The storm lasted a full three days, thundering down on Fortrylle, which was thankfully safe from the worst of it, all of the citizens staying indoors or in the branches– which, as Jesse learned, had a sort of 'underground' walkway system that was reminiscent of a subway, except you never got on the subway and rode it.

There was a distinct lack of cars and stuff in Cosmos, Jesse had noticed.

Jesse came down with something of a cold from being stuck out in the filthy mud and also being soaking wet, but they reassured everyone that this was okay– much preferable to being dead, after all– and so spent two of the three days sniffling and cuddling a perfectly happy Reuben while everyone sat with them and chatted with them. Ivor spent at least half a day talking to them about magic before he got dragged away for other matters.

Lukas came out just fine as well, having gotten almost all the negative energy purged by Jesse when they'd done it and so only needing to pump out enough to fill a tiny medicine cup that clung to his insides, but he ended up feeling fine and chatting with Jesse when they got too bored.

It was the third day– the storm letting up into just sheets of rain, which Jesse could accept– when Ivor called them all into a meeting over why he'd called them there– and also why the storm had gotten as bad as it had. Unfortunately, due to Jesse's 'cold' and Lukas's being a bit tired from the whole negative energy thing, they didn't want to put them in a formal meeting room, as none of them were very comfortable.

So now here they were. Sitting together in the infirmary, which had been the biggest room that didn't feel super formal or stiff for Jesse and Lukas.

Ivor cleared his throat. He and Harper were sitting together with Jesse sandwiched between them. "I've set up a spell to block anyone who doesn't know anything about the matter from overhearing. Not like there's any secret information, but if we end up discussing sensitive things it'll be better to not get overheard."

"Thanks, Ivor," Maya said with a bright kind of smile as she forced Aiden to sit between her and Gill– a development he didn't seem all that pleased with, since he was foretelling the flirting– uh, arguing– that would take place during the meeting.

Jesse had noticed him mumbling a word around a perimeter around the bed, but they hadn't realized that he could do magic that subtly.

"I'm sure you're wondering what happened with the storm."

He sent Jesse a sympathetic, apologetic look as they blew their nose. "I would like to apologize about that, by the way– the storm orb cracked and repairing it took a while."

Lukas waved him off. "Everyone slips up. Nobody got hurt bad in the end, so it's good," he said offhandedly.

Easy for him to say, everyone else seemed to be saying mentally if the looks sent his way were any indication.

"Still." Ivor rubbed his hand down his face. "I'd been so absorbed in the negative energy issue..."

Gill frowned. "Negative energy issue?" he echoed.

Ivor sighed and nodded. "For some reason, there have been negative energy outbreaks in the cities on the border of Enchantra. Those being Redstonia, Boom Town, and the Sunshine Institute."

Jesse had to wonder why that last one was classified as a city. The name sounded more like some kind of hospital.

"The Sunshine Institute is generally where the criminals end up; either to whip them into shape or to keep them from doing worse things on the outside," Petra told Jesse quietly, upon spotting their perplexed look.

"Oh."

Isa frowned and leaned forward. "Outbreaks? You mean people have gotten infected?"

Ivor shook his head. "Thankfully not– citizens are smart enough to notice it and get as far away as possible. No, I mean the energy somehow ended up inside the walls."

"What?" Mevia was frowning. "This is a problem that might happen in Yurin or Narvid, not Enchantra. I know that Redstonia and the Sunshine Institute are risk, since they do border the new districts– and I suppose Boom Town– but the dormant magic in Enchantra alone is usually enough to force everything from trying to enter."

Ivor sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "You think that didn't occur to me?" he griped, but the grumble seemed to stem from frustration at the problem and not frustration at Mevia herself. "I've been up for a few nights trying to expel most of it, but unfortunately that made the monthly maintenance of the storm orb completely slip my mind..."

Jesse frowned, quietly and patiently kicking their feet. "Um... expel it?"

"Yes, from the borders of the city," Ivor replied, with some semblance of patience. "It's fine roaming about in the wild, but in a city it could easily take over a person and turn them into who knows what. Soren thinks Endermen are humans that got caught outside the gates at night, but I honestly have no idea and truthfully do not care enough to research at this point."

Jesse thought to the terrifying teeth of an Enderman.

Yeah, they could see why.

"Hence why I've been trying to expel it using long-distance magic, but it's a pretty bad outbreak, because it won't go away permanently. That is to say, most of it is gone, but there are some bits lurking inside each city that I can't quite rid them of," the lord murmured, seeming to sink into thought.

Harper, Isa, and Mevia all exchanged looks, then proceeded to chorus in perfect unison. "So you want us to help with the issue," they chimed in a weirdly perfect chorus.

"Ugh, that was creepy..."

Maya kicked Gill, catching Aiden in the shin a bit by accident.

The half-demon caught in the center took a long, deep sigh, eye (including the one behind his eyepatch) flickering shut in sheer irritation. "You're lucky I enjoy your company," he said, after a long moment.


A/N: Poor Aiden xD

I think basically at this point I've just been doing daily updates; if that bothers you or isn't great for some reason, please do tell me xD

Yay, negative energy. xD

RQTC: Is there another one of my stories you'd like me to finish?

I might try to work on the Fairytale Curse. Otherwise I might just start discontinuing old fics for good.

I am a pencil. Reviews are my lead. I'm not a pencil stub xD

Responses to reviews!

Northern Goshawk: Heh, yeah, thanks, Mevia. xD / Thank Reuben too; his being pink helped a lot. xD / Very valid xD / They're never lord-like. I don't think a lord would let what was technically an underling cuss at them xD / Yaaaay :D

Syra Nyth: Yep! Or else the October Children may have rioted xD / Well... not worry about Jesse xD / Yaaaay :D / I can imagine Harper having a small fantasy like that, though Mevia was mostly teasing. xD / Hehe. / I'm glad you liked it!

bungaMawar001: Very smol. xD / No, actually, it was 13 days or so until they died due to their heart disappearing in Cosmos. Reuben being a vessel creature basically took away the time limit. And the rest of the questions are unanswerable xD / Hehe xD

Happygoluckymegami: Yes, good job to Aiden. xD / To a point she was mostly teasing Harper, but Harper does like the idea of having a kid. And she does like Ivor. xD / Well, Yandere Sim is super cartoony, so... I mean, the decapitation doesn't exactly make me super happy, but there's worse xD

Saran: Yeah, Aiden's great. But Reuben's pinkness was also a contributing factor xD / Yes, Ivor does need rest xD / Hehehe. / Xara's doing her best xD I'm really glad you're enjoying it!

That's all for now. See ya, so long, and enjoy!

x.X. A.L. X.x


Jesse looked at the axe embedded in the floor, having just missed them on their way into the bathroom.

Then up at Romeo.

"You're lucky I'm not a kid and can hold my bladder," they deadpanned, "or else we'd have a mess to clean up."

Romeo looked down at the axe in the floor as well. "... that's true."

A short silence.

"... the bathroom's not booby-trapped for when I exit, is it?"

"You're so suspicious right now..." If Romeo could've sweat-dropped like he was in an anime, he probably would've right then.