Krel didn't understand why Douxie refused to use magic or technology instead of physical labor. Why work harder when they could work smarter? They didn't have to drag this table up the stairs to Douxie's apartment. They could have used Krel's wormhole generator. Alternatively, Douxie had already known about this table for a few days. It wouldn't have taken that much more time for Claire to use a shadow portal to transport the table to the apartment before she, Nari, and Archie set out on their quest to leave a few red herrings across South America and Europe.

The air conditioning wasn't working in the halls of Douxie's apartment building, either, which meant that Krel was sweating. He was spending way too much time in his human transduction to be producing this many fluids. Maybe if he drank less water, he wouldn't sweat this much.

Or maybe he'd get another stern talking to from Coach Lawrence and Principal Uhl for fainting from dehydration and lack of sleep. Again. Stupid human bodies.

"Please tell me the air conditioning works in your apartment," Krel said as he readjusted his grip so the table wouldn't slip out of his sweaty hands.

"It's out for the whole building," Douxie replied. "I'll turn the fan on when we get inside."

"Why don't you run the fan all the time in this heat?"

"And spend that much on electricity?"

Krel fought the urge to let go of the table and smack his forehead. Right now would be a great time to have four arms so he could facepalm without dropping the table. He was stronger in his Akiridion form, anyways, but no one wanted any random New Yorkers to learn the truth about space. "Zoe is your best friend. I'm a tech genius. We could easily build you a near-perpetual generator!"

"Near-perpetual?"

"I still can't fully reverse the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy will one day come for all of us."

Well, maybe not for Bellroc, not unless Skrael turned on them.

Maybe Douxie sensed the change in Krel's mood. Maybe he had merely come to his senses after all this unneeded hard labor. Douxie used his magic to unlock the door. The two of them set it down just inside the entryway of Douxie's apartment. As Krel closed and locked the door, Douxie took off his shirt.

Maybe all this hard labor hadn't been a bad thing. Maybe Krel could be grateful to the heat. Maybe -

Krel's blood ran cold. "Who did this to you?"

There was a brand on Douxie's chest in the shape of an angry, red V. Based on how much the burn had healed, it couldn't have been more than a few weeks ago. How hadn't Krel noticed it before? Why hadn't Douxie said anything?

Why hadn't Archie and Nari said anything?

Who did Krel need to hurt?

"Did wha-" Douxie followed Krel's gaze down to the brand. "Oh. That. Don't worry, it's not as bad as it looks."

"Someone branded you."

"Yes. It was about five-hundred years ago, though. One of the King Edwards passed a law against vagabonds. I'm still not sure why I was targeted and not the other poor people of the town - maybe I look too much like my mum? She was Romani, and considering the wording of the law..."

"It doesn't even look five weeks old, much less five centuries."

"That I get from my da. He was part fairy. The brand was made of iron, so it didn't heal correctly. I normally use magic or makeup to make the brand disappear when I take my shirt off; I forgot to today. Sorry for worrying you. Now, let's get this table in the dining area."

You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm sorry for bringing it up, Krel wanted to say, but he could tell that Douxie wanted to drop the subject. "Can we please use magic to finish the job?"

Edward VI established the Statute of Vagabonds in 1547. If you were a vagabond or Romani, you were supposed to have been branded with a large V on the chest under this law. Vagabonds also could've been enslaved for two years, although historians were unsure whether this law was actually enforced due to the impracticality of implementing it, and the law was repealed three years later.