This Chapter is written in whole by my Co-Author, ToastyAuthor

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Nevica sat on her bed, holding the journal that had been plaguing her for the past however long in her hands.

She wore her normal outfit of a sweater and jeans, still feeling somewhat cold as she had been previously. It had only been a couple days since Aurum had left, and Nevica had promised herself that she would do what she had been planning to do now, instead of putting it off indefinitely.

If she was, as Aurum said, in this, then she wasn't going to try and hide.

She stood and cleared her throat before she called out, "Alex!"

True to what she expected, the necklace around her neck began to glow a warm and soft glow before it began to emit cerulean blue smoke. The smoke grew with time, enveloping the room before beginning to coalesce in front of Nevica. Once it parted, there was 'Ferran' as she had known them prior, looking very sheepish. The first thing they said was, "I am so… so sorry. I didn't mean for any of that to come off like it did." They looked down, seemingly having been practicing this apology prior. "I was just having a bit of fun while doing my Spirit duties, I didn't want it to hurt like that." They rubbed one of their pointed ears. "And I-"

Nevica raised a hand, taking a deep breath and releasing it before saying, "I forgive you, with the condition that you never do anything like that ever again. We've got bigger fish to fry." She held up the journal in her hands. "What is this? Explain it to me, and the relic. I need to know what it is and what it does."

Alex seemed relieved to be moving on to a different topic, "Okay, so… The Relic of Progress is one of the two minor Relics in the world. That's to say, it's one of the relics that isn't… super big. It won't attract Grimm or anything like that. That's not to say it isn't powerful. It exponentially increases the rate at which you learn to do things, both physically and mentally. It takes years for a normal person to become a good fighter; someone with the Relic of Progress can manage it in a couple months."

That was surprising to Nevica, and she knew that just about anyone would kill to have that kind of power. She knew that the Relic would need to stay secret, but this knowledge just emphasized it. "Alright. What else?"

"Well, the journal itself is a product of the Relic that I came up with to perform its other functions." They shifted in place as they continued their explanation. "That's to say, it holds information about people you meet, places you go to, things you learn… it's like a magical notebook. It also has a bunch of things that you are recommended to do, or have to do depending on how important it is. Sort of a… to-do list. You can check it now, if you want."

Nevica contemplated this for a moment before looking at the book and shaking her head. "No. I don't need a book to tell me what I should be doing right now. I'll… look at it later." She set it down on the bed and asked, "Is there anything else I should know about?"

Alex contemplated this question, though they had seemingly been caught off guard by Nevica flatly refusing to look at the to-do list. "Uhm… not really? At least, nothing I can tell you now without you asking me about it directly. If you ever need me, you can call my name and I'll appear. You can ask me questions or whatever you want." They rubbed the back of their neck. "I just hope that we can… y'know, get along after all of that… stuff I did."

"Maybe," Nevica responded curtly, not particularly wanting to think about that too much just yet. "That's all the questions I have for now, then. I'll talk to you later… Alex Ferran."

Alex looked even more sheepish at being called by their full name, like a child being called by their mother in the same fashion. They then wordlessly vanished, leaving Nevica alone.

She took a deep breath and sighed softly, closing her eyes for a moment before shaking her head and opening them again. That was phase one of what she wanted to do today finished, now she had to move to phase two. Next, she needed to go to the family home in the Residential District.

This was going to be the really difficult part.

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Home sweet home.

The Cadere household was a two story affair, and it looked fairly standard for a home. Red brick walls, a nice roof, windows… It was decidedly normal, and decidedly unassuming. The exact kind of place one wouldn't think would have produced someone who would go on to get tied in some magical war they had no idea existed before a certain day not too long ago.

Yet, that's what it was, and so she walked in.

On any other day, returning to the familiar sounds and smells of the place would be a relief to her. Its wooden floors smelled of polish and cleanliness, the stairs led up to what had been her childhood room, and the room of her younger sister. Yet, she knew her sister was at school right now—that's precisely why she chose to come now and not later.

She found her mom in the living room, watching television. Although when June saw her, she smiled and turned it off. "Hey, kid. What's up? Wasn't expecting you to come around today."

"Hey, Mom. Uh…" She cleared her throat and reached a hand up, brushing the lone earring that Aurum had given her before she left. "I don't know how to word this question, so I'll just come out and say it." She took a deep breath before finally saying, "Where is Dad's old weapon? I need it. I… I need to learn how to fight."

The speed at which June's expression dropped could have given Nevica whiplash, but she didn't attempt to backtrack, no matter how much she felt she should have. June stood up and spoke in a deadly serious tone, "Nevica… do you understand what you're asking? Have you forgotten what happened to your father?" Her voice was growing filled with concerned anger as she kept talking. "Do you honestly think-"

"It's not about what I think!" Nevica responded with a sharpness that stopped June in her tracks. She had never seen her daughter's icy blue eyes burn with such fire before, a fire that belied fear that Nevica hoped June either couldn't see or didn't look too far into. "It's not about what I think Mom. It's not-Look."

She took a few steps closer to June, her gaze softening along with her voice. "I understand that you might not want to talk about this… up until recently, I thought that I could just… ignore it. Live in ignorant bliss. But that's not an option anymore." She ran a hand through her hair before looking away. "I thought that I'd been taught nothing but the truth my whole life, but now… now everything I knew is slipping away."

She tossed her hand out to emphasize her point. "Fading like an old dream that I had only just barely been holding on to. But…" She clenched her fists. "I can't do that. I can't just let it break me. Look… you don't need to believe me, and I know you're entitled to knowing more, I wish I could tell you, but I can't." She swallowed a lump in her throat as her voice began to break. "You just… have to believe me. Believe me when I tell you that I don't have any other option now. That there's something that is driving me forward that I can't ignore. If I do, Mom…"

She lowered her head slightly, though her gaze stayed on June. "If I do, then people who didn't have to die might die. Because I wasn't there. I can't live with that on my conscience. You can fight me on this… but you're not stopping me. One way or another, I'm going to do what I have to do."

June's gaze had been softening, and as Nevica continued to speak, tears began to well up as the usually stoic woman closed her eyes and looked away. "I… I don't know what it is, Nevica, but… I believe you." She opened her eyes and looked at her. "You really can't say no to… whatever this is. Can you?" As Nevica shook her head, June took a deep breath and tried to school her emotions. "...Fine. You're a grown woman, so I won't stop you from doing what you want. Come with me."

Nevica had honestly been expecting this to be a longer argument, but it seemed that June could tell that something was going on, something important. Her mom always had a good sixth sense like that, along with Nevica, obviously, being an adult that was going to do this one way or another regardless of what June said.

She led her to a door rarely used—the one that led to the basement. June opened the door and began to lead Nevica down while explaining, "Some of his friends were able to retrieve his weapon the day he passed. They sent it back to me, and I've been keeping it hidden away since then." She turned on the light to the basement, cluttered with boxes and other items as it was, and walked over to the one area that seemed to be kept relatively clean. A place where a long wooden box with a metal padlock on it remained.

June, as she walked towards it, grabbed a keyring filled with keys off the wall, sorting through them before reaching the box. She knelt down and unlocked the crate, before slowly pushing it open, as if she was worried the crate was haunted. That was when Nevica saw it again for the first time since her father passed.

It looked just as she remembered it. A pair of one-handed swords designed after 'side-swords' of old Valean make, dating back to before the Great War. The blades were slender and reached 31 inches in length, with only 1 inch in width. The cross-guards were both steel, though they clearly needed to be polished after years of disuse, and there were two steel branches that formed half-circles going from the hilt of the blade to about inch above it. The grips were both dark blue, while the pommels were flat, and the interior of them were ringed so that they could fit together, belying their other transformation.

June stepped away from the box. "These have been in the Cadere family since the Great War. This design is based off that of a war hero who was a close friend to old great great grandpa Cadere, said friend vanished without a trace one day, so he decided to replicate the design and fighting style, to keep it alive. Since then, it's been with the family." She then produced her Scroll. "There's something else, as well. Your father left a load of instructional videos for you, or for whoever wished to take up arms after him. I think he knew he might… not come back one day."

She hit a button and Nevica's scroll pinged, with June saying, "I've been keeping them, just on my Scroll and in a few other places so there was no way we'd lose them. I figured even if you didn't fight, maybe your children or Serina's children might, one day. Guess they're getting used sooner than I anticipated."

Nevica checked her Scroll, and indeed she'd been sent a whole truckload of videos. She smiled and closed her Scroll again, pocketing it before she reached out and pulled her mom into a hug, which she returned. Her voice was soft as she said, "Thanks, Mom."

June chuckled a chuckle filled with melancholy and remorse as she patted Nevica on the back. "Don't thank me, Nevica. You're the one who's going to have to put in all the work. Just… make him proud, okay? And… the weapon's yours now. If you want to rename it, or do something new with it, go right ahead." They both let go, and June smiled at her before starting past. "I'm gonna go try not to think about this. Let me know if you need anything."

"I will." Nevica responded before turning her attention to the weapons in the box. She reached out and picked them up, feeling the weight in her hands, a light set of weapons meant for quick movement and thousands of slashes and stabs in relatively little time. Death by a thousand cuts. Yet, that was not all it was capable of.

"Rename it?" She muttered, shaking her head. "No…" She joined the blades together at the pommels, hearing a click and seeing a light blue glow before it faded, the weapons joined into a twin-sword polearm. "I think I'll call you what you've always been called…

"Fimbulvetr."

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A few hours later, Nevica found herself sitting on the grass and against a tree just off one of the park trails through Forever Fall. Huntsmen regularly patrolled this part of the forest, so she had no reason to believe it would be any danger to start practicing the motions she needed to here. It was away from prying eyes and free of Grimm.

Yet, before she could begin practicing anything, she first needed to know what it was she had to practice.

That was what led to her staring at her scroll, at one of the videos that she'd yet to hit play on. It showed a black screen, but she knew what it would show if she hit play.

Her dad.

It had been so, so many years since he'd passed. Yet, the pain never truly went away. Weakened, maybe, but she felt his loss sporadically throughout her life. "Dad…" She muttered, voice heavy with grief all over again. "...Wish I had you really here. You could help me figure out what to do…" It seemed like he always had an answer to her problems, and though they might have been simpler back then, she still wished for his counsel.

She'd never forget seeing him for the last time, he smiled and told her that he'd be back, it was a simple mission he said.

Yet it ended up his last. They never found the body, just his weapon. Just Fimbulvetr.

The weapon sat at her side, still in two separate swords, and she brushed a hand against its grips before hitting play on the first video.

His visage appeared as he set up the camera, smiling as he stepped back. "Hey. Odds are, if you're watching this, then… well, I'm not there to actually teach you. If my grandkids or something, you can skip the first few minutes. If not, and you're Nevica or Serina, then…" A sad look appeared in his eyes as his smile dimmed slightly. "Keep watching."

Nevica swallowed a lump in her throat as she stared at the screen. Her father kept talking, "I don't know what made you want to take up Fimbulvetr, Nevica, Serina, but… I'll try and teach you as best I can from beyond the grave." He grabbed the weapon off his sides. "These have been in our family for generations, and… I had hoped to teach one of you some day. If I can't, then… I'm sorry."

He cleared his throat, clearly the weight of the idea that he wouldn't be there for them weighed heavily on him. "Nevica… I know that you're going to have challenges in your life. More so than some, I know people can be… bad. Intolerant." He managed to give a stronger smile. "But that's why I hope you'll pick up Fimbulvetr some day. Nobody will treat you wrong if you can kick their ass."

Nevica felt the sting of tears in her eyes, closing them to try and blink them away, but they stubbornly refused, not wanting to give her the luxury of avoiding what was coming.

She had a number of regrets that weighed on her mind, threatening to drown her. She wished she had spent more time with him, she wished she hadn't taken him for granted, always assuming he'd be there. That rug was pulled out from under her, and she realized then that life was no fairytale, and not every life had a happy ending. And this little fairytale didn't seem to end well for most anyone.

She had to pause the video, the feelings she kept buried no longer able to be continued. She pulled her legs up to her chest, her head lowered as she sniffled, squeezing her eyes shut. 'If I had been a better daughter, if I had been a better person…' If she hadn't been so passive, so sure of life's static form, but…

The truth was, not everything stayed.

Sometimes, things vanished, slipping from one's grasp like afterimages of dreams long forgotten.

Her mind ran through a nigh-endless cycle. If only she had done this differently, if only she had asked her dad to stay the day before his mission. If only she had spent more time with him. If only she hadn't taken him for granted. If only she hadn't let him slip out of her grasp.

If only.

If only.

If only…

She lost track of time as she cried, suddenly feeling very much like a scared little girl again. A scared little girl playing in a playground much too big for her. Surrounded by monsters both human and Grimm. She felt dreadfully, dreadfully alone.

But, as minutes passed and tears dried up, she sighed and returned to watching the video.

If she was going to do this, then she was going to do it right.

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She had expected training to be more difficult, and grasping the concepts she needed to more cumbersome. Yet, it seemed the Relic of Progress really did what they said it would, as she learned at a pace that she knew she could have never replicated beforehand.

More than just increased book learning, actual practical application of those learnings came easier to her as well. Reflexes, muscle memory, execution in general… all were things that came to her with little effort. That's not to say she didn't have to actually put effort in, she did, but it all came much, much easier to her now.

And more than just her combat training, other things came to her easier as well. Learning how to do new things, hell, even improving on old skills, was much easier for her. She'd learned more about cooking things effectively in the days she had the relic than she had her entire life before. Mathematics, History, Grimmology, Dustology, and yet more, were all so much simpler for her to learn now.

Maybe, she reasoned, having this relic wasn't such a bad thing after all. It was that acceptance of the relic that finally led to her reading through the 'to-do list' that took up a couple pages of the back of the book. She did so one afternoon in her room, just after training.

To-do:

-Get a Huntress License 22-24

-Learn how to fight

-Learn how to use your Aura

-Unlock your semblance

-Learn the limitations of your Semblance

-Learn general huntress education

-How to survive in the wild

-Different types of Grimm

-Discover 10 types of Grimm

-Discover 20 types of Grimm

-Discover Every Grimm Type

-Improve your relationship with Aurum 25-26

-Get to Second Base [COMPLETE]

-Go all the way

-Improve your relationship with her son

-Become his second mother

-Move in together

-Get Engaged

-Get Married

-Learn more about the true nature of remnant 27-29

-Discover A̸̷̵̸̴̶̸̵̷̶̵̷̸̵̴u̴̵̷̶̶̸̴̴̷̸̶̴̷̴̵r̵̸̶̶̵̵̴̵̵̷̴̵̸̷̴u̷̷̷̵̸̵̴̶̸̴̵̷̵̷̷m̶̵̵̶̸̶̵̵̶̵̶̸̸̶̴'̵̶̷̶̴̸̵̵̸̶̵̷̸̸̷s̸̵̵̸̴̷̴̴̸̸̷̷̸̸̶ ̷̸̴̶̵̷̵̸̵̵̴̴̵̶̵t̴̶̶̵̴̸̷̶̵̵̵̵̷̶̷r̵̷̵̶̶̵̵̷̷̶̶̷̶̷̸u̷̷̸̶̸̴̶̵̷̸̴̷̴̴̸e̵̴̴̶̸̴̵̴̸̸̴̴̸̷̵ ̶̵̸̸̶̴̵̷̷̶̶̴̴̸̸N̴̵̷̷̸̸̴̶̸̴̵̶̷̵̸a̵̴̷̵̸̷̵̸̶̷̷̷̷̸̶t̴̵̴̸̴̷̷̷̴̷̶̷̷̶̸u̵̵̷̸̷̵̴̸̶̶̴̵̷̴̵r̶̷̴̸̶̶̵̴̷̵̶̵̷̶̸e̷̷̴̷̶̴̴̸̷̸̴̶̶̷̸

-Learn about the S̸̵̵̵̵̸̵̷̸̵̴̶̸̸̸e̸̷̷̵̷̶̸̵̸̶̶̷̶̸̶c̷̵̵̴̸̶̶̸̶̸̶̴̴̶̵r̶̵̶̵̴̵̴̸̷̶̸̷̶̵̵e̶̴̸̶̷̷̴̶̴̷̵̷̸̷̸t̸̶̵̸̸̷̷̴̴̸̷̶̴̶̴ ̷̴̸̷̷̸̵̶̷̸̸̶̵̴̷W̸̷̷̸̴̸̸̶̷̵̷̶̴̶̸a̷̶̶̶̵̸̴̵̶̷̵̶̶̵̵r̵̵̵̶̷̸̵̴̴̴̶̴̶̸̶

-The Fairy Tale History of Remnant

-T̸̵̷̷̸̸̷̴̵̷̵̴̴̴̵̵̵̶̵̶̴̸̶̸̷̶̶̸̸̸̷h̵̸̴̴̶̶̵̸̶̷̸̵̶̸̶̶̴̸̵̸̷̷̷̴̷̶̶̷̷̶̷e̷̴̸̷̷̸̸̶̷̸̷̷̴̵̸̷̸̸̵̶̸̵̵̷̵̸̷̷̶̸̷ ̴̸̷̶̸̷̸̸̸̸̵̸̴̸̵̵̴̸̵̶̴̷̵̸̴̶̴̵̸̸̶T̴̵̵̶̶̶̴̷̶̴̴̴̴̶̵̶̷̷̵̴̷̶̶̴̸̷̷̴̶̷̵a̵̵̵̶̸̵̴̷̸̷̵̶̶̷̵̵̵̸̶̶̷̷̷̴̴̷̵̸̵̵̸l̸̴̸̸̴̷̸̸̵̶̶̴̸̷̵̶̷̸̶̸̸̵̴̵̷̵̸̴̸̴̷e̷̷̶̶̴̷̶̴̷̴̷̴̶̶̷̷̵̸̵̵̴̷̶̴̵̴̶̶̴̷̵ ̴̶̷̶̶̶̵̸̸̸̷̵̸̷̵̸̷̴̴̷̸̸̸̵̵̴̴̷̸̷̵o̷̷̵̴̷̵̴̴̸̷̵̵̴̵̴̴̵̵̸̷̴̸̷̷̸̵̸̵̵̶̶f̷̴̸̸̸̵̴̶̵̴̸̴̴̴̵̴̶̸̴̸̴̴̵̴̶̵̶̶̶̸̴ ̶̵̶̴̷̶̸̵̵̴̵̵̷̴̶̸̴̵̸̸̴̴̵̴̸̴̷̶̵̴̴t̵̴̵̸̸̶̶̸̸̵̵̶̷̸̸̵̵̴̶̶̴̶̸̵̶̵̷̴̶̶̶h̸̵̶̵̸̴̸̶̶̴̴̶̴̷̸̴̸̴̴̵̷̷̶̸̸̸̵̴̶̶̷e̴̶̸̷̶̴̶̵̵̷̸̵̶̸̵̸̴̵̷̴̶̸̴̸̶̴̸̵̴̴̶ ̴̸̵̶̸̶̷̸̶̶̴̵̵̵̵̵̶̷̶̶̷̸̶̴̵̸̸̶̴̸̴S̴̸̸̷̸̵̸̵̶̸̵̷̴̷̸̷̶̷̷̷̷̵̶̵̴̵̶̶̴̴̷e̴̷̴̶̸̴̴̵̸̶̸̸̸̸̷̷̴̷̵̶̵̶̶̷̸̵̴̵̴̸̵a̴̷̵̷̷̷̵̶̸̶̸̵̸̵̸̶̶̴̵̸̴̷̵̸̵̴̸̶̷̸̸s̵̸̵̴̶̴̸̸̶̴̴̷̷̵̶̷̷̴̶̶̵̸̴̴̸̸̷̷̸̵̸o̶̴̷̷̶̶̵̸̵̷̵̴̸̸̸̸̶̸̷̴̸̷̴̸̵̸̷̶̴̵̶n̵̷̸̵̵̵̸̶̸̴̸̸̶̸̸̴̶̶̶̵̵̴̶̵̵̶̴̸̸̵̸s̸̴̷̴̷̴̵̴̴̶̴̷̷̶̷̷̷̴̴̶̵̴̷̵̵̴̵̶̸̴̶

- ̶̶̴̵̴̸̸̸̴̸̵̵̷̷̵̷̴̶̸̴̷̴̸̷̶̵̴̴̸̶̷T̵̶̶̵̶̷̴̵̷̵̴̸̷̸̵̷̴̸̶̵̸̸̷̷̶̶̵̴̵̸̷h̸̶̶̶̶̴̵̴̵̶̶̷̴̸̴̸̷̸̷̶̴̵̴̷̷̶̷̵̷̶̵e̵̴̷̵̴̷̸̸̵̸̵̸̸̸̵̵̷̸̸̶̴̸̴̷̸̸̵̴̶̴̷ ̵̴̴̴̵̸̷̵̷̴̴̵̸̶̷̵̴̷̴̶̴̵̶̷̴̶̶̶̴̵̸T̶̷̸̸̷̸̵̵̶̶̶̷̶̷̶̶̷̷̸̴̴̸̸̴̸̸̶̸̵̷̷a̴̵̷̸̵̸̸̶̷̷̴̵̸̴̷̴̸̵̴̵̸̴̴̷̴̸̶̸̷̵̷l̶̶̷̷̸̴̵̵̷̴̴̸̶̵̷̶̷̴̶̶̶̶̶̷̴̴̷̴̷̶̸e̸̶̴̵̸̵̸̷̷̶̸̶̴̷̵̷̷̵̸̶̴̵̷̸̵̵̷̴̷̵̷ ̵̸̶̵̴̴̵̷̴̶̴̴̶̷̸̷̸̵̷̷̶̷̸̷̸̸̵̵̵̶̶o̷̴̴̵̴̷̸̴̷̸̷̶̴̵̷̶̴̸̷̴̵̴̷̷̷̸̸̵̶̴̸f̶̸̵̵̴̴̸̶̶̴̵̷̸̵̸̵̵̷̵̷̸̷̷̵̷̸̸̴̵̷̸ ̵̴̸̷̸̴̴̶̸̴̴̷̵̸̸̴̶̶̵̸̸̶̶̴̵̴̵̷̸̶̸t̴̴̶̶̸̷̴̵̸̸̵̵̷̴̷̵̷̵̵̷̴̵̵̵̶̷̵̴̴̴̴w̴̴̴̸̵̷̷̸̷̵̴̵̴̷̶̸̸̶̸̵̵̶̷̵̴̴̸̴̷̶̶o̵̴̴̸̷̸̴̴̷̵̴̶̴̷̸̶̴̸̶̵̷̶̸̸̸̶̷̸̷̵̴ ̴̵̷̷̴̶̶̵̷̸̶̷̴̸̸̶̶̴̸̶̴̵̶̷̷̷̸̶̴̸̶b̸̸̵̴̷̴̴̸̶̴̴̵̴̴̴̴̸̷̵̸̵̷̵̶̵̸̴̷̴̶̶r̸̷̸̶̵̸̷̴̶̵̷̵̶̶̴̸̸̸̶̶̶̴̴̵̶̸̸̴̵̴̷o̶̸̸̷̸̴̶̴̵̴̸̵̸̵̸̷̷̷̴̵̵̴̵̷̵̴̷̵̶̴̶t̸̸̴̸̸̸̸̶̸̵̷̴̷̸̷̸̷̷̵̵̸̶̵̵̷̵̸̶̵̸̷h̷̸̴̸̴̵̷̵̸̵̶̵̴̸̶̵̷̴̵̸̴̷̴̵̸̸̸̷̴̵̸e̷̶̶̴̴̸̶̵̸̸̸̴̶̷̶̶̷̴̸̵̶̸̷̶̵̸̶̶̵̴̴r̷̵̸̵̷̵̵̸̵̵̴̶̸̶̶̸̶̴̷̸̷̴̶̷̷̷̷̷̶̷̸s̸̶̴̴̸̴̷̵̷̴̶̷̴̵̵̵̵̵̷̵̵̸̷̴̷̴̴̴̶̶̸

̵̴̵̸̷̶̷̵̵̸̶̷̴̷̷̴̷̸̴̸̸̸̸̷̴̷̶̷̷̷̴-T̵̸̷̴̵̷̶̸̴̶̶̴̸̵̵̵̴̶̴̷̷̷̷̸̸̶̵̴̷̷̴h̷̷̷̶̶̵̶̵̵̸̶̸̴̸̷̸̶̸̶̴̶̷̷̴̵̵̴̸̸̶̸e̶̵̶̸̴̴̴̸̵̵̴̷̶̶̶̸̴̶̸̵̶̷̷̵̴̷̵̷̶̸̷ ̵̶̷̷̷̸̸̸̶̷̴̷̴̵̷̸̸̴̴̷̸̵̷̵̸̴̴̶̵̴̷G̸̴̸̵̵̷̴̴̵̴̵̸̷̵̵̶̷̸̵̸̸̷̶̶̷̴̴̷̷̸̷i̷̷̸̶̸̶̶̷̶̶̴̷̴̴̷̴̸̵̸̴̵̷̵̷̵̷̸̸̵̸̶r̶̵̵̴̶̸̴̸̴̵̶̷̴̶̴̸̷̷̸̵̴̵̵̸̵̷̸̷̵̸̸l̶̵̴̶̵̸̶̵̴̷̸̶̴̸̴̸̵̵̴̸̵̷̶̸̵̴̶̷̴̵̸ ̷̷̵̴̴̶̷̴̴̷̵̶̴̴̷̸̷̷̸̴̴̸̸̶̸̷̷̶̶̷̷i̶̶̶̷̷̵̵̵̷̸̸̴̴̴̵̷̸̴̸̶̵̸̸̷̴̷̴̶̶̶̶n̷̵̶̶̵̶̷̸̴̶̷̴̶̶̴̵̴̴̵̴̶̸̵̴̸̴̵̷̵̵̷ ̵̸̵̴̵̴̵̴̸̵̵̵̵̸̶̶̷̷̶̴̷̸̷̴̴̴̸̸̵̸̴t̶̴̷̴̴̸̴̸̶̷̶̸̸̸̵̵̸̵̵̵̸̸̷̸̷̶̸̷̴̸̸h̴̴̴̴̶̷̸̸̷̵̴̴̵̴̵̷̷̸̴̶̷̴̸̵̸̷̷̷̶̷̵e̴̴̵̸̸̴̷̴̴̶̵̸̵̴̶̶̸̷̶̶̶̷̴̸̴̸̶̷̶̴̵ ̵̶̸̵̵̷̷̶̴̶̵̶̴̷̵̴̴̶̴̵̷̵̴̶̶̵̷̶̷̴̸T̶̸̸̸̵̸̶̵̷̶̵̴̸̴̵̵̷̵̴̸̸̷̶̴̶̷̶̷̷̸̵o̵̴̷̸̷̵̵̸̵̸̴̴̷̸̶̷̷̷̷̷̸̶̴̵̵̷̸̶̸̴̶w̶̸̴̷̵̸̸̶̸̴̶̶̵̷̴̷̵̸̸̶̸̸̸̷̴̸̸̴̷̴̵e̸̴̸̷̴̴̴̵̸̴̵̵̶̴̴̵̶̸̵̷̶̸̵̵̵̶̸̴̵̶̷r̴̶̴̸̵̸̸̴̷̶̷̵̷̶̴̴̸̴̴̸̵̷̶̵̷̸̷̷̸̸̷

̷̵̴̶̷̷̷̸̸̷̶̷̵̸̶̴̷̵̵̸̵̷̶̴̸̶̴̴̴̸̷-T̷̵̸̷̶̸̴̵̴̷̴̷̴̶̸̸̷̵̵̸̴̶̶̶̵̶̷̶̶̵̵h̶̵̴̸̴̵̸̸̷̷̵̴̵̸̷̴̷̶̴̷̶̴̴̸̵̸̸̸̵̵̸e̶̵̸̴̶̷̶̶̵̴̸̸̵̴̸̷̷̸̷̵̴̶̵̷̸̶̵̴̸̶̶ ̶̵̸̴̷̷̷̵̴̶̵̵̶̵̴̸̸̴̶̴̷̸̷̸̷̶̴̷̵̶̷I̸̶̵̷̶̷̶̵̷̸̷̶̵̷̷̸̸̴̴̵̶̴̶̶̴̶̶̸̸̷̴n̸̴̷̵̸̷̴̴̴̵̵̸̵̶̷̵̷̷̵̵̵̵̴̵̷̶̷̴̴̶̸f̴̸̸̴̸̶̴̶̵̵̷̶̴̶̷̶̶̴̴̸̸̴̵̴̷̸̵̶̶̵̶i̴̶̶̴̶̸̵̸̴̶̵̶̴̶̷̴̴̵̷̶̷̷̶̶̸̶̵̸̶̶̷n̴̷̶̸̴̷̷̸̵̶̷̵̸̸̷̶̴̵̷̵̸̶̵̵̸̷̸̷̴̷̵i̶̵̷̵̴̸̶̶̶̶̵̵̴̸̴̷̵̸̴̶̶̵̶̵̴̸̵̴̶̵̸t̵̷̵̸̶̶̷̴̵̵̵̷̶̴̶̵̵̵̷̷̷̵̴̴̵̵̴̷̶̶̸e̷̷̴̴̴̷̷̶̴̴̶̸̵̴̷̴̸̶̸̵̴̶̸̴̸̸̸̶̴̴̶ ̷̶̵̸̴̷̶̴̵̵̷̵̶̵̵̴̵̴̸̴̷̷̶̶̴̷̶̵̵̶̵M̸̵̷̶̶̷̵̴̶̶̵̴̵̶̷̴̶̴̴̸̷̸̸̸̷̶̵̸̸̵̴a̵̷̶̷̵̵̵̸̷̸̷̷̷̶̶̷̷̴̶̵̶̴̸̷̵̴̸̶̶̷̷n̶̸̴̸̵̴̴̵̶̶̶̸̸̸̶̷̵̵̶̶̵̶̷̴̵̴̷̸̴̸̴

- ̷̸̶̷̸̷̵̷̷̷̵̸̴̷̶̴̸̸̶̷T̸̸̶̷̶̵̶̴̷̵̴̴̵̸̸̸̵̸̸̸̵̸̵̸̶̴̴̸̷̸̷h̷̶̴̷̵̴̸̷̷̵̷̶̷̸̷̸̴̸̸̴̷̸̴̴̷̸̶̶̸̴̶e̸̸̴̴̷̷̸̶̸̴̷̴̸̵̷̶̶̸̵̵̶̵̴̸̴̷̴̵̴̶̵ ̴̴̷̸̴̵̶̵̵̸̷̵̶̵̸̵̷̴̴̴̶̴̶̸̶̶̶̵̵̶̷G̷̴̵̴̸̵̵̷̸̷̶̴̵̸̴̸̴̶̵̶̵̶̸̵̶̴̵̵̴̴̵i̸̷̴̵̴̸̸̶̵̶̸̷̸̵̵̴̷̸̴̵̵̷̸̴̵̴̴̴̶̴̵r̶̵̵̴̸̶̶̸̸̴̵̵̵̸̶̸̴̶̵̵̶̵̷̵̴̵̸̵̶̸̶l̵̶̶̷̴̸̸̵̷̸̴̶̴̴̶̴̶̷̸̸̷̵̷̶̴̶̵̸̴̵̵ ̶̸̶̸̴̵̴̶̴̷̴̵̷̷̵̶̷̵̶̷̶̷̷̴̶̵̴̵̵̶̵W̸̴̶̶̶̴̷̷̵̴̷̸̸̸̷̴̷̴̶̶̵̷̵̴̵̴̷̸̸̷̴h̴̶̷̷̴̵̷̷̶̴̴̵̶̶̶̷̸̵̴̶̵̴̷̷̷̶̶̴̸̶̴o̵̷̵̴̷̸̵̶̴̵̶̸̴̸̶̷̵̸̸̴̶̶̴̸̵̷̸̶̸̷̶ ̷̷̷̵̵̶̸̵̷̸̴̴̷̵̷̸̶̵̶̶̵̵̴̴̵̴̶̵̸̷̶F̵̴̴̸̶̷̴̸̴̵̸̵̸̸̷̶̶̷̷̷̸̷̴̷̸̷̴̴̷̷̵e̸̴̴̴̴̵̷̷̴̸̸̴̷̴̷̵̵̶̸̶̸̷̵̸̶̴̴̴̶̴̵l̸̶̸̷̴̷̸̸̵̸̵̶̷̸̴̶̶̸̷̸̵̶̶̵̵̵̴̷̶̶̴l̶̴̵̶̷̷̴̴̸̵̸̷̶̵̶̶̴̵̵̶̷̸̴̵̶̵̶̵̷̷̶ ̷̵̵̶̶̷̸̵̸̸̸̸̸̸̶̴̶̸̵̸̶̸̴̸̸̴̸̶̵̵̵T̸̵̵̶̴̵̶̶̶̷̷̴̸̶̶̴̵̵̴̶̶̸̷̵̶̸̴̷̶̸̴h̸̴̶̸̵̸̸̸̸̷̶̸̷̶̷̶̴̸̸̵̸̷̴̸̶̸̸̵̴̵̷r̷̵̸̴̴̵̷̴̸̷̴̵̶̶̶̴̴̶̶̶̵̴̵̵̶̶̶̷̴̶̶o̷̶̶̸̴̸̶̴̷̵̸̴̶̵̴̵̶̴̵̷̶̵̸̸̸̴̷̷̶̸̶u̴̴̷̵̷̶̴̸̴̶̶̷̸̸̷̴̸̵̸̵̴̴̸̸̸̶̵̸̵̴̴g̶̸̴̵̵̴̸̸̴̶̶̷̷̴̶̸̷̴̸̸̴̶̷̴̵̷̷̶̸̴̷h̶̴̶̷̵̸̸̸̵̴̴̵̷̷̵̶̵̶̵̴̵̴̵̸̴̴̷̴̶̴̴ ̴̸̸̴̶̸̷̶̶̸̴̸̸̵̵̸̴̷̷̴̶̴̸̸̸̶̸̸̵̵̶t̶̶̶̵̶̵̷̷̸̵̶̷̷̶̵̴̶̵̸̷̷̴̵̷̷̸̶̴̷̶̶h̴̸̷̸̴̶̵̸̶̶̴̴̷̸̶̶̸̷̶̸̶̶̵̵̴̶̴̷̴̸̷e̷̷̸̸̴̷̴̵̴̸̷̶̵̶̸̷̵̸̸̵̸̸̵̶̴̴̴̶̵̵̴ ̵̴̴̶̴̴̵̸̷̶̵̴̶̵̸̸̷̶̸̷̶̴̵̷̴̶̵̴̵̴̴W̸̵̵̸̸̴̵̶̴̶̶̸̶̸̷̷̴̶̵̷̷̶̷̸̶̴̴̵̵̴̴o̷̸̷̶̴̶̷̷̵̴̶̴̶̵̴̸̷̶̴̷̸̸̷̵̸̵̷̵̷̵̴r̸̸̴̶̷̷̶̸̷̶̷̵̶̶̷̸̶̴̸̶̵̸̵̸̵̴̶̸̷̸̷l̶̵̵̶̸̴̴̶̴̶̶̴̷̶̷̴̵̴̵̵̴̴̶̴̴̷̴̷̵̷̴d̵̶̷̷̷̷̸̴̸̷̷̷̸̸̶̶̶̴̴̴̸̴̶̸̴̵̴̷̶̸̷

-̷̴̵̴̷̸̷̸̵̶̵̶̸̷̸̵̶̷̵̴̴̶̶̸̶̴̷̷̴̶̴T̶̸̶̸̴̸̸̸̵̵̵̴̶̸̷̸̸̷̷̶̵̶̶̶̷̵̸̷̷̷̴h̴̴̵̴̶̴̷̷̵̶̷̷̵̸̸̴̴̴̵̸̷̶̷̶̵̵̴̷̸̸̴e̵̴̶̷̵̶̸̶̸̷̶̴̷̴̸̶̵̸̶̷̸̵̷̷̶̸̴̸̶̸̸ ̴̷̸̵̷̵̸̷̷̷̸̴̴̷̴̶̴̵̶̷̷̴̸̴̶̶̸̴̴̵̶L̸̴̷̵̷̸̴̴̴̴̴̶̷̴̷̸̴̶̷̷̴̷̵̶̷̷̴̴̴̴̴e̵̶̶̵̶̷̸̴̴̷̸̶̴̸̸̶̴̵̷̴̵̷̵̶̶̷̸̸̷̶̶g̸̸̸̶̷̸̴̶̵̴̴̷̴̷̷̶̵̵̵̶̵̵̵̵̸̷̵̷̶̸̶e̵̶̷̷̶̵̶̸̵̶̶̶̸̵̵̴̸̸̷̷̷̵̷̸̵̷̶̵̸̴̵n̸̷̷̷̸̴̶̴̴̸̷̸̸̵̷̵̷̵̵̷̶̶̴̴̵̶̸̸̶̵̷d̶̵̶̶̵̵̷̸̸̴̶̷̴̶̶̶̵̷̵̶̴̸̴̸̴̵̵̴̸̵̷ ̴̸̶̴̶̶̶̴̵̷̵̵̵̴̴̸̵̵̷̶̶̷̶̵̸̸̴̶̸̶̴o̵̶̴̵̸̴̴̵̸̸̸̸̷̵̵̵̵̴̸̷̴̶̵̸̵̷̴̴̴̴̶f̸̷̴̸̶̴̴̴̴̴̴̶̷̴̴̶̴̸̴̴̷̵̴̴̸̶̸̷̵̷̷ ̴̸̶̶̷̴̷̴̷̵̵̸̵̸̷̴̶̸̶̵̴̶̵̶̴̴̷̸̷̴̸t̶̷̷̷̵̵̸̵̶̴̵̴̷̸̶̶̶̶̸̸̴̷̶̵̷̶̸̵̵̸̵h̴̵̶̴̴̷̵̵̸̵̷̴̴̵̴̶̴̸̸̸̴̶̵̵̸̸̷̷̷̵̷e̷̷̸̴̶̶̶̴̴̴̷̸̶̸̸̶̶̵̵̷̸̴̶̷̶̸̷̴̶̴̸ ̶̵̴̶̷̵̸̵̶̷̴̷̴̷̷̷̶̷̷̶̴̵̵̵̵̵̴̴̷̶̶G̴̴̶̷̵̴̵̶̸̶̶̶̶̴̷̴̴̶̸̷̸̶̸̵̶̷̸̷̶̶̶r̷̴̶̷̶̵̴̴̶̸̶̵̵̵̵̷̸̵̴̷̵̸̶̶̴̶̶̷̸̵̷e̶̵̵̸̶̴̷̷̷̷̴̶̸̶̵̸̷̵̷̵̴̸̸̷̴̶̶̴̴̸̷a̸̵̶̴̵̸̶̸̶̶̶̸̸̵̷̶̴̸̴̶̸̴̵̸̶̷̸̷̶̴̵t̷̸̴̸̵̷̵̸̵̶̸̶̵̴̶̵̴̸̷̵̵̴̵̵̸̶̶̷̵̸̸ ̷̵̶̸̷̸̸̸̷̷̶̸̸̵̵̵̶̶̴̵̸̵̵̴̷̸̸̶̴̴̴B̴̵̴̴̴̶̶̸̶̶̷̸̵̶̸̶̵̴̸̶̶̷̸̷̴̴̸̵̷̶̶e̵̵̵̵̴̸̶̶̷̴̴̸̶̴̷̵̵̷̶̷̸̶̴̶̵̷̵̵̸̶̸y̸̷̶̴̷̸̸̴̷̶̸̶̶̷̸̷̶̸̴̸̶̵̷̴̸̵̴̴̴̴̴o̶̶̷̵̷̶̷̸̷̷̴̷̸̶̶̸̷̸̶̴̶̷̴̸̵̸̸̶̸̴̶n̴̵̷̸̵̴̸̵̴̴̷̶̷̸̸̷̶̵̸̸̷̷̴̴̵̵̶̶̸̸̶d̶̸̴̸̷̷̴̴̵̶̷̸̸̸̴̴̵̶̶̵̷̶̷̴̵̷̵̶̴̸̴

-The True Enemies of Humanity

-T̷̶̷̶̴̷̸̷̸̵̷̵̷̴̸h̶̷̵̶̷̴̴̸̵̴̷̴̶̴̶e̸̶̵̵̸̷̷̸̴̶̷̸̷̸̷ ̸̶̶̷̵̷̶̸̶̸̷̷̵̸̷W̴̷̴̸̸̷̷̶̷̵̴̵̵̴̸i̸̷̶̴̵̵̷̸̸̶̵̵̶̸̶t̸̴̸̷̵̶̶̷̴̴̸̴̸̶̵c̵̶̶̶̶̵̸̸̶̸̴̸̴̷̶h̶̶̵̸̴̷̵̶̵̵̴̴̵̶̸e̷̴̸̴̵̵̷̶̴̸̵̵̷̸̶d̶̵̷̵̸̶̴̵̸̶̷̸̶̶̵ ̷̴̶̸̷̸̸̴̸̸̵̵̵̷̷W̸̷̴̴̸̷̵̷̶̶̷̸̷̶̵i̶̸̷̶̵̷̴̷̴̸̸̸̶̷̶t̶̶̵̸̶̸̶̷̷̶̷̴̶̶̸c̵̶̸̸̶̸̸̴̸̸̵̸̴̶̸h̸̶̷̸̵̷̵̶̷̴̴̶̶̵̷

Nevica groaned in annoyance at all of the garbled text, closing the book and shaking her head. Not only was it not telling her the things she needed to know, but it was trying to give her objectives for her relationship! She didn't need some stupid book telling her how to go about her relationship!

She tossed the book to the side and stood, saying out loud, "Alex!"

Much like before, Alex appeared in blue smoke, hands in their jacket pockets. "Hey, what's up?" they asked curiously, no doubt interested in why Nevica had decided to call upon them.

She hadn't really wanted to, but she needed to. "What's with all the garbled text?" She gestured to the book with a raised eyebrow. "It's not exactly super useful to read this to-do list if all I can understand from it is more… personal stuff. Like, why's it trying to tell me how I should handle my love life?"

Alex rubbed their cheek awkwardly. "Ah, well… it's not really telling you what to do, it's just outlining what you're probably going to be doing anyway. I mean, do you not plan on staying with Aurum?" They raised an eyebrow.

"I do…" Nevica looked at the book again with a huff. "Still, it's a bit annoying to have it outline like I'm doing chores." She shook her head. "Whatever, back to my original point." She looked at Alex again. "What's with the garbled text?"

"Oh, uhm.." Alex seemed to struggle to think of how to explain it. "While the Relic of Progress can guide you, it can't give you details on things you don't know about yet. When a goal becomes clearer to you, it'll elaborate and help guide you forward, but until then, it's going to be obscured." They shrugged. "Wasn't my call, it's something about the 'order of the universe' or something. If you want knowledge, you'd have to talk to Jinn, but, eh… good luck with that. Her relic is sealed off in one of the academies. I shouldn't even be talking about her, but… eh."

That certainly raised an interesting question about who Jinn was and what they could do, but Nevica decided that it wasn't important at the moment. "Right… okay, I think I get it." They took a deep breath and sighed. "I don't like it, but if that's the… order of the universe or something, then fine." They looked at Alex. "By the way… you talked like you knew me before, why?"

"Oh, uhh…" Alex rubbed the back of their neck. "You're not the first version of yourself to hold a Relic of Progress. The first of you was the first for me, so to speak." They gained a distant look in their eyes for a moment, clearly recalling something they held fondly in their heart, before shaking their head. Their voice softened somewhat. "But… that's not important for you." They looked at her. "You're your own person, and that's what matters. I'll be here to help you just like I was there to help him. And it was a him, that's why I was so confused before. I didn't mean it to offend you or anything…"

Nevica felt that that made sense, somehow, but the idea of there being some other versions of herself, let alone versions of herself that were male, was… strange. She decided that she didn't need to dwell on that either. "Right… okay. That's all the questions I had for now. Thanks." She offered a small smile.

Alex returned the smile awkwardly before waving their hand and wordlessly poofing away, leaving Nevica to contemplate what was to come.

For the foreseeable future? More training.

Beyond that?

Who was to say?

Not her, that was for sure.

/-/

Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. It was hard to believe that much time had passed seemingly so quickly, but Aurum was all too familiar with how the passage of time could evade one's notice.

She had initially intended to come back after three months, but after clearing up everything she needed to do over the two and a half months she was gone, Aurum found that she was able to come back a lot sooner.

She didn't tell Nevica, preferring to leave it as a surprise instead. When she had left her, Nevica was scared, anxious, and seemingly always on the verge of a panic attack. While she had appeared to be calm over text, that was just it—it was over text, and occasionally over Scroll calls. It wasn't enough to assure Aurum of her security, nor her mental state.

The plane ride back to Vale was a mixture of excitement and of anxiety. She could at least take solace in the fact that Cobalt was excited to come back to Vale as well, he wanted not only to see Nevica again, but he hoped to see his friend Ruby. Aurum would have found it adorable, if it didn't feel so strange to her.

'Just pray to the Gods that this isn't the setup for some twisted childhood friend romance.' The idea made Aurum a bit green in the face, so she didn't think about it. Besides, it was far too early for that sort of thought with Cobalt. He had many, many years of growth to go.

After they arrived, the move-in to the house she had bought began, though she had hired some people to take care of most of it, she still wanted to make sure everything was where she wanted it. Then, she took Cobalt with her to the Changing Seasons. She was hoping to catch Nevica off guard on a shift, as she remembered that she traditionally worked around this time.

Imagine her surprise when she didn't see Nevica at all. Instead, it was June behind the counter, and some other employees working the made Aurum worry, because why would Nevica not be here? Was she sick? Or was it something else?

She made her way to the front counter, smiling at June as their eyes met. "Hey, June. Is Nevica upstairs? I know she usually works at this time…" Maybe the schedule had just gotten changed around? That sort of thing wasn't exactly uncommon insofar as working at a restaurant or cafe went. In fact, if anything it was a bit more uncommon for someone to have such static hours.

At least, as far as she knew, she'd never worked a service job before.

June smiled back at her. "Aurum! You're back early. Here to surprise Nevica?" As Aurum nodded, June chuckled. "That's sweet of you. She's not here right now. She's a bit outside the city limits."

Aurum's heart dropped and her eyes widened. "Wh-what?! Where exactly?" The worry was writ plain on her face.

Yet, June didn't look that worried, which confused Aurum greatly. "Up in Forever Fall, there's this beach on the coast. She said she wanted to go there." June shrugged. "Said something about wanting to 'catch the Summer vibes'." She pulled out her Scroll and texted something. "Here, I'll send you the coordinates. She always leaves these things with me."

Aurum nodded gratefully. "Thanks." She was about to run out in a panic, when suddenly she remembered that she still had Cobalt with her. "Uhm, can you…?"

June smiled. "Of course I'll watch the little guy. You get along now."

After bidding Cobalt to listen to June and be good, Aurum did just that, bolting out of the building and activating her semblance, transforming into blue rose petals as she shot into the air and began to fly her way towards where June had pointed her to.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd flown that fast, but she did. Logically speaking, she should have known that Nevica would have been fine; she could have called on Rose if something went wrong, but she wasn't thinking logically. She was thinking with her worried heart, seized with uncertainty as it was.

When she touched down, she touched down only a few hundred feet from her destination. She would have flown all the way there, but it would have drained too much of her aura, and she needed it in case Nevica was in trouble. She drew her scythe and took off sprinting through the eternally autumnal forest.

She heard gentle waves as she got closer, and the call of the wind, but the closer she got, the more worrying sounds she heard.

The screeching of Grimm, and the sound of a struggle. She couldn't be sure who it was fighting them yet, but she felt terror in her chest as she finally reached the hill cresting to the beach.

Yet, what she saw caused her to stop, and her mouth to fall slightly agape.

A burst of fire obscured her vision for a moment, a burst from a Fire Dust crystal. As the fire cleared, she saw Nevica, wearing a draped black two-piece bikini and dodging as one of two giant crab Grimm crashed its claw into the sand where she had been just moments prior. Yet that was not all she had. Around her neck was the Relic of Progress, and in her hands were two swords.

She struck the underside of the crab that had tried to attack her last with a rising slash, cutting at its vulnerable underside and causing it to screech in pain. She then jumped as the other crab tried to swipe at her back. She backflipped over it, landing deftly on the other side while it was still trying to figure out where its quarry had gone. She lunged forward while bringing herself low, sliding across the sand under its body as she stabbed her sword into its vulnerable underbelly and dragged it forward.

With one final screech, that crab died. As she popped back up, the other one struck at Nevica, its claw connecting and sending her flying back. It was almost enough to shake Aurum out of her stupor, but Nevica recovered quickly, twisting in the air. She joined her weapons together, forming a twinblade staff as she landed on the ground again.

Once she landed, she lunged forward again, though Aurum noticed that her handling of the staff was a lot less refined than the two blades. That didn't stop Nevica from getting between its claws as it tried to crush her between them. She stabbed forward with her staff, jamming it into one of the creature's beady eyes and causing it to shriek and flail before she dragged her blade downward and finally made it crash to the ground, dead.

Nevica unjoined her weapons, clearly panting heavily. She walked over to a nearby stone and grabbed a towel that she used to wipe the sweat off her brow. Aurum didn't even notice that her mouth was still agape.

However, Nevica spotted her. She looked shocked at first, but then grinned as she set down a sword and waved at Aurum. "Hey, Baby Blue! Welcome back!"

Aurum finally got her jaw to close as she swallowed a lump in her throat and thought…

'Oh no, she's even hotter now!'