the leads dancing. "Gale ruined this movie for me and now I can't believe she was the villain all along."

"Right?" Silver turned his head where Ena wanted him to. "I was so pissed when he told that to me." When Luna opened her mouth, he fed her more ice cream. "But then Julia told me I shouldn't even be watching it anyway."

Ena frowned as she continued the routine. "Why?"

"I don't know." Silver kept his eyes on the movie. "They were just being weird about it. It's fine. They're like that all the time."

Ena opened her mouth to pry, but Luna's subtle shake of her head made her shove down concerns. "I thought we could watch Princess Diaries next."

"Sure." Luna blew on her toes. "Okay." She brought up her nail paint to show Silver. "Which colors?" When Silver made a face, she groaned. "Come on. We said we'd do nail-painting."

Silver looked down at his free hand. "Does it…have to be on my fingers?"

Luna understood, but Ena questioned, "Do you not want your nails painted?"

"No, I do. I just…!" Silver let out a loud breath. "Gary used to do designs on our nails all the time whenever we visited him once he moved," he confessed to her. "It was a lot of fun, but…" His hand cupped his bowl as his blues fell. "It's nothing. I'll pass on the nail painting. Thanks, though, Lulu."

Luna rubbed his shoulder and murmured, "Yeah, sure. It's fine. Take your time."

Ena watched the way Silver looked at his ice cream and her chest ached. He shouldn't have to worry about other people. Anger filled her. Who dared to tell him he couldn't be himself?

"He played lacrimagames and pretended to like sports and stuff just so his friends didn't call him 'gay' because he normally hung out with girls back then," Luna's murmur flooded. "And even then, the girls all called him their 'gay best friend' because they didn't see him as a 'real guy'."

Ena's cheek twinged. How dare they.

Silver took in a deep breath, but he was startled. Her scent… It's hot now. She's angry. He looked over, worried to see the scowl on Ena's face. "Mistress? What's wrong?"

Ena blinked down at those blues. "I'm fine." She tended to his face with marula oil. "No need to worry." Yes. I can't get angry every time I think about this or else he'll worry about me. I just need to make him comfortable. "I'm glad you both had fun. We have a lot more to see and do this week, thanks to Silver's planning."

That perked him up. "Yeah. I got the okay to go wild, so I planned a lot of fun stuff for us to do, including a nature tour of the mainland." He blushed as he pushed his ice cream around and mumbled, "And I even scheduled some horseback riding too."

"Really?" Ena beamed. "You never told me that."

"I-I wanted it to be a surprise to you." Silver gave her a determined look. "And I promise I can ride too. I want to show you I'm a man like Nora."

Bewilderment clashed with merriment on Ena's face. "Nora? Why would you want to be like him?" She poked his chest. "I like you the way you are. I don't want a carbon copy of someone else."

But Silver could not hear anything else. She…likes me?

"I like you…" echoed in his head as Ena's breathless confession. "I like you… I like you… I like you…"

Ena's eyebrow twitched when a dazed Silver looked all-too-happy for his taste. "Why do I feel the need to punish him?"

"Please don't," Luna muttered as she stole the bowl of ice cream. "He'll get too excited and might die—literally." She helped herself to a spoonful and talked around it to add, "And I'm not reviving him, so he's out of luck with that."

Silver gaped at her. So cruel, Lulu!

Luna's Compact chimed to show Gale was the calling culprit.

Ena chuckled. "You better take that."

Silver held out his hands. "Ice cream. Now."

Luna made sure to spoon a big helping of the ice cream before she gave it back to a horrified Silver. Quickly picking up the Compact, she got off the couch to greet Gale. And her giggle as she scurried back into her room was all Ena and Silver needed to know that Gale was laying on his rough charm thick.

"I don't understand what she sees in him," Ena sighed. With Silver's face finished, she decided to brush out her hair. "He's such an uncouth barbarian. His only praise from me is his intellect, but he uses it for evil instead of good."

Silver snickered as he swirled around his melting ice cream. "Aunt Levy always says he's going to be an evil genius someday, but Uncle Gajeel said we'd give him way too much credit that. Julia used to call us 'Twinkie and the Brain'."

Ena's brushing slowed as her lips curved down. "And…that was funny?"

"Well, yeah." The smile on Silver's face sullied a bit, but he made it work. "It was just a joke. Gary shut her down, but I told him it was okay. Really. I didn't mind it."

Ena's eyes lowered. "I see." Back to brushing. "Did…jokes like these always happen at your expense?" Her eyes narrowed when Silver's gaze darted away. I knew it.

"They were just jokes," Silver told her, but such an explanation was too brittle to hold up. "They stopped for a little while. Igneel—"

Ena straightened. "Igneel joked like this too?"

"What?" Silver gave Ena a crazy look. "No! No, Igneel defended—" He quickly backpedaled, "I-I-I mean… Igneel didn't really care one way or the other what I did. He was scary, sure, but…" Blues warmed. "He could be kind too. When he wanted to be, anyway. He never joked like that. I think it's because of Gary, mainly."

"They were close," Ena vaguely remembered.

Silver hummed an affirmative. "Yeah. Even before they got close, Igneel didn't really comment. He just told me he thought Lulu looked prettier." All those times he gaped when Igneel cooed at Luna and spoiled her with even prettier possessions and praise, but he gave a jaw-dropped Silver a once-over and a grunt. He could've been nicer about it though.

"Ha." Ena shook her head. "Once a heathen, always a heathen."

Silver chuckled. "Yeah…" He spooned his ice cream, but he did not tuck it in. "Gary never cared about how people saw him. I remember how excited I was when he did guy Elsa for Lulu. Or when Dazzler took him to some drag thing. Everyone loves him for it. I love him for it.

Ena could sense it. "But…" When he turned his head away, she soothed, "It's fine. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Silver. I just…want you to know I like you for who you are. Every part of you."

Silver shifted. "You do?"

"Of course. I've told you that before, surely." Saying it aloud made her face heat a bit. Keeping her composure, she turned away and kept brushing her hair. "And anyway, I—O-Oh…" She felt gentle hands steal her brush from her. "You don't have to—"

"I'd like to, Mistress," murmured Silver.

Ena had no heart to dismiss him and let him carry on with her work. His strokes are gentle. "You really would make a nice house husband. I still stand by that statement."

A soft laugh left Silver as he focused on brushing. "I told my mom when I was really little I thought it'd be cool to be a househusband. I can't remember what Julia said, but my mom said she'd be over the moon if my dad was a househusband. I'd like to keep swimming, though."

"And university?"

That confused Silver. "What about university?"

Ena turned her head to give him a cursory glance. "Remember you had brought up about leaving for university?" She huffed and looked ahead. "We had a whole conversation about your friend looking at universities over his lover and everything."

Silver internally sweated. She remembered that? I was just making a giant metaphor on the spot. I didn't actually mean I was thinking about that. He withheld his sigh and continued his gentle brushing. "I can honestly say outside of that day, I never thought about university."

"Well, you should," Ena informed in that strict no-nonsense scold. "This is your future. You should take it seriously and use every opportunity available to you. I won't allow you to settle for anything less."

Silver smiled to himself. "Yes, Mistress." She's so cute pretending not to care. He glanced at her pinkened ears. Really cute.

"By the way," Ena started, "about the meeting with Mister Kalupe."

His blues widened before flickering. "Yes, Mistress?"

"It's just… Well…." Ena shifted as she gathered her words. "You seemed…tense ever since we arrived at AK's and then you seemed even more agitated being in Mister Kalupe's presence. That is to say…do you know him personally? And has he offended you in the past? If so"—her head turned to show a murderous glint chilling her eye—"should I dispose of him?"

Silver blinked before breaking into laughter.

Shock came before embarrassment settled on Ena and she demanded to know, "Why are you laughing at me? I mean it. If he offended you once before, then tell me and I'll handle it. I didn't think that was a hilarious ask."

"It's not that." Warmth filled Silver's soft beam with a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm just lucky to have a mistress who takes care of me so well is all. I'm very grateful. It's one of the things I like about you, Mistress. Truly."

Dark browns widened.

Ena turned away to hide the red spreading across her cheeks and nose, but she felt her ears burn. "I-I still meant what I said," she told him, voice not as condemning as before.

Silver sectioned off more locks of scarlet to brush. "I've never met him before. As for why I was so tense"—his lips threatened to show teeth, but he did away with the instinct—"I don't know. Everything about him seemed off to me, I guess."

"I see." Three beats. "If you don't think I should work with him, I won't."

That rendered Silver speechless for a few moments. Ena… He questioned, "But… You need his airfreight line to make the expansion project a success, don't you?"

"That might be true. But it was your instincts that let me live to see another day."

Silver's stomach sunk. "What does that mean?"

"It was Aglaophotis that was in the dish you told me not to eat."

Blues glinted, horrified. 'Aglaophotis'? "If you had even eaten a bite of that food without an antidote close by, you would have—"

"Yes." Ena's gaze drooped half-lidded and somber. "I would have died. I'm trained to ingest numerous poisons, but I'm not immune. I would have survived for another day or so before my demise had I not gotten the antidote and even then, it would have taken me months to years of magical therapy to regain half of what I've lost."

Knuckles turned white as he clutched the brush. "Did you find out who was responsible? If you did"—fangs showed as his blues showed his War—"how would you like me to take care of them for you, Mistress?"

"We're still quietly searching for the culprit, Nora and I," Ena said. "But rest assured"—malice poisoned her smirk—"I have every intention of distributing retribution for their attempt on my life. Spiritless or Wizard—that won't stop me. And I expect your assistance."

The stir in his chest growled, eager for the chance of War. "Yes, Mistress."

"Good." Ena closed her eyes as Silver took the brush down for a long drag the length of her hair. "If it wasn't for your instinct and your insistence for me not to eat the meal, a lot worse could have happened. It's unfortunate Nora received it instead of me. But luckily, he's recovered."

Her eyes cracked open. And suspiciously so. We need to interrogate the doctor to find out why he had such a niche antidote in his cupboard. He could rationalize the accidental ingestion of the peony would warrant an antidote on sight, but still…

She would think of that later. "That's why I trust your instincts now. If your instincts are telling you that Mister Kalupe is not to be trusted, I won't do business. And I will find another way to manage the expansion project. You don't have to worry about that. So be honest in your answer."

Silver debated how to reply. I won't lie. Being near him made my skin crawl. All I wanted was to keep her safe and far away from him. I was just…so angry at him that I felt like fighting him. And that was before his questions. But now… If I tell her I'm suspicious of him, I know it'll hurt all she's worked for. And I want to see her succeed. "You should take the meeting with him.

"Are you sure?" Ena challenged.

But Silver held firm. "Yes, Mistress. Please take the meeting with him."

Three beats.

"All right," Ena quietly consented. "We'll see him on Monday as scheduled."

Silver hummed. I'll have to deal with seeing that man's face again. But… Those mouthed words came back to him. Why did he say that to me? And how did he know so much about me? His features edged in a dark thought. There's only one person who can answer this. And this time—War stormed his eyes—I'll make them talk.

Ena faintly coughed. "Ah… I…" Her hands dug into her knees. "I have a feeling L doesn't particularly care about sleeping arrangements. Don't you think?"

"Yeah. Lulu can sleep just about anywhere." Silver muttered, And from what I hear, she and Gale are going to be up for a while. Ugh. Lulu, you could do so much better than him.

"R-Right." Ena swallowed and looked at her lap. What am I doing? Why do I feel so nervous? "And I'm sure you're aware I like consistency."

"I do, Mistress." I remember when I made you the wrong morning tea once. He wanted to weep remembering the cold shoulder Ena had given him and the lengths he went to please her. You wouldn't speak to me for the whole day.

"We-Well, I…" Ena's shoulders hunched. "I just… I…know we have normally shared a bed before. And I have…gotten used to the feeling. And, well… It would bother me to break from such consistency. We should be consistent. Shouldn't we?"

"Yes, Miss…" Silver blinked and his hand stopped. Wait… He looked up to see how flushed Ena's neck and ears had become. Is she…? "Are you trying to ask if you can sleep with me?"

Ena jolted. "Of course not!" she snapped. "Have some common sense! You're the last person I would ever ask that to!"

Glass cracked in Silver's mind. You could be a little nicer about it, Mistress.

"I just…" Ena scowled. "I-I…know you have nightmares and it helps when you sleep with someone. That's all. I was concerned for you," she said in a weak timbre. "Nothing more."

Admiration and awe brightened Silver's face. I guess she's never had to ask this sort of question. For someone who's so direct, she can be so shy about things like this. His heart clenched. But…that's what I love about her. I'm lucky to see this side of her. "I want to—" He stopped himself. Wait. My answers…

Ena waited with bated breath. "You want to…?"

"I…" Silver looked away. "I…can't. I'm sorry."

Her shoulders went rigid. "Oh. I… I see." Her teeth bit down on her bottom lip. You were so foolish. How could you ask such a thing? Why did you even ask? He has a wonderful lady he's in love with. You aren't anything. You're nothing more than a second.

His brow furrowed when Ena got up. "Mistress?"

"I'm sure you'll want privacy to call your lady love," Ena told him with no emotion to her words. "I'll give you some space and clean up here. You can retire. Good night, Silver." Foolish girl. Mystogan was right. Her hands balled into fists. I shouldn't be so arrogant. I shouldn't rely on others. So why did I…?

"Don't go!"

Ena could not move another step when Silver hugged her from behind with his head nuzzled onto her shoulder. She did not grant him a reprieve, but she did not move either. She stayed still for reasons she could not understand.

"Please don't misunderstand me. This has nothing to do with her."

Her breath hitched.

Silver held her taut. "I do want to be at your side. But I can't right now. But please don't think it's because of someone else. There's no one else I'd rather be beside. But tonight, I…" His grip on her loosened, just barely. "I-I…" I can't tell her what I'm planning. She'll worry. And it's risky. But I have to do this.

"Give me a reason."

Silver froze. "What?"

"I said what I said." Eva repeated, even, "Give me a reason. If you do that, then I won't insist any further."

His mouth opened, but no explanation could be enough. I… I can't… I can't tell her. He rested against her, defeated, and murmured into her shoulder, "You don't play fair, Mistress."

"I would hope not," Ena equipped, the air of solemnity breaking. "Was your reason not as good enough as you thought?"

"That's just it." His nose touched her neck. "There is no reason that could come before you, Mistress. You're first for me. Always."

Ena felt her heart stop. How did he…? She smiled, closing her eyes. "You should be careful with those words. I shouldn't be that important of a priority. Someone else should have that role, not me—"

"I don't care." Silver rubbed his cheek against her neck, like a mellow cat. "I'm your shield. And I'll do whatever you tell me. But I can't not put you as a first for me, Mistress. I hope you can forgive me for disobeying."

It was not like she meant it. She truly did not. But the tears that gathered in the corners of her eyes were beyond her control. The iron and steel forged around her heart felt weakened—cracked. And all because of such innocent words.

"Why are you crying, Mistress?" Silver murmured. He did not fret or worry. He knew and he understood. "Please don't cry."

She could not get out the words that she was not crying and he had no right to tell her to stop even if she was. The tears—they would not stop. The peculiar purr from before warmed her from the inside out. "I-I…" A wet swallow. "I…don't know what to say," she brokenly whispered.

"You don't have to say anything, Mistress," Silver soothed. "Just say it's okay for me to think this."

"I…" Ena held back her sniffle. Why am I crying? Why can't I stop? Shakily, she forced her hand to touch her moist cheek. He called me his 'first', but… Is that okay? Shouldn't he say that about the girl he loves? Her bottom lip quivered. Is it okay…if I don't remind him this time? Could I be a little selfish and just…pretend for a little while? Would that be okay this time?

Her hand scraped to her chest and could feel every quick heartbeat pulse. A wet inhale. A steady exhale.

A decision made.

Her lips parted.

"Okay."

---

— • — • — • —

Ah-ah-ah-ah-akkanbe—

Yodonda sekai to te wo tsunagu no sa

Wo ai ni, wo ai ni

•

Ah-ah-ah-ah-akkanbe—

kibanda sekai ni mo itte agerusa

Wo ai ni, wo ai ni

•

Wo ai ni, wo ai ni

Wo ai ni, wo ai ni

Wo ai ni, wo ai ni

Wo ai ni, wo ai ni

— • — • — • —

---

The night in Caelum hit different.

The Heavens felt within reach with the moon just a fingertip away from you and the stars so close, you felt like you want to steal the blanket of the night sky for yourself. The cities were not awake, but they did not sleep either. They put up a lazy half-awake front with something or other open twenty-four hours a day. Most out this late were spring breakers who crowded the bars and clubs for a good time.

Luna sprawled out on her bed with Icarus and her call with Gale still continued on with his snorts and snores coming in from the other end. Ena wildly snored in Silver's arms with her eye mask on.

Silver gave a chest-moving exhale.

His eyes opened.

Slipping out of bed was easier both said and done, considering how heavy of a sleeper Ena was in the first few hours of her sleep. She babbled something before turning over, unbothered. Silver watched her for a moment, waited for her to recognize anything amiss. But her snoring and incoherent mumbles made it clear she would not notice a thing.

Footsteps light, he abandoned the bedroom. He and Ena had cleaned up the communal room before bed, but he still paid careful attention to his path in case they missed an item. He did not want to trip. The sliding door was hard to convince to be quiet. But he let it go. Having a heavy-sleeper crush and a heavy-sleeper best friend could be useful for this.

The wind bristled at him as though it knew he had abandoned his love and did not approve. He did not care. He went to the railing, but he saw none of the glorious city in front of him.

Inhale. Exhale.

His lashes fluttered before he closed his eyes.

Inhale. Exhale.

The noises of the city muffled.

Inhale. Exhale.

The void favored his vision.

Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. Exhale.

A coolness coated his flesh.

Inhale. Exhale.

Water cramped him before loosening the noose and allowed him agency.

Inhale. Exhale.

Sand tickled the soles of his feet. Salt stuffed his nose.

Inhale…

His eyes opened.

Exhale.

The ocean was vast, yes, but he felt like a big fish in a big pond. Nothing but hues of blue for miles. Refractions of light swathed this abyss, but it did not much for him.

Come home…

It was her. It was that voice again.

Come home, Silver. It's time to come home.

The light faintly painting the sea showed the outline of her, robust and strong. She swam with confidence like this was all she had known. But she had no flesh to bear. Her shadow and the thin outline gave way to her presence.

My Prince, it's time to go home.

She stretched closer for him to see she did not have an aquatic half. She had arms and legs, but she moved like a mermaid. Or perhaps a siren.

We have all been waiting for you.

She drifted closer to him with the light in the ocean showing she had short hair, even in this watery form. Her eyes were large and kind and loving. And even in the trenches of the sea, she carried a rosy fragrance. She spoke to him, relieved, "Silver. It's time for you to come to your home. Your father is waiting for you. We've all been so worried about you." She held out a hand to him. "Let's go home, Prince of the Sea."

His hand reached for hers, unsure and tentative.

FWIP!

Her eyes widened when he grabbed her wrist with bruising force, bubbles of shock coming from her mouth. "Silver, please—!"

"I don't know who the Hell you are, but I know one thing. You know who I am." Cyan static clacked off him and shocked her to be still. "I need answers. And you're going to start talking." For a moment, her eyes held a reflection of cold reptilian blues. "Now."

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Icarus – Christopher Sabot

Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Sylvie Gosling – Leah Clark

Nora Gosling II – Brad Swaile

Eros Normandy –

Odette Gosling – Tia Ballard

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh

Gray Fullbuster – Newton Pittman

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeong

Koa –

Kalua –

Raimana "Rai" Kapule –

Nayda – Elizabeth Maxwell

Faven Heartfilia – Veronica Taylor

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Atticus Gosling – Steven Canon

The Protector – Kira Vincent-Davis

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ Star Train ⟫

Hi-Fi CAMP

Lyrics by

Hi-Fi CAMP⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 1

⟪ HAPPY HAPPY ⟫

TWICE

Lyrics by

Yu Shimoji⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 2

⟪ Easy ⟫

Stray Kids

Lyrics & Composed by

한(3RACHA), Mike Daley, Mike J

Henry Oyekanmi, Mitchell Owens⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 3

⟪ PING PONG ⟫

HyunA & DAWN

Lyrics & Composed by

던, 현아, 유건형, 권필립 (Yummy Tone)

Space One⌟

•

INSERT SONG 4

⟪ How You Like That ⟫

BlackPink

Lyrics & Composed by

작곡: TEDDY, Danny Chung, , 24⌟

•

INSERT SONG 5

⟪ Bad Boy ⟫

Red Vevlet

Lyrics & Composed by

JQ, 문희연, The Stereotypes, Maxx Song

Whitney Phillips, 유영진⌟

•

INSERT SONG 6

⟪ Fake Love ⟫

BTS

Lyrics & Composed by

Pdogg, 방시혁, RM⌟

•

INSERT SONG 7

⟪ LO$ER=LO ER ⟫

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Lyrics & Composed by

low Rabbit, 'Hitman' Bang,

Andy Love, LIL 27 CLUB, Billy Walsh,

Louis Bell, Daniel Caesar, Oneye, 연준,

Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecke, Alex Karlsson,

Ronnie Icon, 황인찬, 정진우⌟

•

⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Champon ⟫

hockrockb

Lyrics by

堀胃あげは⌟

---

•

•

•

•

— • — • — • —

Next time, on Fairy Adventure

•

Episode 124

•

HIDDEN BENEATH PARADISE

— • — • — • —

•

•

•

•

TO BE CONTINUED…

---

Chibi-Luna raises a hand in greeting. "Good day, class!"

"Good day, Teacher!" her students chant. "What's our Fairy Lesson for the day?"

"Today's lesson is…!"

Poppers go off and shower confetti to reveal Chibi-Luna's rolled-in whiteboard with six heads of different people she had drawn. "…about the gods of Caelum!"

"Wow!" her students cheer. "Score for theocratic knowledge!"

Chibi-Luna explains, "As you all know, five of the six islands were named after the five major gods of Caelum while Ao's Paradise was named after the Spirit of Ao, who granted Caelum the island! So first, we have…" She points at the first god, a grumpy man with thick hair. "Tagaloa! He is the leader of the gods of Caelum and legends from the Caeluns state he created Caelum and its people. Tagaloa's Paradise is where many judicial and authoritative buildings that govern the entire island are, like the main branch of the Magic Council."

She goes to the next god with a gaunter face. "This is Elo, but his full name is Saveasiʻuleo. He is the Death God of Caelum and helped guide the dying into their version of Heaven or the Spirit Realm called Pulotu. Elo's Paradise has more clinics than you would think."

The next god is a woman with a warm smile. "This is Taema," Chibi-Luna explains. "She is the goddess of art. Taema's Paradise is noticeably an artsy sort of district."

She goes onto a scruffy-looking god with a bone in his hair. "Mafui'e is the god of earth and volcanoes. It was said his voice alone could cause deep earthquakes. Mafui'a's Paradise does a lot more with technical work. And last, we have…"

She points to a neutral-looking god with a nose ring. "This is Fa'atiu, the god of wind and storm. Their Paradise is very innovative and houses a lot of academic circles." She claps her hands. "We hope you enjoyed the Fairy Lesson for the day—!"

"Teacher!" a student bursts, hand up. "How come Silver reacted badly to Rai?"

"And will we see more Dragons and God Slayers?" another student questions.

"And who was that man you ran into, Teacher?" a third student wants to know.

Chibi-Luna giggles. "Sorry! But you'll just have to wait until the next episode to find out!" She winks. "See you for your next lesson!"