Niers hopped off of Foliana's paw as they entered the safe room. He tossed his hat to the side and sat on a Fraerling-sized chair as he massaged his temples. "Well... it could've gone worse. You could've stolen something from her."

"Mm. Do I smell?" Foliana sat on a stool with her tail wrapped around her as she raised an arm and sniffed it. "I don't think I smell."

"What?"

"That girl. Mm. She smelled me." The Squirrel Beastkin wrapped her arms around her fluffy tail and faded from sight. "Not good. Have Skill."

"So does she." Niers sighed. "You can't sneak up on everyone."

"Can too."

"You shouldn't. Not with Bit. She's an otherworlder."

"Mm?" Foliana reappeared. "Otherworlder? I should know. I'm the Commander."

"It was too delicate to speak about it anywhere else."

"Lots of [Spies]. Mm. The good ones don't slip up when they think they're alone."

"Right." Niers poured himself a glass of something strong and took a sip. "Bit is looking for her brother. She's a high level-"

"Wrong."

"What?"

"Not high level." Foliana's eyes seemed to shimmer as the three colors of her irises flowed together. "No level. Rulebreaker."

"Really?" Niers leaned forward. "Not just a blocking artifact?"

"No artifact. No magic. Mm." Foliana smiled. "Could be an otherworlder artifact. No magic. Has a cube. And strange underwear."

Niers stared at her blankly. "What?"

"Had a look. Very strange. Like that rodent who's fun to ambush."

Niers knew that asking if Foliana got into his underwear was a subject he couldn't bring up. She already stole too many things from his room already. Giving her more ideas wouldn't end well for him. Instead, he deftly pivoted the conversation.

"So she has artifacts like the golem? Its name is 'Boo', by the way."

"Mm. Boo." Foliana smiled. "Good to know."

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

"And are her..." He couldn't say 'underwear'. "...other artifacts are also like that? Made of cubes?"

"Yes. Inside of bag too, but I was noticed before I could rummage." Foliana seemed to shrink in on herself. "I don't smell."

Niers drained his cup and filled it again. "Well, that's just more proof that her brother is the Archmage of Cubes."

"So?"

"I need you to decide what we do about it."

"Mm."

"Do I contact Pixel? Seek an alliance? Use her as a hostage?" This was why Niers was second in command. He didn't trust himself with making the big decisions. Give him a battlefield or a puzzle, and he could crush his opponents.

Politics? That was harder. He'd been betrayed too often. It had made him paranoid. And that made him paranoid he was being too paranoid. People from another world? People that could control animals from the Dyed Lands? Rise to the rank of Archmage? This could be Velan-

"No hostage. No alliance. Mm. Goodwill. Be nice."

Niers felt the weight of responsibility lift from his back. "Understood."

"Yes. You be nice." Foliana vanished. "I'm going to prove I don't smell."

Riley guided her pets to her new workshop.

Technically, the room was her 'guest quarters', but it was large enough to house Badgy, Milkbox, the three evils, and her spiders with room to spare. Since all of them were in more-or-less operational capacity she didn't need to summon her Mets to help.

She also didn't smell any cookies, but that didn't mean she wasn't being watched. Best to keep a few secrets... assuming Pinky hadn't already told the Titan about her ability to summon a swarm of robots.

Badgy sat on guard outside, while her three monkeys physically held the door shut. She would have to come up with a mechanical solution that couldn't be bypassed by Stranger powers. She'd grown up with tales of Nice Guy, so she'd always had a healthy respect for what a Stranger could accomplish.

Then she set about examining all the walls, the floor, and the ceiling. She'd love to assign this task to her spiders, but she was the only one with an anti-Stranger countermeasure. She rapped her knuckles every few feet because that's what you were supposed to do.

Hmm..

Perhaps she should make a moss that could grow along the sides of the room? That would be able to block any secret passageways that she may or may not have missed. It wouldn't stop Movers, but that was a whole other issue.

Her musings were cut short by a knock at the door.

"Come in." She called out.

Riley ► Open the door.
See-no-evil ► Ook.
Hear-no-evil ► Ook.
Speak-no-evil ► Ook.

The evils opened the door and the Titan walked inside. Niers Astoragon entered and looked around. The feather in his hat wasn't as big as the one she'd seen him wear previously, but it still looked over-sized for his tiny body.

"Lady Bit." He bowed to her. "I hope this is a good time to speak about sensitive matters?" He looked over his shoulder. "When the door is closed, this room is safe from most information gathering spells and Skills."

"Titan." She curtseyed in return. "Please, have a seat."

Riley ► Close the door.
See-no-evil ► Ook.
Hear-no-evil ► Ook.
Speak-no-evil ► Ook.

Niers went to a table in the corner next to a chair. He jumped up and sat down in a miniature chair that had clearly been left there for his personal use. He waited until the door was fully shut before speaking. "I see that you take security seriously. That's good." He nodded. "I was slightly concerned after meeting your traveling companion."

"Yes." Bit sat down close to him. "Pinky can be a handful at times, but she's a good friend and handles herself well when she needs to." Riley sighed. "It's just that when things aren't serious, she can be a little silly."

"I understand completely." Niers shook his head as if also commiserating having a friend like that.

"Pinky said that you might be able to help me find my brother-"

Niers held up his hand. "I know where Pixel is."

Riley stared at him as the Titan smirked. "I didn't tell you his name."

"Please." He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. "It's a connection so blindingly obvious that any of my first year students would be able to put it together."

"Then you've met him?" Riley vibrated in her seat.

"No." Niers shook his head. "I've never even seen him, but I do know that Wistram Academy has a new Archmage named Pixel." He interlaced his fingers. "Also known as the 'Archmage of Cubes'."

Riley was torn between a smile and a frown. Kevin was alive! But he was an 'Archmage'? 'Archmage of Cubes' didn't sound terrible... but it also wasn't exactly a good name either. A superhero with that name would either be a laughing stock or be powerful enough that people laughed behind his back.

But this was a different world. Perhaps it was more common for people to have titles like the blank of blank. She drummed her fingers before standing up. "Thank you, Titan. I'll depart immediately. I don't suppose I could get directions or a car... riage or something?"

"While I would gladly aid you in your journey, miss Bit, my spies tell me that Pixel hasn't been seen at Wistram for several weeks now."

"Oh." Riley flopped back in her seat. "Well, it's probably easier for him to come to me anyways. Is it okay if I stay here for a while?"

"Absolutely!" Niers grinned at her. "I am glad to help. Especially since there are those that would target you."

"Me?" Riley opened her eyes wide. Why would anyone target cute, little her? She could understand it if she was back on Earth Bet, but... "I haven't done anything to anyone to be targeted." Aside from the Jungleclad Gorillas, but that A) wasn't her fault, and B) wasn't something people would know about. Right?

"I'm afraid that's my fault." Niers sighed. "Associates of mine tend to be scrutinized by other companies and countries."

"People will attack me just for talking to you?"

"What?" He chuckled. "No, no. Nothing like that. But you would be followed, spied upon... possibly kidnapped. Not killed."

Riley gave him a blank look. What had Pinky gotten them involved in? "I see."

Niers smirked again. "I've given you the wrong impression. Others would watch you, but out of concern of it being one of my plots. That's usual, and normally not something that is a concern of members of the Forgotten Wing Company or my students." His tone became serious. "The problem is that by watching you, they'd learn you were from another world. That, in turn, might lead to you being abducted."

She crossed her arms. "I'd like to see them try."

"Really?" His eyes gleamed. "What would the results be, I wonder? You have talents far beyond what's normal, but no class. Your animals do make impressive defenders."

Riley smirked, but she wasn't going to boast about her other options. Monologuing wasn't something she did... anymore. "It wouldn't be pleasant. That's for sure." She let out a sigh. "But I can't just go around killing people that try to kidnap me. Too easy for others to get mixed up in it."

"True." Niers gazed off into the distance. "That's one of the weaknesses of the Forgotten Wing Company. Elvallian, that's the name of this city, isn't some hidden fortress like other Great Companies have. We made it a trading center so we're part of people and not cut off from them. There are defenses, of course, but I always seem to keep adding more and more out of fear of others getting caught in the middle if hostilities did break out."

"Is that... a concern?"

"No." He waved her off. "Not truly. At least not while I'm here. Not to sing my own praises, but I doubt anyone would attack an army I was around to lead."

"You're being awfully open."

Niers shrugged. "It's nothing that someone else couldn't tell you. You see, the Forgotten Wing Company is the youngest of all the Great Companies. We've proven ourselves time and time again, but we don't have the same number of high-level commanders as companies that have been around for centuries."

"So... you're like a government or something?"

"Yes." He nodded. "That's one way to look at it. I take it that your world has kingdoms more similar to what other continents here have?"

"I don't know." Riley shrugged. "The only knowledge I have is from Pinky."

"Oh."

"But I'd be more than happy to talk about it... after I get reunited with my brother." Obviously details about Earth Itoa and Earth Bet were valuable pieces of information. The Forgotten Wing Company and the Titan had been nice so far, but until she was back with Kevin, Riley had to be cautious.

"Of course, of course. I didn't mean to interrogate you. The details I've discovered so far have painted such an interesting picture that I'm eager to learn more. It can wait until after Pixel comes here."

"So you think you can get in contact with him?"

"Given time. I could send a [Message] to Wistram this minute, but that would attract all sorts of attention."

"Really?"

"They can be intercepted. And the magical school is not a monolith. I don't know which faction Pixel is a part of, and sending it to the wrong person might have repercussions."

"I thought you said you had spies?"

"I do, but information is literally currency at Wistram. They grip their secrets tighter than a Terandiran [Lady] clutching her jewelry as she rides through [Bandit] lands. I dare say that only a few people in the world know of the Archmage of Cubes at the moment."

"Couldn't you talk to him directly? Messages are magic, right?"

"I've tried." Niers admitted. "After meeting you in Daquin I did exactly that. The issue is that the spell either has to go through the [Mage]'s Guild, or be sent to the person directly. The [Mage]'s Guild isn't an option since Pixel isn't well known. And my attempts at contacting him directly have failed."

"Failed? Is he in trouble?" Riley leaned forward.

"Possible, but unlikely." Niers stood up. "If you would come with me, I'll show you something interesting."

"Like what?"

"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise." His eyes glinted. "I can walk, but it would be quicker if you or one of your animals gave me a ride."

"You're not afraid of them?"

"I wouldn't want to face any of them in single combat, if that's what you're asking." He winked. "But I've noticed how fine of control over them you have."

Riley resisted the urge to smirk. It was always nice to be complimented. "One of the monkeys is probably the right size."

Riley ► Hear, come over here and let the small man on your back and then follow beside me. Speak, you turn invisible and follow behind. See, you stay here and keep the door closed while I'm gone.
See-no-evil ► Ook.
Hear-no-evil ► Ook.
Speak-no-evil ► Ook.

Niers hopped down on the monkey that came over. Speak-no-evil obediently trailed behind them after vanishing, and the group walked out into the corridor.

"Take a right and then a left at the third corridor." Niers directed from his mount. "I applaud your vigilance, but you're safe inside these walls."

Riley let out a lady-like sniff. "Bold of you to say that after your leader poked me."

"Ah... You'll have to forgive Foliana, or at least get used to it." He cleared his throat. "Now take the next right."

...

After a while, they came to door that looked like any other.

"Here we are!" Niers jumped off of his monkey and then leapt several feet in the air to land on the doorknob. "Just a moment." A sphere of darkness surrounded him for a few seconds before an audible 'click' came from it and he reappeared. "This is a secure room." He smiled at her before jumping onto the edge of the handle, causing the door to open inwards.

Riley ► Speak, stand guard. Hear, come inside.
Hear-no-evil ► Ook.
Speak-no-evil ► Ook.

Riley stepped through and paused. "That's-"

"Shhh!" Niers scolded her. "Wait for the door to close, please."

She fell silent until the door behind her sealed itself shut. Riley then stepped over and picked up a simple item from the table. There were other things on it: cameras, flashlights, but mostly phones. The object she focused on wasn't any of those, it was hand-held video game - made of pixels.

"Where did you get this?"

"I had it smuggled out of the Empire of Sands."

"Smuggled?" She turned to look at him.

Niers leapt to the top of the table. "Yes. The [Emperor] decreed that these artifacts were not allowed to leave his borders or to be spoken about."

"Then how?"

Niers sat down. "As much as I would love to say that it was due to my vast network of highly trained and outfitted [Spies], the truth of the matter is that there are simply too many of them to be concealed."

"What?"

"Those," He motioned at the device in her hands. "Can be created by dumping sand inside of artifacts scattered across villages in the empire. They only work for the person who placed the sand into it, and only one artifact is given per person no matter how much more sand is shoveled inside."

"Ah." Riley nodded. "That makes sense."

"It does?" Niers frowned. "Because I can't fathom why someone would leave such a thing behind, nor why they would limit its operation. I supposed it was a limitation on the magic from your world, but-"

"No." She interrupted him. "That's not it at all. It all comes down to how Pixel thinks."

"Which is?"

"This is a game." She placed it back down on the table next to him. "I don't know which one. I'd say they're all alike..." But that would upset Kevin. "...but I can't be sure. My brother enjoys them, and wants others to as well. That's why he's..." Using Tinkertech in such a frivolous manner. "...making artifacts that make them. So others can have fun playing with them too."

"And the limitation?" Niers eyed her.

Riley bit her thumb and thought for a moment. "Probably to keep the artifacts from being monopolized by the kingdom."

"Empire."

"Whatever. By the people in charge. I bet Pixel was thinking that the... artifacts would be cordoned off and people would make them for, what did you say, sand? Would turn sand into artifacts and then sell those to nobles or merchants or other people with money."

That's what would happen on Earth Bet - at least if people trusted the Tinkertech and the PRT didn't swoop in to take it for themselves.

"I see." Niers stroked his chin. "An interesting strategy, especially since it aims for a goal that few would suspect." He let out a laugh. "I bet the Emperor of Sands is beside himself in confusion!"

"But this is good. If Pixel has time to be doing this, then he can't be involved in anything too dangerous." Riley relaxed. It wasn't that she'd been worried about Kevin. Her older brother could handle anything this world threw at him, but it was still nice to have physical proof he was doing okay.

"Well, I am glad this helps alleviate some of your worries. There isn't much I can do to get in contact with Pixel, especially considering how the Empire of Sands must also be actively looking for him." He crossed his legs. "Getting information about these 'games' wasn't so difficult, but the same can't be said for the efforts of Empire to find someone."

"I understand. I-" Riley smelled cookies. It couldn't have come from her monkeys. Hear was visible and Speak was outside. Besides, their Stranger effect was limited to bending light. It didn't incorporate whatever magical mind-whammy that Badgy used to make himself unnoticeable. "There's someone here."

She looked around and sniffed as she tried to get a feeling for when her senses were being overwritten the most. Riley loosened her stance, ready to launch a bone dart from her finger...

"Wait, wait, if there's anyone here, I'm sure they'd rather show themselves than get into a fight." Niers remained sitting but turned his head left and right.

The smell increased... and then faded away.

"They're gone now." Riley frowned. The door was still shut tight, and she was sure nobody had opened it. At least she thought she was sure. You couldn't trust your memory when Strangers were involved. Those sensory signals hadn't reached the part of her brain like intended. It was only her rerouting sub-neurons that picked them up and turned them into a smell.

"Then why don't we go back to your room?"

"Are you sure it's safe?"

"Absolutely." Niers stood up and leapt down onto Hear. He then spoke in a louder voice. "I'm sure no one would do anything that would put you on guard while I'm trying to be nice."

"Trying to be nice?" Riley gave him a flat look.

"Yes." He bore a rakish smile. "We want to be good hosts."

As they left the room, Riley gave Speak the order to follow them. "I appreciate it, but I also would like to earn my keep." Good Girls didn't-

She took a deep breath. A Proper Lady, like she was, wasn't a freeloader.

It was hard to frame her thoughts in a way to be good, but without thinking about 'Good'. She was getting better, but it was really easy to fall back into viewing the world through those lens. It wasn't bad to be a Good Girl, but Riley didn't want to think of herself in those terms if she could help it.

She still slipped up now and then, so it was important to call herself out when she noticed.

"Oh? And how were you thinking about doing that? You don't need to do anything, of course, but I find myself intrigued by what you might be able to offer."

What was she able to offer?

A lot.

What SHOULD she offer?

That was a harder question.

Parahumans had always made the best materials for experiments. She'd stopped that, of course, but she'd learned a lot from her time when she'd created 'art'. After becoming Bit, she'd learned less, but she'd put what knowledge she'd gained to good use.

Actual good use, not some twisted version of good.

So, that's what she should do. Tracking down whomever had made the Creler bio-weapons could wait. Getting samples from different areas of the Dyed Lands could wait. Making new things with them to protect herself with... would continue, but she didn't need to provide that as a 'service'.

She'd never made an army before, and while it did sound interesting as a way to challenge herself, that wasn't why she was here. Not that she had an actual reason why she was here. Kevin was probably trying to figure that out, but when magic was involved anything was possible.

That's why it was magic!

They got back to her room while she silently contemplated what to offer as a guest. A Good... a Proper Lady would be gracious and accept, but she couldn't be a freeloader.

Riley tapped her foot until it came to her.

Of course! It was so obvious!

"I can heal wounds that your people can't. I can repair damage that potions fail to fix." Plus, getting to operate on more people would mean getting to examine their biology!

"That sounds wonderful." Niers smiled up at her. "If you can help others like Perorn, then we'll be in your debt."

"And you'll let me know when you've found out where Pixel is?"

"Of course!" Niers took off his hat with the long feather (for his size) and bowed. "I will love to converse with you some more, but I have a class that I really should get to. I'll send somebody to speak with you about compensation."

"Compensation?"

"Certainly." Niers straightened. "You are our guest, so naturally any additional work you do to help the Forgotten Wing Company deserves appropriate recompense." He turned to go before pausing. "Oh, and I apologize in advance for whatever Foliana does."

Wait, what?

He was out the door before Riley could ask him exactly what he was talking about. Foliana was that Squirrel-Girl who'd poked her... after she'd smelled... oh no.

Nier's boss was a Stranger. A Stranger that he felt the need to apologize for.

"I need to prepare."

And thus, the shadow war between Riley and Foliana started.

Riley fortified her room, but she needed to leave from time to time. She could not stay cooped up in her workshop twenty-four hours a day. While Kevin could sequester himself by playing video games, Riley enjoyed being more social.

Especially in a world where she didn't have to hide who she was.

Foliana, on the other hand, had all the free time in the world. She stalked Riley and spied on her.

[Invisibility], [I Can Pass Through a Keyhole], [Subtle Presence], [A Face in the Crowd], [Expert Stealth]...

The Three-Color Stalker had a wide variety of stealth Skills, and slowly figured out which ones of them would trigger Bit's nose. The biggest rule was that even if she could 'see' through an illusion, she couldn't sense an ambush.

...

Foliana perched above her door. Badgy, while a capable guardian who also had natural stealth abilities did not have Bit's senses. Foliana didn't smell strange to him. [Scent Trail] made sure she didn't smell at all. When Bit exited, Foliana dropped down on her.

The Human girl was tougher than she looked, and bore her weight. She still screamed and Foliana scurried away from the cloud of... something that seeped from her pores.

Bit then started having her monkeys run around the ceiling before she ever opened the door.

...

Foliana grumbled. Skills that could deal with direct bodily contact were few and far between, and had long cooldown times. Instead, while Bit looked upwards, Foliana crept along the ground and grabbed her foot.

Another scream. More swearing, and a glob of something that sizzled where Foliana had just been were her reward.

...

She hid around a corner and used [Shadow Shape] to pull her shadow close and to not spill into the hallway. Bit stopped, sniffed, and then inhaled.

Foliana ran away before whatever poison Bit had mixed together could be spewed in her direction.

...

Bit made a slime. It was a simple thing. Stupid and slow, but stretchy and resilient like all slimes. Impressively, this one didn't seem to have a core.

Not that Foliana would kill it. That would be going too far, but it still was impressive.

As was the slime's ability to spread itself across the ground outside of Bit's room. A living trap that would grab hold of anything or anyone that stepped on it.

...It would've worked better if it wasn't made of bright red cubes. It could camouflage itself against the carpet, but not on the gray stone walls.

It also couldn't sense Foliana, and she had [Feather Steps] and [Light Touch] to move over it without the slime noticing her.

...

Foliana took all the plates out of the cabinet and crawled inside instead. She giggled to herself. Ambushes against Bit worked wonderfully. Despite it being her nose, that tipped her off to where Foliana was, the Squirrel Beastkin had discovered that it was really any of her senses being fooled that triggered her Skill.

Mm.

Not a Skill, but whatever Bit's strange otherworlder power that worked similarly to a Skill was.

The door opened, and Perorn stared at her. "Mom?"

"Daughter. Mm. This isn't what it looks like."

"It isn't?" The Centauress crossed her arms. "Because it looks like you've shoved yourself inside a kitchen cabinet in an attempt at ambushing someone."

"Nonsense. Why would the Supreme Commander of the Forgotten Wing Company do something like that? Mm? And if she did, then she had to have a good reason for it I bet."

"..."

"Why are you here anyways? Mm. Not your normal schedule. Odd."

"Because Bit asked me to come here."

"What?"

"It seems that someone has been harassing her. Someone that even Niers can't stop."

"Probably Umina. Sneaky Lizardkfolk. Won the game with stealth."

"No. Not her."

"Cameral? Hiding his head places."

"No."

"Wil? Courting another Human? Mm. Strange."

"No."

"Marian? Centaurs can be sneaky. One just ambushed me. Mm."

"No, not Marian either." Perorn kept her voice flat.

"You? If Bit came to you about your harassment, mm, I should stop you."

Perorn rubbed her temples. "Mom... Commander Foliana... Bit healed my leg. Could you please stop... just stop?"

"Not Commander."

"What?"

"Supreme Commander."

Perorn let out a sigh. "Supreme Commander Foliana, please leave the [Lady] who healed my leg alone."

"Don't want to."

"Why?"

"I don't smell."

"What?"

"I don't smell."

"I mean... I heard you the first time, I just don't understand."

"Need to keep watch over her."

"Why?"

"Important. Mm. Others will try for her in time. Selphids."

"What about the Selphids?"

"Bit has been improving their bodies. Preventing them from rotting. More durable. Stronger."

"I thought she was just healing people?"

"Yes. Can heal the dead. Mm. Powerful."

"Is she a [Necromancer]?"

"No."

"Then-"

"Her class isn't important. What she can do is."

"Okay, then can you at least stop surprising her? It's not nice."

"..."

"Commander?"

"..."

"Supreme Commander?"

"..."

"Mom?"

"...Fine." Foliana said with a skulking voice.

"Thank you." Perorn paused. "Should I close the...?"

"Yes."

Foliana hid in the darkness. Perorn was probably right. She should probably stop trying to startle Bit. As much as it galled her that the otherworlder could somehow sense her, she'd figured out how her not-Skill skill worked.

She'd won.

She didn't need to keep winning.

It was just that it was actually a fun challenge. If she really wanted to keep an eye on Bit, all she needed to do was to find out what her favorite food was.

It was probably better to do it that way anyways. The Selphids were definitely up to something, but she didn't know what. Probably because the Selphids themselves didn't know.

They liked Bit, but Selphids also were loyal to their own kind like everyone else. Foliana got the sense it went beyond Bit being able to provide them with better bodies.

The work of the Supreme Commander of the Forgotten Wing Company was never done. She should probably go talk to Niers about it.

But not until somebody else opened the cabinet. This was too good of a hiding spot to give up without actually using it to surprise someone.