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!

147. Adventure 147

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: Gale's adventure in the tunnels below get cut short with Yara, Julia, and Sycaña to the rescue. If only they could rescue him from his nightmares too. With Vinyl unknowingly in on the plan to free Orisa and Fatimah from their prison in Shamballa, Fatimah learns the reason her Yaya was brought her: she is Oshun's God Daughter, the last Fertility God Slayer, and Fatimah herself is her Custodian. Orisa's delightful dreams show her in a happier time in her youth, but with the stress too much, she hallucinates her dear Johann has come for her. If only she knew the truth.

"I'm right here. Let's have another son."

Now that Yara is an official client of Fairy Tail, all the pieces are moving in place. And Gale? I think Silver's going to cuddle with Luna no matter how much you growl…

---

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

WIT • — • – 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

SST • — • — Shamballa Standard Time • — • — Shamballa • — • — UTC – 2

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

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

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

She holds up a finger. "Please keep in mind, the author does not condone certain actions from characters. A scene marked X-X-X indicates the start of explicit, nonconsensual content and the Y-Y-Y will indicate the end of such content. Please only read what you are comfortable with and do know for our heroes of the story, it does get better in the future." She winks with a thumbs up. "See you at the end of the episode!"

---

Inayah mumbled in her sleep; Zayed hated how much he found it…bearable.

Bathing her had made him grit his teeth. After fucking her, he had other things to do—important things to do—and summoned one of the maids to handle the queen. The weak little thing obliged and went to peel back the queen's covers—

Zayed had barely controlled the urge to kill her when he barked for her to leave. No one would touch his queen.

"Johann…"

He stopped fixing his cuffs with a clenched jaw. That damn name again. He skewed Inayah with a look of cold contempt as she pleaded and cried in her sleep. How annoying. She kept calling me that. Dark eyes glittered. So—he's the one who bred her and gave her a spawn. Whispers touched his ears. I need to find him and his little spawn. They'll be useful to me alive to keep her controlled. Maybe I should fuck her in front of her beloved little Johann.

The idea made his lips twitch. I like that. So he knows she's not his anymore. She's mine. Darkness threaded through the whites of his eyes, greedy. Even if I have to chain her to me, she'll still be mine.

"Màmá…"

Zayed's lips thinned. 'Mama'?

A perfunctory smile and unnerving dark brown eyes.

He prowled around the bed and stood over Inayah. His Curse reached out to free her from those flimsy sheets and basal satisfaction rocked him seeing his cum between her legs. A mother… Right—the bitch who birthed me—who hated me since the day I was born.

"There's my little prince." An insincere smile and empty eyes. "Come sit beside me, Baba."

He snickered as his fingers feathered Inayah's inner thigh. She couldn't stand to look at me and hated being near me. Smart woman. But she always had room in her little heart for poor, messed up Fatii, didn't she? His fingertips grazed Inayah's navel. Took Fatii to the apricot orchard and even let Father torture her if it meant her sweet, little Fatimah wouldn't be shipped off to the Wastes to die there.

Inayah's face crumbled as her dream took a turn for the worst.

Zayed continued his slow perusal of the Fertility God Slayer. Father was a fool, but he was also smart. It took him three tries for the Wastes whore to have a child she cared about. But she was too strong-willed for him to break her and too much of a liability, so that Flame Devil killed her like it did the rest.

Inayah whimpered.

"But you're nothing like her, are you?" Zayed whispered, watching Inayah's face as his fingers brushed her breasts. "You're weak and foolish. You think my father saved you from your fate. But he wants to use you, no matter how nice he is to you." His lips quirked into a sarcastic smirk. "He might actually be attracted to you. My spies told me he's possessive of you in bed. What a joke."

Inayah's brow scrunched as tears fell.

Zayed's smirk turned into a dark frown. But I won't be a fool like him. I'll break you and make you my Witch of the Wastes. His fingers went to her throat until his entire hand wrapped around it. You'll be nothing more than my pet, begging for my attention and doing whatever it takes, my little witch. Won't you? He pressed down his hand.

Inayah's hand twitched.

You could do it, you know? a whisper offered. You could make her your pet.

Chain her, another whisper tempted. She will look beautiful in your chains. And she won't run away.

She'll be yours, a third whisper sweetly vowed. She is yours.

"Yes." Zayed's eyes shadowed into pitch black as his fingers pressed down on Inayah's throat. "She is mine."

Inayah's breathing took a turn until she squirmed and choked. The more he pressed down, the more her body convulsed until she gagged and frantically clawed at his arms for a release. In all her desperation to live, she cried out, "Johann!"

Zayed stilled.

Inayah sobbed. "Johann! Johann!"

And slowly, he released her.

Inayah gulped air with her eyes still closed. But then, her lashes fluttered as she heaved and she cracked open glazed eyes to look at him. A shaky smile lifted her lips. "Johann, it's you. I had a bad dream."

Zayed's knuckles tightened.

Inayah looked up at the ceiling dreamily like she had not nearly had her throat crushed. "I've been having a lot of bad dreams lately," she confessed to him—to her Johann and not him. "I keep thinking…I won't wake up for them." She sighed. "I'm so tired, Johann."

Zayed said nothing.

"Hey, Johann?" Inayah reached for his hand—Johann's hand. "I know you must be busy today, but… Could you stay a little while longer? I don't like sleeping without you." Her lazy smile widened, showing a dimple. "I like it when you touch my scars. It feels like home."

Quiet.

Inayah tilted her head in question. "Johann?"

Quiet.

"I'm…right here." Zayed's voice roughened as he knelt at Inayah's side. He brought her hand to his mouth to kiss her palm before putting her hand against his cheek. "Your Johann is right here for you. But I can't stay. I have work to do to make sure you and our…son will be happy."

Inayah brightened. "Really? Oh, Johann." She thumbed his cheek—Johann's cheek—with those orange eyes glazed. "I knew you'd come. Oxun promised me after our son was born that you would come…and you did. She really kept her promise to me." Happy tears sprung down her cheeks. "Do you think you'll be home soon? I really missed you."

"I'll make sure to come back for you soon," Zayed promised, thumbing her knuckles. "I want you naked for me when I do so we can make up for lost time."

Inayah simpered. "You're still as bold as you were before."

"You make me this way," Zayed said, simple.

"You always say that, silly." Inayah bumped her nose with his—Johann. "Come back home soon." Her whispered words wobbled. "I know you can't stop the nightmares, but I always feel better knowing you're with me if I'm having them. So please come back to me soon."

Zayed pressed a long kiss onto her lips before pulling away to breathe, "As you wish." It surprised him when she chased his lips for a sweet kiss that had him crave more more more until she laughed when he pinned her back down on the bed. When he pulled away, he caught her swollen lips and love-drunk gaze. Whispers tickled his ears as that burn thrummed beneath his skin. His fingers twitched as that need to claim everything centimeter of her came up—

Inayah took his cheeks into his hands with her smile tender. "I love you, Johann."

All those needs flaming went into a frigid cold. He clenched his jaw. 'Johann'. Anger stabbed him and…jealousy.

Inayah confusedly called when Zayed tore off her like he had been burned. "Johann?"

Zayed straightened his attire and ignored her. I don't have time to be indulging in her delusions. I should be grateful the bitch is breaking down and going insane. Easier to control her.

Whatever calls Inayah gave, they met his back as he abandoned her bedroom to leave out the main hall. But he whirled around to snap in harsh Shamballan dialect to the guards, "Only women will tend to her. No men."

The guards nodded.

He walked with a purposeful stride and a dark look.

A storm in the making.

Zayed ticked his jaw. I will find this little 'Johann' and bring his corpse before the witch's eyes. She can see for herself how the man she bred with is nothing. And then she'll be mine to control. She's my bargaining chip for the Sylph Empress and nothing more. She will use her power for me. She's mine.

Red flashed in his pupils. She will never escape being mine.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

"Ame no youna kaze no youna

Dareka no koto jama suru youna

Hito ni nante naritaku wanai kara?

Hare no youna hikari no youna

Dareka no koto teraseru youna

Hito ni naritai!"

nante itai tte dareka no koe ga?

Kikoetara nanda

Nagutte kowashite sayonara DILEMMA!

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

CLICK!

Yara watched as Gale and Julia checked over the equipment in the living room. Both looked like they were ready for a sophisticated day out on the town with their contacts in and their bespoke ensembles flaunting wealth. She asked, "Pardon me, but… Does being a Wizard permit you both to have such…luxurious clothing?"

Gale snorted as he straightened his shirt. "Hell no. These are on loan from our Enchantress." He fixed his cuffs. "Every piece of clothing you see here was enchanted. Bulletproof, acid-proof, fireproof, waterproof, durability, flexibility—it's got it all."

"And it certainly didn't come cheap," Julia grumbled.

Yara blinked, perplexed. 'Enchantress'? She looked down, brow scrunched. Where have I heard of that name?

"Oh. Here."

Yara barely had time to catch two velvet boxes thrown. "Wh-What—?"

"You'll need those." Gale jerked his chin to the boxes. "Bigger one is a Lacromm necklace to keep us all connected; smaller one is your Glamour Ring for camouflage."

"And try not to lose them," Julia sighed. "My tech guy will tear into me. And by 'tear into me', I mean I'll be subjected to an hour of hum humble-bragging about his 'totally real' girlfriend."

Her eyebrow twitched as she envisioned Noko singing cringeworthy praises of his girlfriend and how much he worshipped her. Is he sure he's not getting scammed?

"A-Ah…" Yara looked at the boxes before firming herself up. "Thank you. I'll take the necklace, but you needn't give me a Glamour Ring," she told the pair, holding up the ring box. "My cloak will do me just fine."

Gale eyed Yara's folded cloak in disgruntled confusion. "I smelled Magic on it"—he accepted back the ring box—"but what's it good for?"

"Invisibility." Yara put down the necklace box to open it. A pretty opal charm sat on a silver necklace, and she wasted no time putting it on. "And a pocket. It's on loan as well. My own helper gifted it to me. He said it has been enchanted with a few other properties to keep me safe." She finished clasping on the necklace and made sure it sat pretty on her clavicle. "It's how I've been traveling."

Julia raised an eyebrow as she fixed her bracelet. "That's a pretty expensive loan then," she noted. "How long have you been traveling?"

Yara's blues dimmed. "For a long time," she murmured. "Ever since King Johann became seriously ill, really." The memories sullied everything good about today. That's right. I left on King Johann's orders and this mission…is to fulfill his last request.

"Find her. Please, Yara, for me." Pale cracked lips; cold fingers against her cheek. "T-Take Loki. And g-give her this…so she kn-knows she's always my queen."

Yara's fingers dug into her pants. Your Majesty… I gifted her what you asked of me. And in turn, she gave you a precious gift too. And when you wake—her eyes shimmered—I hope to introduce you to the prince of Bellum.

She blinked and took a deep breath to steel herself. When her eyes opened, all that grief had been done away with and she was more determined than ever. "Right. Let's go over this one more time," she decided.

"All right." Gale slipped on his suit jacket. "Lady J and I still have to keep up appearance for this auction because reasons. So we'll head to the Museum of Illusions and scope out what we can."

"And we'll also be keeping an eye on the second princess and the queen," Julia added. "Now that we know for sure she's part of this too, we'll need to make sure she's fit to run when we say 'run'. After that, we'll continue our aliases and head to the Black Auction."

"And that's where I'll come in," Yara inserted. "Without the Philosopher's Stone, I'll need alternatives to save His Majesty, alternatives that only the Black Auction will have." She clenched her jaw. "I have no regrets saving you, Mister Redfox, make no mistake. But His Majesty's health is still paramount."

Gale nodded. "No, I get it. But you know what we need?"

Yara placed her chin between her fist and thumb. "Let's see… While the black market has a bad reputation, there are several ingredients I'll need for a few potions my mentor and I can try to heal His Majesty with. I saw a few of the ingredients during the first auction night, but they were high-end. I'm sure they were saving them for a night like tonight where anything goes."

Including that woman—Julia's gaze darkened as she remembered the sonogram—and her children.

Yara continued: "While you both continue with keeping up appearances, I have some time until my sponsor reaches out to me. Today isn't that important. It's tomorrow that will determine the future of Bellum's king and queen." Blues glinted. And I won't fail.

"Right." Gale adjusted his wristwatch. "We'll meet back up here tonight to go over the plan one last time. And then it's do or die time." He rolled a shoulder. And then we get the Hell out of here. Rubies burned. And I keep Blondie far away from that Necromancer.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 147

•

The Third Auction

•

第3次オークション

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Some people thought it was hilarious such a famous museum looked so plain on the outside.

No such pomp and circumstance existed for this museum until you crossed the threshold inside and felt you walked into a trap. Already, optical illusions painted on the walls made tourists' eyes cross and their heads go dizzy. Already, a few venturing on this special journey laughed as they ended up having a short-circuit moment trying to unravel the surrounding illusions.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the Museum of Illusions, founded by an Illusion Wizard and his Magician wife. The most popular exhibit is Around the World in 80 Seconds where people get to tour the world and see the sights. This ride is also at MagiaWorld. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The crowd of auction-goers gathered with excitement buzzing in the air. Julia and Gale stood together with Julia fanned herself with a Zhōnguánese beauty of a fan, and Gale played the part of her withdrawn bodyguard.

Julia put the fan before her mouth and asked, "Anything?"

"Nothing smells off, but keep your guard up," Gale murmured back. He held back from telling her how much he tried not to bristle. Nothing smells off, no, but I don't like the scent in there. It doesn't smell dangerous and that's definitely Illusion work in there, but it doesn't sit well with me. His jaw went taut as his shoes itched his feet. Ugh. I wish I could take this off. Wearing shoes feels so unnatural now.

Sycaña chuckled. Soon, you will have a distaste for clothing. Many Dragons who adopted human forms often disliked human clothing. Fire Dragons were infamous for their sunning naked. She snorted. The previous Fire Dragon King had rumors he did so to impress his Female. Landrus certainly laughed at him for that.

Gale's brow furrowed. Wait. You knew Blondie's granddad? Wait again. Blondie's granny and her granddad were… He pinched the bridge of his nose. Oh shit.

I knew very little of the Fire Dragon King, Sycaña admitted, thoughtful. From rumors, he had taken an interest in a Spirit Daughter, but I don't recall them ever mating. She grumbled. I do recall his incessant drake sticking his nose in everything. Disrespectful drake right after his sire.

That confused Gale. You mean Mister Dragneel?

No. I believe in human tongue, he is Little Moon's…uncle? He is the Dragon King's horde-mate.

'Uncle'? Gale frowned in thought. I don't think I've ever met Blondie's uncle. Huh…

"Attention, everyone!" A kind-hearted man with dark skin rallied the herd, his colorful macawiis matching his koofiyad. Maybe he had aged, but he certainly took on a grandfatherly appeal, and the last few decades had been awfully kind to him. He put his hands on his cane. "My name is Director Iman and I humbly welcome you all to the Museum of Illusions."

⌜MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS

Name: Iman Omar Absame

Age: 67

Occupation: Director

Magic: Magicianry

Likes: his granddaughter's postcards Dislikes: his grandson's philandering ways

Special Note: Iman comes from the Republic of Kaolinland or Kaolinia, an eastern Andüsan country! ⌟

After the applause picked up and died down, Iman continued: "You have full authority to explore the museum to your heart's desire. All we ask is that you sincerely interact with the exhibits and make use of our exhibit photographers. For those who join us in Dhuhr prayer, we'll make sure to all gather in the museum's prayer room shortly. Others are welcome to observe, but please, enjoy the museum."

He looked around, repositioning his hands on his cane. "But beware. The Illusion Magic cast in this museum is a work of art, meaning it's very intricate and interpretative and complex. We have appropriately labeled our exhibits for potential triggers, such as our weather room and our biome room and all our reflection rooms. But we do have wards in place to help monitor your well-being and automatically shut down any illusions causing a guest strife until we can employ medical services."

His deep eyes took a turn. "Do not hesitate to reach for help if you feel overwhelmed. The masters of the museum are aware the illusions here can sometimes have a mind of their own, and we will do everything in our power to make sure you feel safe to explore here." He lifted his chin. "After your exploration for the next two hours, we'll have a late lunch and a Q-and-A with the masters and a few up-and-coming Illusion Artists led by the masters before we begin the final auction. Thank you all for joining us at the Museum of Illusions and we here at the museum hope you enjoy what these illusions have to offer."

As the clapping started, Julia muttered to Gale, "I have a bad feeling about this." When he did not respond, she passed him a raised eyebrow and a glance. "You okay? Are you gonna be okay in here?" Genuine worry shone through. "I know you've been in your head a lot—"

"I'll be fine," Gale grunted.

Julia snorted. "Uh-huh."

Gale bristled, wanting to bite back, but he stood down. I need to keep a level head. His eyes flickered. But what if Hemlock found her? He latched onto her scent—a Life Scent. What if he knows where she is? The Wild shuffled its wings, trying to tear through skin. His eyes darted around, snakelike. His instinct was too hard to ignore. He needed to get to his Little Moon and hide her from the Deathsayer. Den—he needed to forge a den and keep her safe—

"Gale."

He snapped his stare to a firm Julia.

She hard frowned. "Are you sure you can handle this?"

Gale gritted his teeth and shoved down every instinct snarling for him to exchange skin for scales. "I'm fine," he muttered. He offered his arm, but Julia's hold on him had him barely holding back claws and a growl. "Let's get this over with."

Julia stayed quiet as Gale escorted her inside, and she kept her sigh to herself. I have a feeling today just isn't going to be our day.

---

Vinyl kept to herself as she entered the Museum of Illusions with the rest of the crowd. To be honest, the museum made most people awestruck with the layers upon layers of complex illusionary so hypnotic that it was difficult to look away from it all. From the sights to the smells to the sensations, this place had people beg the question of what was real and what was not.

I still haven't heard anything back from Thirteen. Vinyl checked her Compact with a frown. And Genius hasn't called me back about his plans. She sighed. I feel so helpless right now. I need to do something, but I… I don't know what.

She tucked her Compact back into her over-the-shoulder bag and glanced around to take in the crowd wandering further into the museum with designer outfits and jewels glittering on their fingers and wrists. Ha… I remember when that was my life. She swallowed when those sour memories wriggled into the forefront. All the jewelry and gowns and the price of wearing such luxuries. I never really thought about it when I was younger. We still employed stylists, so I rarely picked out my own clothes.

She snorted to herself, bitter. I always liked to say I wasn't spoiled. I wasn't the high-maintenance daughter demanding bigger and better. But then again, I didn't really ask for anything. I was just given it. Aquamarines dimmed. And Thirteen… He never asked for anything. But he was given nothing.

Her heart clenched. Please. Please be safe wherever you are, Thirteen. Let's go home together.

"Viñella."

Vinyl tried not to sneer when Vespers came over with Salentino. Instead, she put on her best smile. "Vespers, Salentino—good to see you." Not.

Vespers smiled at her. "And you as well. I'm surprised you're here…"—he made it known he was examining her empty side—"alone." His smile widened. "Is your date elsewhere? I'm surprised he'd upturn his nose at something like this. The Museum of Illusions is a hot commodity in Shamballa. Their Hallow's Eve special is to die for." He sighed. "But then again, he must've been scared off by all the rumors."

"I'm sure." Vinyl internally snickered when Vespers looked put off. He thought I was going to ask about the rumors, didn't he? Rule of thumb Miss Lucy taught me: never give attention to attention-seekers. They'll do all the work themselves.

"Don't you want to know the rumors?"

And there it is. Vinyl sighed. "Not really, no." She turned away—

"Oh, but they're quite a fright." Vespers casually looped an arm around Vinyl's waist. "Some say these illusions aren't at all innocent. The museum has a mischievous mind of its own. Its illusions read your mind and bring forth the worst memories of your past and the worst viewings of your future. And if you can't figure out it's all an illusion, well…" He slid away from her with a glint in his eyes. "Who knows?"

Vinyl tensed, but she plastered on a fake smile. "Thanks for the pro-tip, Vespers, but I think if any of us need to be afraid of that sort of rumor, it'd be you. You might keep reliving the day your brother became head of the family over and over and over again."

Vespers' smile sullied into a frown, but he still had cards left in his hand. "And perhaps you might see my brother."

Vinyl ignored that her blood went cold.

"Why don't you join Salentino and me for a tour of the estate?" Vespers suggested. "I'm sure we'll be able to help each other if the illusions get out of hand. We already have so much history as is."

Vinyl bit back—

"Oh, there you are!"

Vinyl blinked when Key came over with that infectious smile and a slitted dress that made her look like a more innocent version of Jessica Rabbit. "Um—"

"I've been looking for you everywhere," Key told her teasingly. "Remember? Since my boyfriend is drowning himself in work, you promised me we'd spend our time at the museum together as some well-needed consolation." She flicked her visible gray eye to Vespers and Salentino and gave them a rueful look. "I apologize for my interruption. Would you mind if I stole her? I'm feeling a bit depressed without my boyfriend and Vinyl has been the greatest shoulder to cry on."

Vespers seemed a tad entranced until he cleared his throat. "Of course. Viñella is also missing her partner, so I'm sure you'll both be in good company." He extended a hand. "Vespers Vivaldi."

Key shook it only for her lips to twitch when he kissed her knuckles. "Key," she helloed. "And what an alluring accent."

Vespers smirked. "I'm glad it pleases you, miss. Viñella has that rough drawl now. It's a shame."

"She sounds perfect to me." Somehow, Key purred it without her words coming across as biting or seductive. She took back her hand and offered a silent Salentino a dressing down before beaming at Vinyl. "Shall we?" And she looped an arm with Vinyl.

"Of course." As Vinyl escorted Key away, she whispered, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Key's beam widened. "But I did mean it. Would you care to join me in touring the museum?" Her beam faded and so did her brightness. "Jiro really is working. He offered for me to stay at the hotel, but… Well…" She looked at the ground. "It's… It'll be some time until I have another vacation. So I decided to come. But coming here alone… I admit, I regretted it."

Vinyl felt a kindred spirit in Key for that and grinned. "Say no more. I've never dated, but I'm chasing a man who left me here alone too. And I happen to know the best ways to kill being a lonely bitch: drinking, getting under someone, and girl bonding."

Key feigned mulling it over. "Well… I don't drink," she alluded. "And Jiro gets pouty if someone so much as says 'hello' to me."

"Girl bonding it is," Vinyl declared. "Let's forget men for the next few hours and pretend to be single and rich. We are unattached, we are in Shamballa, and we are going to have a good time with no men tying us down."

Key tittered. "You'll have to defend me when Jiro learns I'm now a suddenly single woman."

"In my dorm, I'm known for helping my guildmates break up with their partners." Vinyl shrugged. "I can handle your boyfriend."

Key sighed. "He's a force of nature."

"And believe me." Vinyl popped a smirk with a sinful look in her eye. "So I am."

---

Julia had to admit—this new group of friends gave Fairy Tail's chaos a run for its money.

Cher and Lorraine entered another one-sided cat fight with Cher aglow and amazed at everything and anything. Lorraine threw out snarky comments that rolled right off her frenemy. And their rivalry-friendship was not the only unique one. The entire group had such complex relationships that Julia found herself longing for Fairy Tail's simplicity of fighting anyone and everyone.

This is getting exhausting. She tried to mask her face, but it was straining to do so. I miss the guild. That had her mind drift. Gary's trip seems to be going well. Well, as far as the insta stuff I see from Justin and Tesla. But Mom says she still hasn't heard anything from Silver. A frown tugged down her lips. Why's he being a brat this time? He never even responded to me, but he'll talk to Gary.

That should have made her eyes roll, but she found a pit in her stomach. I hope everything's okay. It's not like him to ignore Mom. She quickly tried to dismiss her concerns. Well, I'm sure he's yuckin' it up in Caelum with his crush and his best friend. He probably just wants to enjoy himself. She swallowed. Probably.

"Nightingale?"

Julia perked with a ready smile when Chunhua fell into step with her. "What's up?"

Chunhua hesitated. "Um, well, it's…nothing," she ended up sighing. "Sorry. I know I should be grateful to be in this place, but I just…" She cupped her elbows.

Julia tipped her head. "Is everything okay?" she carefully asked. "You've seemed a little out of it." She took the plunge. "Everything all right with you and your brother?"

"Why?" Chunhua winced when she realized such a question came off a tad touchy. "No, no, everything's…fine with Dylan." She shored up a smile. "Actually, this trip has been great for him. He got the connections he came here for, so he's excited to start working."

"I'll have to congratulate him." Julia growled, On working with an absolute monster and being a piece of shit. "What kind of work will he be doing?"

Chunhua froze for a few moments. "H-He's working with international trade," she explained, eyes low. "I'm sure our parents will be proud of him too. He's bringing honor to the family with this new deal."

Julia pressed her lips together to hold back from questioning, How is helping a rapist and destroying people's lives helpful? She looked away, tense. I have to admit, though. Orisa being a Fertility God Slayer… That's almost impossible to believe. But she plays the perfect pawn. Fertility Magic is illegal in so many countries because of how much it can backfire. Spells that increase fertility end up sterilizing a person. Spells to help with potential farmland ends up making it inhospitable. If she's in control of her powers… She's the perfect weapon—hope.

She took a breath. Which makes it even more important we get her out of here, but… I still can't understand Maxim's reasons for making me come here. What game is he playing? And how do I play it too?

"Like, oh my gosh, guys, we literally have to try this!"

Cher corralled the group over to one exhibit titled CLONE ROOMS with already people waiting in line. A sample set up in the lobby had people taking photos as they looked at their "clones". But their clones were not mere reflections, no. Every clone had its own personality, from haughty to shy. Though when someone tried to touch their clone, thinking their duplicate had truly come to life, they laughingly ended up disturbing a mirror.

"A clone room," Julia murmured.

Cher nodded enthusiastically, "Like, yeah! It's literally so mind-trippy and I saw one in the states!" She hooked her arm with Julia's and explained, "So, like, the illusions literally feel like they're with you, but like…they're not. And, like, no one knows how it works, but everyone literally loves it."

"And you get to interact with your clones alone," Lorraine inserted, somehow not wanting to be outdone. "They say that your clones know everything you know."

Elias swung an arm over his girlfriend's shoulder and grinned. "Someday, your clones come from alternate dimensions too."

Julia raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"Sorority sister serious," Cher said with a solemn nod. But then she beamed. "So we literally have to try it!"

Julia looked unconvinced as Cher took her to one line and the group broke up, but she half-heartedly agreed, "Well, all right." She made a dismissive hand gesture and glanced to see Gale hung back. She hid her smile at his disgruntled look. I think I'll be all right this far. She caught how ashen Chunhua looked and frowned. "Are you seriously okay? You looked sick, and I'm not trying to be rude about that either."

"I'm fine," Chunhua assured with a weak smile. "Mirrors just aren't my friend." One glance toward the clone room made her pale even further. "But I don't want to separate from the group. I'll be fine."

Lorraine scowled. "Well, you don't look fine."

Chunhua ducked her head when Lorraine, Cher, and Elias spun concern onto her. She fiddled with her gloved fingers. "N-No, I'm… I just didn't eat enough breakfast this morning, that's all. I'm okay."

"Why don't you go wait with my bodyguard?" Julia suggested. She leaned and loudly whispered to Chunhua, "Don't be afraid of his resting bitch face. Believe it or not, that's his best feature."

"Bitch."

Julia smirked when the mutter came through her earpiece. Well, am I wrong?

Chunhua bubbled an unexpected laugh. "Oh goodness. But I-I couldn't bother him—"

"No, please bother him," Julia told her with a nudge. "He's been an ass this entire week." Laying it on thick (digging her own grave more than likely), she conspiratorially confessed to the group, "I totally think it's because he found out the girl he practically worships is blasting all over Insta she found a new guy."

"Fuck you."

Julia ignored Gale's snarl and sniffed, "Serves him right. She's way too good for him anyway."

Lorraine, Cher, and Elias laughed and even Chunhua sprung a simper with a twinkle back in her eyes. "Well, if he really wouldn't mind, I'll go and wait for him."

"Just take him and get him off my ass so I can enjoy myself," Julia grumbled. She gave Chunhua puppy eyes. "Please?"

Chunhua smiled. "I'll do my best."

"And that's why I love you." Julia sent Chunhua off with a smile and a subtle fuck-you symbol to an agitated Gale. But then she signed to him, Find out about her brother.

Gale nodded and signed, Okay. Be safe. And he welcomed the approaching Chunhua with a terse nod.

Julia rolled her eyes. What a charmer. No wonder Luna likes him. She barely listened to Cher and Elias gossip while Lorraine looked like a sated cat beneath her boyfriend's touch. I wonder… Considering everything that happened—her eyes gentled—can she really forgive and forget?

The line moved up until Julia, Elias, and Lorraine waited for Cher to come back out. When she did, she glowed and gushed, "Oh – my – gods, you guys! That is like literally the best thing ever! Everyone needs to try it!" She ushered Julia. "Nightingale, it's like literally your turn."

Julia laughed. "All right, I'm going." She parted the curtains…

…and her breath was stolen. Whoa…

She smiled as she met her five doppelgängers and whispered, "This is so freaky."

The table before her had cards and little things to entertain herself with her clones, but Julia sat down, lay down her clutch, and inspect the room, fascinated. They say that the illusionry is all in the mirrors, but I don't get it. She squinted at the instruction card on the table and read it to herself, It says here… The more you speak, the more your clones will too. 'Get to know each other'. She pulled a face. Well… Okay then.

She cleared her throat and started, "Uh… Hi." A chuckle left her when her clones mimicked her. "This is so weird, um… Well, it's nice to meet you all." She toyed with her hair. "As you all probably know why I'm here, outside of all the bad that's happened, it's been cool to come to Shamballa out of all places." Her smile faded. "Thing is… You know like I do that nothing in this vacation has been making any sense. I mean…"

Her eyes darkened. "Why would I be sent here, y'know? I got invited to Black Auctions and yet I'm not doing anything with them. Instead, I'm just learning how disgusting this world can be, selling off a woman's body like she's Wall Street." Her hands clasped together, tight. "Even now… Someone who looks innocent is actually working alongside a monster. I thought she was my friend." A bitter laugh slightly shook her shoulders. "I should've known better. Everything truly isn't what it seems."

Her orange contacts glinted. No… You really can't trust anyone.

"You're right. Not everything is what it seems."

Julia briefly closed her eyes. "I know—"

She stopped.

Her eyes lifted—

—and she stared at a straight-faced clone.

Julia blinked. Then she blinked thrice. "Did…?" She could not believe she was asking this. "Did you just…speak?"

The straight-faced clone dryly said, "Obviously."

Julia reared back, heart pounding. Then she broke into a disbelieving laugh. "Oh my gods. The clone room—it's a real thing! This is amazing!" She brushed back her side bangs and offered a shy wave. "Uh, hi." She laughed through her nose, shaking her head. "This is too freaky. So, like… You're me. I-I-I'm you. We're clones. This is…"

"Totally lame!"

Julia became gobsmacked when she took in the next clone, a version of herself that looked much more high-strung, high maintenance, and highly feminine. What the—?

"This is such a bore," Femme Julia complained, checking her nails. "Why are you so boring?" Her eyes gleamed. "I wanna talk about Eiji. Isn't he perfect?" She made a noise. "Well, he would be if I wasn't scared he still had a thing for Amber."

All of Julia's joy faded. "I'm not…"

"I can't do this."

Julia swung her head and was met with the third clone, a gaunt thing who looked like she was days away from withering into nothing. If life existed in this clone's eyes, then it came with copious amounts of pain and grief. What is this?

This Julia—Depressed Julia—lay her head in her hands with a shaking gasp. "I can't do this," she breathed. "I can't keep watching them go through this. They're my family. They're my brothers. I-I was supposed to protect them and now I—" She shuddered and curled into herself. "They'll hate me if I tell them. But I have to protect them. I have to."

Julia's breath quickened as her mind and body fell out of synch. Wait—

BAKI!

Julia jumped when another clone punched the mirror. What—!

"Fuck this!" Angry Julia seethed, barbaric down to her core. "Fuck everything!" She paced her section like a wild animal cage. "Stop fucking cry about it and do something about it!" she snapped at Depressed Julia. "All you do is fucking cry about everything! Those monsters took everything from us and you think crying will help it? What, you wanna become like Silver now? All he does is cry!" She bashed her mirror again. "Why can't he stand up for himself? Fucking weak-ass!"

Julia's tongue thickened, and she tried to push out, "N-No, no! Th-That's not what I think of—!"

"Don't worry."

Julia stiffened.

The fifth clone appeared—Julia back in her childhood years, back when she had Magic, back when her brothers were whole. Child Julia smiled and showed a missing tooth as she turned her water into a pretty ice sculpture. "Silver and Gary are really strong. I know they love us. Nothing will happen to them as long as we get stronger and protect them, right?"

DRIP…

DROP…

A tear shed down Julia's cheek, her bottom lip trembling. Her gaze darted back to Depressed Julia as she broke into silent soul-shaking sobs to Angry Julia stalking her cage and screaming to Femme Julia gushing about her love life to Child Julia with all her optimism and blatant love on her sleeve. Nothing made sense. Her stomach felt nonexistent; her throat felt dry; and her mind felt like it had shifted elsewhere, making her float.

"What is this?" she whispered to herself. "What…? What is this…?"

"Julianna."

Her eyes snapped up—

Serious Julia sat in her covert ops black uniform with her hair braided—the Nightingale. She lifted her chin, those blues cold and calculating. "Stop being so naïve to think you can have your cake and eat it too," she said, blank. "You see this as functional. What I see"—her eyes narrowed—"is a weak, little girl who still thinks she deserves the world when she's done nothing for it."

Julia could not speak. All she could do was stare as another tear shed.

Serious Julia got up, towering above the original. "You lie to yourself every day to make yourself sleep at night. I don't understand. Everything until now was a choice you made, and you can't even live with it. Don't you remember? When everyone meaningless grieved and stepped down when it came to Gary, you stepped up. You didn't stay a spineless, helpless Wizard. You became strong—strong enough to kill anyone who took the ones you loved away from you." She tilted her head. "And look how pathetic you've become."

"It wasn't like that." Julia found her voice, just barely. "I-It was… It was n-never like that."

Serious Julia lifted an eyebrow. "I feel so sorry for you and how much you live in denial. You don't even see how much good we've done. We've created the perfect weapon against the monsters who haunt Gary and Silver's dreams. We bring stability and protection in their lives." She put up on her mask. "And you can't even stomach it."

Perhaps Julia should have questioned how her clone hovered in a shadowed rafter of a cathedral, but her thoughts were too busy processing everything else to truly comprehend the depth of this situation. But she knew this view and intimately so. She knew this church.

And she knew that was Lance standing at the altar.

CLICK-CLICK!

Julia's eyes widened when Nightingale Julia harness her handgun like she had done so one hundred times. "What are you doing?"

Nightingale Julia kept her focus on Lance in the distance. "I'm doing what you don't have the guts to do," she said, words dripping in contempt. "For Nightingale? For the one who chose this path to protect their family? There's no room for weakness. Everything I do? I do it for my loved ones. And if that means having to kill a man"—her fingers started pulling back the trigger—"then so be it."

"No." All of Julia's emotions came back in one whirlwind and it powered her to lunge for Nightingale Julia out of sheer desperation. "No—!"

GA!

BAKI!

The cathedral was gone.

Nightingale Julia was gone.

All the clones were gone.

And Julia was left alone.

Silence rolled in, prickly and uncomfortable.

"Hahaha…" Julia smothered her face with a hand as she broke into an uneven chortle. "Hahaha…" Her shoulders shook as her laugh loudened. "Hahaha!" But with every single laugh, more tears shed down her face, dribbling onto the table. She could not help it. She could not stop laughing at this, at herself, at life. And she could not stop her tears.

Laugh so you don't cry.

And as her laughter mixed with tears, the rules of the clone room became abundantly clear:

WELCOME TO THE CLONE ROOM

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to meet yourself? We make it happen here!

The clone exhibit contains complex and powerful spell work to let you meet your five clones in this very room. Why not sit down and introduce yourselves to each other? The more you talk, the more your clones will interact with you. Get to know each other! Who knows?

Your clones may know more about you than you know about yourself!

Enjoy!

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Fairy Adventure

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

Gale had not minded escorting Chunhua around the museum, but a Dragon's nose never lied. He caught every tremor of her clasped hands and every rushed heartbeat, and his nose sent that foreboding anxiety—a skittish scent seductive to predators. Wariness and some amusement made his lips twitch. She's definitely nervous. I can't smell a hint of Demon. But then again, that other Necromancer doused himself in stuff to keep his scent pure.

"You smell like her."

Gale hissed a breath as he rolled his head.

Chunhua shot him a pensive glance. "A-Are…? Are you all right?"

Gale grunted and nodded his affirmation.

Chunhua dripped her head and quickly looked away.

Gale tightened his fists. Get it out of your head. Focus on the mission.

He eyed Chunhua. And figure out what she's after specifically targeting me. He wanted to smirk as he watched Chunhua duck her head and subtly guide them in another direction. I'm sure it's either her brother's doing or the Demon inside her. Lady J said the Demon called itself a 'mogwai'. His eyes darkened. A heart stealer.

• — • — • — • — •

"Are you sure that's what she called it?"

Gale and Julia sat on opposite sides of the coffee table with their food half eaten and Jaxton on « Speaker » on Gale's Compact. Yara lingered in the background, pacing, but she eyed the Compact every so often.

Julia confirmed, "Yeah. The Demon called itself a 'mogwai'—Mara the mogwai." She winced. "I know it's a bit racist for us to come to you about all this, but the Lacrinet only showed us weird, non-informational wiki and then A Zhōnguánese Ghost Story, y'know? That lacrimagame based on Ancient and Imperial Zhōnguá? We were just hoping you might know a little more…"

"I know the game," Jaxton rumbled. "And I know about the mogwai in it as well. The Bei Family housing two Warlocks isn't anything new. Different regions in Zhōnguá adhere to different practices. The old emperor of the north was…rumored to be in touch with the Black Arts until my…until someone disposed of him."

Gale frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means even on a secure line, I can't give Zhōnguánese history lesson."

Julia leaped in at Jaxton's flat tone. "Then what can you tell us about the mogwai? And about this…son of Báihǔ? Why would a Demon be interested in that guy? From all the history we saw on him, he's a critical steeple in your culture, right?"

Two beats. "He…is," Jaxton said slowly. "The mogwai's vendetta against him is personal. During the calamity era and into the new calendar system, many demonic creatures and those in different realms preyed upon all the chaos. We called them 'Scavengers'. They weren't as powerful as the true Black forces from the two Black Wars, but they wanted to eat too. Mogwais were part of the 'Scavengers and their name is also 'heart thieves' or 'heart stealers'."

Gale locked on that. 'Heart stealers'?

"Mogwais use their ability to bring unfavorable weather, if they're powerful enough. The weather is cursed to help dampen human instinct and thought. They're all female and they go after those who loved women too," Jaxton continued. "Rumors say they used their abilities to transform their bodies into someone their prey couldn't resist, but…that's only a legend. It's true their bodies change to catch their prey, but they paint themselves to look like courtesans." A sigh. "And their eyes were the only actual color that could change to match their prey's preference."

"So how did this mogwai and the son of Báihǔ meet?" Julia asked, curious. "She mentioned a curse and how she knew him centuries ago."

Another two beats. "Because the son of Báihǔ freed every heart the mogwai had devoured. And also, he imprisoned her so she couldn't return to the Zhōnguánese equivalent of the underworld."

"So she's pissed," Gale got out with a huff.

"To put it mildly, yes," Jaxton supposed. "He's the only one who not only defeated her, but he stopped her from recharging in Diyu."

"How did she escape from imprisonment though?" Gale wanted to know.

Everyone could hear Jaxton lock his jaw. "I have theories," he said tightly, "but that's not important. She's out and she contracted the weak link of the Bei family. When she has the chance to, she'll come for the son of Báihǔ and his Chosen. I'll need to reach out to someone, but you'll need to be careful, both of you. Both of you are her prey. With her having a human host, she won't be able to paint her skin. Her powers are a lot more muted now that she can't touch her other form."

"Why can't she?" Julia questioned, brow furrowed.

But Gale understood. "It's like with Lance and Forneus," he explained. "Forneus was limited in all he could do. Once he escaped from Lance's body, then he could take on his full form and have access to all his power."

Julia tensed as Jaxton said, "Right. Demonic creatures possessing things show how desperate they are because of how limited their abilities are. The stronger the host—"

"—the stronger their abilities," Gale finished in a breath.

"Exactly." Jaxton took a beat and murmured something in Sinnish. "Be careful around the mogwai," he warned. "A human body can't handle and process a heart like a mogwai can in their actual forms."

Julia slowly put it together. "So if the mogwai goes after us, it's not trying to get our heart…it may try to get a stronger host. But…" She shook her head. "We'll stay on guard. And thanks so much for all the info." She broke into a puffing laugh. "You better watch out. This 'son of Báihǔ' is a Cultivator, right? If Tesla finds out he exists, she might leave you for him."

That made Jaxton chuckle. "I'm sure she would. In fact"—and everyone could hear his smile—"I know she'd fall madly in love with him."

• — • — • — • — •

Gale did another sweep around as he trailed after Chunhua, but all his senses were on edge. Her fear near the mirrors was real. But I'm sure some of that fear came from the mogwai whispering in her ear. And she's targeting me.

He touched his chest. And I think she knows who I am—what I am. And she knows I'd be a better host than someone weak enough to not speak up when working with a fucking rapist.

Chunhua told him, "I-If it's okay with you, there's somewhere I'd like to you, Mister…?"

Gale inclined his chin. "That's fine." He smirked this time. "I have everything I need to keep my charge watched for my employer. But since the lady commanded me to be your escort, lead the way."

Chunhua jerked a nod and swallowed.

Amateur. Gale wanted to snort scenting more of Chunhua's fearful perfume. A predator trapped in her prey's body—the frustration must be real. But I'm not falling for it that easily. Jaxton said the mogwai can't use their normal powers in a host body. But that creature is still a Demon. He felt his scales subtly rise beneath his clothes. I'm not taking any chances.

Chunhua and Gale's slow travel brought them to one entryway:

The HALL OF MIRRORS

Gale's eyes narrowed only just. So afraid of mirrors, huh? If this place is all about illusions, I'm guessing that mogwai inside her will manipulate the illusions to get to my emotions and fuck me up enough to get to my Heart. His lips twitched. How cute. After all the shit I've been through this week, and you think you'd get the drop on me?

His scales peeked from his color. Not fucking likely.

Chunhua told him with a slight tremor, "W-Would it be okay if we went in here?"

Gale inclined his head. "Sure. I'll wait for you out here—"

"O-Oh, um! Would you mind accompanying me inside?" Chunhua quickly interjected, her voice a pinch higher. "If you'd please?"

Gale hid his grin. "Of course." He came close and her fear smelled like the same perfume on his prey whenever he went hunting. "Lead the way."

Chunhua nodded and went inside.

Gale followed with his scales coming up his neck.

The Hall of Mirrors looked like something out of a circus with all the warped dimensions. But these Illusion Mirrors took it a step further, from genderswapping to pretending a monster lurked after a person, to child renditions, and even standing beside a person's hero. Others had come into the Hall of Mirror before them, their laughter fading as they moved further through the exhibit.

Gale cocked his head as Chunhua slowed her pace. Claws replaced his fingers.

Chunhua's throat bobbed as she timed her pace, a bead of perspiration cupping her temple.

He knows.

Chunhua flinched at the mogwai's echoing whisper.

The mogwai whispered, Do it—now.

Chunhua's bottom lip trembled, and she tightened her clasped hands. Her lips parted—

"Let's cut the bullshit, mogwai."

Chunhua froze.

Gale stopped and stared at her back. "You're not fooling me," he said with a growl. "You might've doped your scent, but you should know better than to think we wouldn't know what you are and what you're doing." His claws flexed. "And who you're doing it with."

Chunhua kept quiet.

Gale made sure his power slowly encroached the corridor as his teeth felt heavy. "So spare me all this horrible acting with your host, parasite, and give it to me straight. The fuck can you offer me for me to even consider being your new host body?"

Three beats.

"Hahaha…"

Gale watched as Chunhua's shoulders shook with each low laugh.

"Hahahaha… Oh…" She flipped her hair as her back and shoulders straightened. In one move, she spun around—

Grey met blue.

The mogwai had a smile that held one hundred different threats. "Oh, I like you," she told Gale with her voice such a sultry contrast to Chunhua's soft-spoken grace. "I've never had the pleasure of getting near one of your kind before. All that power…" Her grays deliberately dropped to Gale's crotch. "I've always wanted to know what it felt like."

"If you're trying to bargain with me, this is a shit way of doing it," Gale put, blunt.

The mogwai chuckled. "I suppose so." She twirled a lock of hair with her finger and studied Gale.

Gale sneered back.

Her smile widened. "I see now."

Gale did not take the bait.

Amused, the mogwai gave a wide berth as she prowled around him. "How…quaint. You and that king are so similar yet so different," she said like she was talking about the weather. "He had so much power. They say he was the cruelest to come."

"Who?" Gale pressed, and he held down his bristling when she cackled.

"Why… The Black Dragon Obscuritan."

Gale's blood went cold, but he kept his face neutral.

The mogwai kept up her circling. "I knew him, you know," she said like it was such an offhanded fact. "All in Diyu knew of Obscuritan, the Black Dragon so foul and cruel that even the Ghost Kings dared not attack him." She laughed again. "So many tried to win his favor, but he slaughtered them all. He had no loyalties. He ate a god. He even contributed to Chaos' spiral. He was mad, but he was cunning. Just – like – you."

A growl wanted to tear from Gale's throat.

The mogwai continued, almost in pity, "But then…rumors started. The worst bastard in all the realms…had a precious little mortal mate. Another chew toy."

"Little mouse," Gale heard mock him, that delighted and dark hiss of Obscuritan—his ancestor. He snapped, "Get to the point." But he stiffened when the mogwai hovered behind him. "The fuck are you—?"

"Nnngh… Gale…"

Gale refused to look, but he saw from his peripherals. He saw that flash of naked skin and a shy flush. The moans—oh the moans!—echoed in his ears like a sweet temptation, and he could feel her writhe and shift, aching.

But he would not look at her.

"I can give you what you want most," the mogwai whispered in his ear. "She would be yours. She would always be yours, boy."

Gale's jaw steeled as he heard the telltale signs of passion, sounds he had never heard from his Little Moon before yet sounds he secretly craved to hear. The Wild dug in its claws, but Nature could not be helped when Gale could feel that pressure smooth down his abdomen. His eyes closed for a shaky breath when those moans turned into jerky pleads—Gale more please I can't nnngh I need you—and pants.

But then a scent touched his nose.

Gale's eyes opened, pupils slit, and his lips twitched. "Y'know… You really must be fucking weak in that form, mogwai."

The mogwai stiffened and took a step back. What is he…?

"If I was a regular teenager, you'd probably have won me over by giving me fantasy porn," Gale drawled. "But you forget what I am." He turned around and touched his nose. "And I sure as fuck know how Blondie smells when she's into me. And your cheap scent sucks compared to her."

The mogwai gritted her teeth. But he's not a Cultivator. The aphrodisiac should've still worked on him to put him in a frenzy? She taunted him, "I know when little boys like you finally got the girl. There's no imprint of her on you." She smirked. "So you've been clinging to any memory of her you can get. How pathetic."

"I wouldn't call it pathetic." He internally sweatdropped as he remembered clinging to the memory of Luna's first heated scent back during his and Igneel's battle with Forneus (and foolishly hoping for it again any time he was shirtless around her). I just need Igneel to not fucking murder me.

He focused back on the mogwai and challenged, "So now what? Now that your big recruitment plan failed, you have a backup plan? Your elevator pitch work could use some work."

The mogwai's hands fisted. How fickle. If I were in my body, I could have his Heart and his body. It's disgusting to resort to this, but… She lifted her chin with a cat-got-its-cream grin. "You're not the only one who knows your little Chosen's scent."

That made Gale freeze.

She went on in a drawl, "I heard some interesting rumors the other day. One of the most powerful Necromancers in this realm fell to his knees…"—she drummed her nails on her cheek—"all because of an itty – bitty – princess."

The Wild inside him rose with fangs out.

The mogwai lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug. "From all the little hushed conversations, it would seem this little Necromancer wasn't supposed to…mate with this princess. But you know Necromancers as I do, don't you, Black Dragon?"

Gale's jaw twitched. "No. I don't."

The mogwai mockingly laughed. "Of course! Just like your ancestor, aren't you? You don't care if it doesn't affect your plans." She paced before him with a hip-swaying catwalk. "Necromancers can't die but they also can't live. To have ownership of The Damned, they traded their soul. Eating, sleeping, even breathing isn't necessary—like they are the Undead. But they do need to eat. Didn't you know that? They are the original vitavores—life-eaters. And well…" Her grin widened. "I heard a little princess is full to the brim with it."

Gale said nothing.

She goaded him on with childish tsking. "You know, humans make no sense to me. I heard this particular Necromancer was reprimanded for trying to mate with his unlimited food source, yet you humans promote chaos with your very existence." She sighed with a pitiful head shake. "How fickle. He was only doing what nature intended, the poor creature. He just couldn't help himself."

Gale's jaw ground.

The mogwai splayed her hands when she shrugged. "The little princess was an aphrodisiac to him. If they had wanted him not to touch her, they shouldn't have put them near each other. It's not his fault he acted on instinct. And if the little princess knew what was best, she wouldn't have resisted. Now, the poor creature is starving. Even I pity him."

His fists shook.

The mogwai spun and gave Gale her back. "Ah, well. I suppose you don't want to hear any of this anyway—"

"Wait."

The mogwai's stopped.

Six beats.

Then Gale rumbled, "Tell me more about Necromancers"—his bangs showed his eyes—"and how to kill them."

The mogwai's wide grin looked positively demonic. "Why certainly."

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And so…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

No one could say the royal family of Shamballa skimped out when it came to entertainment.

The museum staff had corralled everyone into a reception hall for lunch and a show, and this show kept on giving. The crowd oohed and aahed over the mystics arts as the Illusionists created mind-boggling fantasies that looked and felt so real. The troupe—their name translated to The Devout Tricksters of Anansi—brought about a wonderful circus with their antics and this particular show was their Soarin' attraction.

People gasped and laughed as the Illusionists cast them on a vicious sea journey with a Kraken to the jungles of the Amazone and saw Chimaera communes and the indigenous people to being at the top of the Champion Tower in Pergrande. It amused some when the Illusionists made it look like everyone had jumped the ledge, and a few people screamed in shock. The tour even went for the racy to display belly dancers who tantalized the audience. Key smiled when a male belly dance sidled up to her, but her surprise was palpable when he turned out to be real (and her flush met with a teasing wink from him).

Gale and Julia sat together at their assigned table, food polished but their desserts barely touched. Gale had one eye on the troupe's routine and the other eye on a quiet Julia, who looked more interested in staring at nothing. Leaning toward her, he murmured, "You've been quiet for a while. You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Julia dismissed, tone tight. "You don't need to ask me that every five minutes."

Gale raised his eyebrow.

Julia sighed. "What happened between you and Chunhua?"

"I didn't cheat if that's what you're implying," Gale said dryly.

Julia speared him a look.

"Her mommy mogwai had some things to tell me," Gale said in vague. "That's it."

Julia sharpened. "You actually spoke to it? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because you've been avoiding conversation until now." Gale did not keep the bite out of his tone this time. "You wanna tell me what made you a witch with a B, or should I put on my scales since the Dragon Lady is here?"

Julia scowled. "Fuck you." And she turned away.

Gale sat back and ignored her fuming.

The Soarin' show ended with an explosion of fireworks that had everyone give a standing ovation. When the lights came on and showed the entire cast, it shocked many to see how many Illusionists were part of such a troupe, but that made their appreciation soar even more.

Iman took the stage, bowing and shaking the hands of the cast and crew before announcing: "The Devout Tricksters of Anansi, my friends. Please, one more round of applause." And he too clapped his hands and gave credit where credit was due. Once the troupe bowed, said their gratitude, and exited stage right, Iman proceeded as the audience settled in their seats. "Wasn't that an amazing performance?"

Murmurs of agreements and a few cheers went about the room.

Iman chuckled. "I thank you, my friends, for joining us at the Museum of Illusions. The masters loved every single one of your questions and so did I. That is why it is my great pleasure to give you"—he clacked his staff on the ground for gift bags to appear for every guest—"tickets to a show of your choice for the Cirque de l'illusion this upcoming season where you can see the masters perform as well as vouchers at any of resorts and hotels listed."

Applause broke up and so did excited conversation.

Gale and Julia kept to themselves, while Chunhua looked at her gloved hands. Vinyl gossiped excitedly to a half-smiling Key, but all her enthusiasm drained when she saw the hidden pain behind Key's eyes.

After the applause died, Iman told everyone, "Now—onto the third and final of Shamballa's Spring Auction Event. At this time, we will be taking a fifteen-minute intermission before the auction starts, so please, help yourselves to more food and drink."

While people got up and conversed, Key and Vinyl stayed in their seats. Perhaps Key did not notice how she longingly stared at her gift bag, but Vinyl did, and she gently probed, "Is…everything okay?"

"Oh. Yes." Key folded back her gift bag and placed it beside her seat. "Everything's fine."

Vinyl lay a hand on Key's arm with a significant look. "I know we're bathroom best friends hating on the patriarchy right now, so I don't have the right to press you, but… If there's anything on your mind, I'm happy to hear it." She smiled. "I mean, hey, I'm just some random person you met her, right? You could tell me and never have to see my face and remember what happened."

Key chuckled behind a hand. "You do make some good points." Her visible eye softened, and she sighed. "I suppose… I was jealous."

"Why?" It was not that Vinyl questioned it—she did—but it was more a disbelief sort of thing.

Key weakly laughed. "Exactly. Why should I be jealous?"

Nothing added up to Vinyl. She put her gift bag on the ground and gave Key her full attention. "Why are you jealous?" she asked and hoped she mimicked Mira's motherly tone properly. "About the circus?"

"Oh, it's…" Key tried to wave it away. "It's silly. I'm making things up and I…" But all her excuses withered when she saw Vinyl's patient look. "I guess…" Her gaze dropped to her legs-crossed lap. "I guess I was jealous of all the people who would experience it."

Vinyl frowned. "What, the circus?"

"No." Key glanced at Vinyl. "The ability to choose if they wanted to experience the circus or not." Her stare dropped away again with a pitiful smile. "I don't get that sort of luxury. But it's nothing to complain about. I should be grateful for the life I have, shouldn't I? I've gotten to experience things no one would normally be able to experience. And how I feel now… It's just childish."

"I don't think that at all," Vinyl delicately disagreed. "And, before I say anything else, about you not being able to choose…" She hesitated. "Your boyfriend, um…"

"Oh." Key caught on, and she tossed her head back to laugh. "Oh, no, no, you don't need to worry. He's not responsible for any of this. All of my life results from my own actions, not his. No, he…" That smile on her face tore between love and pain. "He's actually the one who wants me to have more choices. It's just…not feasible. Even now, me being able to come here…" Heather gray darkened. "There's always a sacrifice involved allowing me to choose. And someday, that price will be too high for me to pay."

Vinyl said nothing.

"Ah." Key turned her head away to get a tissue from her clutch and dab it under her eyes. "I'm sorry. Oh, Jiro's going to baby me even worse if he found out I nearly cried for being so dramatic. We should be enjoying ourselves, and I'm being such a mood wrecker, aren't I?"

Vinyl dragged her quiet for a long moment. Then she murmured, "You know… Growing up in Minstrel as an heiress… You'd think I'd lived the high life."

Key turned to Vinyl as she finished cleaning her face. "So you did live in Minstrel?" She balled her tissue. "That man from before wasn't lying about that?"

"No, I lived there." Vinyl's smile felt sour. "I was born and raised Chaucer." She made a show of rolling her eyes for Key's amusement. "Everyone says Lincoln is the place to be because of Big Ben and The Lincoln Eye, but Chaucer was for the one-percenters of Minstrel."

Key haltingly broached, "So your accent…"

"Archive Magic." Vinyl shuddered. "It was brutal. I can see why you have to fill out a bunch of paperwork for the necessary Archive Information Transfers. I sounded like a proper Mint for about a week into me coming to Fiore before my guild mate Genius basically downloaded in central Fioren-Minstrish dialect into me. And I can't go back to my upper crust Chausnian accent without sounding like a Meidilander trying to do a 'Minstrish accent'."

Key simpered. "I see."

Vinyl hummed, took a few beats, then she went on: "I was so naïve with money that I never paid for anything unless my so-called 'friends' asked me to, and all I remember was one of my keepers handing over my parents' black card for things. I got to be that one percent who had nothing to worry about and experienced everything. I did international tours, I met celebrities—I even have credits to my name in Magia movies."

Key brightened. "Really?"

"Yeah." Those fond memories shone through Vinyl. "Isn't that crazy? When I was only twelve, I was in the orchestra playing for a royal wedding. Isn't that bizarre? I had everything any musician could have wanted. My instruments came from these insanely talented craftsmen who had been making my family's instruments since we discovered our Bloodline Magic. I had everything, and I mean everything." She looked at Key with sad understanding. "But I also had nothing."

Key softened.

Vinyl took a breath. "And that sounds so spoiled, doesn't it? I mean, here we are, with the powers that be in the palm of our hands and we say we have 'nothing'. But there are plenty of people who have nothing and would trade anything to have that power…even if they don't know that to have it, you have to sacrifice your entire person for it."

Key nodded. "It's a funny word, 'sacrifice'. Whenever I say it, my…housemates told me it was a martyr word." Her eyes sparked with grief. "They'd work hard to get to where they were, so I understood why they didn't want to hear my whinging. I'd gotten to where I was because everything was given to me."

"For a price," Vinyl put.

"That's not how thy see it," Key quietly said. "And that's not how I see it all the time either."

Vinyl relayed, "Does your boyfriend say the same?"

"Oh, no." Key shook her head, and a bit of warmth touched her remembering her passionate partner. "He never lets me forget that the life I'm living… He wishes he could free my wings from it. I know he loves me and supports me, but I don't know how he endures everything I'm putting us through."

Vinyl wished she could say, But I saw you two and I know he loves you, yet she swallowed the word down. Instead, she asked, "How did you two meet, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Not at all." Key swept through her thick hair. "But it's a terribly boring story, I'm afraid. We met at School when we were children."

"Aw, that's not boring." Vinyl knocked Key's knees and teased, "A childhood friends to lovers story is better than my 'runaway heiress meets her daddy dom' romance story that is still a very, very much a slow burn."

Key tittered. "'Daddy dom'?"

"Big time," Vinyl groaned. "You don't know how painful t is to not reach across a table and rip off his clothes. So before I got crazy, please let me live vicariously through you and tell me everything about your romance story."

Key smiled. "It really wasn't that exciting." Yet the glow about her said otherwise. "School was…like any of school, I suppose. I think." She laughed to herself. "I wouldn't know. School was all I ever knew." Her laugh faded into a small smile. "I guess things were the same as other schools. Every day, I'd wake up, put on my uniform, go to School, have my lessons, do tests—that sort of thing. And there were mandatory Club Activities."

"And let me guess." Vinyl pretended to mull it over. "You were in choir?"

Key faintly laughed. "Something like that." She played with her fingers. "My singing brought a lot of attention to me, and they pushed hard about it. I didn't mind it at the time. That was all I knew, to sing. I'd sight-read whatever they put in front of me, but the lyrics and the tone would never touch me. It just felt…empty, singing like that. But I thought that's what it was supposed to feel like."

La-lala… Laalalaalalaaa…

Vinyl blinked at the echoing, melancholic tune. Her song… I can hear it again.

Key continued: "But one day, there was a rumor about a new student coming to School. Gossip wasn't trendy at School, but this student had even our teachers on edge. I couldn't understand it. We'd received new students a handful of times, so all the conversation about a new one was unusual to me." Her smile brightened. "And then I met him—my Jiro."

Analytic blues.

Vinyl heard the tune swell in the back of her head. It's getting louder. Her song… Something about it… She encouraged, "What happened next?"

"I'd met him by chance the first time," Key told Vinyl. "He'd come to observe one of my tests as a proctor." She chuckled. "He was a genius after all. But the second time I met him wasn't by chance. He sought me out and told me he loved my voice." She made a vague shrugging motion. "I knew he meant it, but I'd heard it before and it never felt right. My singing… It felt hollow to me, just empty and baseless. And if he loved my voice as it was…then he was like everyone else."

"But he wasn't, was he?" Vinyl inferred.

"No." Pure adoration stroked Key's features. "He wasn't. Because he told me he thought I was singing without hearing or understanding the lyrics. That was the first time someone had told me that. The teachers never wanted me to find joy in my singing…but he did." She shook her head in mirth. "I didn't know how I was supposed to do that. I told him the teachers wouldn't like it. But he came up with all this logical thinking, so I started believing him. I just didn't know how to start. And you know what he told me?"

Vinyl could feel such a sweet croon make her heartbeat. "What?"

"He told me to write down what I felt," Key remembered. "He told me to write down all the words I tried to forget and show him what I see. And anything I wanted to say…he'd be the first one to listen." She brought out another tissue when her eyes clouded. "Terribly romantic of him, I know."

"Yeah…" Vinyl could feel that heartsong pulling her close. What is this? I've… I've never heard someone's heartsong like this before.

When Key felt she had centered herself again, she admitted to Vinyl, "And that was all it took. We spoke more and met more. We played lacrimagames together. He was always there for my testing, even if I couldn't go to his. And he promised me at that School…he would someday marry me." She ducked her head, abashed and emotional. "I'm sorry, I—"

"No, no, you're fine." Vinyl pulled herself out of her daze to smile promisingly at Key. "He sounds like a keeper, and I mean that in the best way."

"I know." Key patted her nose with her tissue. "I really am lucky to have met him. Because out there, when I sing, I feel nothing. But with him…I feel every single word I sing."

"I believe it." I really do. Her heartsong… Vinyl's next words came out almost unbeknownst to her. "How could you feel about a collaboration?"

Key blinked. "Excuse me?"

That was when Vinyl realized what she said and cursed. "Ah, sorry! It's just…!" She sighed. "It's just…" Time to come clean with it. "My powers…react to you in a way I didn't know could happen," she admitted. "My abilities let me listen to a person's soul song—their heartsong. And yours…" She looked at Key in unbridled awe. "Yours is the most beautiful thing I heard."

That took Key back. "You can…hear my voice? My real voice?"

"Something like that," Vinyl went along with. "And if I'm being completely honest, I would love to collab with you because I get it, I do. About having the sheet music right there in front of you and you play the notes, but you don't feel anything inside." She confided. "It's honestly the reason my parents pulled me out of doing accompaniments, and why I don't do them now."

Key frowned. "What do you mean?"

"My Magic can feel a person's heartsong," Vinyl laid out, "but when I'm playing with people… It's like there's a connection. In a professional orchestra, I can feel that connection. And with some musicians, I can, but…the depth isn't there. Something about it makes me hurt inside and I become so emotionally drained from it. But when you sang the other day, it was like—I don't know—my powers came alive."

"I"—Key blinked twice—"did that?"

Vinyl laughed. "I know this sounds crazy—"

"No, no, it doesn't," Key soothed. "I just… I've never had someone tell me that and to have actually heart my voice." She gave a watery smile. "You'd really want to work with me?"

Vinyl's heart soared. "Absolutely."

Key's eyes fogged over again. "Oh, no." She laughed as she dabbed under her eyes. "Jiro really isn't going to let me out of bath time now." She simpered at Vinyl's rightfully bewildered look. "When I get weepy, he becomes an unstoppable force who spoils me rotten, meaning candles and a bath."

Vinyl dreamily sighed. "Do you have room for one more?"

Key burst into a surprised laugh. "I'm barely allowed to have my anime body pillow without him trying to replace it with a body pillow of him, so I'm afraid you're out of luck. And what about your"—she flushed—"Daddy dom?"

Vinyl dramatically sighed. "He's playing hard to get. But I am a determined woman and I got him half-naked, so I'll take that as progress."

Key chuckled, done cleaning up. "Now I know your, um, acquaintance was mean about your lack of date today, but…"

"Vespers is that annoying chihuahua you want to punt, so ignore him." Vinyl grumbled. "And my lack of date today was because—" But her words caught.

Key offered Vinyl a concerned look. "What is it?"

"Well…" Now Vinyl was the one who could not look at Key. "Have you ever known you had to be separated from a person because reasons, but even if those reasons make logical sense and he can take care of himself, you're sitting here, feeling like a helpless little woman and every moment you don't hear from him is a moment you think something happened to him?"

Three beats.

Vinyl flinched when a hand went on her shoulder, but she looked up to see Key's understanding rather than judgment.

"I do," Key murmured. "Tell me everything."

And now Vinyl was the one with misting eyes.

---

After-auction cocktail hour had officially begun, and everyone could not be happier.

To be honest, this part of the last auction was much more networking and sneaking in last-minute legal trades for bid-and-bought items before the window of opportunity slammed shut. A university jazz ensemble performed tonight, and the old tunes brought out the crowd of adults and cultured adolescents onto the dance floor.

Fatimah could not dare to join in.

She stood apart from the crowd and fought to keep down her sneer seeing her sister flit about, the ever-social butterfly. There she goes again, the perfect hijabi daughter who is grateful for everything and wants nothing except the crowd. In her heart of hearts, she felt pity toward her sister's lovestruck fiancé, who might have socialized himself but he always had time to glance at Haya. Poor guy.

She went back to people-watching—her eyes lingered curiously on a gorgeous dark-skinned woman with her hair curled so only one gray eye showed—and ended up seeing Mohammed and Sooraya talking with the other family members and politicians. Her fingers tightened on her glass when the Emir sidled up to Sooraya and his low words seemed to make her tense. But she offered her hand, and he took her to the dance floor. And Mohammed's smile and eyes did not match as he watched this all happen.

Fatimah swirled her drink as she watched her father lead her aunt into a dance. I still can't believe Am'maty went through that. And 'Ammi stood by her. They've been enduring all this time. Her heart clenched. I hope they can endure it now. If Baba suspects them now, they need to get everything right. Unable to drink anymore, she put her drink down on a server's tray and moved out of the room. Salat is tomorrow, the day Yaya—Orisa and I escape. 'Ammi will do what he can at salat to stall Baba and Zayed. This will be the only time things work out. Inshallah, we'll leave here and be free of this place. Yaya…

Her eyes stormed. The last Fertility God Slayer.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"She's a what?" Fatimah looked at her uncle in utter disbelief. "But… H-How is she…?"

"She was born with her powers," Mohammed explained. "And that makes it all the more dangerous for her. There's no rhyme or reason why people are born with abilities. Magic… It is something that can be cultivated and taught and for ninety-nine percent of the Magi population, that's true. But Orisa is rare. And her goddess Oshun gifted Orisa her abilities."

Fatimah looked down for a moment, processing. "So… Yaya—I mean, Orisa—is basically Oshun's daughter," Fatimah struggled to put together. But then the complex puzzle looked so horrifyingly simple. "Oh, no." Her gaze snapped back up to her uncle. "So that's why she's here, isn't she? That's why Baba married her and why Zayed—" Her mouth shut; she could not say it.

Mohammed sighed into his nod. "Yes. That is why she is here."

"And I'm…her Custodian?" A large part of Fatimah still reeled from such a thing, but a small part of her felt it all…clicked. "But… How and…and why?"

"Fatii." Such warmth softened Mohammed's smile. "I think that's something you need to understand yourself. But ask yourself this. When you met Orisa and when you think of her now…what do you feel?"

"What do I feel?" Fatimah echoed. She wanted to quickly respond, but she hesitated and took her time. 'What do I feel…' She thought of Orisa; she thought of the first day she met her father's bride; she thought of Orisa's eyes that looked like the golden sun against an orange backdrop; she thought of all the friendly times they shared cheering each other up and having moments when this country did not feel like a prison. 'I…'

LUBDUB…

"I feel"—Fatimah curled a hand over her heart—"happy…and love." She flushed at her uncle's chuckle. "But not like that." 'Oh god.' She wanted to laugh remembering how flustered and panicky Inayah—Orisa—became as she tried explaining her feelings came from a sisterly place. 'Now I even sound like her.'

"Then remember that feeling," Mohammed encouraged, "because that feeling is the bond you and your Slayer share now. And when you want answers, bear those feelings in mind. Because they'll help you in ways you could never understand by words alone."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fatimah drifted down the dark halls of the museum with her mind drifting alone. I need to remember that feeling… A Custodian… The Prophet… I have so many questions—questions I know that I'll never get answers to. Like how Baba tracked down Mama; how Mama became the last one of our people; and…what happened to the Slayer of the three goddesses.

She sighed. And Yaya… What was her life like with that sort of power? Was it that bad that she saw someone as despicable as my father an escape? And her son and… She sighed again and headed toward an exhibit:

THE INFINITY ROOM

Stepping into the space felt like such a dream. The cosmos spiraled around Fatimah, infinite and bright. Infinity replicas of her walked through all the stars or galaxies, yet she did not bask in fascination like she was certain others had done earlier in the day. Instead, she found solace in the illusionary deep space, hugging herself and feeling like she was finite against the infinity of the universe.

"I don't know, Mama," she breathed into the quiet space. "I don't know why I was made a Custodian. I don't know… I don't know the message our people kept all these years. I know nothing." Such a thought made the void in her chest widened. "I know nothing, so why…?" She could not voice it when her words cracked. Why is this happening to me?

"Then remember that feeling because that feeling is the bond you and your Slayer share now. And when you want answers, bear those feelings in mind. Because they'll help you in ways you could never understand by words alone."

Fatimah sucked in a breath. Remembering that feeling, huh? Her eyes fluttered shut. Remember that feeling…

Two golden suns surrounded in warm orange.

Fatimah slowly breathed. In and out. In and out. Yaya… I feel…love for you. And all I want to do…is keep you safe and make sure you get the happiness you deserve. Because you've been through so much, things I'll probably never know. And you've endured it all alone, but… Resolve set across her features. I'm going to protect you with everything I have. So it's okay. You don't have to be alone anymore.

Warmth touched her skin as sand brushed against her.

You'll never be alone. She could feel that feeling, the feeling that told her she was so close to what she was reaching for. And she breathed, "Because I'm your Custodian now."

LUBDUB!

Fatimah's eyes shot open as her breath was sucked out of her and blue energy flared in her eyes. The surrounding cosmos started a slow churn around her before breaking into a vortex drowning her. What…? What's happening to me?

DOTA…

Through the cosmic vortex, a woman crossed through like she was walking on water, her feet bare. Fabric made of the universe covered her body and made her niqabi, but her blue eyes pierced through, and she looked straight ahead.

Right at Fatimah.

And then she stopped.

Fatimah choked and did not know what to say.

The niqabi woman tilted her head to one side, examining Fatimah. She found what she needed when she lifted a hand and pointed behind her.

Unable to help herself, Fatimah turned around, but she still did not understand. A scene painted before her, one of the unforgiving Wastes. She saw the mischievous dunes and the telltales signs of sand creatures waiting to snap up a land-dweller. But through the Wastes, she saw a little girl survive them. Her father was there, yet he lay as a corpse with indigenous markings tattooing his body and her own. In tatters, she watched over her father's corpse as she waited to join him. A rush of night and day passed as the girl grew thing and weak until she was on Death's door.

But she did not die.

The scene changed as the girl's surroundings did. Rather than the Wastes be her sentence, she awoke in an oasis where three gorgeous beings circled her, their beauty so unfathomable that words alone could not describe them. Yet these sisters came down to the child and loved her as their own, providing her a new life. And over time, they held her hand as they walked the Wastes to find those abandoned and near death, bringing them home, and giving them a place—a people.

These three sisterly beings taught the people their power, but they split their gifts. One sister offered the gift of seeing the past. The second sister offered the present sight that left the beholder to see the happenings of that day anywhere in the world. And the third sister gifted her future sight. Yet all three blessed their little girl with the sight to see all three timelines.

Seasons changed and time marched on.

The little girl had matured into a fine young woman and downed her niqab with pride. But it was time for her to leave home and understand this world, even if her otherworldly mothers were reluctant for her to part. But she took her people on a journey to live in the Wastes. Creatures did not touch them, avoiding them altogether. They found Roamers on their journey with their violet eyes and the fine young woman rejoiced with her people when one of her own and a Roamer woman conceived. The first child of their people!

But the young woman and her people wanted roots, and in the Wastes they would live. They spoke to the three sisters in their ritualistic prayer, but the young woman had a special connection, earning the right to walk with them and receive their adoration.

But on a cloudy night, the young woman's otherworldly mother shared a dream with her.

Fatimah flinched when a sandy gust nearly knocked her over, but she squinted through it to see bits and pieces of the dream. Wait… She witnessed flames rising with innocent people burned in their house of worship. I know this story. Her heart broke when she saw the woman being burned to death. But the sandstorm forced Fatimah out from that part of the dream and into another where she saw—

Mama?

To her shock, she saw her mother carry a swaddled baby, but her mother looked different. She carried the same tribal markings as the young woman and her people, and she smiled through her tears she looked at her baby.

The sand blasted, and Fatimah staggered. Wait! She tried to reach out, but that part of the dream closed. Mama! Don't go!

The wind cut her and turned her around every which way, only to spit her out…

…and she was in the eye of the storm.

Fatimah straightened herself, breathless, and when she looked up—

—she was staring at herself.

Fatimah looked at her replica, only…her replicate did not look like her. She wore her hijab, yes, but her eyes were an unnatural tint of blue. She stood within the Wastes like she was its mistress. With a flourish, she produced a twister of sand in her palm and stared at Fatimah almost in curiosity.

Fatimah's breath hitched and she whispered, "Who…are you? Are you…me?"

Her replica cocked her head.

Fatimah's breath quickened. "Am I really Yaya's Custodian?"

Her replica nodded.

"She needs to escape tomorrow," Fatimah said, hushed. "Please, I… I don't know where to start. I don't know what power I even have, I just… I need tomorrow to go right and I need to protect her. How do I do that?"

Her replica's gaze flicked down.

Fatimah did as well—

Her eyes widened. What?

Her hand—her hand was moving just as her replica's was. And that sand twister—it lived within Fatimah's palm.

"I…" Fatimah watched the sand move in her hand with such wonder-filled eyes. Mashallah… This… This is my incredible. She cupped the twister so preciously, like it was a gift. This… I feel… She did not know the right word for it, but she felt. She felt the rise and fall of the Wastes with its warmth and sand slipping around her like a second skin. People who traversed the Wastes told tall tales of the screams they heard, but all she heard was a woman's voice crooning to her a story that had no lyrics because one had to feel the emotion to know the tale.

LUBDUB!

Fatimah could feel something warm in her chest—power. It was almost like she could not breathe before, but now, now she could breathe—

"Fatimah!"

The lurch back down to reality had Fatimah shaken to the core and almost sent into a coughing fit, but Haya gave her no time to cope as she glared at her sister. "Where have you been? It's been hours," she hissed. "Do you know how embarrassing it is for the family when you go off to have your Schizo episodes while Baba gives the closing ceremony?"

Fatimah blinked. "'Hours'?" she echoed.

Haya rolled her eyes. "I don't have time for this." With a bruising grip on Fatimah's wrist, she dragged her from the exhibit. "It's bad enough Inayah and Zayed are missing. At least they actually have good rapport. Your reputation is already in the gutter and here she goes again, ungrateful little Fatii hallucinating."

Haya's biting words went in one of Fatimah's words and out the other as she struggled to keep up with her sister's furious strides. Her head swam, almost drunk, and before Haya tore her out of the exhibit, she took one glance back—

Vibrant blues.

And Fatimah felt in the bottom of her heart the niqabi woman of the cosmos was telling her something with her eyes.

Come find me.

---

The heat was on. The third Black Auction would start soon enough, and Yara had to be ready for it.

Sunset crested into nighttime, and it would only be a matter of minutes until the moon took custody of the sky from her lazy husband. Far West and eastern customs had trickled into Shamballa with all that progression fueling more nightclubs, bars, lounges, and later hours for restaurants. Spring breakers heartily took advantage of the exuberant atmosphere since tomorrow would be a bit calmer until the concert.

But not everyone was in the holiday mood.

Slinking in the shadows of Shamballa, Yara kept on her invisibility cloak and scoped out the area. Even from her distance, she could hear the big city noise and she needed to get further and further if she wanted success. Following the holo-map projecting in her glasses, she made a right at the next alleyway and continued.

This magitech is ingenious, Yara had to admit. These glasses keep me up to date with heat signatures, harmful spells, possible warning sounds, and even a map. Curiosity tickled her. How does the anonymous guild master of The Underground have access to all of this? He even told me if I break anything, I won't have to repay him.

A warning came on her screen, and she hid as two amorous Shamballan men kissed and teased each other. Once they passed—she ignored a heady moan—she set back on track. I know he says not to worry and he has his reasons, but I can't help but wonder what they are. He did mention his partner. She sweatdropped remembering the hour-long cooing such an infamous guild master did all for his "goddess". And he certainly reminded me of His Majesty with his affections.

"And she's…my only hope too."

Yara softened, if only a little bit. I suppose…he and his partner are struggling for what they want the most. Orisa will help them, I'm sure. She always had a good heart and that never changed.

"I-I-I'm scared, M-Miss Yara." A pained sob and fingers shakily on a sonogram. "Johann will hate me for this."

Yara saddened. No, Your Majesty… And I'll make sure His Majesty tells you how much he loves you. And then I'll beg my daughter for forgiveness for everything I've done.

Hardening, she kept to the map until she wound up at a metal staircase with crude graffiti. It led to a seedy underbelly to what she understood was a bridge that had no need anymore. Still, it had become the perfect hiding spot for haram activities. If Yara looked closely, she could see weed and various drugs and drinks passed around. The dirty sounds of muffled sex did not bother the bums and the drunks down here.

Yara made sure she was out of sight even with her cloak on. The guild master told me they would set the backdoor portal up around here. Without an official bid number, I can't enter the front door. But what I want isn't on the menu for auctioning tonight. It's something that requires a meeting the guild master set up I can't afford to lose this opportunity.

She turned again according to the holo-map. I didn't lie to Gale and Julia. This auction does have some ingredients, but there's only one thing I need and the guild master told me about its acquisition. And it's even more powerful than the Philosopher's Stone. Her jaw locked. Phoenix Tears. They've been extinct across the cosmos, so to even have one alive… I need its tears. It's the only thing that could cure His Majesty.

She headed to the marina, but she kept to all the warehouses and ignored the guards patrolling. The spot marked on her holo-map was a warehouse a few kilometers away. I'm almost there. I won't fail again! And with that, she broke into one last sprint to reach her goal. Almost there, Your Majesty. I promise you… I'll save you—

BAKI!

Had a large hand not been on Yara's mouth, she would have screamed. But instead, she bucked like a wild horse when someone large dragged her into an alleyway. Yet her abductor did not even flinch and kept her wrangled and jerked her hood off so the invisibility enchantment turned off on her cloak. She moved her elbows, but something strange and feathery trapped her arms. Even she went to bite and scream, two thoughts smacked her.

Silence and blood.

She could not hear anything.

And the hand covering her mouth had blood on it.

A heavy breath fell in her ear. "I'm going to let you go. You can scream, but no one will hear you." Her captor loosened her hold—

Yara twisted with her dagger—

FWOOSH!

She struggled when her back hit the wall of a warehouse with knives pinning her body into the steel. But upon closer, angrier inspection, she noticed it was not knives holding her hostage. Are those…feathers? She snarled at her abductor. "I don't have time for this. I have somewhere to be. What do you want with me? I don't have money!"

A simper. "Oh, darling little owl—we don't want anything like that."

"Then what do you want?" Yara snapped. No, I can't fail again! His Majesty is depending on me!

The deep voice spoke again, covered in the shadows. "Right now, we saved you from being murdered."

Yara froze. 'Murdered'? But she could not believe it, and she said so. "I don't believe that," she spat. "You could be the ones trying to murder me, and I need to leave, so tell me your demands!" The window to the portal… No!

Another titter and a seductive purr. "I told you, darling. The good Healer wouldn't be happy with a kidnapping."

"Shut up." A hefted sigh. "I understand you don't believe us right now," this man said, tone gentle. "But you don't have the option of a choice right now. I need you to trust us so we can get you to safety—"

Yara barked a nasty laugh. "'Trust' you? You kidnapped me, you keep me from something important, and now you want me to—!"

"When your daughter was ten, you asked Headmistress Karisma to perform Memory Control to erase your existence from Hendrika's life, so she would be safe while you fled to figure out how to save your kingdom."

Yara stilled.

The man continued: "From there, you had no idea what to do, but you knew the Prime Minister would find you. You were His Majesty King Johann's confidant about Her Majesty King Orisa. You knew of their secret child, something the Prime Minister had guessed when the King confessed he and the Queen never used protection that night she was interrogated."

Her breath quickened. What is he…?

"One day, you received a strange email and you thought it was a phishing email," the man went on. "But you accidentally clicked the link. And then you found yourself face to face with the guild master of The Underground who agreed to take you on as his client. And he was also the one to tell you that His Majesty needed the Philosopher's Stone to be healed because of Mother Mary consistently and internally damaging his body—"

"Stop." Yara croaked this, drowning in her disbelief. How…? How did he know all of this? He couldn't have. No one should have ever known, except—

The answer was told to her.

Yara looked into the shadow. "Step into the light," she said in a near-whisper. "Who are you?"

Heavy footsteps.

"Healer Yara Sandström. We've never met, but I know who you are. And you're a dead woman walking." A large man stepped into her orbit with dirt and blood and sweat splotching his skin as a vulture sat on his shoulder with intense eyes. "You shouldn't have come to Shamballa."

"Who are you?" Yara demanded to know.

The man scratched his vulture's jaw. "I'm the man who is going to save your life. And…"—he looked at Yara with intense orange eyes—"I'm the man responsible for the deaths of your previous employers."

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Starry Sky nemurenai yoru nee aitai yo aitai yo

Kirameita ittousei osaekirenai kimi e no omoi wo

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Gyutto dakishimete mou hanasanaide

"aishiteru" dake ga zutto kagayaki tsuzukeru

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Ich liebe dich, Orisa.

When Orisa awoke, she felt it was nighttime. Her body weighed down in the bed, exhausted yet clean. A tender soreness pressed down on her inner thighs, between her thighs, and her lower stomach, but someone must have massaged her since this pain felt like a dull ache. She looked up at the impressive ceiling with very little feelings to her name, only dazed confusion. What…happened to me? I feel… I…

"Mmm…"

She stiffened when arms tightened around her. With a trembling bottom lip, she looked down to see tan arm possessively around her midsection. Her heartbeat picked up. What? Her stare dragged to follow the arm until she realized her body entangled with another.

"Inayah…"

Orisa froze with her heart in her throat and her stomach bottomed out. She knew that voice.

Zayed kept her on his naked chest as he brushed a kiss on her temple. "Ya hayati," he mumbled, voice huskily sleepy. "My ravenous little queen, you even ran me tired." He thumbed her hip. "It was a long day. Go back to sleep. You'll need your strength for the morning." He shifted and drew her closer.

Orisa bit her lip when she felt his fingers brush her nipples. She kept the shake out of her voice as she whispered, "I have to use the bathroom." Heat tickled her eyes when he tilted her jaw and closed in. Her eyes closed and she breathed, Pretend he's Johann. Pretend he's Johann.

Zayed groaned into their shared kiss, cupping her cheek, before he pulled back with a pant. "Be quick." He kissed her nose. "I can't sleep well without you at my side."

Orisa fought down the urge to bolt when he released her. She knew better than to run. He lived off the chase, and she saw it in his eyes. The first time she ran, choking on her sobs, she bled when he tackled her and blamed his arousal on her refusal. But it gutted her more how she remembered Johann had loved chasing her on the castle grounds and caught her with a sweet kiss and sweeter words.

Once, she was loved. Now, she was lusted.

The tears flowed freely when she got to the bathroom and softly shut the door behind her. She crumbled to the ground and swallowed down the need to throw up, but when she puttered a sob, she quickly clasped a hand over her mouth. What did I do? What have I done? Johann…

A warm smile. Kind eyes. "Orisa…"

She curled into a ball on the bathroom floor. The tears fell but she felt not one of them. Her body wanted to feel nothing. Her mind wanted to cease to exist.

She wanted to die.

She stared into the bathroom's darkness.

"Ah…! Ah…!" Nails dug into flesh as a brutal pressure worked her closer to a passionate release. "Johann! Johann!"

A tear dropped from her lashes, and she closed her eyes.

"My sweet queen." A growl to her ear. "Let's try for another boy."

She did not know if she was breathing. She wished she would stop breathing.

A titter slipped past her when he gently cleaned between her legs with a damp cloth. "What if I want a girl?"

A rakish grin. "Then we'll have a girl and try again for a boy." He kissed her stomach. "Perhaps we finally have a child in you now, don't you think? And I'll love him or her all the same as long as they're from you, ya hayati."

Orisa wished her heart would stop. Everything—she wanted everything to stop. But her mind betrayed her, throwing it in her face all those hours with her beloved Johann and warping such wishful thinking into the dark truth she tried to spare herself from.

Never had Johann come to rescue her.

I'm a whore, she distantly thought. Johann… He'll never forgive me. He'll never love me again. He won't want a whore. The thought of Johann turning his back on her made everything in her weaken and slacken until her mind and body divorced from each other. Her body may have lain on the tile, but her mind floated, existing.

Oshun—Iya—why did you give me these powers? I'm just a common whore now. Johann won't love me anymore after this. He won't love me. Her body shook. He won't ever love me again after this.

DRIP…

DROP…

The tears felt useless now, a mockery. She could cry all she wanted, but nothing would change. When the tears cleared and the sadness faded into nothing, she would still be trapped with those monsters outside the doors and enslaved to their will.

Soothing hands drifted down her cheeks. "Be at peace, my Daughter," came feminine whisper that could move heaven and earth. "For you are Hope. And you will always be loved."

Johann will never love me, Orisa blankly thought.

But that soothing touch cradled her like she were a mere baby. "Sleep, my Daughter." A veil of drizzling gold hovered above Orisa belonging to a woman of charcoal skin, golden lips, and a blinding white smile. "You have suffered. And you will be loved."

That falling sensation of drowsiness hit Orisa hard. No dreams whelmed her, tempted her, nor did her nightmares frighten her into destroying herself. But that darkness tangling with her mind felt welcome nonetheless and relieving. "Iya…" she breathed. "Johann…"

"Shhh…" the veiled woman hushed, and she pressed a kiss onto Orisa's forehead. "You are loved."

And as Orisa fell grateful prisoner to the darkness, she whispered like it was a secret, I am loved.

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Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

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Zayed bin Kamer Al Marwan – Fady el-Sayed

Orisa / Inayah – Chipo Chung

Yara Sandström -

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Julia Fullbuster – Michelle Ruff

Iman Omar Absame -

Sycaña – Christen Auten

Vinyl de la Muse – Alison Viktorin

Vespers Vivaldi -

Key / Kyary – Raye Boyce

Bei Chunhua – Kelsey Asbille

Cher Woods – Hayden Daviau

Lorraine Dior -

Elias -

The Mogwai -

Jang-ta "Jaxton" Yang – Eddy Yeong

Luna Dragneel (voice only) – Bryn Apprill

Fatimah bint Kamir Al Marwan – Summer Bishill

Mohammed bin Saif al Marwan -

Haya bint Kamir Al Marwan – Rima Fakih

Swan – Kayleigh McKee

Thirteen – Matthew Mercer

Oshun – Dominique Jackson

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Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

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⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ SAYONARA DILEMMA ⟫

Vivid undress

Lyrics by

yu-ya⌟

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⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Starry ⟫

ClariS

Lyrics by

丸山真由子⌟

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Next time, on Fairy Adventure

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Episode 148

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FRIDAY PRAYER

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YOU ARE LOVED

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Chibi-Luna beams. "Good day, class!"

"Good day, Teacher!" her students croon. "What's our Fairy Lesson?"

Chibi-Luna tugs over her whiteboard. "Today's lesson is lacrimagames!"

Her students cheer. "Hooray for gaming!"

"Specifically"—Chibi-Luna shows the promotional posters for a Selan game—"the popular Zhōnguánese fantasy MMORPG made by a secretive Zhōnguánese developer!" she explained. "A Zhōnguánese Ghost Story about the love story of a Cultivator named, well, Cultivator and his mysterious lover who he is desperate to find. People can become a Cultivator themselves or a warrior and create and join different sects to take on all sorts of tasks.

"But that's not all," Chibi-Luna enthuses. "This game is based on some real-world events in Ancient and Imperial Zhōnguá! And the game even helped bump up tourism in Zhōnguá."

"But how do you win the game, Teacher?" her students question in unison.

Chibi-Luna pouts. "I'm not sure. Ever since its release, no one has been able to even cheat their way to winning and finding the Cultivator's mysterious lover. But some people theorize you win the game went you meet all the Guardians of Zhōnguá and they'll reveal to you and Cultivator where his lover is!"

PINPON!

"That's the bell!" Chibi-Luna chirps. "And now, a message from the author!"

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The Museum of Illusions is based on the IRL Museum of Illusions found globally, but with…magic and trauma and stuff.

I love how Jaxton is teased for basically competing with himself for Tesla's affections. As a BTS, Tesla has zero knowledge of A Zhōnguánese Ghost Story, but she knows of it since it was featured in her favorite Z-Drama Love O&O (both inspired by real life A Chinese Ghost Story (a non-English-translation Chinese fantasy MMORPG) and my personal favorite C-Drama Love O2O).

Next episode features Friday Prayer. Inshallah, the protagonists will get Inayah and Fatimah out of this country.

AO3 updates will be regularly scheduled every Sunday on 16-18:00 EST. Thank you for your support and your patience.

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"That's it for now!" Chibi-Luna waves. "See you in the next episode!"